Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen

Kinnon Family Trip Report 2013 - Casa Azul: The Home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:40:00 GMT

"I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best." - Frida Kahlo

A few years ago, our family road trip took us through San Cristobal de las Casas in the state of Chiapas. The highlight of our time there was a trip to Na Bolom, the home of Franz and Gertrude Blom, now preserved as a museum and a monument to their life together and their work in a remote region of south Chiapas, home to the Lacandon Maya. This intimate museum made a big impact on us so, of course, a visit to the home of Frida Kahlo was high on our list of "must-sees" in Mexico City.

Kahlo was born in 1906 and spent much of her life in this home located in the Coyoacan district of Mexico City. It is a colorful place full of light and shadows, its structures built around a tropical central courtyard garden. The surrounding buildings house gallery spaces, preserved rooms of the residence, a cafe with al fresco seating and a nice gift shop.

On display are many examples of her art as well as pieces from her husband, the famous muralist Diego Riviera, and other contemporaries and friends. There are also many photographs of the artist, her husband and an array of fascinating characters who have been guests in the home including close friend Leon Trotsky.

The image of Frida Kahlo is ubiquitous to Mexico. She is an iconic figure tightly woven into the culture of modern Mexico. There are many, many excellent books and movies about her life and her loves and I highly recommend that you brush up on a bit of her history before you make a visit to this lovely museum. Even if (like me) you come in knowing little to nothing about this fascinating woman, you will come out feeling intimately acquainted with her and with a far deeper understanding of her art.

Kinnon Family Trip Report 2013 - PUJOL

Rob Kinnon — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

One of the things that first attracted me to Rob when I was first dating him was his interest and appreciation of good food, good wine and quality spirits. At the time, I was selling wine for a very nice importer/distributor so we always had plenty of great wine on hand to pair with delicious food with my favorite restaurant accounts! Throughout our almost 15 years together, and especially during our travels, we have always enjoyed seeking out not just the best restaurants but also the best representations of regional food and drink. We are both adventurous eaters and up for trying anything and everything.

About three years ago, Rob decided to get serious about losing the weight we had packed onto him over a decade of unbridled dining. A year and a half ago, we both made the choice to go pescaterian, cutting out all beef, chicken and pork. Throughout the process, he has lost over 150 pounds and his cardiologist refers to him as his dream patient....almost....we still have those cigarettes to conquer.

So, we look good and feel good. But what about our beloved dining adventures? What about all those fabulous tasting menus with perfectly seared fois gras and unctuous pork belly. What about the translucent strips of carpaccio and sizzling bones oozing with marrow? Would we need to eschew our culinary capers in order to stay on the healthy straight and narrow? Not really. While we have chosen a meat-free path it doesn't mean our palates need to suffer for it! What we have found is that the better restaurants and the more innovative chefs seem to be leaning in the same direction we are. It seems that more and more often, menu options feature wild fish and shellfish or are meat-free altogether so we don't feel like we are missing out at all! Such was the case when we visited Pujol in Mexico City.

Rated the top restaurant in the city, #1 in the country and recently rising to the rank of #17 on the San Perregrino list of the best restaurants in the world, Pujol came up time and time again in my research and again when I took my search to the court of public opinion on Facebook. More than a few of my trusted foodie friends told me that a trip to Pujol was a must if we were planning to fine in Mexico City. The only problem? We would be dining with the kids. Did I want to spend 100 usd a head on a meal that they may not appreciate or even enjoy?

Yes. Yes I do!

Our taxi river had never heard of Pujol and even with the complete street address he had trouble finding the small modern building that houses the restaurant. The sleek facade is unassuming, save the smartly dressed valets out front who came running to greet us. Inside, we were ushered past a small bar into a dimly lit, low ceilinged dining room. It was much smaller than I had expected, about the size of a gentlemen-only lounge at a country club. The walls are painted a charcoal gray. Stretched along one wall is a row of banquet seating. The rest of the room is dotted with stand alone white table-clothed tables, each lit from above a singular spot light creating dining "islands" for each party. It was sleek and elegant and comfortably cosmopolitan!

At the time of our visit, there were two dining options: Chef Enrique Olvera's ten course tasting menu and a prix fixe four course menu with several options for each course. Not wanting the kids to sit through a 2 1/2 hour meal, we chose the prix fixe option (890 mn p/p) which also allowed me to help Cole (our less adventurous eater) to find things he might like. Cat was, of course, thrilled to be there and quickly had all the servers fawning all over her suggesting elegant "mocktails" and menu selections that she might enjoy.

Rob and I stuck to the vegetarian and seafood options while the kids had some meat sprinkled into their meals. In this atmosphere, I did feel a little self-conscious even though I was only using the camera on my iphone. I don't think I got pictures of everything but this should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect at Pujol.

The first amuse bouche - paper-thin discs of avocado sandwiching chia seeds and served with a warm savory corn "tea".

Salsa

Sal

Cat enjoying her mocktail!

The second amuse bouche - a play on a popular Mexican street food - Roasted baby corn with mayonnaise and chile served out of a smoking gourd.

Sea bass ceviche taco with black bean purée and crispy fish skin, served on a corn tortilla laminated with "hoja santa".

Watercress salad with nopales and goat cheese.

Fried frog's legs with chayote slaw, dollops of cauliflower purée, and a poblano chili paste.

Herbed butter

Fresh baked bread.

Champagne for me!

Cole really enjoyed the Yucatecan "lechon" with shaved cauliflower, green olives and three sauces; almond, raisin-cumin mole, and tamarind.

Fluffy fried tortilla encasing a soft-boiled egg, roasted salsa, and puréed beans.

Guava ice cream.

The "Piñata"! A clear sugar sphere filled with orange supreme, guava cream, meringue and peanut cookie crumble.

Fresh fruits with artisanal cheeses and raw organic honey.

Chocolate mousse flavored with Xtabentún and topped with an orange creme.

I've read a couple of reviews on TA since we returned from our trip and many of them call out the waitstaff as pretentious and impatient. Others claimed their service was overly intrusive. Some called it "odd". I found just the opposite. Despite the fact that we were the only foreigners in the restaurant, we were clearly under-dressed and two of our party were under the age of 12, I found our service to be spot on. The courses were timed properly and served at the correct temperature. We were never left with empty drinks or plates. Silverware was replaced...never simply set aside for the next course. Napkins were promptly refolded during trips to the restroom. It all worked like a well-oiled machine. Everyone was smiley and nice, especially to our children.

My only complaint is that I would like like to have had a beverage - wine, mezcal, champagne, agua fresca - something thoughtfully paired with each course. I'm not talking about a full pour, just a little something that the Chef has chosen to best accompany each offering. I would have been happy to pay an additional charge for this option rather than having to choose for myself from their extensive beverage menu. Otherwise, I very much enjoyed my food and my dining experience. The food was well conceived and perfectly executed. With two starters sent out to warm up our palates and the complimentary deserts, I feel like the price was well justified. Best of all, it tasted good! Rob and I are definitely looking forward to trying the full tasting menu the next time we have an opportunity to be in Mexico City on our own. (Shhh. Don't tell Cat.)

Kinnon Family Trip Report 2013 - Chapultepec Zoo

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:20:00 GMT

Our first full day in Mexico City was sunny and warm. Warm enough for shorts and flip flops but, having learned my lesson in Monterrey and Guadalajara, I knew that more formal attire would be expected. So, despite the weather, Rob and I wore long pants and closed shoes. While our scheduled trip to the zoo in Chapultepec Park would be a casual time, I was yet uncertain where we would be dining and decided to play it safe with somewhat dressier clothes.

We grabbed a cab from the hotel and made a quick trip down La Reforma and into the park. Chaplutepec Park, also known as Bosque de Chapultepec, is a sprawling oasis of 1600 green acres in the center of Mexico City. It is home to the Museum of Anthroplogy, the monument to the Ninos Heroes, the Natural History Museum, the Botanical Gardens, the Modern Art Museum, an amusement park and the Chapultepec Zoo among many other things. Criss-crossed by miles and miles of bike and walking paths, the park is well used and enjoyed by visitors and local residents alike. The park is bisected by the beautiful La Reforma boulevard and is bordered by some of Mexico City's most distinguished neighborhoods, including my new favorite Polanco...more on that later.

I'm not sure a lot of people think of Mexico City as a great travel destination for families with kids. I know I didn't but I certainly knew that a trip to the zoo would be a fun family activity and keep me in good standing with my kids. Truth be told, Rob and I have spent many an afternoon wandering through zoos and aquariums. I have lost count of how many trips we have made to the New England Aquarium in Boston and we will most likely find ourselves there again this summer! We have seen some good zoos and some not-so-good zoos in our travels. I think I would count this one somewhere in the middle of the pack. It's not the prettiest zoo but it was quite clean and the animals we saw appeared to be calm and well cared for. They all seemed to be well fed and in suitable enclosures with shelter and shade and access to water.

The zoo provided nice signage (en espanol) for each of the exhibits and plenty of stationary maps to help you navigate through. Entrance to the zoo is free, making for an affordable family outing, but there is a charge to enter several of the specialized exhibits such as the herpetarium and the butterfly aviary. There is also a food court inside offering all kinds of fast food and cold drinks. One of the things I particularly noticed and appreciated was a concerted effort to have indigenous wildlife well represented, particularly species at risk of extinction. Much of the signage throughout the property provided information specific to the species represented but also showed its proliferation or lack thereof and suggested ways in which the animals might be protected. Good information to kids and grownups alike.

While of course, like most zoos, the big draw for North American children seems to be the collection of animals from the continent of Africa. The giraffes, hippos, rhinos and, of course, the big cats seem to be perennial favorites and were well represented here. My favorites tend to lean in the direction of the polar bears, seals and sea lions. I am also a big otter fan. I was a bit disappointed to only find one lowly sea lion, the other enclosures being empty on this day. What was incredibly cool was to see the giant pandas Xiu Hua, Shuan Shuan and Xin Xin. Mexico holds the distinction of being the only country, other than China, to successfully breed giant pandas in captivity so it was very exciting to have the chance to see them. Sadly, a few days after we returned home to Playa, Xiu Hua, the oldest at age 28, died of natural causes.

RIP Xiu Hua

Fortunately, because we were there off-season when everyone seems to leave the city and head toward the coast, there were not very many people at the zoo. Unfortunately, because it was off-season, many of the displays were under repair or being revamped in some way and many of the animals were out of site. Without hordes of families and school groups to accommodate this would be the best time to do maintenance and give the animals some quiet time. Too bad for us but good for the park. Still, we made it all the way through, had a great time and made it out in time to make it to our lunch reservation at Mexico's top rated restaurant.

Next: Our lunch with the kids at Pujol!

Kinnon Family Trip Report 2013 - Welcome to Mexico City

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:58:00 GMT

In our eight years in Mexico we have never had the chance nor the inclination to explore Mexico City. In fact, the only time we have ever been there was for an overnight layover on the way to Acapulco for our honeymoon in 2001. I was so intimidated by the "idea" of Mexico City that I booked us into a hotel right at the airport and didn't even consider venturing into downtown. Like most Americans, I think our impressions of Mexico City are formed by movies like "Man on Fire". Stories from friends who had worked and or done business in the City did not help. One, a personal chef to a wealthy Mexican family, had a security detail to take her to and from the market, varying the route randomly to discourage any would-be kidnappers. Another friend, a mid-level bank executive, had a well-planned hostage plan complete with a considerable ransom arranged for him whenever his work brought him into the DF. These depictions of the city managed to stick with me and, in planning this trip, did not inspire me to spend a lot of time there. We were to fly in, stay in a posh hotel, have a nice meal or two and carry on to Oaxaca. Period.

If you have not been to Mexico City before, flying into the DF makes quite an impression. It is absolutely enormous. It goes on and on and on. Regardless of which direction you enter from, you are flying over dense urban areas for quite awhile before finally arriving at Benito Juarez International Airport. This city makes Manhattan look like a postage stamp. From above, the landscape is intimidating and a bit overwhelming.

In an effort to ease my stressed out husband into the idea of "vacation", I purposefully booked us into a nice hotel well-located on La Reforma, midway between the main zocalo and Parque Chapultepec. As we had no plans to spend any time in the city, I didn't bother to investigate the neighborhoods too much. I went online, found a nice hotel at a very nice price, close to the historic downtown landmarks and reserved a room. This is in stark contrast to the trip planning I did for our two-week stay coming up in Oaxaca where I spent months reading and investigating and pouring over other traveler's trip reports and itineraries. This short leg of the trip would serve one purpose: to get Rob relaxed and comfortable and eased into vacation mode.....not an easy task.

Whereas I am keen to find unusual places to stay (a certain tree-house hostel in Guatemala comes to mind) and am fine with "roughing it", my DH likes his creature comforts. Air conditioning and television are non-negotiable. High thread count sheets, hi speed internet, room service and an elegant lobby bar are a huge plus. As I want a happy husband (and he deserves every bit of it) I took all this into consideration for our Mexico City accommodations and The Hotel Gran Melia Reforma fit the bill perfectly. I got a smoking deal through an online discounter, over 150 usd off the rack rate giving us a large room with 2 queen sized beds for $115 usd/night. We stayed on "The Level" which gave us complimentary full breakfast and afternoon tea in a comfortably elegant dining room and lounge overlooking the city. The spa and indoor pool were just two floors below, easily accessible for the kids to come and go as they pleased.

As a child, I spent a lot of time in NYC with my parents. Staying in a high-rise hotel was commonplace to me and elevators were taken for granted. My kids, who have lived in Playa del Carmen for eight years, have never had the opportunity to go up higher than 3-4 stories. They spent most of their Melia time riding all the way up and down in the glass elevator, giggling all the way and chatting up the other guests.

As I have mentioned, I had no intention on this trip to pack our schedule with "must see", "must do" excursions. We really wanted to take it easy and this first day in Mexico City would reflect that. We flew in, collected our bags, checked in to the hotel and lounged around on the 1000 thread count duvets. Lovely! I had done a bit of Facebook research looking for good places to eat in the city but hadn't made any firm plans. Still feeling a little out of my element, I hopped on Google to find a restaurant relatively close the hotel. I had been warned that traffic within the city was an absolute nightmare so we settled on one of Mexico City's oldest establishments, popular with businessmen and located within a few kilometers of The Melia. A cab driver easily confirmed that we had made a good pick so we had our first Mexico City meal at Danubio.

Renowned for its raw bar and seafood dishes Danubio was opened in 1936 by Basques who managed to escape the Spanish Civil War. The walls of the dining room are adorned with cloth napkins autographed by the many politicians, actors, musicians, soccer stars, writers and bullfighters who have dined in the restaurant over the years. My friends from Albany will understand when I walked in and immediately exclaimed "Oh, it's Jack's Oyster House!".

A little bit smaller than Jack's but with the same ambiance, the same professional servers, the same menu, the same clientele only instead of martinis and champagne, we noticed bottles of wine and mescal on nearly every table. I also noticed that the same groups seated when we arrived were still there when we left. Course after course was laid out on the tables for everyone to share. Glass after glass of mescal was poured and tossed back with a hearty "salud"! No one was in any hurry to go anywhere. Clearly they know something we do not. I later learned that a visit to Danubio was like a visit to the "Mad Men" era when lunch on Friday afternoon could easily last for many hours with no thought to returning to the office. We enjoyed our delicious late lunch, surrounded by the city's movers-and-shakers, and retired back to the hotel as their evening was just starting to heat up!

Tomorrow, a visit to the Chapultepec Zoo and....PUJOL!!

Kinnon Family Trip Report 2013

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:24:00 GMT

If you have been hanging around the "Life's a Beach" blog for a while, you already know that we try to take one big road trip every year during the kids' semana santa break. We have explored Belize, Guatemala, Chiapas, Campeche, the Yucatan and pretty much anywhere we could easily reach by car. This year, no one was interested in roughing it. Rob and I have been itching to see Oaxaca, so flights were booked, accommodations secured and we were on our way.

In the past, I have blogged our trip as we went along. Uploading my pictures daily to Photobucket and trying to keep the blog as up to date as possible. This year, I decided to give myself a break and really take this as a vacation. This time, the plan was to take it easy, play it by ear and really just enjoy ourselves. No minute-to- minute itinerary. No whirlwind schedule to keep. No commitment to the blog. Given that a month has passed and I am now starting my trip report, I'll count our plan as a success.

We were gone for 18 days. Some of those day we did absolutely nothing. It was glorious! Did we miss a few things that I would have liked to have seen? Sure. But now, as I go through all the photos, I wouldn't change a thing. Oaxaca will be there for us when we are ready to go back. And we will absolutely go back.

I hope you enjoy our adventure as much as we did...well, almost.

The adventure begins here!

No roughing it here!

So What's the Big Deal About Semana Santa?

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:07:00 GMT

So, here's something you might not know about us.

Every year, we (notice I said we) spend months talking about and planning our big family vacation. It never takes us long to decide on location as we know we will have a great time no matter where we end up. The actual trip planning falls mostly to me. I book the flights, investigate and secure hotels and other accommodations and develop an itinerary of "must-do", "must see" and "must eat"s for the region we are exploring.

We take this trip every year during the kids' semana santa break so, while the dates vary by a few days every year, basically the time-frame is the same. In that, I mean when the vacation time rolls around it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Yet somehow, every year without fail, about a week before we are scheduled to leave, my darling husband suddenly pops his head up from the computer, eyes wide, smoke pouring from his ears and exclaims that he is "buried with work", "completely swamped" and "can't possibly even think about leaving"!!

This happens every year without fail. It used to freak me out. I used to feel GUILTY about making my DH even more stressed than he already is. There were moments when I even considered canceling the trip altogether so that he could work through the piles of never-ending emails.

Then one year, I did it. I cancelled the family vacation. I conceded to Rob's pleas that we were just too busy with customers coming in to consider leaving. At the end of two week of the semana santa holiday, after two weeks of crowded, filthy beaches, restaurants with no openings and streets packed with cars and nowhere to park, my darling husband pulled me aside and made me PROMISE to NEVER allow us stay in Playa for this horrific holiday EVER AGAIN.

So, when once again the question came up..."Can we really afford to leave during this high season?"...I snickered quietly to myself and confirmed my reservations knowing, that despite his protestations, we were on the road (well, not literally) to Oaxaca!

Next up - The Kinnon Family Vacation 2013

Why I can never spend another semana santa in Playa.

Paula Liebe Launches "The Queen's Trilogy" with Playa del Carmen Rotary

Rob Kinnon — Sun, 05 May 2013 06:21:00 GMT

Last Tuesday, the Playa del Carmen Seaside Rotary Club had the honor of hosting the official launch of The Queen's Trilogy, a series of autobiographical novels penned by well known Playa resident, business owner, yoga teacher and performer Paula Liebe. I have known Paula, casually, for about 7 years. As members of the Playa del Carmen real estate community, our professional paths would cross occasionally. Socially, the expat community being quite active, we would often rub elbows at the same events and parties. We share many of the same friends. But it was not until the last year or two, that her emergence as a singer/performer really grabbed my attention. I was impressed, of course, by her talent but even more so by her complete dedication to developing and honing her craft. As Paula is also a skilled marketer, I have made every effort to support her promotional efforts, posting her upcoming events on the blog and the Riviera Maya events calendar. When my daughter decided to audition for the role of Cosette in Explayarte's production of Les Miserables, I immediately sought out Paula to lend her skills as a vocal coach to prepare her for the try-outs. By know, you all know how that audition turned out and Paula was instrumental in that success. (Thank you Paula!!)

For those of you who know Paula, you know she is no shrinking violet, no delicate fern, nobody's idea of wallflower. (Forgive the botanical references. I am writing al fresco in the yard.) Everyone who meets Paula can tell she is a force to be reckoned with. Everything she attempts, she tackles head on 110%. She is a person who makes you think twice. She is interesting and smart and you can just tell she's got some juicy back-story, a compilation of intriguing life experiences that all put together create the Paula we all know today.You can't help but be curious...to want a peak behind the curtain.

And this is exactly she affords us, the reader, with The Queen's Trilogy; a privileged look at the unique situations and circumstances in the life of a fascinating woman. During her spirited presentation, Paula offered us all a tantalizing taste, reading excerpts from her books, sharing poignant moments from her youth and some eyebrow raising teasers from her early days in Playa del Carmen. None of the names have been changed because no one is innocent. Scandalous? Perhaps. But, as Paula explains, it was more likely she would lose friends for the truths she reveals about herself rather than other people.The cover art alone which depicts the author naked, perched on the rim of a martini glass executing an advanced yoga pose, might in itself be scandalous. I think when you read the books, the significance will reveal itself. I would be remiss in not mentioning that at very least, Paula is a person that one might actually WANT to see naked as opposed to the hirsute trolls who seem to find me on the beach in Tulum.

*shudder*

But I digress.

If the excerpts we heard and the protagonist are any indicator, this series should be a "must read", not just for Playenses but for any expat, any woman, anyone who enjoys a good story told by a good story-teller. I feel certain we have this in Paula Liebe and The Queen's Trilogy.

I've got my books on order from Amazon and I can't wait for them to arrive. (Don't let me down Amazon Global Shipping!) Until I can give you my review of the series, here are some thoughts from my dear friend and local yoga teacher Ellen De Jonge:

"I read all 3 books in a short period of time. You are kind of forced to read them all because after reading book 1 you simply need to get your hands on the other books.
A fascinating style of writing brings you easily into the real life experiences of Paula. The Queen´s Trilogy got it all. Honesty and raw go hand in hand. I laughed many times, I lifted my eyebrows lots of times and sometimes had the feeling of being part of her sadness and her road to finding love. Paula finds a way to let her love and curiosity for life and spirituality shine through the heartbreaking periods of her life. A brave woman, an even braver book!"

To get your copy of The Queen's Trilogy in paperback or for Kindle visit Amazon.com.
To get your copy for iPad or e-reader visit lulu.com.

To contact the author, email TheQueensTrilogy@gmail.com or call +52 1 984 130 9823.

Notes on Napkins - Dangerous Liason in Puerto Morelos?

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:03:00 GMT

Stop the presses!! Breaking culinary news out of Puerto Morelos!!

______________________________________________________________

Entrepreneur Catriona Brown (The Little Mexican Cooking School and Casa Caribe B&B) and Chef John Gray (John Gray's Kitchen and John Gray's Merida) are partnering up in May this year! They both have independently pioneered successful new ventures in Cancun and the Riviera Maya and are great promoters of the region garnering international and national recognition. Both Catriona Brown and John Gray are people watched by locals in the region who are never sure what they will do next.

It was announced today that John Gray will be teaching class for the first time at The Little Mexican Cooking School on Tuesdays commencing May 2nd for 4 classes only. "I am excited to be able to share my passion for authentic Mexican food and to demonstrate how these flavours can be used at home" Gray said while designing the new menu for the school on the breezy, tropical terrace of Casa Caribe in Puerto Morelos.

Brown says " I am delighted to be working with John Gray. I have always respected his passion for presenting the best to his clients." Brown opened The Little Mexican Cooking School in 2009 when it quickly rose to number 1 attraction on the Yucatan Peninsula and it has continually presented entertaining and educational classes in authentic Mexican cuisine to curious travelers.

Also announced was that for Sunday, Mothers Day May 12th, John Gray has added his touch to the already great Brunch menu at Casa Caribe. "This will be our last Sunday Brunch until November and we will look forward to seeing all our friends and visitors for a great fun day in celebration of all our wonderful Mothers".

Sunday Brunch at Casa Caribe in Puerto Morelos quickly became a tradition in the region when it opened two years ago, with two different chefs from The Little Mexican Cooking School serving up wonderful Eggs Benedict as well as Mexican specials and Berry Crepes. Now John Gray adds his touch promising a great Brunch. The lovely outdoor terrace provides an elegant location for the gathering of friends before relaxing on the beautiful Puerto Morelos beach.

When asked about future business planned together Brown said " We have some ideas!" As we said, people to watch.

Reservations for Brunch May 12th , 9am - 1pm, can be made direct to the hotel info@casacaribepuertomorelos.com or 998 251 8060. A map to the location can be found on the website http://www.casacaribepuertomorelos.com. Bookings taken for 4 or more people.

Reservations for John Gray's classes at The Little Mexican Cooking School can be made through the live calendar on the website http://www.thelittlemexicancookingschool.com, seats limited.

Explayarte's "Les Miserables" Packs the House at Xcaret!

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:57:00 GMT

Last week, Playa del Carmen's Music and Performing Arts School, Explayarte presented its full scale production of the award winning musical, Les Miserables. The show ran for three nights to packed and overwhelmingly enthusiastic audiences in Xcaret's Foro Abierto. This is the 5th Explayarte production that I have seen, my 4th as a corporate sponsor and the 3rd that Cat has participated in. I think it's fair to say that I am no longer what anyone would consider objective about these shows and the production company! Anyone who has been anywhere within earshot of me for the past few weeks has heard me wax effusive about the school, the leadership, the teachers, the curriculum, the production process and the level of talent that Explayarte demonstrates and shares not only with our children but with everyone who makes the effort to come out and support these shows.

For years, I have heard people lament that there is no culture in Playa del Carmen. No museums, no dedicated performance spaces, art galleries, few opportunities to expose our children to the arts in a meaningful way. I'm pretty sure that not a single person who attended any of these performances can deny that we are blessed to have music theatre of this caliber to enjoy and even take part in! As I looked back into the audience each night, I was really pleased to see so many families and even better groups of teens and almost teens who had come to see the show together. Certainly the timing of the production, falling after the overwhelming success of the star studded major motion picture, must have had an affect on attendance. Above that however, in the weeks and days leading up to the show, the energy and excitement surrounding the final rehearsals and the performers was absolutely palpable. It had to be infectious as nearly everywhere I went I could overhear people talking about the show....what night they were going....who they knew in the show....would be like the movie. It was this infectious excitement and anticipation that packed the house each night and had the audience leaping to their feet and cheering

If you were unable to make it to the show, here's a little taste of what you missed. If you saw the show, this will help you to relive some of your favorite moments from this amazing and very emotional production.

Animal Welfare Reform Coming to Quintana Roo?

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Over the past few days, I have been helping to solicit online signatures for a campaign to reform the current animal welfare laws in Quintana Roo. As many of our readers are English speakers, we have had the document translated so that everyone can keep up to date with these initiatives and, hopefully, lend their support to this movement. The petition is somewhat lengthy but worth reading through in its entirety.

If you have not already signed the petition, I urge you to do so. The wheels of change here turn slowly. Yucatan State recently enacted new legislation for animal protection and see no reason why Quintana Roo should not follow their lead. Lend your name to this cause HERE.

Thank you to Lisa Love Juliot for translating this for me on such short notice.

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REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF INITIATIVES IN QUINTANA ROO:

1. REFORM THE STATE ANIMAL WELFARE AND PROTECTION ACT

2. CRIMINAL CODE PENALTY FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY

The law for animal protection, as it is written now, for the State of Quintana Roo, is obsolete because it does not address the general concern for the many situations arising from interactions between humans and animals which our society calls for change, based on a legal framework consistent with reality. Thus, aware of the need for legislation to ensure and guarantee the fundamental rights of all living beings, we presented October 4, 2011 the proposed reform initiative to the law for Animal welfare and protection to Quintana Roo, which was recently analyzed by the body of the Congress of Quintana Roo and given permison be presentes as a draft opinion and may be voted on next month in May of 2013.

This initiative aims to:

-Have an ethical, inclusive and applicable law.

-To promote good Government practices that are efficient, responsible and congruent with the use of public resources.

-Involve the State's intervention in different levels of Government.

-Promote a participatory society among citizens.

-Count on budget allocations for the implementation of the law.

-Convert Quintana Roo into a destination at the forefront in the field of animal protection.

This reform includes among other proposals:

1. Elimination of the method of electrocution as a population control for dogs and cats and replace it with permanent, massive, extensive, systematic and free sterilization programs.

2. Incorporation of Animal welfare and protection content in the State educational system.

3. Prohibition of shows that promotie animal abuse.

4. Prohibition of the sale and exploitation of animals in public.

5. Regulation of the use of working animals.

6. Creation of a Fund as well as a Board of Trustees for Animal welfare and protection.

7. Regulations on the transfer, trade, alienation, capture and slaughter of animals.

The State of Quintana Roo requires legislation that is directed towards an improvement in animal protection and an initicative that will require its correct application and enforcement of all proceedings of municipal regulatory adjustments to infiltrate the daily conduct of all sectors.

Similarly we asked them to decide the "Iniciative of Animal abuse in the criminal code of Quintana Roo" because violence against animals is a tool of reliable prediction of interpersonal violence, animal cruelty is therefore a clear indicator of violence and abuse of people and an indicator of crimes that can be committed in the future against the society; proof of this is in the study presented in May of 2004 by the Secretary of Public Security for the Federal District Government, which pointed out that 87% of criminals, thieves and sexual predators, admitted to having burned, hanged or stabbed animals. Therefore, it is a fact that these acts of violence are not separate, but they are part of a cycle, proven by the FBI, which has a unit dedicated to studying this connection and to use as evidence for predictive purposes and research. These studies should serve to alert authorities, teachers, social leaders and parents, about the importance of animal cruelty as a potential indicator of dysfunctional family relationships and future antisocial and aggressive behavior against people.

In this way, we seek to go one step further in the administrative modernization of the State, by looking for the most suitable legal mechanisms to achieve the purposes that we have set for acting fairly according to the legal framework and with all measures within our reach, to satisfy the demands and needs of the population.
Therefore, we ask that both initiatives be decided next month, May 2013, and that you "vote in FAVOR" of them so that these inicitavies are not left behind by yet another administration and so that we can generate the long-awaited changes that our society demands.

SINCERELY

COMMUNITY OF QUINTANA ROO

To:
Manuel Jesus Aguilar Ortega, Delegate
Lark Maribell Herrera Pavón, Delegate
Luis Alfonso Torres Llanes, Delegate
Leysdi Soledad fleet Medina, Delegate
Marylin Rodriguez Marrufo, Delegate
Juan Carlos Pereyra Escudero, Delegate
Lourdes Bautista leydi Pech, Delegate
Jorge Enrique Elias Nahim Aguilar Cheluja
Leslie Berenice Baeza Soto, Delegate
Patricia Sanchez Carrillo, Delegate
Demetrio Celaya Cotero, Delegate
Mariana Anahi Aranda Arjona, Delegate
Cristobal Castillo Novelo, Delegate
Oscar Alfredo Velázquez pillar, Delegate
Linda Saray Cobos Castro, Delegate
ENA Miriam Gamboa, Delegate
Armando Palomo Miguel Gomez, Delegate
Telma Yolanda Cervera Villanueva, Delegate
Mauricio Morales Beiza, Delegate
Lucelly Marianela Roldán Carrillo, Delegate
Ramon Loy Enriquez, Delegate

Mr./Mrs. Delegate, on behalf of my family, I want to have an ethical, comprehensive, operable law and a consistent, efficient and accountable use of public resources by the Government to promote: the sterilization of dogs and cats, animal welfare education, responsibility and care of pets, the application of sanctions for animal abuse and neglect, as well as the participation of the State and society.

This initiative aims to:
-Have an ethical, inclusive and applicable law.
-To promote good Government practices that are efficient, responsible and congruent with the use of public resources.
-Involve the State's intervention in different levels of Government.
-Promote a participatory society among citizens.
-Count on budget allocations for the implementation of the law.
-Convert Quintana Roo into a destination at the forefront of the field of animal protection.

This reform includes among other proposals:

1. Elimination of the method of electrocution as a population control for dogs and cats and replace it with permanent, massive, extensive, systematic and free sterilization programs.
2. Incorporation of Animal welfare and protection content in the State educational system.
3. Prohibition of shows that promote animal abuse.
4. Prohibition of the sale and exploitation of animals in public.
5. Regulation of the use of working animals.
6. Creation of a Fund as well as a Board of Trustees for Animal welfare and protection.
7. Regulations on the transfer, trade, alienation, capture and slaughter of animals.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Puerto Morelos Prepares for 7th Annual Copa del Rey Polo Tournament

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 18:53:00 GMT

The exotic jungle of the Mayan Riviera will pulse with the galloping of hooves, when the 7th Annual Copa del Rey International Polo Tournament takes place April 25 - 28, 2013 at El Rey Polo Country Club in Puerto Morelos, just 20 minutes south of Cancun.

Set amidst the lush jungle of the Mexican Caribbean, the regulation polo field will bring six teams face-to-face at a multi-day competition. Ranked as a 4-6 goal event, the tournament will showcase players from around the world and of course, Mexico where the sport has been played since 1880. This highly anticipated Tournament has quickly become one of the top annual social and sporting events of the Cancun-Riviera Maya region.

Since 2007, when the world-famous polo legend Carlos Gracida (Queen Elizabeth's favorite) played in the inaugural Copa del Rey (El Rey Cup), the Tournament has brought the thrill of polo and an alluring equestrian lifestyle to a region already acclaimed for its beaches, water sports, resorts, and archeology.

The tournament will kick off on Thursday April 25 with a cocktail reception on Friday evening at Plaza Kulkucan in Cancun where the teams and players will be presented to invited guests and members of the local and international media. While match play will begin on Friday morning, the tournament and its participants will receive the blessing of a Mayan shaman and the Governor of Quintana Roo, Roberto Borge, will officially open the event on Saturday afternoon. The six teams will meet, head to head throughout the weekend culminating in the championship match on Sunday. A variety of events have been planned around this year's tournament including an art exhibition, live musical entertainment and, of course, the hotly contested Ladies Hat Competition!

Corporate sponsors for this year's event include Sunset World, Fiesta Americana, Lemmus, Scappino, INRiviera, E Entertainment, Mazda, Cuatro Tacos and Volaris among others. The Copa del Rey tournament was inaugurated in 2007 and since then has grown into one of the most anticipated social and sporting events in the country.

El Rey Polo Club is located on la Ruta de los Cenotes, 6 miles from the town of Puerto Morelos, 20 minutes south of Cancun, and has the only regulation polo field (300 yd x 160 yd) in the Mexican Caribbean. Open year-round, El Rey Polo Club offers lessons for beginning to advanced players, with training packages and practice sessions available, as well as a seasoned stable of horses. The polo field is flanked by a clubhouse with restaurant and banquet facilities and an infinity edge pool. For more information about El Rey Polo Club and the tournament call 998 802 1609 or email alexa@poloincancun.com.

News in the Fight to Keep Exotics Off of 5th Avenue

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:36:00 GMT

Today's online edition of the Playa del Carmen newspaper La Respuesta featured an update about the fight to keep exotic animals from being exploited to the tourist trade in Playa del Carmen. Those of us who have been a part of the process, sending letters and petitions to PROFEPA and SEMERNAT will not be satisfied with the comments issued by Carlos Rafael Muñoz Terab, Secretary of Ecology and the Environment.

What follows is a translation of the article posted online today:

After praising the work of the Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (Profepa), the Secretary of Ecology and the Environment (Sema), Carlos Rafael Muñoz Terab, recognized that while federal law allows permits for owning exotic animals the display of these specimens will continue on Fifth Avenue.

He argues that it is currently "difficult" to exhibit exotic species without proper authorization, since noncompliance implies a sanction, confiscation of the animal and up to imprisonment for the offender, the official went on to comment, that for these reasons it is considered that "most have the corresponding authorization".

"I do not agree that nothing has been done about this issue, it seems to me that historically, Profepa has done a tireless job on Fifth Avenue of trying to enforce the law as it applies to the specimens of wildlife that are displayed: the wildlife law establishes the possibility of ownership of a species with do process, if there is “proper handling" and if it is specified as, “no problem", said the official, who added: “As much as we try to enforce the law, it is necessary that people make an official complaint against those who do not comply with the law, that is the remedy for these illegal practices and to obligate those who have permission from Semarnat to give the animals proper treatment”.

He admitted that the agencies are understaffed and remarked that, "the best staff are citizens, they are the best tool". “However”, said Muñoz Terab, "a complaint against an activity must be proven".

"It is difficult to attend complaints, the agencies are understaffed, and it is important to understand the legal process, if there is no evidence we can not take action", and added:
"I insist, the the only solution is to be informed of who has permits for ownership. At this stage it is difficult to own and exhibit an exotic species without permission".
Carlos Rafael Muñoz insisted that "as long as federal law allows ownership of these species, this situation will continue, the activity will continue".

While it is somewhat encouraging to see this issue being raised by the media and addressed in some way by government officials, we at BuyPlaya believe that the best way to combat this type of activity is economically. Do not have your picture taken with any of the exotic animals being displayed on 5th Avenue and please do your best to educate other travelers to also avoid these vendors. It is a simple matter of supply and demand. Trade in exotic animals is expensive. If we can eliminate the demand, there will be no reason for these people to continue in this business. Please share this information on TripAdvisor, playa.info, In the Roo, LocoGringo and any other place where travel and destination information is exchanged.

The original piece on Diario Respuesta can be found here.

Explayarte Presents "Les Misérables" at Xcaret - April 17, 18 & 21

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:41:00 GMT

On April 17, 18 and 21, Explayarte is proud to present Les Misérables in the Foro Abierto at Xcaret! This full scale musical production, directed by Shane Southcott, will feature a live orchestra and a cast of over 80 of Playa del Carmen's most talented performers.

Les Misérables is an award-winning, critically acclaimed musical, based on the French historical novel of the same name by French poet and playwright Victor Hugo. It was first published in 1862 and is considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. The story follows the plight of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread. Valjean's character is loosely based on the life of Eugène François Vidocq, an ex-convict who became a successful businessman widely noted for his social engagement and philanthropy.

Along the way, Valjean becomes a force for good in the world but, relentlessly pursued by Inspector Javert, cannot escape his criminal past. He and a slew of characters are swept into a revolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists make their last stand at a street barricade.

Featuring the songs “I Dreamed A Dream”, “Bring Him Home”, “One Day More” and “On My Own” – Les Misérables is the show of all shows. Seen by more than 65 million people in 42 countries and in 22 languages around the globe, it is still breaking box-office records everywhere. It is now an Academy Award winning major motion picture with a star studded cast including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

Curtain time will be at 7:30pm sharp. Tickets are available at Explayarte (tel. 859-3201), Italianis Pizza (Centro Maya), The Italian Coffee Company (Plaza Las Américas) and El Gran Taco (across from Centro Maya). Until April 17th, tickets are available at the promotional price of 220 mn per ticket or 2 for 380 mn. Tickets will also be available at the Xcaret Box Office the evening of the performances. If you enjoyed the movie, don't miss this opportunity to see Les Miserables performed LIVE!

Please, support the arts in Playa del Carmen!

Wordless Wednesday - Nopales

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:31:00 GMT

Rotary Club Rubber Ducky Regatta in Cancun MOVED to May 12th

Rob Kinnon — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 11:28:00 GMT

****The Rotary Club Rubber Ducky Race has been postponed until May 12th!!****

On May 12, Rotary Playa del Carmen Seaside will be participating with other Quintana Roo Rotary Clubs in the Grand Rubber Ducky Regatta! First prize is a house in Cancun!!! Additional awesome prizes include a motorbike, home appliances, furniture packages, flatscreen TVs and much more!

Be sure to buy your Rubber Ducky to participate - $120 pesos each! Ducks are available locally from Rotary Club members. Email pdcrotary@hotmail.com for more info or inquire on the Rotary Club Facebook page.

You don't have to be in Playa del Carmen to participate in the Rubber Ducky Regatta! You can get in the race from anywhere in the world by adopting a duck or ducks! Each duck adoption is $10US or $120MX. A PayPal account has been established for easy payment via credit card. There is no limit to the number of ducks you may adopt!

Once you adopt and make payment, your Rubber Ducky race number(s) and a photo of your souvenir duck(s) will be emailed to you! If you like, give us your address and we will mail them to you when a Rotary member returns to the US/Canada.

Be sure to check the Facebook page - Rotary Playa del Carmen Seaside - on May 12 as fun photos and the race results will be posted. Ducks have been adopted from all over Canada and the US. Don't miss it! Proceeds from Seaside Chapter's sales will go toward ongoing projects and providing computers, learning software programs and essential school supplies to Playa del Carmen's less fortunate school children! Read HERE for more information on these important Rotary programs.