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

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.

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.

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!

Have a Safe Spring Break on the Riviera Maya

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

What Should I Know about Spring Break? - A Message from the US Consular Office in Playa del Carmen

Over 100,000 American teenagers and young adults travel to resort areas throughout Mexico for Spring Break each year. While most enjoy their vacation without incident, a small number are arrested, become victims of crime, or even die. Using common sense will help you avoid trouble.

Here are some of the basics:

You need a passport if you travel by air. When you enter Mexico the immigration agent will give you the bottom portion of the immigration form you filled out on the plane. This is your visa. Do not lose your passport or visa; you'll need both to leave Mexico.
Whether you travel to Mexico by land, air, or sea, you are entering a foreign country and are subject to the laws and regulations of Mexico.
Before you leave the United States be sure to activate international roaming for your cell phone so you are able to make and receive calls during your vacation here.
Excessive alcohol consumption and unruly behavior can lead to serious problems with Mexican authorities. Alcohol is involved in the vast majority of arrests, accidents, violent crimes, rapes, and deaths suffered by American students on Spring Break. Disturbing the peace, lewd or indecent behavior, littering, driving under the influence, drinking on the street or on public transportation, using public transportation without payment, or making obscene or insulting remarks are all considered criminal activities by Mexican authorities. The importation, purchase, possession or use of drugs can incur severe penalties, including imprisonment without bail for up to a year before a case is tried, and imprisonment of several years following a conviction.
Leave your gun, bullets and knives at home. Mexican law imposes harsh penalties for bringing as few as one bullet across its borders.
Read through the Country Specific Information sheet for Mexico. There is a wealth of information about everything from water sport safety to renting a car to common scams.
Read "Spring Break in Mexico - Know Before You Go!"
Register with us at the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
Phone home periodically to let your family know where you are and that you're ok.
Crimes (to include rape) commonly but not exclusively occur at night or in the early morning hours, and often involve alcohol and the nightclub environment. It is important to travel in pairs or groups, be aware of surroundings, and take general precautions. To protect against property crimes, valuables should be left in a safe place or not brought at all. If you are detained, arrested, or become a victim of a crime, immediately notify the U.S. Consular Agency in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Cozumel or the U.S. Consulate General in Merida. Our contact information can be found at our U.S. Citizen Services.

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable vacation!

For more information and to address specific issues contact:
Samantha Mason
US Consular Agent
Tels: [52] (984) 873-0303
Fax: [52] (984) 873-0481
Emergency Cellphone: [52] (984) 807-8355
E-mail: playausca@hotmail.com

"The Palapa"
Calle 1 Sur, entre Avenida 15 y Avenida 20
77710 Playa del Carmen, Q. Roo

Mon, Wed, Fri: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Go Green with the Kilo Verde Recycling Program

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:19:00 GMT

Just a quick reminder to everyone that this Saturday February 16 is the next Kilo Verde recycling opportunity. The kids and I went on our first Kilo Verde "adventure" last month to the installation in the La Guadalupana neighborhood in the north end of Playa. I say adventure as there are no signs on the highway for the turn-off to the fraccionamento and once we found it we drove around for quite awhile trying to find the right park. The local police did not know the location nor did other Solidaridad workers picking up garbage just a few blocks away. *sigh*

Once we arrived, everything was set up and ready to go. We arrived fairly early and unfortunately, they had not yet received their full shipment of plants. We only had a few species to choose from but information about the complete selection of trees, shrubs and flowering plants was carefully prepared and laid out for our reference. It really helped to identify the young plants and to see what we could expect once they matured. There was plenty of staff on hand to register each of us, help sort our recyclable items and weigh electronics and other items not easy sorted. Everyone was super friendly and happy that we had made the effort to participate despite our "adventure". They were very open to the idea of posting a simple map or "croquis" showing the exact location of the recycling center so that people coming from outside the neighborhood would be able to find it more easily.

This week the Kilo Verde Program will be set up in the park in Fracc. Mision de las Flores.

Kilo Verde does not yet have the ability to accept the range of products that the other monthly "Cento de Acopio" can. They do take paper, newspapers, magazines, clean cardboard, plastics #1, #2, #4 and #5, cans, glass bottles and jars and electronics. Everything will be sorted and will be weighed. The center will operate from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. In order to support the needs of local business people trying to comply with the local government's new recycling regulations, Kilo Verde is able to provide receipts valid for proof of participation.

These are the remaining dates and locations for Kilo Verde 2013:

February 16 – Fracc. Mision de las Flores
March 16 – Col. Luis Donaldo Colosio
April 20 – Fracc. Villamar II
May 18 – Fracc. Mision del Carmen
June 15 – Domo del Ejido
July 20 – Colonia 28 de Julio
August 17 – Fracc. Villas del Sol
September 21 – Colonia Zazil Ha
October 19 - Fracc. Balam Tun
November 16 – Fracc. Las Palmas
December 21 – Colonia Nicte Ha

A Sneak Peak at the New Teatro de Playa del Carmen

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Last week, I was invited to tag along with a group from Explayarte to check out the new Teatro de la Ciudad (the theatre of the city) being built in the Ejido, next to the big Walmart on the Arco Vial. This one of several ambitious municipal projects being completed by the Municipal Government of Solidaridad. The invite came to us as a part of a new social program, also initiated by the current administration, called "Compartimos Logros" which roughly translated means Sharing Our Successes. That is exactly what the Municipal President and his cabinet are attempting to do, actually show the residents of Solidaridad where their tax dollars are going.

So, bright and early Saturday morning, we were transported by van to the work site, to see for ourselves how the project was coming along and what we could expect from this exciting new performance space. We arrived onsite and were all given stylish hard hats to wear and given a brief overview of the many plans the sitting Municipal President has for the area and the efforts the administration is making to improve the lives of their constituents. Our hosts for the day were representatives from the "Compartimos Logros" program and several engineers working on the theatre and project leaders from the Municipality.

Shane and Martina rockin' the hard hats!

Getting an overview of the master plan and the scale model

Going over the specs and plans, our group had a lot of questions about the space and the systems it would contain particularly in regard to accommodations for live bands and orchestras. While the dance schools in the area use recorded music for their recitals and shows, Explayarte exclusively uses a live orchestra to accompany their productions so having a dedicated space for the musicians and the conductor is a high priority. The current design does not include an orchestra pit but after our concerns were heard, the engineer assured us that they would address the issue and had some ideas about how to adjust the seating space just in front of the proscenium to make it suitable for that use. It was nice to see everyone so engaged and excited about the project, not only our merry crew but the engineers as well!

Sergio Tolosa explains the projected timeline for this ambitious project and the types of events the city is hoping to attract to Playa del Carmen.

Inside the theatre in what will be the lower level seating area. The theatre holds 780.....minus whatever seats need to be removed to allow for the orchestra of course. ;)

The project leaders had hoped to have the theatre completed by June but at this point, due to unusual winter weather delays, it looks more like September. Explayarte, Coppelias, On Stage and all the other dance and performing arts schools in the region are all looking forward to having this modern, fully equipped performance space to use for their productions next winter. Certainly, the stage and backstage spaces, the lighting, sound and fly systems will give us all a lot more flexibility when it comes to the scope of the productions we all can design and launch. Its location, right off of the public transportation lines will make it accessible for Playa residents from all over the city.

The structure that will house the fly system and catwalks

Explayarte and the Municipal Government of Solidaridad: Partners in supporting the arts in Playa del Carmen

Included in the new public works projects are this new 780 seat state of the art theatre, a new building to house the Municipal offices and the Portada Maya which is the dramatic new sculpture erected in the Parque los Fundadores by the Cozumel ferry dock. Recently completed is a brand new community center in the colosio with, among other things, a covered basketball court, a fully equipped and staffed recording studio and classrooms for continuing education. There will be different classes offered for the community such as food and beverage preparation and management, sewing and clothing design and much more.

It really does appear as if this administration is doing its very best to improve the lives of the citizens it serves. Even those with a skeptical view of the workings of government can't help but agree that the Municipality of Solidaridad is leading the way toward a more transparent system in which the constituents are welcomed and encouraged to make suggestions and participate. It makes me feel very hopeful for the future of Playa del Carmen.

I moved to Mexico with my family in 2004 with the hope of offering our children a more global education and world view. Since then, we have traveled through Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, gathering friends and life experiences and learning a lot about ourselves along the way. When we are not out and about exploring, Rob and I own and operate BuyPlaya, a Playa del Carmen real estate company and FurnitureMex. "Life's a Beach" is a catch-all blog where you may find anything from restaurant reviews, to recipes, gardening tips, commentary about expat daily life, local events, information about moving to Mexico and educating children in Playa del Carmen. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Expat Interview - Susan de Lima from UNO Events & Catering

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Every week, I answer dozens of emails from people interested in moving to Playa del Carmen. While I am always happy to give my point of view....my perspective on life here as a foreigner.....I thought it might be fun and informative for "Life's a Beach" readers to get to know some more of the folks who have made the big leap into expat life. We began a series of interviews with local business people and families who have moved to Playa del Carmen whose journey may be of interest to those still in the planning stages or even those just dreaming about it. Unlike other expat interviews found on the web, we know all of these people personally. If you are planning to move to Playa del Carmen, they just may be your neighbors! We may not necessarily see eye to eye with everyone we interview but each of these interviews will be published unedited and in their entirety. As such, I imagine that this particular series will be interesting to follow and prompt quite a few comments and questions.
______________________________________________________________

This Expat Interview, the first for 2013, features Susan de Lima. Susan moved to Playa del Carmen at almost the exact same time as we did. She was one of the first people we met here in Playa, back in the good old days at Captain Dave's on 10th. We have been friends ever since, celebrating our successes and lamenting and laughing about the bumps in the road along the way. Susan is the owner of UNO Events and Catering and most recently opened UNO to Go. She is also the Head of Operations for Taste of Playa.

About you

Q: Where are you originally from?

A: The amazing country of Canada

Q: Where are you living now?

A: Playa del Carmen

Q: How long you have you lived here?

A: Since 2004

Q: Did you move with a spouse/children?

A: No, but I did make the move with a dog

Q: What made you decide to move here?

A: Many reasons....Canada is great but where I am from very cold! Due to genetics, my body does not respond well to cold climates so this seemed like the perfect place to be. My employers in Canada started a program that allowed employees to take up to a year leave of absence and return to their job. Say no more! I applied to the program and left for a year, never to return.

Q: What did you do for a living back home? What do you do here?

A: I was a prevention education consultant in my last job. When I relocated to Mexico I knew that this was not going to be something that I could continue here. I followed my passion for entertaining and cooking to become an event coordinator and caterer. More recently, I expanded this to provide my clients with home cooking to take away.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your new hometown? How's the quality of life?

A: I mostly enjoy the beach lifestyle and the fact that I now know all my neighbours and then some! Playa del Carmen, although growing rapidly, is still the quaint "small town" place that I grew to love when I first came on vacation over 15 years ago. It is a friendly, safe atmosphere where you really get to know people.

Q: How's the quality of life? Is it what you expected or have you been surprised by anything?

A: I am most surprised of how little one really needs. Downsizing from a large home to a small condo seemed daunting at first. "What about my stuff?!" Guess what, you don´t really need very much too really enjoy life and living. Bikini and sarong (sunscreen too!) and you are good to go. I have found an increase in the quality of life; especially from being around others who are doing the same.

Q: What have the downsides been in your move? The biggest challenges?

A: I would say language has been the biggest challenge. I believe it is completely up to yourself to immerse yourself in the language and culture but in Playa it is very easy not to as most people speak English. Through having a business and a desire to learn about the culture and language this has been a positive challenge. There are bureaucracies that prevail but I believe that is true in any country. Some are funny, some are ludicrous and always a topic of conversation among expats.

Q: What do you miss most about home?

A: To be honest, not much. When you live in a beautiful Caribbean place there is no shortage of visitors. I would say I miss my friends and family most from Canada but in all honesty I probably see them more with better quality of time since moving here!

About living here

Q: Which are the best places to live in this region as an expat?

A: Close to the beach! I have only lived in what is known as central Playa del Carmen where there is easy access to the beach, shops, restaurants and bars.

Q: How do you rate the standard of accommodations?

A: Depending on your budget very nice accommodations can be found here.

Q: What's the cost of living compared to home? What is cheap or expensive in particular?

A: I find it comparable to Canada. Quality clothing is expensive here and any products that are targeted to foreigners. Going out, in my opinion, is about the same to many places that I have traveled to.

Q: How would you rate the healthcare by cost and quality?

A: Being Canadian, many believe that we have the best healthcare in the world. The average Canadian pays immensely for this service which is seriously flawed. I have embraced private insurance and feel that the cost and quality is amazing. I recently had Lasik eye surgery with great success at less than half the cost in my country.

Q: What are the locals like? Do you socialize mainly with other expats or do you have a lot of Mexican friends?

A: The locals are friendly and nice. A good majority of my socializing is done with expats, however, through the years many Mexicans as well. Playa del Carmen is a somewhat unique place where even most of the Mexicans are not from here so you have a melting pot of foreigners living here and Mexicans from the entire country. This allows for interesting cultural conversations!

Q: Was it easy meeting people and making friends?

A: Yes....could be a personal thing!

Q: Do you find Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya safe?

A: Yes but within reason. I feel safer here than in many cities probably because so many people know each other here. That being said, it is a city which will have a certain level of crime.

About working here

Q: Did you have a problem getting a work visa/permit?

A: It took several months to obtain my working visa and starting a corporation. It was done with relative ease.

Q: What's the economic climate like in the city. Is there plenty of opportunity to work as an expat?

A: Business appears to be good and a constant stream of new ones opening. In my experience, I don´t believe there are many opportunities to work as an expat (except in teaching) unless you start your own business.

Q: Was it difficult to start your own business?

A: Not really. There are specific companies that assist in this for a fee and to me invaluable.

Q: Tell us about your business, UNO Events and Catering, and how it came to be?

A: During my leave of absence from Canada I knew that I did not want to go back but faced the reality of what would I do here?! I actually hosted a pool party bbq which I catered myself. Due to the friendly nature of Playa, someone brought a friend who property managed many vacation rentals who loved my food. Thus my business was born!

Q: What differences have you found between doing business here and back home? What was the most surprising difference, either positive or negative?

A: I have never had a business...always an employee so everything is new for me!

Q: What do think it takes to be successful here?

A: I believe, like anywhere else, hard work

And finally...

Q: Is there any specific advice you like to offer new expat arrivals?

A: Network, research (blogs, websites, books), volunteer, LEARN SPANISH

Q: Have you ever considered moving back to your home country and if so, why?

A: Nope

Q: What brings you the most joy and keeps you here?

A: The ocean and quality of life

Playa del Carmen Seaside - The Riviera Maya's Rotary Club for English Speakers

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:31:00 GMT

It is inarguable that Playa del Carmen is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Thousands of people move here every year from other parts of Mexico, from the United Sates, Canada and countries across the globe. Their reasons for moving to the Riviera Maya are as varied and unique as the people themselves. Some are relocated here by their employers. Some move here hoping for a simpler life. Many come to retire and live out their golden years in the comfort afforded by this warm climate. Others, seeing opportunity in this growing, vibrant economy, come to work and open businesses and raise their families here. What many of them have in common is a desire to participate in their new community and find meaningful ways to get involved with other civic-minded people. I know this because I get emails about this almost daily from expats who have settled in Playa del Carmen and are looking for community organizations which match their particular interest and skill set.

Now, Rotary Club International has chartered a new club right here in Playa del Carmen, a chapter specifically for English speakers. Rotary International (RI) is a worldwide network of clubs dedicated to making positive change in local communities and globally through "Service Above Self". Rotary Club has had chapters in Playa del Carmen for over 20 years carrying out Rotary's mission and doing good works to support the community. I have had the honor of being a guest at their meeting during the planning stages for Taste of Playa. Their meetings are conducted in Spanish, a stumbling block to inclusion for Playa's rapidly growing English speaking population whose Spanish language skills are a constant work in progress.

This new Rotary chapter, Playa del Carmen Seaside, called their first meeting to order in April 2012 with just a handful of eager residents and just 4 months later was granted their official charter by RI. It was presented to the group by the District Governor just this month at the Charter Dinner, an exciting milestone for this new club. Today, the club has 32 members and welcomes more community-minded English speaking Playa del Carmen residents to apply for membership.

Rotary promotes the commitment to "Service Above Self" and this motto conveys the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s more than 1.2 million members. In the more than 34,000 clubs worldwide, members volunteer in communities at home and abroad to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

Rotary has been in existence for over 100 years and its service is targeted on the following six areas:

Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
Disease prevention and treatment
Water and sanitation
Maternal and child health
Basic education and literacy
Economic and community development

In its very short existence the Playa del Carmen Seaside Rotary Club has already contributed to several local charitable organizations.

Casa Yoliguani, a home which provides shelter, counseling and support to pregnant girls and at risk unwed mothers.
KKiS Keeping Kids in School, a program that offers underprivileged children the ability to stay in school longer by providing school supplies and uniforms. Volunteers from the Seaside Rotary Club also come into the classrooms to read to the children in English every week.
Christmas Dreams, a local initiative to bring Christmas gifts to special needs children and non-perishable food items and warm blankets to needy elders in the community.

So, today I throw my hat into the ring. I have officially petitioned to be a member of the Playa del Carmen Seaside Rotary Club! I have found a willing sponsor...thank you Bob...and am following the process to become a member as detailed in the constitutional documents of Rotary International. I am attending my second meeting today where among other things I will fill out an official application. My application is then presented to the Board of Directors on Feb. 4 and then posted for the consideration of the group for the next two week. Barring any objections, I should be Playa del Carmen Seaside Rotary Club's 33rd member within the month!

Aside from the excellent commitment to community support and outreach, which is what attracted me to the organization in the first place, I was particularly taken with the Rotary "Four Way Test" with which Rotary members are asked to self-govern their thoughts, words and actions in keeping with Rotary vision. As we go about our daily lives..... in all we think, say and do.......the "Four Way Test" asks us to take pause and ask ourselves:

Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Seems like a pretty good thing for us all to keep in mind, doesn't it?

If you are interested in joining the Playa del Carmen Seaside Rotary Club or if you are just looking for more information about the group and its activities, contact acting President Bob Hyde via email at bobrotarypdcseaside@gmail.com. The best way to get to know Rotary is to attend a meeting. Guests are welcome, especially visiting Rotarians from around the world. The Playa del Carmen Seaside Chapter meets every Tuesday from 12:30pm - 2:00pm at Origenes Restaurant in the Pueblito Escondido building on calle 38 near the beach. Lunch is 120 mn and includes a choice of 2 entrees and an unlimited iced tea and lemonade. The Rotary fellowship is free.

Doesn't this look like a fun group!

Learn Spanish in 3 Days - Locals DISCOUNT!

Rob Kinnon — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 11:00:00 GMT

Start the New Year off right by .....Learning Spanish in 3 Days!

Learn Spanish in 3 Days in a fun and easy way with frequency modulation rapid learning techniques
This course is based on the teachings of Dr. Georgi Lozanov and is not about memorization.
Don't miss the next Puerto Aventuras Class - January 30, 31 and Feb. 1st, 2013.

The course is regularly priced at $699/person $899/couple but Suzanne and Shawn are extending a special invitation to locals at the reduced rate of just $299/person or $499/couple!

A few "Spanish in 3 Days" Testimonials:

"I took this incredible class a few weeks ago, and I would like to tell anyone that is interested, that it is an amazing three days of learning with lots of laughs included. You arrive everyday wanting to learn more and are so excited to do so."
"The stress free atmosphere and tons of interaction and participation were very conducive to learning. The relaxation techniques alone are worth the price. The fact that I can now feel more comfortable conversing in Spanish is priceless. To Shawn and Suzanne, thank you so much. You are wonderful teachers. I learned so much. Muchas, muchas gracias."
"Really enjoyed the class and learned a lot......... I like the relaxed speed and learning atmosphere. The presentation made learning easy."

About Your Instructors - Suzanne and Shawn Bandick

In 2001 on a quest for adventure and a change of culture we packed up our two kids, and moved from Vernon, B.C. to Mexico. Our children, now young adults and in search of their own adventure and careers have moved back to Kelowna but we keep a home base in Puerto Aventuras on the Caribbean coast of Mexico just south of Cancun.

In Canada, we built and trained sales and marketing teams for companies. We traveled extensively for business and with our children for pleasure. Then came the question, why do we work so hard just so we can go travel? Why don't we just go and live abroad? Two years later we were liquidated down to what would fit in our Toyota 4 runner and headed south. Once in Mexico, Shawn opened a real estate office which was another fun adventure making tons of new friends and helping them live their dreams. Suzanne became a writer and a life coach.

Special Discounted New Year's Resolution Rate: $299/person or $499/couple
Date: January 30, 31 and Feb. 1st, 2013
Time: 9AM - 5PM each day
Place: Puerto Aventuras
What to Bring: A pen, a sweater in case the room is cool for you and an open mind. (Please no computer or cellular phones on during classes)
What is included: The complete class lesson book to take home, the lesson recordings and relaxation exercises (bring a memory stick if possible). Coffee, tea and water at break times. Lunch on your own will be 2 hours each day. There are many restaurants close by to choose from.

For full details visit http://www.spanishin3days.weebly.com or email Suzanne - sswinbiz@hotmail.com.

KKiS Needs Volunteer Readers! Can You Help?

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:01:00 GMT

For the past couple of weeks, KKiS (Keeping Kids in School) has fallen way short of the number of folks they need to help teach English to first, second and third graders at Pelopides School. Yesterday they had only eight people, roughly half of what's needed.

Would you please consider volunteering to help them out? It's only an hour, on Wednesday afternoons, and it's a fun an rewarding experience. The kids eagerly look forward to it, and it's a shame to see them disappointed.

Need more info? Need a ride? Contact Gayle (sgcollins@charter.net, Janet (jlowepots@gmail.com), or Trish (pyoungstrum@gmail.com).