Search results matching tags 'Family Life', 'Playa del Carmen ', and '2009'

Papalote Visits Rancho Guadalupana and The Club Hipico

435836 — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Recently, Cole's class at Papalote took a field trip to visit Rancho Guadalupana and the local riding club in Playa del Carmen. The students were greeted by club owner and well regarded instructor Francisco (Paco) Mogallon who toured the group through the facilities and introduced them to a few of the four legged residents of this small property. Quite a few of the animals had been rescued by Paco and his friends and brought back to the ranch for rehabilitation and love. Shakira, the three legged dog certainly got her fair share of love with all the visiting children as did Popcorn, the pony abandoned by a traveling circus on Holbox! Most of the horses there are privately owned and boarded there by local riding enthusiasts, some put into service in the local Equine Therapy program, designed to address the need for alternative therapies for children with physical and developmental disabilities. Cole and his friends all learned about caring for the horses and then, two by two, were allowed to take a turn riding one of the quiet majestic beasts. I think for some of the children, it was their first time on a horse and the experience was obviously thrilling!

After a quick lunch break, the group moved on and meandered through the paths, under a canopy of trees, viewing a small collection of regional animals, both exotic and domesticated, that the owners of Rancho Guadalupana have collected over the years. The adults in attendance took a dim view of the small cages and litter strewn about the property but the children had eyes only for the animals who, while obviously bored to tears in their cramped quarters, appeared well fed and healthy.

It was a fun day for the children and while I question the example being set to them by the owners of the makeshift zoo, the trip to the riding school was a great experience. Those of us who grew up riding at posh stables in the US and Europe will be put off by the appearance of the barns and out-buildings that comprize the school, but if you look further you will find well cared for and loved animals in clean stalls with fresh bedding. Paco and his staff are clearly keeping the best interest of the horses and other barn critters in their hearts and minds everyday and I look forward to our next visit...most likely as students!

Sustainable Saturdays Continue at Ak Lu'um

435836 — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:00 GMT

Join us on Saturday February 13th 10am - 3pm for the next workshop in the series, "Sustainable Saturdays ' at Ak Lu'um International School. This month, learn the techniques to effective Organic Gardening. The workshops will include: How to make good compost, How to start plants from seed and transplant seedlings, How to create and maintain a "Biointensive" garden bed and more. Everyone is welcome to come and learn how to protect our environment and contribute to a healthy lifestyle!

$250 pesos/adult - $100 pesos/child - Lunch is included

Funds benefit Ak Lu'um International School.

"Hope for Haiti" Benefit in Playa del Carmen a Huge Success

435836 — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:06:00 GMT

Yesterday afternoon, the beach in front of Wicky's Restaurant in Playa del Carmen was the place to be for great BBQ and live music! The fundraiser, "Hope for Haiti", benefiting, Doctors Without Borders, was hosted by Wicky's, attracting hundreds of local residents and visitors alike. Many came to enjoy the excellent buffet presented by Head Chef Collin Kelley, others came to enjoy the beach and the entertainment provided by J.J. and The Nasty Bastards Band, Chris Bolister, Brent Parkin, Mike Grabow, Barefoot Skinny and Gary with his Gringos Perdidos! The weather was not as cooperative as we would have liked with persistent wind gusts forcing the BBQ line up inside, but the sun was shining bright and everyone in attendance had a great time. I was pretty busy at the ticket table selling t-shirts and buffet passes and I did not get to take as many pictures as I wanted to during the height of the party, but I did a chance to snap a few shots here and there. Kay Walten in Akumal has some great pictures from their "Hope for Haiti" Akumal event posted as well with more to follow I am certain.

I heard so many nice compliments throughout the day,about the food, the location and the music. It really was a terrific event and I was proud to be involved. It was nice to see so many people come out to show their support and I appreciate each and everyone of you who took the time to attend. I should have the final numbers for the day tallied soon and will post them on the "Hope for Haiti" Facebook Event Page. There are a lot of people to thank for their assistance in the organization and execution of this event and I will endeavor to name as many as I can in no particular order:

Many thanks to Kay and Gary Walten of www.LocoGringo.com, Damon Gerke, General Manager, Collin Kelley, Head Chef and Linda Burchette, Director of Sales and Marketing for Wicky's Restaurant. Also, thanks to Nicola Inwood and Dave Tomlinson from Hotel Tropical Casablanca and Abyss Dive Center, Rob Kinnon and Glenn Harris, Jeff Johnson and all the talented musicians who gave their time and talents to the day and Cheryl, Aurora and Mitch who helped me throughout the event. Thanks also to the local vendors and food purveyors who donated product to the event so we could keep our costs low. They include Comercial Norte Americana, Deli Playa, Artisenal Swiss Breads, Dac, Exim del Caribe, Pacsadeli, Corona and Coca Cola. Special thanks to "Bob" the winner of the 50/50 raffle who donated all of the $3000 pesos back to Doctors Without Borders.

If you were unable to attend yesterday's event but would still like to make a donation, you may do so securely, by credit card, through our "Hope for Haiti" Donation Page. There are also t-shirts still available which can be purchased at Hotel Tropical Casablanca on 1st Ave. next to the Abyss Dive Shop and the Dirty Martini Lounge. They are $200 pesos a piece with all proceeds going to the charity.

2nd Annual Think Green Eco-Expo a Great Success!

435836 — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:49:00 GMT

Over thirty Riviera Maya businesses and organizations turned out to display their eco-friendly wares and spread the word about environmental responsibility at the 2nd annual Think Green Eco-Expo. Covering several blocks of Playa del Carmen's world famous 5th Avenue, this year's festival was expertly organized and executed by event coordinators Melissa Meno and Courtney Venus. Businesses providing all-natural bath and beauty products, organic food producers, and restaurants shared the spotlight with distributors of products made with recycled materials, solar and wind power companies and designers of self sustainable housing solutions and bamboo furnishings. Parque la Ceiba and the Riviera Maya's first eco-friendly school, Ak Lu'um, had delightful workshop areas set up with an array of fun projects and hand craft instructors and even a pizza dough making station to keep little heads and hands busy while parents enjoyed the wide variety of exhibits. This second annual Eco Expo was sponsored by Agua San Andres, Sandos Eco Resort, Alltournative and Ideas del Mar with special thanks to Lenin Amaro, the municipal director of economic development. Funds raised will go to support ongoing projects from the eco group MOCE Yax Cuxtal and "Huertos Organicos Urbanos" organized by the Municipality of Solidaridad.

Siobhan Bowers, faculty leader for Ak Lu'um International School served up homemade muffins.

Leo, aka DJ Somos, spinning cool tunes to entertain the guests and exhibitors.

The staff from Parque la Ceiba

Arts and crafts for children

Event Coordinator, Courtney Venus and friend

Organic honey and coffee

A family affair, Alex Meno offering tasty mini Chicago Style pizzas!

The kids learn origami from the teachers at Ak Lu'um School

Teacher and Chef, Sara Moen makes pizza dough with the kids

Faculty leader Gabriela Nunez and supporter Gabi Waldert man the Ak Lu'um table

Alicia Meno shows of the fabulous bags from Tote le Monde

Eco friendly soaps and cleansers

Tiffany Rothe and friends from Playa del Carmen's famous Center 8 Studio

Adorable t-shirts fro Eco Kids

Stacy Koeckeritz,owner of Bambu Sur and the organizer of Playa's Sustainable Saturday Workshops

Beautiful and sustainable Bamboo furniture and accessories

Meat free, soy free meals from Playa Raw

Renato and Christian, the handsome and talented chef and owner from Zabor Restaurant!

The energetic and effervescent Melissa Meno, event coordinator and super cool chica!

Big Love for Playa Legend Captain Dave

435836 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:48:00 GMT

A few days ago, many Playa del Carmen residents,including our family, received a message from Miss Sarah, Captain Dave's sister up in Memphis Tennessee. It seems after a battery of tests, doctors have discovered that our favorite pirate has small cell cancer that has taken up residence in various areas of his body. Captain Dave is one of our oldest and most fascinating friends in Playa and we have no doubt that he will fight this battle with his everything he's got. According to my pal John, Memphis is home to some of the best cancer research and care facilities in the country and our dear friend Dave is in the best possible hands with the oncologists at The West Clinic.

So, while the Captain is up north of the border fighting the good fight, we are all down here in Playa sending our prayers and most positive energies in his direction. Last night, the bar was packed at Bad Boys. Everyone coming together to see how they might help and support Dave while he is away. It was a great night with Chris Bolister taking the stage to play all of our old favorites, songs that evoke fond memories of all the good times we have shared together at both Captain Dave's on 10th and Bad Boys Beach Bar.

Dave, if you are reading this, get yourself better and get back down here! We look forward to making many more memories with you. Until then,we will all be keeping an eye on things for you and taking lots of pictures for you to enjoy! I didn't bother this time to name everyone present. Consider the collective caption for all the pictures to read "People who love Captain Dave". Big love and hugs from all of us in Playa del Carmen and from all your fans scattered across the globe!

Wednesday, Women and Wine Holiday Bazaar

435836 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:21:00 GMT

This past Wednesday evening the ladies of Wednesday, Women and Wine hosted a special holiday bazaar at Coffee Cafe on 34th Street and 5th Avenue. Members and friends of this social networking group were on hand promoting their businesses, selling homemade gifts, and sharing business ideas and opportunities! Coffee Café offered the participants and guests discounts on wine and food and kept us well served throughout the evening. It was a lovely evening with lots of delightful handmade items like sandles, jewlery, clothes and bags. It was also a great way to make new friends and support the local business women in Playa del Carmen.

Here are some pictures from the Holiday Bazaar. Forgive me for not having everyone's names. I'll do the best I can!

Soraya, Marci and Ellen of Yoga By the Way

Jaqui with Conceptos Interiors and Graphics

The ladies from Tote le Monde, Courtney and Melissa

Tracy of Dimensions in Glass and Monica of Latido de Mexico Vacation Rentals

Cassandra with Tiffany from Center 8 Studio.

Ivonne with her beautiful sandals and jewelry. Gabi from Playa Rentals in shopping heaven!

The ladies from Luna Azul. Great handmade clothes, accessories and childrens' toys

Jenyfer and her colorful woven hand bags and totes.

I just love these fanciful earrings made from flower petals!

Julie and friends checking out fancy shoes and baubles.

Cassandra with Libby from In the Roo

AMAZING jewelry from LALO all cast from resin! No pictures can do them justice.

Sally, Tracy and Cassandra and friend. See, I told you I don't know everyone!

Kat of Cat Eye Creations and friend

Colorful woven shawls and decorated totes.

Karena, Marci and Soraya

The lovely Kristin from Bric International and Annabel.

If you are already a member of the Wednesday, Women with Wine club, please feel free to invite other wonderful women or bring them with you to the next gathering.The next event will be held on December 2, 2009. Location to be announced on the Riviera Maya Events Calendar. If you haven't attended a Wednesday, Women and Wine function and are interested in participating, please contact event organizer Kristin Roehmer at kristin[at]bricrental.com. Hope to see you there!

Interplaya Youth League Bests Tepeyac 5-1

435836 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:57:00 GMT

In a rather surprising and spirited match up, the hodge-podge group of youngsters that makes up the Interplaya community youth team outscored the team from Colegio Tepeyac 5 -1. With just a few weeks of practice under their belts, this group, comprised of boys from schools all over Playa del Carmen, really gave it their all and pulled out the win under the lights at the Villanueva Stadium in downtown Playa del Carmen. I'm really not sure who was more excited, the players or the parents who sat and cheered from the bleechers in multiple languages, demonstrating once again the fabulous multi-cultural demographic of this eclectic beach town.

It was a bit dark and I got pretty caught up in the match, but here are a few shots from the evening.

The team is still accepting players. If your young sons, ages 6 - 13, are interested in participating, read here for more information or simply come to the stadium office on the corner of Calle 34 and Ave. 20 to sign up.

Long Term Rentals in Playa del Carmen

435836 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:52:00 GMT

The excitement of moving to a foreign country does not come without a host of challenges to overcome. Learning a new language, adjusting to a new job, a new culture, making new friends can be difficult and frustrating at times. One of the most stressful decisions you can make when trying to settle in a new country is finding a place to call home. Regardless of the length of your extended stay, whether it be for a few months or a few years, trying to identify and secure a long term rental remotely, with no opportunity to actually SEE the property before you commit to it, requires patience, due diligence and a certain amount of good faith. Finding an agent to assist you and act on your behalf can make the difference between an easy, smooth transition and one that results in a less than ideal living situation.

When Rob and I moved to Playa del Carmen with our young family, five years ago, we had a leg up on the process. Our partner and his wife had moved here a few months earlier and settled in well. They were able to find a great house for us and had it ready to move into by the time we arrived. Finding the right house, in the right area helped us to adapt quickly to our new way of life and assimilate quickly into the community. For this reason, we take the process of house hunting for our clients, very seriously. It must be undertaken thoroughly and with great care and sensitivity to each individual customer.

Whether you have visited Playa del Carmen before or you are coming for the first time, you will want to have a representative here, to scout out the various neighborhoods, look for rental properties, take pictures and relay the information to you in a timely manner. Because the Playa del Carmen vacation rental market is so strong, owners are often reticent to commit to a long term rental at a discounted rate. Many owners use their properties personally throughout the year, making it impossible to consider a long term tenant. While there are probably hundreds of villas and condominiums in the city being rented on an extended term, (generally meaning 6-12 months, sometimes as few as 3-4 months), the vast majority of these properties will never hit the open market as we know it. Playa is a small city with a very strong expat network. Good, well located, well priced rentals are easily filled as soon as they are vacated simply through word of mouth with no need for agency promotion. For this reason, as you initiate your search for a long term rental in Playa del Carmen, you may be surprised just how few you will find listed on the internet. It takes a tremendous amount of legwork on the part of an agent to find, photograph and post these listings. Most real estate brokerages have neither the time nor the manpower to invest in an activity that generates very little profit in comparison to sales.

When you do find and agent who will represent you, one who cooperates with the better, more reputable property management companies in Playa del Carmen, be sure to supply them with as much information as you can about yourself and your specific needs. A retired snowbird couple looking to relax for a few months will have different needs than a single person coming here to work or start a business. A family with young children will have different considerations than a couple with none. The more detailed information you can provide to your agent, the better job he or she will be able to do working on your behalf. When communicating with a rental agent for the first time, you will want to keep in mind the following criteria:

Dates of Stay: When are you planning to arrive and how long are you planning to stay. If you have some flexibility in your arrival date, be sure to say so. Being able to adjust your travel dates by even a few days may mean the difference between securing a great rental rather than one that is just "so-so". Rental rates will often vary depending on the season you are arriving and how many months you are staying. A 12 month lease will guarantee you the lowest possible rates.

Location: Are you a country mouse or a city mouse? Playa del Carmen may not have much to offer the true country mouse but that does not mean you can't find a rental with nice gardens and green space. If these things are important to you, say so! If you are looking for a stand along house or villa, your choices will be limited to Playacar and similar gated communities that have sprung up all along the Riviera Maya in the past few years. Playacar in particular is popular with families concerned about having plenty of space for their children to run, bike and make friends. Many newcomers love Playacar for the access to the Reef Beach Club and the reduced greens fees at Playacar's Golf Club. If you are a city person, there are various neighborhoods to consider as well. Be sure to ask what the demographic of the area is when you are considering a particular unit.

Budget: While there are certainly exceptions and rental rates will vary somewhat by area, you can expect to pay at very least $400 usd for a studio apartment, $700 usd for a one bedroom, $800 usd for a two bedroom and $1800 usd for a three bedroom condo or villa. These prices are representative of what is currently available, east of the highway, in this market, right now. These numbers represent rates for rental properties in areas generally considered favorable by foreigners moving to Playa del Carmen. Naturally, the closer to the beach a property is, the more expensive the rental rate. Unless specifically noted, most rentals do not include utilities. You may find a few owners who will include gas, water and internet but electricity is almost always separate. While everyone's usage will vary, electricity is expensive here in Playa. Renters coming for the winter months may not need to run the air conditioning very much and thus, avoid outrageous charges. Summer visitors should definitely keep electricity in mind when creating their household budget.

Pets: Many, many people these days are bringing their pets along even just for extended stays of 3-4 months. Finding owners who will accept pets in their home is quite a challenge. Expect your choices to be limited and expect to pay a separate pet deposit on top of the regular and customary damage deposit (generally the equivalent of one month rent). Dogs are not permitted on the beaches here in Playa, nor are they allowed in cabs or buses. That being said, most of Playa del Carmen and by extension, Playacar, is fairly pet friendly. Dogs can often be seen with their owners in offices, bars and restaurants. Once you find a pet friendly long term rental, if you clean up after them in public and make sure your pets are well house trained and socialized, you should have no trouble at all.

Amenities: Once you have started communicating with a long term rental agent, be sure to let them know what amenities and features may be important to you in a possible new home. If you or anyone in your family has mobility issues, we sure to ask for a ground level unit or one accessible by an elevator. Many buildings in Playa del Carmen are not handicapped accessible. Make sure your agent knows if you have any physical limitations to consider. Pet owners may also prefer a ground floor unit. Taking Fido up and down the stairs from your penthouse may get old after a few weeks. Television, either via cable or satellite, seems to be available in most rental properties these days but internet is still hit or miss. Be sure to confirm that the specific unit your are renting has internet already or that it can easily be set up or activated once you arrive. Pools are always high on the "most wanted" list for long term and vacation renters and with good cause. Many. residential complexes have large common pools maintained for the use of owners and guests. Even the newer condominium buildings in town are including pools, roof top and otherwise, in their designs. If you intend to use the pool for exersize, be sure to clarify the depth and length with your agent. Laundry facilities are a huge plus for long term renters. If there are no facilities either in the unit itself or onsite, be sure to find how how far away is good "lavandaria" is. Parking is nearly always available in Playacar and in the newer condominium complexes in town. If you are bringing a vehicle or plan to purchase one here, make sure the units you are considering have parking, especially if you are living in downtown Playa.

In the past three months, we have been contacted by over twenty individuals, couples and families who are planning a move, some permanent, some temporary, to Playa del Carmen. Each of these customers has a specific list of needs and desires in regard to housing and each of these details needs to be taken into account as we search for their new home. In each case, we do our very best to match up each customer with the villa or condo that is best for them based on the criteria we have been given. If you are considering a move to Playa del Carmen, make sure you have carefully though through your needs and those of your family. Look at your lifestyle choices and your social habits, both those you have now and perhaps new ones you may wish to adopt in your new host country. Always keeping in mind WHY you are moving to a new country will play a great part in the house hunting process and help to assure that you find the home that is right for you and your family.

Are you looking for a long term rental in Playa del Carmen? Feel free to contact us and also check out our Long Term Rental listings on www.BuyPlaya.com.

Parades Just HAPPEN in Playa del Carmen

435836 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:00:00 GMT

One of the many fun, and often confusing aspects of life in Playa del Carmen is the preponderance of small parades that just pop up at seemingly random times. I can't tell you how many times I have been in town, running errands or picking up dinner, and happened upon a small but festive celebration of one kind or another. I like parades with all the fancy costumes and music so when this happens I enjoy the serendipity of the moment but also ponder why it is I never hear about any of these event ahead of time. There are certainly enough people participating to make the parade worthy of some sort of announcement. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places. But as I look around at my fellow bystanders, all equally confused, I realize I am not alone with my frustrations. As always, there is no way to readily tell WHAT the parade is for and so, while I enjoy a glass of wine and wait for my sushi, I chat up a local beat cop about what the occasion is. Apparently, this is one of several small gatherings to celebrate "mes patria", the month in which the independence of Mexico is celebrated. Luckily, I had my camera on hand because...well...you just never now what you will see in Playa el Carmen!

Mexican Independence Day in Playa del Carmen

435836 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:05:00 GMT

Mexico is a proud country. Even here in Playa del Carmen, a diverse, young city with a melange of residents, from all walks of life and from all over Mexico, on this day they are all one. At 11:00 pm a cacophony of sound and noise is magically orchestrated into one single voice, a voice shouting "Viva Mexico"! And so it was last night as our family stood amongst the crowds in the Municipal Plaza, done up smartly in red, white and green lights, the perfect dramatic backdrop for el Presidente to make his speech and stir the spectators.Thousands and thousands of people turned out for the annual address from the President of Solidaridad, Roman Quian Alcocer and "El Grito", the traditional war cry of independence signifying Mexico's freedom from Spanish Colonial authorities. Everywhere we looked there were balloons, flags and colorful costumes. Truly this is the fiesta of all fiestas and an exciting experience to take part in.

Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico! Viva Mexico!

(Poor Aunt Jill) Lifting the kids to get a better view. We got more than a few second looks and a few "thumbs up" as my kids know both the state and national anthem by heart!

How much do you love the sombero de sandia??

Of course, what would any Independence Day be without fireworks?!

A traditional band was playing but at this late hour we didn't have the energy to push through the throng for a better view.

Off to the vendors...personally, my favorite part of any community festival.

Fried yum yums of all sorts.

Our gardener, Edgar, and his pals living it up. They will sleep well tomorrow and my new lawn will go un-watered.

The churro extruder and hot oil set up. Yummm.

The best seats in the house.

Fanciful blown glass animals.

El artist.

Taco meat of all types.

Happy but tired, Cole with agua de sandia and churros.

After a last minute, late night stop at Mayte's place, it was off to bed for all of us after a wonderful family night on the town. I can only imagine what next year will bring as we celebrate Mexico's bicentennial!!

I've taken a few videos which I will post as soon as I can get them up on YouTube, but let's not hold our breath on this one, ok?