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12 Days/12 Ways 2012 - KKIS (Keeping Kids in School) Playa del Carmen

For the past few years, a caring group of Playa del Carmen residents and frequent flyers banded together to help spread a bit of Christmas joy to the less fortunate children of our region. In December 2011 this program, now known as "Christmas Dreams Playa" was able to provide gifts for over 200 children who might otherwise receive no present at all for the holidays. Read More...
Posted Friday, December 14, 2012 5:00 AM by Rob Kinnon | 2 Comments

Winter Solstice in the Mayan Jungle

The Winter Solstice, also known by some as Yule or Saturnalia, generally falls on December 21 or 22. It celebrates the birth of the new solar year and marks the beginning of winter. Taking place on the longest, darkest night of the year, this is a time when we must reflect inward to find our own inner light. This is also a festival of inner renewal and spiritual rebirth. Many of the customs, lore, symbols, and rituals now associated with the modern "Christmas" actually are linked to Winter Solstice celebrations of ancient Pagan cultures. Both Christian mythology and older Pagan customs are evident in modern day holiday observances. Read More...
Posted Wednesday, December 21, 2011 6:20 PM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Pony Camp in Playa del Carmen!

Monday morning, my kids jumped feet first into their summer vacation, arriving bright and early at the barn for the first day of Pony Camp. Trainer and club owner Paco Magellon has been running this camp during the school vacations and it is something all the young riders in Playa del Carmen look forward to. Paco is so terrific with the kids and he has passed this special gift along to his son Diego who will be assisting him during this summer session. Monday is a day off for the horses so this morning the group learned how to groom a horse from nose to tail. "Brisa" was a patient subject, standing quietly while each of the children took a turn currying, brushing and picking hooves. The kids started to learn a bit about the anatomy of the horse and how to care for these majestic beasts. Later on in the day, as the temperature soared, they all cooled off in the cenote! Read More...
Posted Tuesday, July 5, 2011 6:00 AM by Rob Kinnon | 1 Comments

May Day Celebration at Ak Lu'um School

May Day is celebrated in countries all over the world in festivals that draw their origins in the ancient pre-Christian fertility rites practiced by the Romans honoring the Spring Goddess, Flora. The elements of the modern May Day festival take their root in Medieval times and include music, games, parades, dancing and of course, the ubiquitous maypole. Traditionally festooned with bright Spring flowers and strung with colorful ribbons, participants each take a ribbon and in a choreographed pattern weave them around and down as they dance or skip around the pole. Read More...
Posted Sunday, May 8, 2011 6:37 PM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Scolastic (SEP) Calendar in Mexico 2010-2011

Easter is WHEN this year? If you are like me you may be surprised to learn that Easter falls on April 24 in 2011. That is considerably later in the month than we have grown accustomed to. Those of you with school age children in Mexico who generally plan a major family vacation around this holiday will want to take that into consideration. Likewise, those of you in the tourism industry will want to prepare for a later high season than usual and make the appropriate adjustments in your budget and staffing needs. The official school break for semana santa, according to the government, will be April 21 - 30 2011. This will apply to students in both public and private institutions. Read More...
Posted Thursday, October 21, 2010 7:00 AM by Rob Kinnon | 0 Comments

Ak Lu'um International School - Holiday Wishlist

As a non-profit school, Ak Lu'um International School is always in need of donations. We asked the school to compile a Wish List in case any of us would like to give a little something. Attached is the list we received. Some of these items may already Read More...
Posted Saturday, December 19, 2009 9:00 AM by Rob Kinnon | 3 Comments

Celebration of The Winter Solstice at Ak lu'um International School

One of the advantages of having our children in both of the Waldorf Schools in Playa del Carmen is that we get to participate in two different festival schedules. El Papalote held their Posada for the preschool earlier this week and, last night, Ak Lu'um Read More...
Posted Saturday, December 20, 2008 8:22 PM by Rob Kinnon | 5 Comments

Celebration of "La Posada" at Papalote School

Christmas for Mexicans, in traditional homes and rural areas, is a religious holiday. For better or worse, families in Playa del Carmen, Mexican or otherwise, seem to have adopted a decidedly “Americanized” version of this holiday. This year, Read More...
Posted Tuesday, December 16, 2008 12:42 PM by Rob Kinnon | 1 Comments

"Happy" Halloween?

I'm not big on Halloween. There. I've said it. I wish I was like all my pals in Playa who plan and prepare their costumes 364 days a year in anticipation of October 31st. I love looking at all the pictures from the parties and marvel at the creativity Read More...
Posted Saturday, November 1, 2008 11:38 AM by Rob Kinnon | 2 Comments

Welcoming Autumn in Playa del Carmen

Life in a tropical climate comes with a host of challenges. The scorching sun, the heat, the unrelenting humidity all take some getting used to. (We’re not even going to begin the BUG discussion) After four years, our blood has certainly thinned Read More...
Posted Monday, September 29, 2008 4:11 PM by Rob Kinnon | 7 Comments