Cozumel, Mexico

Mexico a boomers guide

COZUMEL The ancient Mayans had many gods but only one Goddess..... This is how our first DVD we have just finished...started!

It was only a year ago. I was sitting in my living room waiting to go to work, when Rick Bayless “One Plate at a Time” came on and completely changed my life.

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Club Cozumel Caribe Mexico, a Boomer’s Guide

My name is Susan Ayers. I’m a bartender at a funky little restaurant in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles. There is nothing in my background that would equip me for what I had in mind.

Here was my concept.....I wanted to create a Travel/Cooking show featuring the beauty and diversity of the different regions of Mexico. From the white sand and crystal clear water of the Caribbean sea in the Riviera Maya...... to the mystical deserts of the Baja. We would travel to Mexico and go to the lesser known places such as Holbox and Isla Mujeres.

Cozumel Beach Photo by Matt Berger from Mexico, a Boomers Guide.

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We could swim with the dolphins or even the whale sharks. We could snorkel in Cozumel!!!.

The possibilities are endless. DVD’s, CD”s (I’ll get to this later in my story) Cook Books. We can bring Mexico home to your house, sharing our favorite pics and mouth watering recipes with you to prepare at your own Fiesta...... How to start?

Within a week I had my plan and approached “mi amiga” Leslie. Leslie Stewart is a Home Birth Mid-Wife and Nurse Practitioner. I can see that you might wonder why I would make this particular choice. Well, Leslie and I travel to Mexico every chance we get. Leslie also happens to be a one woman Mexico tourism aficionado and gourmet chef. Am I lucky or what?

Mexico has a very diverse and sophisticated culinary history. It’s a mixture of Indigenous, European and Middle Eastern cuisine and ingredients. Every region has it’s own unique style.

Cozumel Mexico, a Boomer’s Guide

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For example rather than spicy, the Yucatan region uses the natural sweetness from Achiote, a seasoning made from the annatto seed. One very unique and traditional dish from this region is “Cochinita Pibil”, a dish that involves marinating pork in the achiote, wrapping it in banana leaves and cooking it slowly under the ground for many hours. I want to do this!!! In fact I DID make this dish..... YUM!!

Did you know the Mexicans gave the world chocolate? Just for THAT we should celebrate Mexico!

Speaking of chocolate.... Mole is a rich chocolate tinged sauce and is considered a unique feature of Mexico’s culinary heritage. The story goes that it came from the pre-hispanic times. and that the Aztec king, Moctezuma served it to Cortes, mistaking the conquistadors for gods.

Mole comes from the Nahuatl word (Aztec language) “milli” which means concoction. Mexican cuisine is very colorful, using a variety of spices and chiles.

Dia de las Cruces Photo by Mario Castellanos

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Mexico a boomers guide

COZUMEL So back to my story......., With Leslie on board I just needed three more people, who just happened to be our traveling buddies. Mario Castellanos, a photographer and now our budding director.

Jorge Sanchez and Matt Berger known as “The Berger/Sanchez Project” two young and amazing musicians to write the Soundtrack of Mexico. Quite a big job...., but believe me they are just the guys to do it!!! Jorge doubles as our computer geek and Matt is Chef extraordinaire. If there’s any “carne” to be grilled. Matt’s your man!!! Thus was the birth of “Mexico A Boomers Guide” Now true not all of us are “Boomers” some are quite a bit younger. We don’t hold that against them!!

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Coral Princess Photo by Mario Castellanos

So here we are ....... in beautiful Cozumel. Cozumel is Mexico’s largest island 30 (48k) miles long and 10 miles (16k) wide. This Island is well known to divers and snorkelers. I read somewhere that Cozumel has a Mexican heart with a Caribbean soul. I like that!! More importantly this is the home of the Mayan Goddess Ixchel the mother of all the Mayan gods. Goddess of the sea, Goddess of the moon, Goddess of fertility. Cozumel is her sanctuary!!!!

Coral Princess Photo by Mario Castellanos

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Mexico a boomers guide COZUMEL Gourmet

Our

first DVD “Cozumel Island of the Goddess” is now completed. You can even find it on Amazon. I think I can safely say “You’ve come along way baby”! The Berger/Sanchez Project (and a few of our other friends) came through with a great soundtrack. Here’s my point in telling you all this!! Not to sound like a Nike commercial but “Just do It”. When there’s something deep in your heart you would like to do but you say I could never do that. YOU CAN!!! The question is..... what is my first step.... and then don’t look back.

I hope you will enjoy our video, the recipes and music all inspired by the Goddess Ixchel and her beautiful Island of Cozumel. Stay tuned for our next adventure to the northern Baja region of Mexico that is home to a mythical queen. The Queen of California ......... Visit our website, www. mexicoaboomersguide.com Hasta Luego!!!!

Leslie 86 86 Photo by Mario Castellanos

Posole de Mariscos Photo by Mario Castellanos 87 87

)MAGES OF #OZUMEL -EXICO

-ARIO #ASTELLANOS 0HOTOGRAPHER

h)T S ABOUT THE LIGHT )T S ALL ABOUT THE LIGHT 4HAT S WHAT GETS ME UP IN THE MORNINGv DECLARES -ARIO WHEN ) INTERVIEWED HIM IN HIS ,OS !NGELES HOME -ARIO WAS BORN IN ,A 0ALMA -ICHOACAN -EXICO BUT GREW UP IN %AST ,OS !NGELES -ARIO PURCHASED HIS lRST CAMERA A +ODAK )NSTAMATIC AT THE AGE OF NINE FROM THE MONEY HE SAVED SELLING PAPERS WITH HIS OLDER BROTHER "ERTO (E PICKED UP A CAMERA AGAIN AT THE AGE OF !S TYPICAL TEENAGER HE ATTENDED HIS FAVORITE LOCAL CONCERTS ARMED WITH HIS NEW USED MM 3,2 0ENTAX h) LOVED MUSICv AND AS A BUDDING GARAGE BAND DRUMMER HIMSELF HE SAYS h) WANTED TO BRING THE MEMORIES HOME WITH ME YOU KNOW THERE WASN T -46 OR MUSIC VIDEOS AT THAT TIMEv (E ALSO ENROLLED HIMSELF IN AN EVENING PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS AT -OUNT 3AN !NTONIO -ARIO SAID h ACTUALLY IT WAS IN THIS CLASS THAT ) SAW MY lRST PRINT COME TO LIFE ) WAS HOOKEDv !ROUND THIS TIME HIS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER #HARITY WAS BORN SO HE FAST FORWARDS YEARS AND -ARIO SAYS HE WAS WORKING AS A PHOTOGRAPHER S ASSISTANT ON COMMERCIAL SHOOTS !S FATE WOULD HAVE IT AN ART DIRECTOR ON ONE OF THE SHOOTS REALLY LIKED HIS WORK AND HIRED HIM AS THE PHOTOGRAPHER ON MANY OF HIS ALBUM PROJECTS -ARIO HAS WORKED ON MANY COMMERCIAL PROJECTS FROM #OLLECTIVE 3OUL TO )CE #UBE 2EGGAE AND 'OSPEL TO #OUNTRY AND 7ESTERN #URRENTLY -ARIO DOES FREELANCE PROJECTS AND HAS BEGUN DIRECTING (E SAYS HE IS PRESENTLY LAUNCHING HIS NEW WEBSITE (E WENT DIGITAL ABOUT YEARS AGO AND IS GLAD HE RESISTED THE TEMPTATION TO THROW HIS COMPUTER OUT THE WINDOW (E SAYS THAT HE IS AESTHETICALLY IN A GOOD PLACE AND IS GLAD HE BEGAN TO DIVERSIFY !S HE SAYS OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS hTECHNOLOGY PIRATING NO MUSIC INDUSTRYv -ARIO #ASTELLANOS EQUAL PART DUDE PHILOSOPHER AND WORKING CLASS PHOTOGRAPHER 7HICH LEADS ME BACK TO HIS ORIGINAL COMMENT h)T S ALL ABOUT THE LIGHTv ) THINK ) MIGHT EVEN GET IT 4HIS MORNING ) WOKE UP AND IT WAS RAINING 9ESTERDAY ) WOKE UP AND IT WAS SUNNY %VERYTHING WE SEE AND FEEL IS A REmECTION OF THE LIGHT 7/7 DUDE THAT S HEAVY

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El Fontan Photo by Mario Castellanos

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La Villa Dolores Photo by Mario Castellanos

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The Berger/Sanchez Project Photo by Mario Castellanos 92 92

She sells Sea Shells Cozumel Photo by Mario Castellanos

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