January 1-7, 2014
www.theplayatimes.com Weekly, Year 01, Number 14, 16 Pages
theplayatimes~Agency
NEW CHILDREN´S ORCHESTRA
OF PLAYA DEL CARMEN BY GEMA GARCÍA
T
he Department of Culture, Playa del Carmen is launching a youth symphony orchestra. The department director, Luis Ernesto López, said that the aim is to support and encourage children´s musical talent and to cultivate and nurture the spirit of teamwork, providing skills that are useful in life through music-learning and performing opportunities in orchestral settings. The initiative will accept children and young people aged 8 to 22. Since the scheme was founded, the project has received 40 registrations, although they have places for up to 250 students. “The director of the orchestra is maestro Juan de Dios González. Currently we ask that members provide their own instruments, although we are also attempting to buy a number of different instruments. We want this project to be a success and sustainable and therefore we are committed to keeping its programs accessible to the broadest range of families”, said Luis Ernesto López. The organization accepts students of various levels and offers a wide range of programs suitable for students from beginners to the most gifted. This new project will be an opportunity for children to learn and understand music under the guidance of quality teachers. “With this project we seek to create activities that engage children and young people. Without the space for expression or interesting activities, some may take the wrong path. This is a very important project because it is the first time we have attempted something like this in Playa del Carmen, we invite all children and young people to come together and take part in the symphony project". Enthused Luis Ernesto López. The organization strives to involve members with their communities through performances for civic and cultural groups.
The orchestra will include all the elements of a full symphony and include woodwind, brass, percussion and string sections, thus offering a full range of musical choices for the members of the new orchestra. The lessons are available daily from 4pm to 6pm; at the cost is $300 MXP per month plus a $100 MXP enrolment fee. Membership fees are kept below the actual costs of the organization's operation and well below private school rates. Parents interested in registering their children will need to go to the Casa de la Cultura on Cruz de los Servicios Avenue, in front of Plaza las Americas, from 4pm to 6 pm to complete an application form and be able to provide a birth certificate. The director of the Culture Department also appealed to anyone who may have unwanted instruments to donate them to the Casa de Cultura, where it might transform a child´s life.
02
Jan. 1 -7 2014
ditorial W
hen we set out to create a newspaper for Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, our goal was simple; to create a progressive newspaper that is both visually and editorially engaging to entertain a forward thinking Playa community. The Playa Times tries to be different and we actually care about what we produce and we aim to create something that would be premium quality, both in terms of production and editorial content, but also engaging.
DIRECTORY Omar Tornel
Managing Editor omar@theplayatimes.com
María Morote
Copy Writer maria@theplayatimes.com
With this in mind we invite you to have your say and submit your thoughts, gripes, loves and frustrations about our vibrant and eclectic community by writing a letter to the editor. This new feature will be published weekly within this section, allowing you have a chance to see what the other folk of Playa are ruminating over and have your say. Please keep you letters as concise as possible, with a maximum of 150-175 words and should refer to a current topic, be clear and make one main point.
Letters must include your name and country and place of origin and may be edited and shortened for space. We will do our best to read all letters promptly, but we will be unable to respond to letters not chose for publication. Please post your letter either electronically, to editor@theplayatimes.com or deliver it to our office and come and say hi, and pick up your current copy of The Playa Times. Our offices are on 15th Avenue and 1st Sur.
Mexican food, now the UK’s most popular home cooked cuisine
Gema García
Chief Reporter gema@theplayatimes.com
Advertising Sales
sales@ theplayatimes.com
Mario Jiménez
BY E. FLORES
Distribution Director distribucion@theplayatimes.com
When we set out to create a newspaper for Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, our goal was simple; to create a progressive newspaper that is both visually and editorially engaging to entertain a forward thinking Playa community. The Playa Times tries to be different and we actually care about what we pro-
Contact Us At: info@theplayatimes.com
theplayatimes @theplayatimes 984-147 2216
duce and we aim to create something that would be premium quality, both in terms of production and editorial content, but also engaging. With this in mind we invite you to have your say and submit your thoughts, gripes, loves and frustrations about our vibrant and eclectic community by writing a letter to the editor. This new feature will be published weekly within
this section, allowing you have a chance to see what the other folk of Playa are ruminating over and have your say. Please keep you letters as concise as possible, with a maximum of 150175 words and should refer to a current topic, be clear and make one main point. Letters must include your name and country and place of origin and may be edited and
shortened for space. We will do our best to read all letters promptly, but we will be unable to respond to letters not chose for publication. Please post your letter either electronically, to editor@theplayatimes.com or deliver it to our office and come and say hi, and pick up your current copy of The Playa Times. Our offices are on 15th Avenue and 1st Sur. theplayatimes~Agency
THE PLAYA TIMES PLAYA DEL CARMEN`S COMMUNITY PAPER Periódico Semanal. Número de Certificado de Reserva otorgado por el Instituto Nacional de Derechos de Autor: (PENDIENTE). Número de Certificado de Licitud de Título: (en trámite). Número de Certificado de Licitud de Contenido: (en trámite). Domicilio de la publicación: 10 Ave. Nte. Mza. 62 Lt. 2 D-12, Col, Centro, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, Quintana Roo C.P. 77710. Imprenta: Extreme Energy, S.A. de C.V. Calle 1a. Sur, Mza. 227, Lote2, Col. Ejidal, Playa del Carmen, Q, Roo. C.P. 77710. Distribuidor: Meridian Media, S.A. de C.V., 15 Ave. and 1 South, Col. Centro, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, Quintana Roo, CP 77710.
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
80 / 73 F T-storms 80% Chance of precipitation
81 / 71 F T-storms 40% Chance of precipitation
FRIDAY 78 / 69 F Chance of rain 60% Chance of precipitation
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
78 / 66 F Cloudy Average: 80 / 69 % Chance of rain
84 / 55 F Cloudy 80 / 69% Chance of precipitation
86 / 64 F Cloudy Chance of precipitation
86 / 60 F Cloudy Chance of precipitation
LOCAL NEWS
Jan. 1 -7 2014
03
Recyling for food direct exchange R
ecycling for food is a local program run by the government of Solidaridad in order to encourage a recycling culture amongst its local residents. The initiative was launched during the last administration by José Luis Toledo Medina, who was the then treasurer of Solidaridad. Every Sunday, the team from the ‘Recycling for Food’ program visit different local districts in Solidaridad and set up in public parks to receive recycling materials such as plastic, cardboard, paper or metal. Those that donate items for recycling receive vouchers, which they can exchange for products from a mobile market organized by the program. The first program took place during August 2012, and had a huge response by the community, collecting more than 40 tons of recyclable materials. Dozens of families, who started lining up early in the morning, received basic products such as, rice, beans, fruits and vegetables or canned goods from the exchange voucher program. In 2013, 11,734 tons of trash was collected within the municipality of Solidaridad and Puerto Aventuras. Prior to the event a local announcer will travel the streets broadcasting the upcoming recycling programs arrival, and on Sunday morning, the scales are opened in order to weight the recycling. The vouchers awarded are dependent on the weight of the recycling donated, which in turn is exchanged for basic products at the programs ‘welfare market’. Since ‘Recycling for Food’ was established, it has been a tremen-
dous success, so much so that it now operates in Cancun, Chetumal, Isla Mujeres, and Tulum as
well as in the neighboring state of Yucatan, including Merida. The aim of the project is to avoid
the accumulation of trash in the streets and homes whilst helping people with their domestic eco-
nomy. Also it promotes the importance of recycling and encourages a clean up of the streets. theplayatimes~Agency
BY GEMA GARCÍA
program in operation
Direct recycling program in action
LOCAL NEWS
Jan. 1 -7 2014
BY GEMA GARCÍA
T
The Dance of the Flyers of Papantla
The Papantla Flyers of Veracruz each cardinal point while more songs are played and climbs to the top of the pole followed by the four flyers. Before they
throw themselves from the top, the priest look to the East, where the sun rises, and he prays for the flyers.
“The priest taps his feet on the top of the pole before the flyers jump. Our ancestors thought that this attracted the
god of thunder. The tapping sound refers to the thunder”, said Félix García. The flyers jump with a rope tied around their ankles and spin around the pole thirteen times which, multiplied by the four flyers, makes the number of the weeks of Totonaca calendar, fifty-two. In the early form, instead of five men there were six men dressed as birds with each member climbing on top and performing a dance and at the end tied ropes around their waist and then jumped in unison and descended downwards. Many villages in Mexico banned this version of the practice due to injuries and even fatalities. The Papantla clothes are traditionally red in color and are h andmade by the flyers themselves. They wear a hat with mirrors, which represents the sunrays, feathers referring birds´ tails and seven rainbow colored strips. The flyers begin their training at a young age and there is even a school in the city of Papantla that begins teaching the children from five years old the ancient ritual in order to promote and preserve the tradition. You can see the Papantla Flyers´ show every day at Parque Fundadores on 1st St South and the beach, from 2pm to 10pm. They receive no salaries, so they depend solely on spectator contributions that keep this fascinating tradition alive.
Fotos: www.thebpnfestival.com
he popular Papantla Flyers are one of the most endearing traditions of Mexico. At Parque Fundadores, next to the Cozumel ferry pier, everyday five Papantla Flyers perform their ritual by spinning into the void to the sound of the flute and drum, asking the rain god Tlaloc to bless the fields and end droughts. The Playa Times interviewed the men who have entertained thousands of onlookers with their aerial manoeuvers. Félix García Jiménez, a member of the Papantla Flyers here in Playa del Carmen, explained this traditional ritual; “The five flyers climb up the pole, which is 60 feet high. The cardinal points are represented by the four flyers and on the top of the pole, and there is a chief who is called Phiuth, which means ‘leader’ or ‘priest’ in the Totonaca language (which is from the Veracruz area) and he has the mission of calling on god Tlaloc”. “This is an ancient ritual of our ancestors from Papantla, Veracruz, where we all originate from. Its purpose is to ensure the fields are blessed with rain. That is what the ceremony asks for”. At the beginning of each ’flight’, the priest dances to the ‘song of forgiveness’, where he asks Tlaloc permission to begin the ritual. He then bows to
theplayatimes~Agency
04
BPM New Year’s temptation is here again BY MARÍA MOROTE If you are lucky enough to be in Playa at Christmas, you love electronic music but you don’t have a big bank account. Should you get tickets to the BPM Festival from January 3rd to 12th? First go watch their teaser video at their fully English official web site www.thebpmfestival.com. If you catch yourself dancing and you feel like running to the beach, then you probably should. We are going to give you some insider information to help you make up your mind. Don’t worry, not everybody is under 25, sexy, chic and on vacation. BPM has become one of the most elite electronic music festivals in the world and the
reason is the music. As the organizers state on their website, the festival has all the good and bad things related to a fast-evolving uber popular festival: “With the dramatic increase in size and the abundance of talent the festival has to offer, BPM has rapidly established itself as an essential music destination on the global festival circuit”. The atmosphere of Playa del Carmen cab be frenetic during these days, but the main thing to have in mind while thinking of going to the BPM is its variety, the possibility to enjoy the best DJ’s and discover new and very good ones. In its 7th year, the BPM Festival brings a little bit of everything from everywhere, always true to its deep-house
style: recognized “old glories” like Richie Hawtin, Felix da Housecat, John Digweed or Danny Tenaglia; more underground DJ’s, such as Anjia Schneider, Alan Fitzpatrick or Lauren Lane, creator of the stimulating teaser video sound track, and rare gems like Basement Jaxx, the British house band composer of late 90’s and early 2000’s hits such as “Red alert” or “Where’s your head at”. A cool fact about the BPM Festival production is that it does not headline acts, but an endless lineup of well-known, but not so famous artists, that you can bump into by going to a nightclub or to the beach. It has two schedules, one for the day events at Kool, Mamita’s and Fusion and another for the night events at Blue Pa-
rrot, Lost, Tabu, Coco Maya, Alux Cave and Blue Venado. Now, let’s talk about the costs. Big music festivals prices are sometimes a little bit steep for average wage people but let’s just swayed by our unconditional love for all things electronic. Tickets go from $250 to $750 USD. BPM Festival offers three different options, 10 or 7-day festival passes, the week long tickets are valid for the events from January 6th to 12th, and 3-day opening and closing weekend passes. You can buy them online via the website or at the BPM Festival Ticket Centre at Mamita’s Beach Club, on 28th St. from 10am to 9pm, or on the club’s door on the day. Be sure to get early if you do not have tickets, since it is usua-
lly crowded and remember that tickets are more expensive on the door, although you can see some warm-up DJ’s, just by paying some club’s usual cover charge. An advantage included in advance payment passes is that you can get discounts at 125 local stores, restaurants, tour companies and businesses, so maybe going to BPM Festival can become a good opportunity to visit some places in the Riviera Maya, or try some cool new restaurant. If you are broke after Christmas we suggest running away from the town center circuit. Try a more Woodstock and less Ibiza BPM scene. There is life after 30th Avenue! Also, taking your DIY festival to the beach may be more appealing. So, see you at the Beats Per Minute festival!
COMMUNITY
Jan. 1 -7 2014
05
Sweet smiles for Mayan children theplayatimes~Agency
BY GEMA GARCÍA
I
n our last edition, The Playa In our last edition, The Playa Times spoke to Yara Jiménez, the owner of ‘Mayan Ook’, a local handicrafts cooperative made up of a group of local Maya women. Yara celebrated a posada, a Mexican Christmas party, in their village of San Juan, a Mayan community in Tulum. The aim was to thank those women´s commitment to the Mayan Ook project. She bought gifts for the ladies and candies for the children. During the small celebration it became very evident that there were many other children in the village, who although not directly connected to the project, nonetheless were part of the community. Yara realized that it would be a great gesture to bring them some more candies to the village in time for the Three Kings Celebration next January 6th which a time is when children traditionally receive gifts. “I brought presents for each of the Mayan Ook women´s children and grandchildren, but many more children showed up”, said Yara who then thought about those kids who could not receive a present. She hopes that, with the support of Playa del Carmen residents and The Playa Times readers, every children of San Juan can enjoy a
The children of the village of San Juan small gift of candies. If you would like to make a donations of candies to the children, please bring along to The Playa Times office, 15th Ave and
1st St. South from 9am to 4pm or call Yara Jiménez on 984 745 9904. Your small contribution will mean a great present for the children of San Juan.
New municipal Animal Welfare Center opens BY GEMA GARCÍA
theplayatimes~Agency
The municipal dog pound of Solidaridad has opened again after six months of suspension due to a change of management. The new administration commits
to giving the service a boost and solving some of the pressing problems, such as the high number of stray dogs that wander the streets of Playa del Carmen. The local Health Department has also changed the name of the institution to the Animal Welfare Center. The new director of the Health Department of Solidaridad, Óscar Rodríguez Mendo-
za, mentioned that the center revamp is now 60% completed and it will be totally operational by the end of January 2014. The Animal Welfare Center management will work together with associations such as Coco´s Cat Rescue, S.O.S. el Arca and Malix Pek. One of the main changes of the new institution is that all the dogs brought there will be
now given up for adoption. Previously, any long-term unclaimed or stray dogs were destroyed, but the new Animal Welfare Center now operates a no-kill policy. All animals will now be neutered and inoculated, so adoptive families can take home a healthy pet. Rodríguez Mendoza said that they have scheduled more frequent neutering campaigns: “We will support neutering because the result of this kind of initiative has been really effective at a national level”. He added that the Health Department also hopes to increase public
awareness regarding taking care of community dogs: “We want to promote better care for community dogs, that is the animals whose care is managed by several neighbors. Our mission is to support those neighbors in the care of the animal”. Other good news is that the Health Department is looking for an area so dogs can also enjoy the beach. “There are many people in Playa del Carmen who wish to bring their dog to the beach, so we are looking for an exclusive dog area. I want to emphasize that currently, people are strictly not allowed to bring them to public beach areas, but we are trying to find a solution by setting aside an area for them. Owners will have to pick up after their dog and keep them on a leash”. Finally, Óscar Rodríguez asked the residents of Playa del Carmen to act responsibly regarding the care of their dogs by taking them for regular check ups and getting them inoculated and neutered. He also noted that any animal cruelty will not be tolerated and will face fines or jail sentences. The Animal Welfare Center is on Avenida Benito Juárez in Colonia Nuevo Ejido. For more information, go to the Health Department offices on the second floor of the City Hall of Playa del Carmen on 8th St. and 15th Ave.
06
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Jan. 1 -7 2014
CURRENCY AND METALS DOLLAR Buy 13.03 pesos
Sale 13.38 pesos
DOLLAR CANADA Buy 12.02 pesos
Sale 12.36 pesos
POUND pesos Buy 21.22 pesos
Sale 21.82 pesos
EURO Buy 17.10 pesos
Sale 18.20 pesos
YEN Buy 0.12 pesos
Sale 0.127 pesos
REAL Buy 5.51 pesos
Sale 5.66 pesos
PESO ARGENTINA Buy 1.98 pesos
Sale 2.04 pesos
SWISS FRANC Buy 14.44 pesos
Sale 14.85 pesos
* Current for December 28 * Source Banco de MĂŠxico * Flags courtesy www.redpixart.com
Pick yourof free copy
Available at the
ADO Bus Stations on 5th Avenue and 20th and 12th
NATURAL PLAYA
Jan. 1 -7 2014
07
Isla Blanca, a little piece of hidden paradise
BY BARNA TAKATS
A
round half an hour drive north of Cancun is Isla Blanca, which is actually a long peninsula stretching almost to Isla Contoy and not an actual island. Currently this area is very remote, almost nobody comes to this spot, and only the local fishermen frequent the lagoon and the surrounding mangroves. This isolation offers the best protection, and this place is pretty isolated. After the nice roads of Cancun you will drive on dirt tracks and then navigating over an hour in tiny boats to get to the various wildlife spots. There are many different habitats and hidden areas around, lagoons of all sizes, mangrove channels, small patches of untouched bra-
in corals and offshore rocky reefs. What kind of wildlife can you encounter here? Amongst them are crocodiles, flamingos, a myriad of birdlife, horseshoe crabs (one of the oldest animal species on Earth), and schools of baby eagle rays, or with some luck manta rays. It is just the fishermen that seem to know about this hidden spot, where all year round you have a good chance to spot these magnificent giants. My personal favorite is the entry to the mangroves where I repeatedly encounter groups of eagle rays just above the surface of the clear and calm water, sometimes as many as thirty are flying slowly around the little boat like a flock of birds. This place is still a wellkept secret; only one tour operator is organizing tours here. It is not a national park, so it is quite forgotten which gives it a real special feeling. I can tell you that you will see much more wildlife in
a single day here than you would on a usual daily tour to Sian Ka'an, and of course no other tourists, this makes it probably the only day tour from Cancun where you can really feel you are in a remote unspoiled place. The mangrove channels of the place are unbelievable, you really feel you are in the wilderness, at every turn you might encounter something exciting. Another very important aspect is that all the captains are fishermen from the local communities, so every tour and every tourist who visits are directly supporting these communities. By employing one of these fishermen for a tour you are offering a sustainable new income source and taking one fisherman out of his regular job – and giving a day off to the local fish stock. If you have any questions for Barna about the wildlife of the Yucatan Peninsula or about local eco tours, you can write to him at barna. takats@gmail.com, or call 984 157 8531
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Jan. 1 -7 2014
HEALTH & BEAUTY
The chiropractic resolution BY DR. RICHARD MCCARTHY It is that time of year again for your New Year’s Resolution! Most people make health related resolutions such as trying to lose weight, quitting smoking, getting in better shape, eating healthier, cutting back on alcohol etc. But what about a new and beneficial resolution called the Chiropractic Resolution? This would entail investing some time and energy into having your spine and other joints rebalanced, allowing your body to function at a much better level. A chiropractic evaluation of your situation can be done quite easily, and work can be done on the spine as well as other joints to get them in more aligned. You should feel an immediate difference in terms of freer joint mobility, less tightness and an overall looser and lighter sensation. If you have never received chiropractic care, it is nearly impossible to be correctly balanced. Our body is subject to strains and stresses on a daily basis and chiropractic is the only professional way to get your body realigned. Often we live with and grow accustomed to stressed joints, or we may not even consider them to be a problem. Keep in mind that corrective work can be done any time, but as with many health considerations, the sooner the better. Remember we are only allowed one true resolution at New Year's, so why not make it a chiropractic resolution? Then you can experience first hand what it means to have good structural body balance, and good health to all in the forthcoming years!
CHIROPRACTOR
for a safe, effective chiropractor DR. RICHARD McCARTHY at THE NEW GYM, Playa del Carmen, Tel.: 984 873 2098
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Jan. 1 -7 2014
09
10 Biggest Causes of Tooth Sensitivity BY ESTEBAN BARRAGÁN PHD MSD DDS
D
oes eating gelato make you say “ouch” or do you find yourself wincing when you brush or floss? You could have what’s known as tooth sensitivity. Here’s why you could be experiencing this mouth malady: You brush with too much gusto. Sometimes tooth sensitivity comes from brushing with too much force or with too hard-bristled a toothbrush. Over time, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed to hot or cold or to acidic or sticky foods, tooth sensitivity and discomfort can be the result. You eat acidic foods. If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods such as tomato sauce, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, and pickles can cause pain. You’re a tooth-grinder. Grinding your teeth can wear down the enamel, even though it’s the strongest substance in your body. Talk to your dentist about finding a mouth guard that can stop you from grinding. You choose tooth-whitening toothpaste. Many manufacturers add tooth-whitening chemicals to their toothpaste formulas and this makes your teeth sensitive. You’re a mouthwash junkie; some overthe-counter mouthwashes and rinses contain alcohol and other chemicals that can make your teeth more sensitive. You’ve got gum disease. Receding gums can cause tooth sensitivity. If gum disease or gingivitis is the problem, your dentist may suggest a procedure to seal your teeth along
with treating the gum disease itself. You have excessive plaque. An excessive build-up of plaque can cause your enamel to wear away. Practice good daily dental care and visit your dentist for cleanings every six months. You’ve had a dental procedure. Teeth often become more sensitive after you’ve been in the dentist’s chair. It’s common to have some sensitivity after a root canal, an extraction, or the placement of a crown. If your sensitivity doesn’t disappear after a short time, another visit to your dentist is in order. Your tooth is cracked. A chipped or cracked tooth can cause pain that goes beyond tooth sensitivity. Your dentist will need to evaluate your tooth and decide the right course of treatment, such as a cap or an extraction. There is decay around the edges of fillings. Fillings can weaken and fracture or leak around the edges. See your dentist if you notice this type of tooth sensitivity between visits: fillings can be easily replaced. Tooth sensitivity is treatable; if your sensitivity is extreme and persists no matter what you do, see your dentist for an evaluation. He or she may be able to apply a fluoride gel to areas of the teeth where you have the most sensitivity, to strengthen your tooth enamel and reduce the sensations you feel. Only an office visit can determine the most likely cause of your tooth sensitivity and the best solution for your particular situation. Bokanova Dental Center info@bokanova.mx
Restorative yoga, soothing holiday stress BY ARIELLE THOMAS NEWMAN Babbling Brook Pose
theplayatimes~Agency
A variation of the basic relaxation pose done at the end of yoga class, Babbling Brook allows the natural curves of the body to be supported gently and the breath to flow like water over rocks in a stream. For this pose, you will need three blankets, or two blankets and a bolster for under the knees. Place your bolster, or rolled up blanket, where your knees will be on your yoga mat. Place a carefully folded blanket on the mat at the location of the base of your scapula. Roll another blanket tightly one or two times to use as a neck roll for the cervical spine. Lay yourself over these supports. Your shoulders will rest in the space between the support for your neck and the blanket support for your back. Angle your arms out to the sides with the palms of your hands facing up.
If your back is not comfortable, try lowering the level of the blanket behind your ribs and/or making the blanket roll under your knees thicker. Variations - for ankle support, place a rolled up hand towel behind each ankle so that your heels float off the floor. Benefits include counteracting the slumped position of our everyday posture of sitting, computer use, driving, and watching TV. Babbling Brook opens the lungs for easier breathing. It can improve digestion, reduce fatigue and assist in lifting your mood. Arielle Thomas Newman, MA, RYT-500, is a writer, certified yoga teacher and former professional dancer. She has presented yoga classes, workshops, and yoga teachers training courses at her Yoga By The Sea studio in Playa del Carmen since 2001. You can find out more about classes at: www.MoreThanYoga.com The poses and this article are not intended to take the place of professional medical advice.
10
HOME LIFE
JJan. 1 -7 2014
eatured
roperty
TO ADVERTISE YOUR REAL ESTATE
VENDO CASA, 4 RECAMARAS, GARAGE, AV. LAURELES, RINCON DEL ANGEL, FRACC. VILLAS DEL VERGEL, PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Q. ROO. INFORMES AL TEL. 984 120 34 56, SR. ANGEL GARCIA.
Do you have a property you would like to advertise in our HOMELIFE feature? contact sales@theplayatimes.com Telephone 984 147 2216
OR PROPERTY BUSINESS HERE PLEASE CONTACT
sales@theplayatimes.com
TELEPHONE
984 147 2216
VENDO CASA, 4 RECAMARAS, GARAGE, AV. LAURELES, RINCON DEL ANGEL, FRACC. VILLAS DEL VERGEL, PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Q. ROO. INFORMES AL TEL. 984 120 34 56, SR. ANGEL GARCIA.
Mexico by design Huichol yarn paintings
theplayatimes~Agency
BY E. FLORES
U
ntil fairly recently the Huichol people (pronounced Wett-chol) who live in the remote areas of the Sierra Madre Mountains, used stories and artwork to communicate their history and knowledge, having no written language of their own. Today 20,000 members of this deeply spiritual people continue this tradition through beautifully produced artistic mediums and religious ceremonies. For the Huichol people, art is a means of encoding and channeling sacred knowledge. It is considered a form of prayer, providing direct communion with the sacred realm. They are said to be the last tribe in North America to have maintained their pre-Columbian traditions. Huichol shamans and healers practice today as they have for generations. In part, their survival is due to the focus of their traditions. Nierikas (pronounced neareekas) are traditional yarn paintings, which consist of a board on to which a natural glue of resin
and beeswax is applied, and then intricately placed yarn threads are pressed into the glue. However the nierikas are not merely deco-
rative objects, they are votive objects and used as prayers depicting the desires for families and their people. After prayers they
are taken to sacred places and left for the gods. The subject matter of the yarn paintings always comes from dreams, peyote visions,
or ancient Huichol mythology and religion, so the work remains sacred for the artists. Selling their work as an art form has given the artists the ability to create economic self-sufficiency from their extraordinary talent and has helped them to preserve their traditional way of life. Modern Huichol yarn paintings have an interesting history and are one of the great success stories of Mexican indigenous art. It is only since the 1950’s that what began as little known tribal votive offerings evolved into an international art, sold all around the world. This was mostly due to the growing interest in native art, fueled by the likes of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in the 1930’s and 40’s. Yarn paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States. Prices have risen from a few pesos to hundreds and even thousands of dollars for work by the best artists and have evolved into large and elaborate paintings, worthy of the most sophisticated collections.
ART & CULTURE
Jan. 1 -7 2014
11
theplayatimes~Agency
Gonzalo Guerrero,
the Spanish father of the Mestizaje BY MARÍA MOROTE
M
ost of the stories that are told about the conquest of America are violent and ethnocentric, however Spanish sailor Gonzalo Guerrero´s story is a counterpoint to the usual colonialist intolerance against the indigenous people they encountered in the New World. We can find it in many passages from the ‘Indian chronicles’, which were named such since the conquerors were looking for a new route to reach India and thought that new lands they discovered were actually Asia. The chronicles are a unique historical genre formed by the stories told by Spanish colonists, who were mostly sailors or priests, as an account of their lives and the new conquered territories of America. Their view, which was often heavily politically and culturally biased, was a mix of baffled perplexity and aversion at having found a different civilization that did not believe in their god. G o n z a l o Guerrero’s boat was shipwrecked off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in
Monument to Gonzalo Guerrero in Merida (Yucatan).
1511 while sailing to Santo Domingo, the first New World city in the Dominican Republic or Hispaniola as it was then called. Eight crewmembers managed to reach the mainland alive where the local Cocomes Indians captured them, some it is said were immediately sacrificed and the rest of them placed in cages, but four of them managed to escape. The survivors stumbled across the Tutul Xiu tribe in Xaman Ha, where the present day Playa del Carmen was situated. They became slaves to the tribes chief, Taxmar, and were forced to do hard labor so it was not long before just Gonzalo Guerrero and fellow crewmember Gerónimo Aguilar were the sole survivors. Taxmar sensed that the two sailors could be of help to him in defeating neighboring tribes, so the Spaniards started to teach their war strategies to the Tutul Xius. Their skills proved indispensible and the tribe consequently achieved notable victories thanks to these advanced tactics. Taxmar decided to give Gonzalo Guerrero to the Cheles´s chief Na Chan Can who in turn gave him to the warrior chief Balam. One day, Guerrero saved his chief from an alligator attack, and in thanks Balam released him from his slave bonds. This marked the beginning of a new life for Gonzalo Guerrero, who quickly adapted to the native way of life. His battle strategies and skills enabled him to climb the Tutul Xiu´s social hierarchy, and eventually he took a wife, the princes Zazil Ha, and had three children. He agreed that the skulls of his children be bound with wooden boards, which flattened the forehead, which was the Mayan custom at that time, and it is said he gave his firstborn daughter as a sacrifice at Chichen Itza to put an end to a plague of locusts.
BY E. FLORES The Guinness Book of Records as just declared the appropriately named Ed Currie as the world’s hottest chili pepper grower. Ed, from Fort Mill South Carolina, produced a chili he dubbed the ‘Carolina Reaper’, which registered nearly 1.6 million on the Scoville scale, with an individual pepper measuring 2.2 million. Pepper spray weighs in at about 2 million units, whilst a regular jalapeno registers around 5,000. The Scoville scale measures
pungency based on concentration of capsaicin, the active component in chilies, and is named after pharmacist Wilber Scoville who devised his test in 1912. Scoville would take a solution of sugar and water to dilute an extract made from the pepper. A scientist would then taste the solution and dilute it repeatedly until the heat was no longer detected. So the rating depended on a scientist's tongue. Now, scientists separate the capsaicinoids from the rest of the peppers and use liquid chromatography to detect the exact
amount of the compounds. A formula then converts the readings into Scoville's old scale. Currie has been interested in peppers ever since he got the taste of a sweet hot pepper from the Caribbean a decade ago, and since then has been determined to create the hottest pepper in the world and finally he has succeeded. The hot pepper market is expanding. In less than five years, the amount of hot peppers eaten by Americans has increased 8 percent, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics.
theplayatimes~Agency
Hot stuff, South Carolina chili hailed as the world’s hottest
In 1519, the famous expedition led by Hernán Cortés landed in Cozumel heralding the beginning of his conquest of Mexico. Discovering that there were two Spanish there, he offered to rescue them. Aguilar agreed but Guerrero answered: “I am now married and I have three children. They consider me a chief and captain when there are wars. My face is tattooed and my ears pierced, what would those Spaniards think of me if they see me like this? Go, and God’s blessing be with you, for you can see I have these handsome children”. The attempted to convince him to leave, telling him his everlasting soul was in peril for forsaking his faith and marrying an Indian woman. But he remained. As Guerrero became more integrated in Mayan society, the Spanish began dealing with a now more advanced people in matters of the war logistics and weapons, due to his influence. In addition, they were no longer afraid of the Spanish and learned that horses were not the immortal beings that they had previously believed. However, Gonzalo Guerrero was conscious of the inferiority of the people he now supported and he knew his days might be numbered with his new allegiances. Guerrero was killed in 1536 whilst helping the Honduran Ticamaya tribe´s chief fight against captain Lorenzo de Godoy´s troops. For his compatriots, the Spanish, he was always shunned for falling for the worst of the sins: having children with a native and denying Christ. Here on this side of the ‘New World’ he is considered the father of miscegenation, or interracial marriage, and the man who saw the beauty of a society deeply connected to nature, beyond that of his own beliefs or race.
Ed Currie and his 'Carolina Reaper' peppers
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ENTERTAINMENT
Jan. 1 -7 2014
WEDNESDAY
1
RECOVERY SUNSET PARTY. From 13pm to 18 pm at Mamita´s Beach Club on 28th St. and the beach. For more information go to http://winterbeach.mx.
NIGHT RIDES. Every Wednesday at 8pm at the City Hall, Plaza 28 de Julio, on 8th St. and 15th Ave. Get to know the cycle path of Playa del Carmen and meet other local bikers. ARABIAN DANCE LESSONS. Every Wednesday and Friday from 6pm to 7.30pm at Le Lotus Rouge Cultural Centre, on 2nd St. and 35th Ave. 30 pesos contribution.
THURSDAY
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CLOSING SUNSET PARTY. From 1pm to 8pm at Mamita´s Beach Club on 28th St. and the beach. With DJ Stephane Pompougnac. For more information go to http://winterbeach.mx. WAGGLE WALKS. Every Thursday at 9am at the new P.A.R. Shelter. Have fun helping dogs become leash trained, balanced and exercised. Contact info@playaanimalrescue.org CINE CLUB. Every Thursday at 7.30pm at Caracol Marino Cultural Center on 80th St and Quinta Avenida in Colonia Colosio. Watch interesting social cinema. CAPOEIRA LESSONS. Every Thursday from 6.30pm to 8pm and at 2.30pm on Saturday at La Ceiba Park. Enjoy three free classes by Omar Cardona.
THE BPM FESTIVAL OPENING PARTIES. From 12am at Kool, Mamita´s and Fusion Beach Club. For more information go to http:// www.thebpmfestival.com.
COCOS BEACH FRIDAY ORGANIC MARKET. Every Friday from 9am to 11am at Condos Alizes, Avenida CTM and 46 St. Homemade bread and baked goods, gluten-free products, fresh herbs, organic eggs and products.
SATURDAY
4
SUNDAY
5
CAFE TACUBA CONCERT. At 6pm at Mamita´s Beach Club on 28th St. and the beach. For more information go to http:// winterbeach.mx. ARTISTIC BREAKFASTS. Every Sunday from 10am to 2 pm at Le Lotus Rouge, on 2nd St. and 35th Ave. Enjoy an artistic performance.
MONDAY
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ACTING LESSONS. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 4.30 to 6pm at Caracol Marino Cultural Centre with Hena Moreno Corzo. 80th Street, between 10th and 5th. For more information contact centrocaracol@gmail.com. CREATION WORKSHOP. Every Monday and Wednesday from 9am to 11am at Caracol Marino Cultural Centre. “Movement Squared” is an artistic workshop by Hugo Uribe. 80th Street, between 10th and 5th. For more information contact centrocaracol@gmail. com. FLAMENCO DANCE LESSONS. Every Monday and Wednesday from 3pm to 4.30pm at Caracol Marino Cultural Centre. Given by flamenco dancer Brenda. 80th Street, between 10th and 5th. For more information contact centrocaracol@gmail.com.
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
3
Centre, on 2nd St. and 35th Ave. From 5 to 95 years old. 2 hours. $150 MXP.
PLAYA RAVE. Blue Venado Beach Club, Punta Venado. 18 hours for music on the beach. From 10pm. For ticket info go to www.tfn.co.il
WRITING AND LITERATURE WORKSHOP. Every Saturday from 4pm to 6pm at Le Lotus Rouge Cultural
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YOGA LESSONS. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 7pm to 8.15pm and Saturdays from 9am to 10 am. At La Ceiba Park on 60thAve and 1st St in Colonia Ejidal. 650 pesos/12 lessons. PAINTING LESSONS. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 12 am and from 4pm to 6 pm. At Le Lotus Rouge, on 2nd St. and 35th Ave. 100 pesos. Material included. HANDICRAFT CLASS. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 4pm to 6pm at Caracol Marino Cultural Centre, on 80th Street, between 10th and 5th. For more information contact centrocaracol@ gmail.com. Practical objects handicraft workshop by Hugo Uribe. ACTING LESSONS. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 5pm to 7.30pm at Caracol Marino Cultural Centre on 80th Street, between 10th and 5th. For more information contact centrocaracol@ gmail.com
ENTERTAINMENT
Pick yourof free copy
Jan. 1 -7 2014
Available at the
Se単or Frogs Near the ferry pies
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14
TAKE A BREAK
Jan. 1 -7 2014
HOROSCOPES SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22NDDEC 21ST The week ahead has a strong party element, especially as your social life appears to be vital and very exciting. With the wine flowing and kisses under the mistletoe, you'll certainly enjoy yourself.
TORTILLAS WITH SHREDDED FISH OR PAN DE CAZÓN INGREDIENTS
CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22NDJANUARY 19TH This week can be filled with happiness, although you'll need to remain flexible and adaptable to deal with any disruptions. Expect the unexpected. A decision to attend a party may coincide with a delicious meeting.
AQUARIUS JANUARY 20THFEBRUARY 18TH A restless feeling might make it hard to focus on festive chores and tasks. Make a to-do list and check things off as you go along. It's party time though a desire to rest and relax shouldn't be ignored. PISCES FEBRUARY 19THMARCH 20TH There are plenty of opportunities for fun, enjoyment, and kisses under the mistletoe. This could be a great week as long as you organize your finances so that you can relax without worrying. ARIES MARCH 21STAPRIL 19TH You might need to expect the unexpected - an edgy blend of influences could make for an interesting few days ahead. A temptation to get into party mode may draw you away from necessary tasks. tmosphere could be quite competitive this week. TAURUS APRIL 20THMAY 20TH Perhaps you have folks visiting from faraway places who are coming to share this festive time with you. Along with the chance to enjoy being together once again, there could be a few revelations. GEMINI MAY 21THJUNE 21TH There could be an intense focus showing up for you this week as a lineup of planets occurs in the more sensitive part of your chart. A social event could bring a surprise that you certainly didn't expect.
4 tortillas 6 tablespoons refried black beans For the fish filling: 1 tablespoon corn oil ½ cup chopped onion ½ pound white fish 1-2 epazote leaves 1 tomato For the sauce: 1 tablespoon corn oil ½ cup chopped onion 3 roma tomatoe 1-2 epazote leaves DIRECTIONS Fish filling: heat the corn oil, add the onion and sauté until transparent. Add the fish, epazote and chopped tomato and cook until the juice from the tomato has evaporated. Sauce: heat the oil, add the onion, sauté until just softening, and then add the epazote, tomatoes and salt to taste. Cook until the sauce has thickened slightly. Heat the tortillas on both sides in a bit of oil until soft but not crispy. Spread 3 of the tortillas with 2 tablespoons each of the refried beans. Top each with 2 tablespoons of the fish filling. Stack one on top of another, top with the 4th tortilla and some of the tomato sauce.
Recipe supplied by Xoco Restaurant 5th Avenue between 38th and 40th
info@xocolatier.com.mx Tel. 984 803 1750 facebook.com/xocolatier
CROSSWORD
CANCER JUNE 22ND JULY 22ND Jupiter may lift your spirits and encourage you to connect with friends and family for a fun time. You may be in the party spirit but try to get ahead of necessary tasks before you dash off into the night. LEO JULY 23RD AUGUST 22ND You might need to prepare a spare room as you might have an unexpected visitor. There are opportunities for fun, although you may need to be careful if you're attending a work party. VIRGO AUGUST 23RD SEPTEMBER 22ND The week ahead seems to positively glow with possibilities for a lively social life. You'll have opportunities to mingle with friends, family, or business associates and enjoy every moment. LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23RD OCTOBER 22ND It looks like you could be doing a lot of entertaining over the week ahead. You may be busy, but that doesn't mean you have to do everything yourself. Remember to delegate if it gets to be too much. SCORPIO OCTOBER 23RD NOVEMBER 21ST A powerful link this week could mean you're more accident prone than usual. Take extra care when driving or working with machinery. Refuse to rush no matter how hassled you feel.
Last week's Solution
CLASSIFIEDS
Classifieds RESTAURANTS CURRY OMM, the only Indian restaurant in Playa offering authentic Indian food 984 873 1516 www.letseat.at/curryomm.
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Theplayatimes~Gema Garcia
Jan. 1 -7 2014
XOCOLATIER RESTO. For the best traditional Mexican and American style breaksfasts, eggs Benedict, house specialties, fresh coffee, juices and daily lunch specials. Wines and coctails. Wi Fi and air conditioning. On the corner of the 5th, Ave. and 38th. Free Parking available.. POSTAL SERVICES MAS MAIL CENTER INC MAILBOX RENTAL & COURRIER POSTAL SERVICES. LOCAL 3 HOTEL TUKAN 984 87 315 41 (Entre 14 Bis y 16 Norte)
FIND ME A HOME
CARLOS Born about January 2012 Carlos is a very social creature that loves attention, especially belly rubs! He was named after one of the shelter’s principle volunteers who found him on the street just outside the shelter doors. He gets along well with people and his pen mates. Carlos would make a great addition to any family! He is neutered and up to date on all vaccinations. Carlos is medium sized. For more information on Carlos, or any
THE WEEKLY
G D tip
Teaching Dogs the "Come" Command
HEALTH & BEAUTY ALEX CORBANEZI Hair and Make up to your door, haircuts, color, treatments and makeup 9841687055
of the dogs at Playa Animal Rescue please contact Pat at pat@playaanimalrescue.org.Rescue, please send an email to Pat at pat@playaanimalrescue.or
Put your dog on a leash. Hold the other end of the leash, say "come" once, and quickly move backward. Keep moving backward until your dog gets all the way to you. When your dog catches up to you, say "Yes!" Give your dog a treat.
Coming when called is not only a behavior issue, it's also a safety issue. Don't tell your dog to "come" if you don't think he'll comply. It's better to go and get him than to say "come" repeatedly. Practice the "come" command until you are sure your dog will respond immediately the first time you call. You can practice this method in the house or while out on a walk with your dog.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS EMERGENCIES 066 RED CROSS EMERGENCIES 065 POLICE OFFICE 01 (984) 873 0291 FIREFIGHTERS 01 (984) 879 3669 PROTECCION CIVIL 01 (984) 879 3669 RED CROSS CLINIC (984) 873 1233 IMMIGRATION 01 (984) 873 1848 TRAFFIC POLICE (984) 873 0110
90 MINUTES of Ayurvedic Massage, Reflexology, and Reiki. MX$500. Oracle Card readings Mx$200. 984 115 1422 - Email Sharonlee at paradiseonthego@gmail.com
PLACES TO Worship
IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS English spoken Tuesday & Friday 5:30 pm. Spanish Mon to Fri 7:00 pm. Calle 34 y 35 Ave. info@naplay.com ENJOY A NIGHT out while I take care of the kids, need professional babysitter. Call +524441658800 or email gordaflowers@gmail.com RETAIL SERVICES MARCOS KAMALEON, custom framing with the best price and quality in Playa del Carmen. www.marcoskamaleon.com
CATHOLIC CHAPEL OF THE 5TH AVENUE WITH 1ST STREET SOUTH
Thursday at 9:00 am English Mass on Sundays at 10:00 am
NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL CARMEN 15TH AVENUE BETWEEN 12TH AND 14TH STREET
Masses from Monday to Saturday at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm Sundays 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm Mass with “mariachi” 12:00 pm
CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN MEETINGS IN ENGLISH
Sundays at 10:00 am in “City Express” hotel Federal Highway in front of “Vestir” plaza. Cellphone 984 106 63 82
LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH
English speaking non-denominational worships Sundays at 6:30 pm in Playa del Carmen, Ejido Sur. For more info call 984 120 41 69. www.lighousecgurch.mx
JEWISH JEWISH WORSHIP
Additional information at 20 th Ave, between 8th and 6th St. Colonia Centro, from 8 am to 10 pm.