Edition 107 by theplayatimes

B i m o n t h l y · Ye a r 0 4 · N u m b e r 1 0 7 · 2 0 , 0 0 0 c o p i e s · 24 P a g e s · A p r i l 1 9 - M ay 2 , 2 0 1 7

GIVING

CORALS A FUTURE

theplayatimes.co m

S MASP IDE IN

Coral reefs around the world are at extreme risk due to uncontrolled coastal development, rising sea temperatures, and overfishing. Reef transplantation projects are essential to the restoration and protection of this vital ecosystem. >P. 3

COZUMEL CONNECTION Sal de Mar Restaurant

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ENTERTAINMENT To p 5 Ladies´ N i g h ts

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Photo: Quinta Magazine

· ANIMAL WELFARE

· PUERTO VALLARTA

ON THE BRINK OF EXTINCTION

BAY OF BANDERAS

The vaquita, a small porpoise, only exists in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Only 30 are remaining with little hope of survival.

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Photo: : Frank van der Burgh

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

April 19 - May 2

We head to the west coast of Mexico to the state of Jalisco in search of the best (and off the beaten path) view of the Bay of Banderas

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2017 Looking for something to do? Check out our What’s On section online at www.theplayatimes.com for a list of things to do including live music and dancing, yoga, markets and special events

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April 19 - 22 May 2017

Editorial You're Never Too Old to Learn DIRECTORY Rebecca Page General Manager & Editor edition@meridianmedia.mx

Ian MacKenzie Copy Editor copyeditor@meridianmedia.mx

Efrén Velázquez Art & Design design@meridianmedia.mx

Ana Martínez Brand Manager Cell: 984 169 1637 marketing@meridianmedia.mx

Erika Serra

BY REBECCA PAGE

have lived in Mexico for over four years now, and I have learned a few things along the way. Life is very different here than in the United States, where I am from, and some things have been harder than others to get used to. For example, things take longer to get done here and sometimes the process does not make much sense. For those of you who live here in Playa del Carmen, you might consider the recent process of getting your license plates - for many, a time consuming process that seems abnormally frustrating. But, for all the frustrating things we encounter, there are a million other small gifts we receive, life lessons learned. Here are just a few of the things I have learned from my beautiful, adopted country of Mexico:

Public Relations Cell: 984 119 1586 publicrelations@meridianmedia.mx

• A fork is unnecessary if there is a tortilla available. • Taking a left from the middle or right lane

is not unusual, especially if it´s a taxi. • A blinker is not necessarily an indication that someone is turning. It may mean a variety of things: ¨Go ahead and pass me¨; ¨My blinker says right, but I’m actually going left¨; ¨I have been driving with this blinker on for days.¨ • When in doubt during a conversation in Spanish, just say órale. • Music should be played at ear-splitting levels in the pharmacy or deli. • A caguama is a much more fiscally responsible purchase than a couple of beers. • A small abarrote is better than a big grocery store for things like, well most things. • Walking is still the best way to get around. • Dishwashing soap should be watered down so that you can make it last longer. • Hot water should never be taken for granted. • It is polite to say buenos días or buenas tardes when getting on the small colectivos, entering a waiting room, entering a small store, or anywhere where a few people may be gathered.

• It is also polite to say provecho when you walk into a restaurant and people are eating when you walk by their table. • Getting out of your comfort zone is required to survive here (or anywhere) as an immigrant. • Cash is king and still the best way to pay for just about everything. • When you see a line, relax and settle in. Having a hissy fit isn’t going to get you through the line faster. • Gorda is a term of endearment (although, still not completely sold on this one). • Salsa casera, avocado, media crema, tortillas, and queso fresco can make any meal just that much better! • Being an immigrant is way harder than you think. How about you? How long have you lived here? What have you learned about life or yourself while living in Mexico? Send me your experiences at edition@meridianmedia. mx. I would love to hear from you and maybe I can put them in our next edition!

Sales Cell: 984 -147 5597 & 147 5571 info@meridianmedia.mx

Omar Coral Distribution distribution@meridianmedia.mx

info@meridianmedia.mx /theplayatimes @ThePlayaTimes playatimes theplayatimes

THE PLAYA TIMES RIVIERA MAYA'S COMMUNITY PAPER Periódico Quincenal.

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: Calle 2 entre 45 y Carretera Federal, Mza. 088 lote 003-1. Impreso en talleres Grupo Megamedia Prolongación de Montejo número 301, entre 40 y 42, fraccionamiento Campestre, Mérida, Yucatán. Distribuidor: Meridian Media, S.A. de C.V., Calle 2 entre 45 y Carretera Federal, Mza. 088 lote 003-1, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, Quintana Roo C.P. 77710.

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April 19 - 22 May 2017

BEACH LIFE

Giving Corals a Future Reef transplantation projects are essential to the restoration and protection of this vital ecosystem BY FLORENCIA CERUTTI

oral reefs have been facing significant disturbances around the world during the last few decades (ICRI, NOAA, Reefbase). Such damages are particularly sharp in the Mexican Caribbean due to the uncontrolled and unregulated urban development catering to massive tourism. These disturbances include coastal development, land run-off, excessive pollution, and overfishing which includes killing the grazers to keep algae growth low. The Mexican Caribbean is a highlighted area where coral conservation and restoration efforts are urgently needed.

KSM instructor Adan pulls off a complicated move while kitesurfing on the waters of Xpu-ha / Photo: Ian MacKenzie

Kitesurfing BY IAN MACKENZIE “It’s not as easy at is looks.” I receive my first bit of advice almost, as a warning. I’m about to take my first lesson in kitesurfing, and despite my strong desire to get out on the water, I have to complete the first phase of classes. I’m standing on the beach of Xpu-ha outside the KSM Beach Club, and my instructor, Adan, is patiently talking me through the basics. I struggle to maintain a good grip on the horizontal bar that controls the kite. “You’re holding it too tight,” says Adan. “Don’t pull it too fast to one side. Gently, with smaller movements.” Easier said than done, but I relax my grip a little and try to flow with the wind. Now I know why the theory component takes nine hours. Mastery of the wind is the first challenge, never mind standing up on the water. One regular customer at the school finds it rough going at first. The wind has picked up, and the water is choppy, and he has difficulty getting his kite airborne. When it’s up, he is only able to stay on his feet for about two minutes before being put on his backside. For readers unfamiliar with kite surfing, this extreme sport combines aspects of wakeboarding, snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding. Gymnastics play a role as well, because when the waves and the wind

combine you can lift yourself up and engage in acrobatic displays, pulling moves similar to what you would see in snowboarding. Sergio, a fit and tanned instructor from Mexico City, heads out with his gear to show me how it’s done. He looks like he’s being towed behind a boat like a water skier. I see him catch a gust of air, then use his upper body to pull himself up and grab the board. On one occasion, he is even able to turn his body upside down before landing cleanly.

This extreme sport combines aspects of wakeboarding, snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding and is powered by the force of the wind.

• Corals are ancient animals related to jellyfish and anemones. • An individual coral is known as a polyp, a very small and simple organism consisting mostly of a stomach topped by a tentacle-bearing mouth. • Thousands of identical polyps live together and form a coral colony. • Coral reefs cover less than 0.2% of our oceans but they contain 25% of the world’s marine fish species! • Coral reefs are second only to rainforests in biodiversity of species.

ment of coral nurseries that can supply corals of a size that can survive and grow at the site to be restored is a prerequisite for reef restoration. In the nursery, young corals may be placed in baskets suspended off the seafloor, attached to blocks on the seafloor, or hung on lines that look like clothes lines. The rescued corals are usually cared for by biologists and volunteers who monitor their health and growth and keep algae and other invasive organisms under control. Monitoring transplanted corals over time is an essential component of any effort, providing an assessment of the viability and success of the project. Regular visual checks on the status of the transplants can help to identify problems that may require adaptive management (e.g., maintenance action to remove predators), whereas semi-annual or annual systematic surveys may be necessary to show progress toward longer-term objectives (such as increasing coral cover or reef fish biomass). In the Mexican Caribbean, the Mexican national university, stakeholders, and international partners are collaborating in a nation-wide effort to restore and conserve corals. However, if the rates of coral damage, land/mangrove deforestation, pollution, and overfishing stay as they currently are, there is a high risk that transplanted corals will not survive. Thus, it is crucial for coral transplantation that any significant local anthropogenic impacts on the reef are under some form of effective management. More information at www.coralrestoration.org/ and http://www.secore.org/site/ our-work/detail/project-mexico.36.html

Source: Defenders of Wildlife (www.defenders.org)

Coral transplantation is one option available to managers considering restoring a degraded reef. To do this, there are a few steps to follow such as identify the sources, establish a nursery, find a method for re-plantation, monitoring, and maintenance. The establish-

Kitesurfing is easier for some than for others. When I complete my theory, I hope to stay on my feet for at least a few minutes. For those of you interested in taking some kitesurfing lessons, I recommend a visit to KSM Beach Club in Xpu-ha. You can find them online at Facebook/ksmbeachclub/. Restoration projects such as this one in Cozumel are vital / Photo: Sergio Suarez/www.expeditionsczm.com

BEACH LIFE

April 19 - 22 May 2017

Dear Landscaper: Plants and Pups Some helpful advice on which garden plants might poison your pets BY GREENWAY LANDSCAPING

ear Landscaper, A few dogs in our area have been sick and the vet said it could possibly be poison from a plant. Do you know what common plants in the area can harm our pets? Dear Reader, The same thing recently happened to a friend’s dog. The vet thinks it was poison, but I have done a little extra research to send to my animal-loving friends and clients. Below is a list of the common plants in Quintana Roo and what to watch out for. Aloe: This came as a surprise to us. The sap of the plant is toxic (yellowish latex) just below the skin of the thick, fleshy stem. The aloe gel from the plant is used for medicinal purposes. • Effects to watch out for: bubbles on the skin, salivating, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, weak pulse, and eye irritation.

• Effects to watch out for: skin blisters, oral mucus, salivating, vomiting, diarrhea, weak pulse, abdominal pain, and eye irritation. Lilium: Has many species and varieties that are extremely toxic to cats and less toxic to dogs. • Effects to watch out for: In cats, it produces acute renal failure. In dogs, only minor gastrointestinal problems. Amoena: Chewing or biting into the plant releases crystals which penetrate the tissue of both cats and dogs, resulting in injury. • Effects to watch out for: Clinical signs may be seen immediately and include: pawing at the face (secondary to oral pain), drooling, foaming and vomiting. Moderate to severe swelling of the lips, tongue, oral cavity, and upper airways may also occur, making it difficult to breathe or swallow.

Anthurium: The flower, stem and leaves are all poisonous. • Effects to watch out for: salivating, intense itching of the face, swelling of the face, vomiting, and paralysis of the tongue.

Zica or Sago Palm: All parts of this plant are poisonous, especially the seed/nut. • Effects to watch out for: In dogs, it causes liver failure, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, lack of appetite, abnormal fluid accumulation in the abdomen, abdominal pain, jaundice, and black, tarry stools.

Crotos: Just the sap part of this common plant is poisonous.

Contact: greenwaylandscaping@email.com

Do you know which plants could be dangerous to your beloved pets? / Photo: Greenway Landscaping

Your rental car tags mean you may be an ideal target for a gas station scam / Photo: Q-Roo Paul

Tips to Avoid Being Scammed at a Gas Station BY Q-ROO PAUL Tourists that we meet often have a story about how they were scammed, shortchanged or cheated while getting gas in Mexico. Their unfamiliarity with how things work here – coupled with the fact that their cars have rental tags on them – make them a target for unscrupulous gas station attendants looking to make a quick buck at their expense. In today’s post, I’m going to tell you about some of the more common scams and how to avoid them.

It’s also a good idea to count out the bills one at a time as you place them in the attendant’s hand. If they try to swap a bill and you’re absolutely sure they’re trying to scam you, call them on it. Tell them to return your other bill, or you’ll call the police. You may even want to take out your cellphone and start recording the encounter. This is usually all it takes to rectify the problem. The attendant usually responds with a sheepish grin and then gives you the correct change owed.

1. Money Swap This is the most common one. In fact, a few of my friends have fallen victim to this one.

2. Shortchanged This is common with tourists because they’re not familiar with the currency here.

How it works The money swap occurs when you hand the attendant your money, and they swap a bill — usually a $50 for a $500 — and then tell you that you didn’t give them enough money. The scam works best when there is some form of distraction used. Be wary of attendants who are excessively chatty or if there is a second attendant who comes over to talk to you while the first one is working. The goal is to make you unsure if you gave them the correct amount or not. Avoiding it Pay attention! Stop chatting with the passengers in the car and get out so you can observe what the attendant is doing.

How it works This one is pretty self-explanatory. The attendant gives you insufficient change for the amount of money that you provided. Avoiding it Pay attention! If you speak some Spanish (at least you know your numbers), a useful tip is to tell them exactly how much you want back when you give them the money. It throws them off and they usually just hand you the amount you asked for. But wait! There´s more! Visit www.qroo. us to finish reading Paul´s full article. You will find it, and other helpful articles, in the Safety and Security section.

BEACH LIFE

April 19 - 22 May 2017

Emergency Medical Evacuation: What s Covered? John Klug, a Senior Representative for Travel MedEvac answers questions people ask about emergency medical evacuation.

John Klug / Photo: John klug

the Bahamas or Bermuda. Some 37 countries. Here’s more details:

By John Klug

o John, we know that Travel MedEvac covers you for a medical transport back to the States or Canada when you have a serious incident here. But, exactly what all is included? Ba s ica lly TME assure s you of M e di cal Evacuation Services directly to your home when you are in a hospital with a serious condition in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean,

• Air Medical Transport to Your Home Hospital of Choice: Your Hospital, Your Doctors, Your Health Network – Travel MedEvac will provide Air Medical Transport every step of the way. No deductibles, no add-on’s, no hassle. One phone call. • Ground Ambulance: All ground ambulance transfers from the hospital where you are being treated to whatever hospital you chose back home are covered. No cost. • Organ Transplant: We will bring the needed organ to you at no additional expense. • Traveling Companion or Family Member: They will accompany you every step of the way. No cost. • Return of Children & Grandchildren: We will bring your minor children or grandchildren back home, with an escort as needed. No cost. • Return of Stranded Vehicle, RV, Motorcycle and Watercraft: We’ll bring everything home for you. No cost • Mortal Remains: If you, your spouse, or a covered family member dies while traveling, we will arrange to prepare and transport the remains home. We will also cover the cost to have a family member or designated friend accompany transport of the remains.

Photo: Agency

In Addition, Five Year Plans Include the Following Enhanced Services • Emergency Ground Ambulance: We cover any out-of-pocket local ambulance expenses that are not covered by your medical insurance. • Stranded Pet Return: We pay to return your dog or cat, including an escort by a family member if necessary. • Visiting Grandchildren Covered: If an underage grandchild visits you without their parents, they’re covered, same as you.

fications of the crew. We own or control some 57 aircraft, and all pilots and medical crew are employees. The pilots have a minimum of 10,000 hours of flight experience. The EMT’s must have 5+ years of emergency room certifications. In many cases, we can have a plane on the ground in Cancun ready to evacuate you in less than 3 hours. Call or email me. John Klug, Senior Consultant Travel MedEvac 984-169-2600 (Mexico) 720-570-7883 (US) John@MexicoTravelCare.com www.MexicoTravelCare.com

Other companies use the Internet and bid everything out to the lowest bidder. This takes time, and you never know the quali-

State Runner-up in National Soccer Championship BY DALILA DE LEON

Wake Up Your Life with the

Dutch Diva Photo: Paula Liebe

Discover the many lives of this Dutch Diva in Mexico

BY CRYSTAL MITCHELL I recently found an inspiring and powerful woman that lives near me. She has been around the world and experienced many cultures. Her name is Paula Liebe, and is known as the “Dutch Diva.” She has seen life’s ups and downs and states that her desire is to wake people up with her new book. The Playa Times: Where are you originally from and how did you find yourself in Playa del Carmen? How long have you been here? Paula: I’m originally from the Netherlands. I moved to Playa del Carmen 17 years ago after I received a vision about starting a spiritual center in PdC during a shamanic ceremony drinking Ayahuasca. I gave up my corporate career, sold everything I had, bought a new wardrobe, and moved to Playa before ever seeing the place. You recently wrote a book, what is it called and what inspired you to write it? Paula: It’s called The Queen’s Manifestation, memoirs of a lightworker. This is the 4th installment of the Queen’s Saga. The inspiration to write my books is that I have a story to share and an important message to deliver.

What is your book about? My books are about my life. How I survived childhood trauma through yoga and shamanic ceremonies. How I traveled the world and discovered many cultures and religions, which I describe. How I found my soul mate, my childhood sweetheart. And, most importantly, about the historic and current visitations by highly advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. Who do you feel is the audience for your book? My audience has been a large variety of different people. Many young people, but I can count many older gentlemen among my fans. Maybe that’s because I talk very freely about my sexual life and my past as a high-class escort. But they have all expressed a fascination with the woman called Paula Liebe; a woman of the world.

Each year, the Federacion Mexicana de Futbol sponsored by Scotiabank organizes a nationwide tournament four various youth age groups. Soccer, Mexico’s favorite sport, had tens of thousands of kids participating in this tournament. Quintana Roo, for the 11 and underage group, first held a statewide tournament where all the cities sent their all-stars to participate. The city of Chetumal came out victorious, allowing their coach the rights to direct and represent the state team. The winning coaches were also allowed to choose talented players from the other cities to create an even stronger state team. In this process, two players from Playa del Carmen, Liam Lloyd and Josue Flores, both 11-year-olds, were selected to participate in the nationwide championship. On February 20, the week-long tournament started in Toluca, Estado de Mexico, for the clash between 32 states. The teams were divided into eight groups of four teams each, and then the field was reduced to the final 16 teams, of which Quintana Roo advanced to play in these win or die rounds.

Both players from Playa del Carmen had outstanding performances. Liam Lloyd, goalkeeper, had a key play facing a Durango striker in a dangerous one-on-one. Liam came out aggressively, running to meet the oncoming striker, blocked the goal and allowed the offense time to recuperate and place a goal for the first win in the second round, winning 2-0. In another match against Coahuila, Josue Flores, defense, executed an amazing shot, scoring a point to lead the team to a 1-0 victory, allowing Quintana Roo to remain among the final four teams. The games were tough, but the team managed to make it to the final against Baja California, in another intense match which remained scoreless for the first half. In the second half, the Quintanarroenses sought to break the enemy defense line, but the rival responded with the same intensity. With just four minutes left, Baja California put the first and only point on the scoreboard, which left this northern state as the new national champions of Mexico and leaving Quintana Roo in 2nd place on the Scotiabank National Championship 2017. Congratulations to both local players for their amazing performance!

Wait! There´s more to our interview with Paula! Visit www.theplayatimes.com to read the interview in its entirety! Learn more about Paula on her website www.paulaliebe.com and Facebook/Paula Liebe - Dutch Diva in Mexico.

The 2017 Quintana Roo state team! Congratulations! / Photo: Bea Lloyd

April 19 - 22 May 2017

ART & CULTURE

Mother Earth Day and the First Eco-Cultural Festival of the Riviera Maya

Photo: Festival ECO-CULTURAL Riviera Maya Acculturation is reflected in the traditional costume of each state of Mexico / Photo: Wikimedia

BY ALEJANDRA CAMPO Throughout the year, the calendar marks dates where the important achievements, rights and campaigns that require our action are commemorated, celebrated or brought to our attention. There is a day which concerns us all in regard to our planet. In 2009, the UN established April 22 as the International Day of Mother Earth, to use as a framework for climate change. It is about the damage done around the world to our environment, through actions, abuse, and evil committed against nature and the urgent need to stop it.

2009

In , the UN established April 22 as the International Day of Mother Earth, to use as a framework for climate change. Native peoples have always understood that nature provides us with everything and that we should take care of it and respect it.

Photo:Shutterstock

This great cause is a final call to action, especially for Quintana Roo. From the tourist areas of Cancun to Bacalar and the island of Holbox, we know that ecocide occurs every day in mangroves, beaches, and to the flora and fauna inhabiting them - all in pursuit of poorly planned development for a few beneficiaries. It is true that the economic activity of Quintana Roo is mainly tourism, but is that a reason to destroy precisely what we love so much, in the name of tourism and earnings? Is it perhaps that there are no limits and economic interests are above the law? Fortunately, there are several associations in our society coordinating movements to attract the attention of employers, authorities, and citizens and bring awareness to this issue. On Saturday, April 22, we will be hosting the first Eco-Cultural Festival of the Riviera Maya with various activities during the day. It will begin with cleaning the beaches at Punta Esmeralda and in the afternoon, there will be a workshop on recycling, as well as conferences, documentaries, music, dance, and a sculpture exhibition. All citizens are invited to participate and there is free entrance to Plaza Quinta Alegria.

April 29: International Day of Dance Dance traditions in Mexico have a long history dating back to ancient rituals that worshipped gods BY ALEJANDRA CAMPO

ance is a sublime art that combines music, sometimes singing, and the movement of the human body as a unique instrument of expression. Although there is no record of pre-Hispanic music and dance, they have survived having been passed on from generation to generation “despite being mutilated without the splendor and ritualism that they used to have.” 1 We know of them through painting from that period and the chronicles of the Spanish. One of these stories, one of the saddest passages in our history, is “the massacre of the Templo Mayor,” when Aztecs were killed by the Spanish as they danced in the square in honor of the god Tezcatlipoca. Pre-Hispanic dance was ritualistic and involved a great show of hundreds of people gathered in the main plazas, dancing in concentric circles according to their rank. On some occasions, it followed a compass, while in others it mimicked animals or recounted an event. There were also dances in houses and palaces that had a purely recreational purpose when there was a celebration. One of these was the mitote2, a Nahuatl word still used today to refer to a big party (although nowadays it also means a big problem). Among the instruments that have survived is the teponaxtle or teponaztli, a hollowed-out trunk of wood, as well as flutes, deer horns, snails, and others. Throughout the colonial period, miscegenation also made a contribution to music and dance, integrating European and African

rhythms, such as the Aragonese jota and the fandango, giving rise to what we know today as Mexican regional music and dance. This acculturation is also reflected in the traditional costume of each state of the Republic used in folk dance, such as the Veracruz suit reminiscent of the Sevillian costume.

Although there is no record of pre-Hispanic music and dance, these have survived having been passed on from generation to generation Among the dances that continue today is the dance of concheros, enjoyed by the tourists when performed in both Maya and Aztec land. They used to be performed for the gods, but as a result of evangelization, are now performed for Catholic saints and, above all, in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. 1 & 2 Alvarez y Alvarez de la Cadena, Luis. (1970) México. Leyendas-Costumbres, Trajes y Danzas. México. Jesús Medina. Editor.

PUERTO VALLARTA

April 19 - 22 May 2017

Best Hidden Viewpoint of the Bay of

Banderas in Puerto Vallarta Frank takes an alternative route to view the bay from higher ground BY FRANK VAN DER BURGH

very traveler tends to look at various websites for things to do in the area that they are visiting. Since even the most seasoned traveler needs inspiration that transcends the standard ‘Top 10 Things to Do’ list, I found myself watching a Mexican blogger traveling in Puerto Vallarta. Starting on Isla Cuale, he went up some steps and ended up at a great viewpoint overlooking the entire bay. As with most trips, we traveled with our backpack of snacks, money for beer, and no prepared directions. Starting well, we found steps leaving Isla Cuale towards a higher part of the mountain. After that, we went figuratively downhill, getting lost in the maze of streets with unclear directions given to us by locals. Cheating slightly with the GPS, I located a street

that seemed to be the furthest up the mountain and in the general direction of what looked like a viewpoint. Climbing over a trash-filled patch, we quickly realized that sneakers and

The Bay of Banderas is on the Pacific Coast in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit

ed by a very excited dog who barked at us. Once past the tower, our efforts were soon rewarded. The viewpoint area looks unfinished and lacks any facilities like a toilet or a shop selling refreshments. The view, however, is what we were there for, exactly in the middle of the half-moon circle that is the Bay of Banderas. Sitting there enjoying a sunset was an amazing experience, and get-

ting there was a good workout also. Going back down, we realized there are steps on the other side with an optional cable car taking you past the hardest part. Perhaps the best hidden viewpoint of the bay is not that hidden after all. Some basic info: the place is called Mirador de la Cruz and can be accessed going straight up from the malecon. The climb takes around 30 to 45 minutes and is fairly steep. Remember there are no bathrooms or shops up there, so come prepared.

flip-flops were not the appropriate footwear for hiking. However, encouraged by a painted word that said mirador (lookout), we decided to march on through unstable paths and steep climbs. Eventually, we made it to a cell tower where we were greet-

The view from Mirador de la Cruz in Puerto Vallarta / Photo: Frank van der Burgh

Tuna Azul BY FRANK VAN DER BURGH It does not often happen that we want to go back to a restaurant just a few days after our first visit. Luckily in my job, under the pretext of culinary journalism, we found ourselves eating once again in the excellent seafood restaurant, Tuna Azul. After a day strolling through the city, the inevitable search for a restaurant began. An expensive place with an ocean view, the best reviewed restaurant on Yelp, or just a place that looks nice? If you’re like us, you browse menus in every place until you find the perfect fit. Much to our surprise, however, many restaurants seemed to serve stereotypical American food, such as hamburgers and hot dogs. Nothing wrong with that, but being one block from the beach, we would have preferred fresh seafood. As happens more often than I would like to admit, our stomachs became stronger than our minds, and we settled for a place. Located in the line of sight from the Playa de los Muertos dock, just one block from the beach, the entrance to Tuna Azul is a stairway on the side of the building. Following that stairway, I ended up overlooking the malecon from the restauChef Diego runs the restaurant with his brothers and their mom brews the Nawa artisanal beers / Photo: Frank van der Burgh

rant. The first time, I was too busy enjoying the amazing montadito (a tuna-based dish with avocado) to ask any questions. The second time, however, we learned that Chef Diego runs the restaurant with his brothers. If that isn’t enough, their mom makes the Nawa artisanal beers that are on the menu. If you agree with me on the fact that service in a lot of restaurants is often subpar, this place will surprise you. The waiters are knowledgeable about the food, have various recommendations, and can tell you where the food comes from.

For more information about Tuna Azul: Facebook/azultuna Instagram/tunaazul tunaazulvallarta@ gmail.com It might be a bit hard to find the entrance, but once you do, you won’t forget again. You will walk up that stairway many more times. I recommend trying the montadito and the potatoes with marlin. Facebook/AzulTuna

April 19 - 22 May 2017

DISCOVER MEXIC0

A Taste of Merida´s Haciendas BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

he colonial history of Merida goes back centuries, and its architecture was often simple, with colorful facades, sometimes with hidden courtyards. There are also many mansions and haciendas that present you with gloriously tasty and unexpected treats inside, like when you open a candy box.

There are also many mansions and haciendas that, like opening a candy box, present you with gloriously tasty and unexpected treats inside. The majestic mansions herald back to Spanish architecture, including the one on the outskirts of Merida that we had the privilege of visiting: Hacienda San Diego Cutz. It is a private residence that is used for events, parties, and gatherings, and as we entered its mile-long roadway, I imagined horse-drawn carriages and a dusty road heralding back to that era. Upon exiting our bus, we were transported to an entirely different era.

Photo: haciendasandiegocutz.com

We walked through its rusty red and white arch, past the tiered fountain, with everybody walking to the left where a plentitude of food and drink was available. My road led me to the right, and I stumbled upon a magnificently red-tiled kitchen that any chef would give their right arm to cook in. Circling the massive building, I followed a path of age-old trees dripping with lights, where more than three hundred of us were dressed in traditional white garb with skyblue embroidery. The men were in authentic guayaberas and the women in huipiles. It was an honor to be so intimately linked to such a typical Mexican tradition. The menu prepared on location by chefs Gerardo Rivera and Patricia Scott married classic Mexican food with global cuisine. This included a modern-day interpretation of kastakan vegetable with pork quiche, a goat cheese tartlet with tomato foam, and a filet of beef with a puree of corn tatemado (roasted). The dinner’s finale consisted of a trio of cacao - dark chocolate, almond, and Xtabentun. On a different night, we visited Quinta Alsina Masso. Through its gated arches we could see a stunning gazebo, which was intricately detailed like fine lace. Waiters plied us with flautas, tacos, cochinita pibil, elotes, and quesadillas. The evening’s pièce de resistance were amazing homemade marquesitas (crispy crepes). You can check out our version of this recipe in this edition.

Green turtles are one of the six species you can find in the Caribbean / Photo: Florencia Cerutti

Gentle Reptiles: Sea Turtles There are seven species of sea turtles in the world, six of them can be found in the Caribbean! BY FLORENCIA CERUTTI

ea turtles are one of the most charismatic animals in the ocean. They are beautiful and gentle creatures that can be easily spotted while feeding, cruising or mating in coastal shallow waters. These animals are reptiles that have adapted to life in the oceans, so they spend most of their life cycle in the sea. Sea turtles are different from land turtles (often called tortoises). There are many differences between them, but the most evident are 1) sea turtles have paddle-like legs (fins) while land turtles have feet with nails, and 2) sea turtles cannot pull head and limbs into its shell whereas land turtles can. Like all reptiles, sea turtles have lungs and must come to the surface to breathe air, although they are very good divers. They are slow-growing, late-maturing, and long-living animals, and no one knows for certain how long sea turtles live. Some studies have suggested they require 12 to 40 years or more just to reach adulthood! Most sea turtles live in tropical and subtropical waters and have global distributions. Although they spend most of their life at sea, they come to land to lay their eggs, and their life cycle includes many long migrations for mating, nesting, and feeding. There are seven species of sea turtles in the world, six of them can be found in the Caribbean!

All seven species are listed under the Endangered Species Act. To learn how to identify different species of Caribbean sea turtles, check: www. widecast.org/Biology/Pictorial/PictorialKey

Did You Know? A green sea turtle can stay underwater for up to 5 hours A leatherback turtle can weigh over 2000 pounds (907 kg) (source: Defenders of Wildlife/www. defenders.org)

Watching them peacefully feeding on seagrass meadows or nesting in the white beaches are some of the most amazing things we have the opportunity to see in the Caribbean waters of Mexico. However, we must be careful when some turtles come to land to lay eggs. Noise, people, dogs, hotel beach chairs, and bright lights can disorientate or disturb female turtles and affect the very important task of nesting. More key facts and suggestions of behavior when encountering sea turtles at www.myfwc. com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/florida/faq/

TULUM

April 19 - 22 May 2017

Antojitos La Chiapaneca Visit this Tulum institution for its famous tacos al pastor BY ASHLEY CAMPO

ntojitos La Chiapaneca is an institution in Tulum. If you haven’t been yet, drop everything and make plans to try it for dinner tonight. It’s

Photo:Agency

easy to find, just look for the line of people waiting for their taco fix. La Chiapaneca is known for its tacos al pastor and you’ll know it the minute you walk up and see them cooking on the spit in the front of the restaurant. If you have

never had pastor, here’s the scoop. Pastor is a dish developed in Central Mexico and suspected to be a result of the adoption of the shawarma spit-grilled meat that Lebanese immigrants brought to Mexico. If you are familiar with shawarma or Greek gyros, you have the basic idea, except that pastor is made from pork rather than lamb. First, the pork is marinated in dried chilies, achiote, spices, and pineapple. Then it is slowly cooked over a gas

When ready, the meat is thinly sliced off, right onto the tortillas with a large knife and a little piece of pineapple is added to the top. flame on a vertical rotisserie (again, like the shawarma or gyros) with a pineapple on top. When ready, the

meat is thinly sliced off, right onto the tortillas with a large knife and a little piece of pineapple is added to the top. Tacos al pastor are certainly not the only thing on their menu, but what you could consider their signature dish. Once the tacos come to your table, you can garnish with the salsas and limes. They have an onion and cilantro mixture, a red and a green salsa. All very tasty, but watch out for that red salsa, it will get ya! Before you go, just know that they don’t serve beer. So, enjoy a classic Mexican Coke with your dinner and then plan another stop for cocktails after dinner. Oh, and did I mention you can eat like a king for under $5 USD?

Frida Kahlo Exhibit at Museum of Cozumel BY RAQUEL GARZA April 4 was the 30th anniversary of the Museum of Cozumel (Museo de Cozumel), a building with historical value and home of the leader of cultural and educational activities on the island. The Frida Kahlo Foundation for Culture and Art and the Parks and Museums Foundation of Cozumel have teamed up for this anniversary. They will present an exhibition entitled Frida Kahlo`s Intimacy: Echoes of Ink and Paper, curated by Cristina Kahlo, Frida’s great-niece. It will be at the museum from April 4 to June 4 and will be free to the public. Alejandro Tamayo, President of the Frida Kahlo Foundation for Culture and Art, spoke to us about it. “The exhibition is a collection of photography curated by Cristina Kahlo. She has obtained photographs from different places, such as the Museum of Philately in Oaxaca, and has created an exquisite collection for the museum.” This collection recreates an outline of Frida’s life, moments from her childhood, her love life with Diego, and other loves. It exposes different characters with whom she lived and created ties, characters who par-

Intimacy: Echoes of Ink and Paper recreates an outline of Frida’s life, moments from her childhood, her love life with Diego Rivera, and other loves. ticipated in the life of Frida Kahlo. There are original letters written to Dolores del Rio, Leo Eloeser, and letters to the family in which you can read her explanations of life, her illness, politics, and more. In the museum there are also exhibitions of other Mexican artists, and a small recreation of the Blue House. A new cultural space, the Frida Kahlo Riviera Maya Museum, will soon be inaugurated and ready by the end of May, located on Fifth Avenue and Eighth Street in Playa del Carmen. For more information about activities at the island’s museum, you can consult Facebook/Museo De La Isla De Cozumel.

Environmental education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue / Photos: Vanessa Nini

Nuup Eek Project A new program for community conservation and sustainable development is underway in Cozumel BY VANESSA NINI

id you know that Cozumel was identified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO last year? This was due to its large number of species and plants endemic to the island, meaning they are found nowhere else on earth. A significant portion of the proposed biosphere reserve was the marine ecosystem which forms part of the second-largest reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Reef. Cozumel biosphere reserve is now ready for ecological science projects for sustainable development. Alejandra Tellez is a sustainable development consultant from Monterrey in the north of Mexico. She has worked for various organizations, such as the United Nations, Mexican Councils (consejos mexicanos), and local governments. She decided to stay in Cozumel and give all her energy and knowledge to support a local community project, called Nuup Eek’, meaning connect the stars together in Mayan. The Playa Times: Could you please explain to us what the Nuup Eek’ project is about? Alejandra Tellez: Nuup Eek’ is a pilot project for community conservation and sustainable development in Cozumel. At the beginning, it was about ecotourism, but we are now going further, learning about sustainable development technology. A few weeks ago, we received funding to organize organic agriculture workshops. Soon we hope to learn about earth building, with an intensive workshop covering the basics of bamboo construction and introducing us to a number of innovative

earth materials for use in construction. Local communities should understand that they can utilize their environmental resources as sustainable sources of income and empowerment. It is possible to reduce poverty through conservation and sustainability. Using biodiversity and employing solutions such as energy efficiency; renewable energies; bioclimatic design and passive solar systems; low environmental impact materials; site selection; and water management and reuse, encourages social welfare, among other principles.

Local communities should understand that they can utilize their environmental resources as sustainable sources of income and empowerment. Environmental education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue through critical thinking and it enhances problem-solving and decision-making skills. At the same time, they must take into account environmental, social, economic and cultural aspects in construction projects. This will be the first sustainable community in Cozumel, focused on environmental conservation. I hope in the future many other communities will follow their example. The Nuup Eek´ project is a beautiful initiative which needs a lot of support and funding to survive. Feel free to contact Alejandra if you are interested in participating, alejandratellez0@ gmail.com, or visit Facebook/Nuup Eek’.

The exhibition is curated by Cristina Kahlo, Frida´s great-niece / Photos: Raquel Garza

“Mexican Trivia for $1000, Alex” Impress your friends with some little known facts about Mexico BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

here is a Mexican tamale called the zacahuil. It is three feet long and weighs about 150LBS. Reservation for one, please! A spectacle of color, sound and energy occurs each year when as many as one billion Monarch butterflies migrate from eastern Canada and the U.S., making their journey to Mexico’s Michoacan Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, a trip that encompasses over 2,500 miles. They arrive in late October and spend their winter hibernation clustered in the reserve. Not sure whether Johnny Cash’s song is related to this tidbit, but Mexico is located in the “Ring of Fire,”

one of the earth’s most violent earthquake and volcano zones. I went down, down, down and the flames went higher... The border between Mexico and the United States is the second-largest border in the world (only the U.S.-Canadian border is longer). Masons, get your trowels, string lines and brushes ready. An unusual Maya weapon was a “hornet bomb,” which was an actual hornet’s nest thrown at enemies during battle. Hoping their enemies had the epinephrine ready. Aztec descendants speak a language called Nahuatl. Some of its words or variations are used in English, including: tomatoes (tomatl), chocolate (chocolatl), avocados (ahuacatl), coyote (coyˠtl), guacamole (ʰhuaca, avocado and mˠlli,

“sauce”), mesquite (mizquitl), mezcal (mexcalli, meaning over-cooked agave) and my favorite, the word shack (xahcalli, grass hut). The largest wildcat in North America is the jaguar. It can be found in Mexico’s southern jungles, and not often encountered during daylight hours. Giving me the heebie-jeebies is the fact that snakes appear repeatedly in Mexican mythology, from the serpent god Kukulcan (found on the side of the Chichen Itza pyramid) to the feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl. The red poinsettia, named cuetlaxochitl by the Aztecs, originated in Mexico and is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico (1820s) Photo: Wikimedia commons

Photos: Raquel Garza Gonzalez

Jazz, Funk and Rock with

LariFerPol Guest musicians bring a weekend of musical delight to Cozumel BY RAQUEL GARZA

ast weekend, Cozumel welcomed three top musicians, the brothers Lari Ruiz Velasco and Fernando Ruiz Velasco, and Pablo Madrigal, who brought their musical project LariFerPol Trio to the island. These musicians, who play along with Alejandra Guzman, Ha-ash, and other musicians of international fame, were invited by the restaurants and bars from Mexico City where they reside, to play their unique musical interpretations. On Thursday, they met at Blù Bistro Cafe, located on Avenue Melgar in front of the sea, cramming the place with Cozumelians who appreciate good music. Guests had the pleasure of listening to them, dancing and enjoying a delicious gourmet dinner, accompanied by some tasty drinks created by the cafe’s mixologists. On Friday, they played at Blue Angel Restaurant, playing a tribute to Ray Charles. The restaurant offered its guests a delicious dinner, uniquely mixed drinks and a great performance of funk, rock, and

jazz. The band’s fascinating musical arrangements and charisma had guests dancing all night long.

The band’s fascinating musical arrangements and charisma had guests dancing all night long. In the Turquoise Terrace & Beach Club, guests were presented on Saturday afternoon with a tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Also in Turquoise, on Sunday, the trio played alongside the island’s The Red Eye Band at 6 p.m., finishing with an additional unplanned set at the request of the audience. This brought to a close a spectacular musical weekend on the island of Cozumel. If you want to know more about these musicians you can find them at Facebook/Lari Rvg, Facebook/Fer Ruvel and Facebook/ Pablo Madrigal.

April 19 - 22 May 2017

COZUMEL

Sal de Mar Cozumel @hnkf^m \nblbg^ bl ma^ hk]^k h_ ma^ ]Zr Zm mabl k^\^gm Z]]bmbhg mh ma^ bleZg] l \nebgZkr l\^g^ BY VANESSA NINI

new and original restaurant in Cozumel, called Sal de Mar (meaning sea salt), opened a few months ago. A mix of vintage and modern, you will be seduced not only by the atmosphere at Sal de Mar, but by its Mediterranean recipes that have a Mexican and Asian twist. Dinner is enjoyed under amazing turquoise, blue, and white ambient lighting. Rustic old stones combined with wood and transparent glass give this restaurant a warm and inviting feeling. Let’s meet the owner, Juan Carlos Puja, from Mexico City, to ask him about this beautiful place. The Playa Times: Juan Carlos, please tell us more about Sal de Mar. Juan Carlos Puja: With pleasure. I decided to open a gourmet Mediterranean/Mexican restaurant with my friend Alex, an excellent chef from Madrid. This building has special meaning for me because it was my grandfather’s home. The restoration incorporated wood and old stone to respect the design of the original house. The final interior design is now a mix of traditional and modern elements, with a very open structure to create a feeling of symbiosis with nature when eating our delicious cuisine.

Photo: Cervenauta

You can find Sal de Mar on Calle 3 between Fifth and Tenth Avenue, five minutes from the ferry / Photo: Vanessa Nini

Let’s talk about the menu; Sal de Mar makes me think about seafood. We try to work with local products as much as we can. We have the sea around us, and of course, that means seafood. However, we also propose high-quality meat for the meat-eaters. If you prefer a nice fresh fish, I recommend the catch of the day. Our chef Alex knows how to cook the fish perfectly in its own juices. We change the menu every month,

We change the menu every month, according to the seasonal products on offer. We respect the closed season for fishing lobster and shrimp. Juan Carlos Puja / Owner of Sal de Mar according to the seasonal products on offer. We respect the closed season for fishing lobster and shrimp. If you like gourmet cuisine, you will

love our breakfasts and dinners. With gourmet dishes like tuna tartare and baked tomato salad, I highly recommend this delicious

restaurant, with prices from 65 to 300 pesos. The breakfast menu offers a long list of egg dishes, and a sweet gourmet menu too, with excellent coffee. It is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. for breakfast and dinner only. You can find it on Calle 3 between Fifth and Tenth Avenue, five minutes from the ferry. Facebook/@saldemarcozumel www.saldemarcozumel.com

TPT FOODIES

April 19 - 22 May 2017

Easy Turron Mexicano BY CATHERINE PAWELEK Turron was brought to Mexico by the Spaniards. Some versions are soft, as in the recipe below. Others are harder and more brittle, caused by cooking the sugar mixture longer. Both are inspired by the Middle Eastern sweet called halvah, in which almonds are used instead of peanuts. Double the ingredients if you intend to give this delicious treat as a gift. Ingredients • ½ cup peanuts ground to a fine paste • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar • 1 cup honey • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 2 tablespoons water • 1 tablespoon corn syrup • 2 egg whites, beaten until stiff • ½ cup blanched peanuts, roasted

Turron was brought to Mexico by the Spaniards Method Line a small oblong baking pan with greased parchment paper or Silpat. Cut a piece of cardboard the same size as the pan. Mix ground peanuts and sugar. Pour honey, vanilla, corn syrup and water into a saucepan and place over medium heat. Fold egg whites into the peanut and sugar mixture and add to the honey/water in the saucepan. Simmer over a medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the mixture browns and thickens. Stir in the additional roasted peanuts, then remove from heat. Pour into baking pan. Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and place the cardboard on top. Place a medium-heavy object on top , such as a bag of beans. Allow it to cool completely, even for as long as two days, before cutting into squares or strips. Makes about 500g.

Guy Fieri’s Kitchen + Bar is located on 5th Avenue on the corner of calle 22 / Photos: Guy Fieri’s Kitchen + Bar

Photo: Seaside Rotary Club of PDC

Best Chili in Playa 2017 First annual Seaside Rotary chili cook-off draws hungry crowds! BY SEASIDE ROTARY CLUB OF PLAYA DEL CARMEN

he first annual Seaside Rotary cookoff has announced a winner! Greg Cosway and his wife Tammy have won for “The Best Chili in Playa del Carmen 2017.” They are originally from Toronto and have been visiting the Riviera Maya since 1994. They now live here full time with their two girls, Kylie-Rose and Jazlyn. Greg and Tammy went home with a trophy and bragging rights, but generously donated the $100 USD in prize money back to the club. The cook-off was the first of its kind for Seaside Rotary and was an undeniable success. There were six very competitive chili chefs participating this year; Miguel Herrera, Matt Weatherbee, Lou Hernandez, Steve Thomas, Patrick Grenville-Morris and our two winners, Tammy and Greg Cosway. Everyone was surprised by the number of people in attendance. The demand was so unexpected that most of the chefs ran out of chili within the first hour and a half. Still, everyone who came to taste had a great time and enjoyed the special happy hour pricing offered by our wonderful hosts, JJ and Kim from Wah Wah Beach Bar. Event organizers are looking forward to an even bigger event next year, opening up the cook-off to more local home cooks and professional chefs. I’d like to thank Seaside Rotarian Allan Lockhart for spearheading this fun event, everyone on the organizing committee for all of their hard work, and the talented chili chefs and everyone who came out to

support Seaside Rotary! For more information about the Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside, its projects and initiatives in the community visit www.playaseasiderotary.org.

The demand was so unexpected that most of the chefs ran out of chili within the first hour and a half. Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen Seaside is Playa del Carmen’s newest Rotary Club and welcomes both men and women. Chartered by Rotary International in September 2012, “Seaside” is an English-speaking club with 23 members representing Europe, North and South America. Each is dedicated to upholding the Rotary ideal of “Service Over Self”. Rotary International is the world’s oldest and largest non-profit service organization, with 34,000 Rotary Clubs and 1,200,000 Rotarians in over 220 countries. The Rotary Foundation supports grass-roots level community projects sponsored by local clubs around the world and, since 1985, has led the effort to eradicate polio. To date, there are fewer than 200 newly diagnosed cases in only three endemic countries worldwide.

April 19 - 22 May 2017

TPT FOODIES

A Doughnut By Any Other Name Varieties of this treat are enjoyed around the world BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

f you are a world traveler, then you are probably familiar with a sweet, deep-fried delicacy called oliebollen, krofi, beignets, bomboloni or jalebi. Here in Mexico, our variations are known as buñuelos, sopaipillas, and churros. If you haven’t had one of these crunchy, soft and puffy treats, then it is time to do so. There is nothing better than to have one at the end of a hearty cochinito pibil or tacos al pastor. Buñuelos These small balls or discs are often topped with a piloncillo syrup and cinnamon or sugar. They are not just limited to dessert, and are a popular mid-afternoon snack served with a mug of Mexican hot chocolate. Can’t put your finger on that distinctive unique flavor in the dough. It is a hint of anise. Sopaipillas A popular dish that often has its own twists. Usually served for dessert, sopaipillas can also be served as a savory dish. For dessert, they are most often pyramid or square-shaped then drizzled with honey or powdered sugar. When stuffed with meat or cheese they become a delicious appetizer, and are similar to an empanada. Going back two hundred years, it is said that the

word sopaipilla comes from xopaipa, meaning bread soaked in oil.

Here in Mexico, our variations are known as buñuelos, sopapillas, and churros. Churros These are quintessentially associated with Mexico, but in fact their recipe goes all the way back to China, Portugal and Spain. Once it landed in Spain, the extraction through a star-shaped die was created, giving them their familiar ridges. The smaller the die, the crunchier the end result. I have seen churros filled with guava paste or cheese, but more common presentations include a sprinkling of sugar, powdered or otherwise and filled with dulce de leche, cajeta or chocolate. Walk through any fair in the U.S. and that familiar smell draws you to the funnel cake kiosk. Check out the simple buñuelo recipe in this edition and remember that they are not just for special occasions anymore.

Churros are typically filled with dulce de leche, cajeta or chocolate / Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Buñuelos BY CATHERINE PAWELEK Serves 24 • 4 cups flour • ½ cup sugar • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 cup milk • 2 eggs • 4 tablespoon butter (melted) • Oil for frying • ½ cup cinnamon/sugar mixture In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, mix the eggs and milk and incorporate into the dry ingredients. Then add the melted butter. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead till it feels silken. Meanwhile, heat the oil. Roll the dough into small golf ball-sized portions

Photo: Agency

and drop into the hot oil. Once they are golden brown, remove, drain and toss in the cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Make a dozen extra, as I guarantee that every time you pass this plate of buñuelos, you will pop one in your mouth. Make a dozen extra, as I guarantee that every time you pass this plate of buñuelos, you will pop one in your mouth, not even considering the neighbors stopping by for a few once they smell that oh-so-familiar scent.

18 HEALTH

April 19 - 22 May 2017

The Power of Photography BY SARA JONES

life and what I wanted to see when I looked back on this time.

Have you ever noticed how some people always seem to look great in photographs? Whatever the angle, whatever the time of day, whatever the hairstyle? For the rest of us mere mortals, having our photograph taken is a slightly daunting process. Will the hair look OK? Will it look natural? Will I cringe when I see the end result? But being photographed can also be an exciting and enjoyable process. What makes it so positive versus potentially negative? Well, I believe a lot of it comes down to the photographer, of course. Whatever your reason for having your photograph taken (and rest assured, you don’t actually need a reason other than wanting a great photograph), the interaction between you and your photographer will be one of the main factors that determine the end result. Working with Ashlie Woods was a different experience to any photographer I’ve previously worked with. Ashlie met with me beforehand to discuss the purpose of the shoot, what I would like to portray, and the end result I hoped to achieve. These questions encouraged me to think about what I was grateful for in my

We narrowed it down to three separate shoots, representing three distinct keywords: • Empowerment: A photograph that embodied the confidence and success of this time in my life • Femininity: Embracing my feminine energy, sensuality and sexuality • Happiness: An expression of pure joy, gratitude and love of life From there we chose three locations, decided on the best colors and outfits and off we went. The process and the resulting images are something I will treasure for many years to come. As a retreat leader and photographer, Ashlie splits her time between Playa del Carmen, her hometown of Dallas, Texas and wherever she chooses to hold her retreats; the next is in Guatemala. www.ashliewoods.com Sara Jones Spa, Wellness & Lifestyle Expert, Spa Consultant and Founder of Spa & Wellness Mexico magazine www.spawellnessmexico.com

Prana is a Sanskrit word that means life force / Photo: Sanación Pránica

The Center for

Pranic Healing BY SANACIÓN PRÁNICA The Center for Pranic Healing is a school that shares the tools that will allow you to discover your greatness. It’s teachings allow you to learn multiple ways that Prana or vital energy has to help you improve different areas of your life. Once you learn pranic healing, you will develop skills to achieve health, vitality, emotional stability, mental clarity, and self-mastery. Pranic healing allows you to express the highest of your talents and capabilities to reach an elevated degree of integration and realization. With 30 years of scientific investigation, a chemical engineer and founder of the school, Master Choa Kok Sui, could prove with exact detail the effect that vital energy or Prana has over the world that surrounds us. They discovered that this energy profoundly affects the physical state, health, and vitality of all living things and that it is possible to benefit extensively with its use, in many areas of human life and at many levels. The basic course of pranic healing teaches how to apply the vital energy to a healthy life.

What is Pranic Healing? Pranic healing is an alternative method of healing, based on an ancient art and today it is considered a bioenergetic science of natural healing, complete and revolutionary, which uses very effective techniques that aid in the use of “prana” or vital energy to recover and strengthen your health at every level. What is Prana? Prana is a Sanskrit word that means “life force.” It is the energy responsible for keeping the body alive and healthy. The Chinese call it chi, the Japanese call it ki, in Polynesia it is called mana, in Greek language pneuma and in Hebrew it is known as ruah. The main forces of prana are closely related to the natural elements like the sun, the air, and the earth. A pranic healing practitioner learns to obtain vital energy from these natural sources and how to transmit it to others in a safe manner to produce certain biochemical changes in the organism and with this accelerate the natural ability of the body to prevent, relieve and heal a wide range of physical and psychological agony.

For more information visit Facebook/ Sanación Pránica Quintana Roo

Ashlie´s photo of Sara captured her empowerment, femininity, and happiness! / Photo: Ashlie Woods

Organic Beauty is More Than Skin Deep BY NASH

arla’s dream for Xtabay Beauty began 14 years ago. As she traveled through Mexico, she discovered her country is very rich in natural resources and medicinal plants. As a biology student from Mexico City, she had first-hand knowledge of how the products we are using on a daily basis were destroying the ocean, the corals, and poisoning the planet - including us. The supermarket products we use on our skin, hair, and for cleaning are made of cancer-causing toxic chemicals. Karla decided to create a company offering skin care products made of 100% organic ingredients.Over the years, she has researched and created her formulas by using Maya medicinal plants and seaweed. None of her products are tested on animals, only human volunteers. The products are created following ECOCERT (French organic certification organization) standards. The products are made by hand with the best natural organic ingredients, and because they are made without preservatives, many products are made to order.

We believe that health and happiness are the most important things in everybody´s life. That is why we only buy our essential oils, plants, seeds, oils, and other materials direct from Mexican producers through fair trade.” Karla Mondragon Founder of Xtabay Xtabay Beauty offers more than 60 products including, shampoo, deodorant, baby products, facial care and makeup, perfume, mosquito spray, pet products and even natural hair dye. Xtabay is a local employer ensuring 70 families have employment, with a production model dedicated to taking care of the planet, continuing to build the eco-laboratory growing Maya

Xtabay Beauty offers more than 60 products / Photo: Xtabay

medicinal plants, and focused on efforts to save water and the environment. Ask about kids soap mak-

ing workshops. Present this article and save 20% off your purchase. Visit the online store www.xtabaybeauty.

com, Whatsapp 984-135-8598 or Facebook/Xtabay natural and organic cosmetics.

ENTERTAINMENT

SPECIAL EVENTS TULUM

DAY OF THE DANCE, Friday, April 28

5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Celebrations of the Day of Dance including free dance classes starting at 10:00 a.m. The first main show will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Plaza Municipal in Tulum with local kids and talent. Show begins at 8:00 p.m. in the Casa de La Cultura. For more information: Facebook/CatyDominguez 984-876-1235

COZUMEL COZUMEL

FASHION

WEEKEND,

Thursday, April 20 from 12:00 p.m. to Saturday, April 22 to 12:00 a.m. First International Festival from Vanguardia, Dashion Art Designer by Goodfellas Creative Studio. La Plaza del Reloj, Cozumel. Facebook/Cozumel Fashion Weekend

PLAYA DEL CARMEN

COSMIC JOURNEY-DOME, Thursday, April 20 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Join in on an astronomical journey from inside the Digital Dome. Visit some of the planets and moons of the Solar System, stars near the Sun and Exoplanets. Discover our Milky Way and other galaxies, until we reach Laniakea, the galactic supercluster to which we belong. Enjoy this unique experience, narrated live by the astronomer Dr. Vicente Hernández. Recommended for people over 10 years. Recovery fee $ 50 pesos per person. In Spanish, tickets can be bought in advance. The ticket office is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am to 6:30 pm. Cash only accept cash. Facebook/Viaje Cósmico-DOMO

April 19 - 22 May 2017

TULUM LIVE MUSIC Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Chak Acoustic Session. Ahau Tulum Km 7.8 Carretera Tulum Boca Paila. Facebook/ Ahau Tulum LIVE MUSIC Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Chak Acoustic Session. Encantada Tulum Km 8.7 Carretera Tulum Boca Paila. Facebook/Encantada Tulum YOGA Monday thru Saturday at 8:30

a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. On Sundays at 10:15 a.m. and 5: p.m. Sanara Tulum. Km 8.2 Carretera Tulum Boca Paila. Facebook/Sanara Tulum

LIVE MUSIC & DANCING PLAYA DEL CARMEN

LIVE MUSIC , Every Tuesday & Fri-

nue with Calle 34. Facebook/LaBodeguitaDelMedioenplayadelcarmen/

day during Happy Hour everyday from 12 noon to 6:00p.m. Enjoy Alfreddo in Carboncitos Calle 4 between 5th Avenue and 10th Avenue. Facebook/Carboncitos Facebook/Alfreddo

10:00 p.m. McCarthy’s Irish Pub, 5th Avenue with Calle 22, Playa del Carmen. Facebook/McCarthy´s Irish Pub Playa del Carmen

LIVE MUSIC, Every night from 8:30

ROCK NIGHT, Wednesdays 9:00 p.m.

p.m. to 1:30 a.m. La Bodeguita Del Medio en Playa del Carmen 5th Ave-

-12:00 a.m. Live rock bands. La Choperia 5th Avenue and Calle 28. Face-

book/Choperia Playa del Carmen ACOUSTIC NIGHT, Mondays 8:00

LIVE ROCK MUSIC, Every night from

p.m. -12:00 a.m. Live acoustic bands Lucky Lucianos 5th Avenue and Calle 28. Facebook/Lucky Luciano Playa del Carmen LIVE JAZZ , Thursdays 9:00 p.m. to

MARKET Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Plaza del Municipio.

11:45 p.m. Lucky Lucianos 5th Avenue and Calle 28. Facebook/Lucky Luciano Playa del Carmen.

ORGANIC

ANIMAL WELFARE ACCIÓN ANIMAL ADOPTION FAIR,

MARKETS

every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tenth St. between Ave. 100 and Av. 105, Colonia Ejido. Don’t buy pets, rescue them! Facebook/ACCION ANIMAL

KAVA KASA LOCAL MARKET every Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kava Kasa, 22nd St. and 10th Ave. Facebook/Kava Kasa ECOTIANGUIS DESAYUNO, every

Friday, 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Jardin de Todas Centro Comunitario, Avenida 80 & Calle 3 Sur (Ejido). Facebook/ El Jardín de Todos

CHARM SCHOOL, every Saturday, APRIL 19 - MAY 2

2017

EL ÁRBOL PLAYACAR MARKET, every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tulum Avenue, Local 6. Playacar Fase II. Facebook/El Árbol Playacar

9 a.m. for 2 to 3 hours. Have fun helping dogs become leash trained, balanced and exercised. Volunteers are picked up at Mega Supermarket, 30th and Constituyentes. Contact info@playaanimalrescue.org. Facebook/Playa Animal Rescue KITTEN CUDDLING, every Sat-

urday 1:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m. Volunteers needed to help socialize kittens. It’s also a great de-stressor! For more information, contact info@cocosanimalwelfare.org Facebook/Cocos Animal Welfare

KAVA KASA LOCAL MARKET every

Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kava Kasa, 22nd St. and 10th Ave. Facebook/ Kava Kasa

For more information and events visit: w w w. t h e p l a ya t i m e s .c o m / W h a t ´ s O n

Kyke Navarro Interview FZfbmZ l aZl Z g^p hi^kZmbhgl fZgZ`^k pbma [b` ieZgl hg ahp mh bfikho^ IeZrZ ]^e <Zkf^g l _Zohkbm^ [^Z\a \en[ BY IAN MACKENZIE

amitas has a new General Manager. Playa del Carmen’s most famous beach club recently brought Kyke Navarro over from Barcelona to help them oversee the ongoing projects that are currently in development. I sat down with Kyke on a busy Monday morning during Semana Santa and asked him about what he and his staff are currently working on. • Tell me how you got started in this industry. In Spain, I began by doing everything. I was sixteen years old, and I began by handing out flyers on the street. Then I began working at night doing coat check, bar back, food runner, and finally ended up in the area of public relations and promotion. I worked at various restaurants before ending up with Costa Este.

• How did you end up becoming the manager of Mamitas? I was on vacation in Playa del Carmen and had the idea of opening a beach club. After touring around Cancun, Tulum and Playa del Carmen I decided that this was the best beach club. So I met with the owner Jorge Marzuka, and it turns out he travels quite a bit through Europe. He came to Barcelona and saw all of the restaurants that we have, and we developed a relationship. I had been in Barcelona for many years doing the same thing and felt it was time for a change. Mr. Marzuca told me about the new areas that were being opened up in the club, and he invited me to come work here. And that’s how I arrived in Playa del Carmen. • What new projects will you be working on here in Mamitas? We’re going to start to do Boiler Rooms with showcases of electronic music at an international level. And we’re going to host pool parties. In two or three

months we will inaugurate our new restaurant that will be open at night, and we will have a champagne bar for private events. • What do you think about Playa? I like it a lot. It’s a paradise. It has a lot of characteristics that can be developed further. There are so many different types of music that people enjoy listening to, not just electronic music or what they have in the clubs for the tourists. The locals here come from many different countries, and we need to have something for those who are permanent residents also. We need to have more variety and have open minded people. • What can we expect this week during Semana Santa? It’s going to be crazy here. We have two DJs playing every day, and afterward we will have Mayan Madness. This is my first Semana Santa, and we are here ready to welcome everyone to the Mamitas.

Kyke Navarro, Mamita’s new General Manager / Photo:Kyke Navarro

April 19 - 22 May 2017

ENTERTAINMENT

Playa Pride 2017 BY GINGER M.

on May 17, the Day Against Homophobia, at the Centro Cultural de Playa del Carmen.

Spring has just begun, the heat is up, and we can feel it! We are now preparing for #PlayaPride17. Jan Novak, President of Playa Pride and Playa Amigable, has his team working hard to plan the sixth edition of Playa Pride, which runs from June 12 - 18, 2017. Artists will arrive from various countries including Canada (Kayssy), Chile (Pamela Robin) and of course, Mexico (Eduardo Togi). DJ Kayssy from Montreal is one of the official DJs of Playa Pride and will be playing alongside DJ Heather Lee Perry for LesMex, at events such as the Catamaran Party and the closing event, Unidos en Colores. Movie projections, art exhibitions, lectures, concerts, parties and much more are waiting for you.

They forecast they will have

3000 people

participating in June. Free booze is always a good incentive to try a new place! / Photos: Tilly Kyriakides

Top Five Ladies’ Nights in Playa : jnb\d khng]&ni h_ lhf^ h_ IeZrZ l [^lm eh\Zmbhgl _hk Z `bkel&hger gb`am BY TILLY KYRIAKIDES

here is an incredible amount of bars and clubs in Playa Del Carmen, and it can sometimes be hard to decide where to go for a Girls’ Night Out. Free booze is always a good incentive to try a new place, so here are five ladies’ nights in Playa that combine free drinks and food for an inexpensive night out.

Fifth Avenue and the beach.

Playa Pride’s first edition was in June of 2012 with just 280 people attending. For Playa Pride, this was just the beginning. Since then, the yearly average has been 875, with the peak in 2014 with 1200 attendees. They forecast they will have 3000 people participating in June. Playa Pride exists to celebrate the history, the courage, the diversity, and the future of LGBT communities in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, and the world. Many activities for the development of the LGBT community and progress for human rights take place each year. The Queer Film Festival is one of the projects created to familiarize people from the Riviera Maya with the LGBT theme. It now shows movies on a monthly basis as a result of its success, and the next showing is

Photo: Agency

Playa Amigable has helped inspire the Riviera Maya to become gay-friendly, like Mexico City. The Friendly Business Fair is on June 12 and 13 and is for all businesses that are part of Playa Amigable’s program. If you are not yet a member, visit their Facebook page: Facebook/@PlayaAmigable. You can learn more about how to join as a business and help us change the world one step at a time. If you’d like to volunteer for the week’s celebrations, please contact playaprideplaya@gmail.com. Facebook/@PlayaPride http://www.playapride.com.mx

•

#3 Sushi Club If you’re looking for a ladies’ night to get your Saturday evening started, then head to Sushi Club at the corner of Tenth Avenue and Calle 26. Between 8 p.m. and midnight, you can enjoy free house martinis while you sample their ample sushi menu. •

•

#1 Las Hijas De Las Tostada Las Hijas is on Fifth Avenue and Calle 38, and every Thursday they celebrate ladies’ night. The offer includes an open bar and half-price tostadas from 9 p.m.-11 p.m. The open bar is motivation enough, however, Las Hijas is known for its seafood and so the tostadas are not to be missed. For those not big on seafood, they also do a succulent tostada al pastor. •

#2 Bronze Gin & Beer Music Bar This trendy gin bar is all polished concrete, bronze geometric light-fittings and bearded barmen. On Friday, women are invited to come and enjoy free G&Ts between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. A word to the wise: try the burgers. Not only are they delicious, they definitely help to soak up all that gin. You can find Bronze on Calle 38 between

#4 Coco Bongo Wednesday is Ladies’ Night at this legendary Vegas-style show and club. Women benefit from a discounted price that still includes the open bar, show and club afterwards. The show runs from 10.45 p.m. - 3.30 a.m., so Coco Bongo suggests comfortable shoes. But when do we ever take that advice? •

#5 La Choperia Ladies’ Night at La Chope takes place on Mondays and they have different themes each night. The music varies from funk to rock to Latin, and the fun begins at 9 p.m. with free drinks, pole dancing with an instructor and even costumes linked to the theme! Find it on Fifth Avenue and Calle 28.

This is just a small sample of the ladies nights available in Playa, but it sure is enough to get you started!

The Playa Pride team is working hard to plan the sixth edition / Photo: Ginger M.

ANIMAL WELFARE

April 19 - 22 May 2017

The Nurse Shark BY FLORENCIA CERUTTI A different-looking shark from what we expect sharks to look like, the nurse shark has two rounded dorsal fins, rounded pectoral fins, an elongated caudal fin, and a broad head. It can reach three meters long, and it is brownish in color. Nurse sharks are coastal sharks occurring in tropical and subtropical waters of continental and insular shelves, often near patch reefs which they use to hide and rest during the day.

The vaquita is a small porpoise that is on the brink of extinction / Photo: Wikimedia Commons

On the Brink of Extinction

Threats to Nurse Sharks: • Incidental and deliberate capture in coastal fisheries. • Spear fishing and capture for the ornamental fish trade.

A small porpoise called vaquita exists only in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Only 30 are remaining with little hope of survival.

• Impacts on the coastal zone, particularly on reef areas which are its preferred habitat.

BY NASH

• Increases in nutrient loading as a result of run-off after deforestation.

here are only about 30 vaquitas in existence as they suffer the consequences of illegal fishing of totoaba fish. The vaquita (little cow) is a rare porpoise, endemic only to Mexico’s Gulf of California, the most critically endangered cetacean in the world. The vaquitas become entangled in illegal gillnets, unable to surface for air and drowning. The death is horrific as it struggles, causing lacerations, broken bones and if by chance escapes with ropes embedded in its body it will suffer a long, painful death. The Mexican government and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have teamed up to end illegal fishing and save the vaquita from extinction. Sea Shepherd has been patrolling the Gulf, removing nets and exposing the illegal fishermen. It has become a dangerous battle as the illegal fishermen publicly threaten violence towards individual conservationists and even set fire to a boat as a warning. The totoaba is also endangered, it is illegally hunted for its swim bladder, known as aquatic cocaine due to its black market value in Asia. Last May, CNN reported a bust, 39 kilos of bladders with a Hong Kong street value of $750,000 USD. Asian buyers believe the bladder promotes health and beauty. Conservationists are pressing the Mexican government to permanently ban all gillnet fishing in the Gulf, the only area the vaquita exists. A conservation plan to create a sanctuary, capture, breed and release the vaquitas will begin this May. It is feared the remaining

females will be injured or killed during the capture, but something must be done before they disappear forever.

• Sea Shepherd Conservation Society reports that of the 30 remaining vaquitas, less than half are reproductive-age females.

• Disturbance from tourism is detrimental to this species’ shallow reef habitat.

Nurse sharks are found in a variety of depths, from one meter or less down to 130 meters. This species seems to show fidelity to resting sites such as caves and crevices during the day and shows aggregation behavior in such sites. They are usually more active at night, although strong swimming in adults also occurs during the day. Nurse sharks are an opportunistic benthic predator feeding on small fish, octopus, shells, sea urchins, and crustaceans as their main prey items. Although their small mouth limits the size of prey items, these sharks have large throat cavities they use as a sort of bellows valve to suck in their prey with a short, violent influx of water. Nurse sharks are not usually prized as market food, although they are harvested in parts of the Caribbean for their skin. Major threats include incidental and deliberate capture in coastal fisheries; spear fishing and capture for the ornamental fish trade; impacts on the coastal zone, particularly on reef areas which are its preferred habitats; increases in nutrient loading as a result of run-off after deforestation; and disturbance from tourism are all detrimental to this species’ shallow reef habitat. Particularly, studies have shown that the human pressures in coastal zones have led to a broadscale absence of sharks on the Caribbean reefs, where shark populations have been reduced to a small fraction of their initial population within a few decades. Although nurse sharks take up to six months to gestate a litter of pups, which is pretty quick for a shark, nurse sharks (as with any other species of shark and ray) are particularly vulnerable because it takes them a long time to grow and have only a few pups.

• Vaquitas only produce one calf every two years. • Other threats to their survival include pesticide pollution. • According to the World Wildlife Fund almost 1,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die every day in nets and fishing gear. For more information, please visit www.seashepherd.org Search for ¨vaquita¨. Nurse sharks are found in tropical and subtropical waters / Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Cada Vida Importa Rescue Time is of the essence for this dedicated group of volunteers saving dogs from a 30day death sentence at CEBIAM (the local city pound). The volunteers check in on the dogs weekly, taking photos, and posting to social media in hope that the dogs will be adopted. They also provide exercise, attention, and

improvements in their lives. Through fundraisers and donations, they can purchase cleaners, dog beds, and food for the dogs. Most importantly, they rescue dogs from the pound placing them in foster homes, adoptive homes or no-kill shelters. Thanks to their efforts they have saved hundreds of

dogs´ lives. If you are looking for a new family member, check with them first as these dogs are at high risk. All dogs are sterilized. You can help CADA VIDA IMPORTA save a life by making a donation, adopting or volunteering, find them on Facebook/ cadavidaimportarescue.