Edition 72 by theplayatimes

B i w e e k l y · Year 02 · N u m b e r 72 · 2 0 , 0 0 0 c o p i e s · 3 2 P a g e s · N o v e m b e r 1 1 - 2 4 , 2 0 1 5

Ninth OHL CLassic at Mayakoba In Full Swing S MASP IDE

t h e p l a y at i m e s . c o m

·ENTERTAINMENT

From November 12 to 15, the only major golf championship in Mexico and Latin America tees off with the OHL Classic at Mayakoba >P. 04

· DISCOVER MEXICO

J O Y À A N D R I V I E R A M AYA J A Z Z F E S T I VA L

The Riviera Maya’s cultural scene is home to world-class acts, including Cirque du Soleil a n d t h e h i g h l y a c c la i m e d headlining acts for the Jazz Festival on Nov. 26-28

>P. 10, 11

ON PARLE FRANCAIS

RIVIERA HIGHLIGHTS

Cenotes Routes and Marine Park

L’exportation Accrue

Discover the natural wonders in Puerto Morelos with its eight natural crystalline water pools and the best kept Mesoamerican Reef, in our section for independent travelers

Pour le Québec, le Mexique est devenu le troisième partenaire commercial en importance, donc un territoire qui n’est pas à négliger

>P. 17

>P. 23

November 11 - 24 2015

>Editorial DIRECTORY Javier Escalante Managing Director javier@meridianmedia.mx

Beatriz Lucas Editor edition@meridianmedia.mx

Cyrielle Noblesse French Copy Editor

Fabián Muñoz Sales Manager Cell: 984 188 3951 ventas@meridianmedia.mx

Erika Serra Sales Executive directmarketing@meridianmedia.mx

Karla Mora Photo: Agency

Sales Executive Promopack@meridianmedia.mx

Ana Martínez Community Manager & Marketing marketing@meridianmedia.mx

Happy Birthday to The Playa Times!

Efrén Velázquez

BY BEATRIZLUCAS

Graphic Design design@meridianmedia.mx

t has been two years since we first distributed the newspaper out into the streets of the Mexican Caribbean, and we couldn’t have done it without you. The first time the idea of The Playa Times was pitched, we believed there was a need for a publication that informed, engaged and entertained English speakers and readers as told from the perspective of those who live here. Our target audience is primarily the millions of visitors from an internationally diverse background who arrive here annually. We wanted all newcomers to make the most of out of this destination so that they choose to return time and again, and ensure their process of integration goes as smoothly as possible. By highlighting some of the important environmental and social issues in

Milton Rosel Distribution Supervisor distribution@meridianmedia.mx

the area, we also hope that people will learn to respect and protect the precious natural and cultural heritage that makes it such a unique place to be. Additionally, we wanted to provide a platform that supported local businesses and associations to help them grow and make this community more prosperous and interesting for all. As well as in the newspaper, we support businesses by reaching more people with our Beach Bags, Promopack, and Place Maps services. 2015 was a big year for TPT. We went from 16 pages to 32 pages; our online reach jumped from 400 views per article to up to 24,000 views; we opened up new social media and online platforms in French and Spanish with our sister sites: VivreMexico.com and LaGacetadePlaya.com; we organized a number of free events for the com-

munity including Canada Day at Blue Parrot and Mini Fun Run at the Mario Villa Nueva Stadium in Playa; we started organizing foodie meetups once a month with our readers to try out the huge variety of local restaurants; we went from distributing 20,000 hard copies to 40,000 a month; and we opened up even more distribution points throughout the state as well as a home delivery service. For this commemorative issue, as you can see we revamped and decluttered our front page to make it more visually appealing and representative of the content. We also have a lot of great plans for the future, including a more diverse and interactive online platform. Many thanks from all here at The Playa Times, we appreciate your support, and we are looking forward to growing alongside the community for many more years to come!

@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: Plaza Paseo Coba, 2do piso local 301, Playacar fase II, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, Quintana Roo C.P. 77710. 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., Plaza Paseo Coba, 2do piso local 301, Playacar fase II, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, Quintana Roo C.P. 77710.

TPT 10 DAY WEATHER WED 11

THU 12

FRI 13

SAT 14

SUN 15

MON 16

TUE 17

WED 18

THU 19

FRI 20

28°/23° C

28°/22° C

Some sun with spotty showers

Partly sunny, showers around

A p.m. t-storm in spots

Couple of thunderstorms

28°/22° C

27°/21° C

29°/24° C

28°/21° C

27°/24° C

31°/24° C

Mostly cloudy with showers

Cloudy with a shower or two

Mostly cloudy, a little rain

Some sun with a shower

Mainly cloudy with a t’storm

61% chance of rain E at 11 km/h

71% chance of rain ENE at 13 km/h

44% chance of rain ENE at 13 km/h

60% chance of rain E at 13 km/h

Rain and a thuderstorm

65% chance of rain ENE at 17 km/h

65% chance of rain E at 15 km/h

55% chance of rain ENE at 20 km/h

55% chance of rain ESE at 13 km/h

78% chance of rain NE at 7 km/h

NEWS IN BRIEF

Around Town National News

International Tourism

Photo: Agency

Photo: Fedetur

Local and National News Summary

Ban on Recreational Marijuana in Mexico Ruled Unconstitutional

BY MELISSAROBLES

BY THEPLAYATIMES

n Wednesday November 4, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled the current ban on growing and using marijuana recreationally is unconstitutional. But don´t spark up your joint in front of the policia just yet! The ruling was specific only to a case brought before Mexico´s highest court by the Mexican Society for Responsible and Tolerant Self-Consumption. However, this ruling may pave the way for a change in the laws and may allow the growing of marijuana and recreational use of the drug in Mexico.

T HIRD I NCLUSIVE

B EACH

BY MELISSAROBLES

he local administration has plans to add a third inclusive beach in Playa del Carmen. It will be located at the public beach access on Calle 88 in the Colosio neighborhood, and will have an investment of $1.2 million pesos. Eddie Flores Serrano, general director of public works, explained that when the year is over, the project will be officially inaugurated. This area already has the infrastructure for the project, but has deteriorated and copper tubing in the showers was stolen. Flores Serrano commented that there will be a fourth inclusive beach, but the building permits are in the process of being approved.

Ninth OHL CLassic at Mayakoba In Full Swing From November 12 to 15, the only major golf championship in Mexico and Latin America tees off with the OHL Classic at Mayakoba BY BEATRIZLUCAS

T Photo: Agency

Photo: Unidad del vocero

nternational tourism continues to bring more visitors to Mexico. In the first seven months of 2015, 18.7 million foreign vacationers visited Mexico, which is 8.5 million more than the same period last year. Francisco Mas Peña, sub-secretary of Federal Tourist Innovation and Quality, confirmed these figures have reflected in the income brought to the country. It is a great time for tourism in Mexico, with participation from the three levels of government working with the business sector. An estimated 3 million Mexicans make their living directly from the tourism industry, and 5 million more indirectly benefit.

Augustin Sarasola and Charley Hoffman / Photos: OHL Classic at Mayakoba

Mexican Beekeepers Beat Monsanto

BY THEPLAYATIMES

n August, a Mexican district judge in the state of Yucatan ruled to overturn the 2012 permit issued by Semarnat, which would have allowed Monsanto to plant more than 253,000 hectares of its Roundup Ready Seeds. The company would have planted the crops in the states of Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatan. The Mexican honey producers fought against the permit as scientific evidence pointed to the fact that GM crops negatively impact honey bee pollination and in turn honey production. More than 25,000 families in the Yucatan rely on honey production for their livelihood.

he prestigious golf tournament made history in 2007 as the the first event to take place outside of the U.S. and Canada. To date, the OHL Classic at Mayakoba attracts 132 golfers year after year who compete for four rounds on the El Camaleón golf course. The field will consist of members of the PGA TOUR and invited players. All professional players will play the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, only those who are in the first 70 spots, including those who draw, will play the weekend rounds. Ten winners of the Major Championship have been confirmed to be taking part in November’s tournament at El Camaleón, including: Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Graeme McDowell, Ángel Cabrera, Justin Leonard, Geoff Ogilvy, Matt Kuchar and Davis Love III. Seven out of the eight previous OHL Classic at Mayakoba winners are coming back to the tournament this year, including: Fred Funk (2007), Mark Wilson (2009), Cameron Beckman (2010), Johnson Wagner

(2011), John Huh (2012), Harris English (2013) and Charley Hoffman (2014). Only Brian Gay has not confirmed his participation as he is Yoshio Yamamoto recovering from a wrist injury. Once more, OHL Classic at Mayakoba will have a solid group of Mexican players. The group is lead by members of the PGA Tour including Carlos Ortíz and Abraham Ancer. From the classification tournament or by special selection, Jason Dufner Rodolfo Cazaubón, Yoshio Yamamoto and Oscar Fraustro will also be playing the field.

The OHL Classic at Mayakoba is offering FREE transportation from Cancun and Playa del Carmen, to and from the event. Meeting points and time tables are published on the web page of the tournament, www.ohlclassic. com.mx.

Keegan Bradley

Matt Kuchar

With a prize purse of $6.2 million USD, the OHL Classic at Mayakoba is the largest of its kind in all of Latin America. “Mexico’s Major Championship” will tee off its ninth year stronger than ever. Oscar Fraustro

November 11 - 24 2015

NEWS IN BRIEF

LGBT Tourism 15 Mexican states are expanding their tourism and marketing sectors to accomodate this ever growing market BY JOEMALDONADO Over the last few years, in the search for new tourist markets to increase hotel occupancy, the Riviera Maya has begun to bet on LGBT tourism as an important niche. This interest is not unique to this region, as other Mexican resorts are also interested in this niche, as a result of the recent market analysis by the Federal Secretary of Tourism (SECTUR).

LGBT Tourism in Mexico will grow by about 10.3 percent yearly growth Tourism in general will grow by about 4.7 percent yearly growth The LGBT sector represented 3 million visitors in 2014 Average LGBT tourism dollars spent in Mexico : $2,550 per person (compared to $780 dollars per visitor) Source: World Tourism Association According to Carlos Joaquín González, secretary of Tourist Innovation and Development, LGBT tourism generates great benefits for the tourism industry. SECTUR and the Mexican government

have done a diagnostic study of the destinations in Mexico for the LGBT community and have identified Cancun, Ciudad de México, Puerto Vallarta, Cuernavaca, Oaxaca and Guadalajara as gay-friendly, among others. As a result of this study, a series of actions by SECTUR, including workshops specializing in LGBT tourism to train service providers and the accreditation plan for LGBT destinations, will be put in place to attract this tourism sector, with the participation of 15 Mexican states. Joaquín González said that SECTUR had supported LGBT fairs in different destinations such as Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Merida. Other strategies include publishing communications on different social media sites, known as “friendly networks.” This type of tourism will grow by about 10.3 percent each year, while tourism, in general, will grow by about 4.7 percent, according to the World Tourism Association. In Mexico, this sector represented 3 million international visitors last year, who spent around $2,550 dollars each on average, which is practically double from the average $780 dollars spent per visitor. On an international level, this potential market of 180 million people with nearly 200 million dollars spent per year is 55 percent more than China, which is the main sender of tourists with $120 million dollars, according to the government official.

Mexican resorts are increasingly interested in catering for the LGBT market / Photo: glbt411.com

This new reform is a first step to breaching the inequality in Mexico and strengthening the economy / Photo: Agency

Minimum Wage BY JOEMALDONADO

n September, the Council of Representatives of the National Minimum Wage Commission agreed to make the minimum wage $70.10 pesos per day across the country. This change is because previously, the minimum wage was calculated differently across the country, depending on the geography and economic activity of each region. The Congress of the Union and the Senate of the Republic have been studying various reforms of the Mexican Constitution to equalize the minimum wage across the country. This is being done with the aim to strengthen the economy. Constitutional articles 26, 41, and 123 in particular, are being looked at for modification, with the aim to unlink the minimum wage as a unit of accounting, index, base, measure, or reference to paying fines and obligations that are established in state and federal law. In other words, the fines for those who violate some rule will not be based on a minimum salary, but will be specific amounts. The discussion between the representatives in each government chamber focused on establishing a minimum wage that adjusts over time. Armando Neyra Chávez, Senator of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), said for the minimum wage to recuperate its acquisition power, it would need to increase by 3.2 times, which would equal $230 pesos daily. The un-

Armando Neyra Chávez, senator of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), said for the minimum wage to recuperate its acquisition power, it would need to increase by 3.2 times, which would equal $230 pesos daily. linking of the minimum wage as a measuring unit would eliminate an obstacle that stands in the way of an increase in the minimum wage. However, others consider that this change will not resolve the severe inequality that exists in this country, although they recognize that this is the first step to stopping the horrible injustice against workers and their families, and would also strengthen the national economy. According to this analysis, Mexico is the only Latin American country that has static minimum wages and is faltering in comparison to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, which raised minimum wages and as a result, created a generation of better employment and economic growth. In fact, the minimum wage is at the same level as Haiti, which was one of the lowest salaries in Latin America, perpetuating poverty. Whatever the results of these possible reforms, from this moment a new precedent will be set for the minimum wage in Mexico.

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Mexican Revolution November 20 marks the 105th anniversary of the revolutionary war in Mexico BY ALEJANDRA CAMPO, ANTHROPOLOGIST

exicans soon will be celebrating the 105th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, which along with the independence movement in 1810, marked the history of this country. Among the causes for the revolution were the discontent of the working and peasant classes that suffered from abuses, physical mistreatment and labor exploitation by business people and landowners during the Porfiriato (the time when Porfirio Diaz was President of Mexico for over 30 years from 1876-1911). The owners of the production plants, usually Europeans, were protected by the government, who gave them large social and economic privileges while the lower classes suffered from a lack of rights. While the regime of Porfirio Diaz was progressive economically and brought Mexico into the modern era, politically it was an authoritarian and socially repressive republic. The government did not hesitate to use the force of the state to silence or “disappear” those who were in opposition or might give a bad aspect to the image of the country. On November 20, 1910, Francisco I. Madero lead the people to revolt

Important Mexican

Revo lutio na r i e s : Francisco Madero led the people to revolt against the government and the Porfirio Diaz regime Pancho Villa - led forces against the Mexican government in the north of the country Emiliano Zapata - took charge of the forces in the south of the country Original photo of Fierro, Villa, Ortega and Medina during the revolution / Photo: wikimedia.org

against the government. The next year, Porfirio Diaz was forced into exile, spending the rest of his days in Paris. Today his remains rest in the cemetery of Montparnasse. However, the fight continued due

to instability in the country and the different interests of the politicians and military leaders of the country, besides outside economic interests which brought their fortunes into danger. Among the leaders of the revolu-

tion include the legendary Pancho Villa in northern Mexico, while the south was led by Emiliano Zapata who lead the country under the famous “Land and Liberty”, saying that the “land belongs to those who work it.”

Finally, in 1917, President Venustiano Carranza declared order in the country through the Mexican Constitution. In 1920, with President Alvaro Obregón in office, the revolution was declared history.

November 11 - 24 2015

BEACH LIFE

Ready, Set, Dive Playa del Carmen offers plenty of great scuba diving opportunities and there is a shop here that will meet your needs. We highlight just a few of the many shops here in Playa BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

hether you are brand new to the sport of SCUBA or have more than 1,000 dives under your weight belt, Playa del Carmen has something for everyone. From the Caribbean reefs right off our beaches to the freshwater cenotes just down the highway. Each shop offers a variety of services including cenote diving and bull shark dives (in season). BEYOND DIVING SCUBA. No more than four divers per instructor and offers daily direct trips to Cozumel from Coco Beach, bypassing the ferry and saving their customers precious amounts of vacation time, located on CTM (Calle 46, between Calle Flamingo and Cozumel) Tel 984 803 3042 www.beyonddivingscuba.com

Back in his rightful spot! Phantom´s diver back in front of the dive shop / Photo: Phantom Divers

Stolen Masked Diver Returns BY CATHERINE PAWELEK For the past three years, this handsome 6-foot tall hero has been a fixture in front of the Phantom Dive Shop located on 1st Avenue and Calle 14 in Playa del Carmen. Owner Jorge Loria, originally from Merida started the dive shop 20 years ago and in 2012 he commissioned an artist in Cancun to make the statue. On August 1 of this year, it was lifted from its perch by some unruly and inebriated hooligans. A video caught their 4:00 a.m. shenanigans on tape, coming most likely, from a fun-filled evening of way too much drinking and partying. Their response to seeing Phantom´s statue was to take some fun photos to send back home to the lads. Subsequently some of the photos became a bit lurid, perfectly captured in candid detail, by the shop’s live streaming video. Eventually, one of the drunk partiers realized that the statue was not just movable but easily lifted off its stand. He took that initiative and, with what seemed like encourage-

ment from his mates, made off with the masked crusader. Through their well-connected network of global friends, divers, the internet, Facebook, websites and more, the Phantom Dive Shop released the video and asked the close-knit community of Playa and the diving world to keep an eye out for the statue. The audaciousness of the heist by the trio of hoodlums was not lost on most that viewed the still photos and video, and all rallied together to find the Phantom and get him back home in one piece. One day the dive shop received a call from a neighbor of the rental apartment where the thieves had stayed, telling them that they could see the phantom statue from their rooftop. He has since returned to the dive shop and, thankfully he is back on the front steps, more secure, and forever watchful. All’s well that ends well. To watch the video of the robbery go to Facebook/PHANTOM DIVERS, Riviera Maya, Mexico.

MEXICO BLUE DREAM SCUBA CENTER offers a thrilling scuba diving experience with bull sharks. Bring your heartbeat up to 100 BPM for this extreme encounter. Find them at Calle 28 between Mamita’s Beach and 1st Avenue. Tel 984 803 0660 www.mexicobluedream.com TANK HA DIVE CENTER recently celebrated its 25 year anniversary. Whether you are looking to do a simple Discovery Scuba course or want to extend your experience with a Nitrox diving certification this is the dive center for you. They are at First Avenue between 20 and 22nd street. Tel 984 873 0302 www.tankha.com PHANTOM DIVERS. They have everything from cenote and reef dives to whale shark and sailfish snorkel tours. They even have an extensive five day trip to dive with great white sharks (on the Pacific Coast of Mexico). Located on First Avenue, between Calle 12 and 14. Tel 879 3988 www.phantomdivers.com PHOCEA MEXICO. Besides the requisite cenote, reef and wreck dives, their dawn dives including breakfast have become popular. Calle 10 and Avenida 1 Sur , with three locations, including, PDC, Cozumel, and La Paz (Pacific Coast). Tel 984 873 1210 www.phocea-mexico.com FANTASEA DIVERS is not only for the adrenaline junky wanting to go on a bull shark dive. Want something more serene? Sign up for an easy 40 ft. deep dive to Cerebros or Moc Che. Find Fantasea divers on Calle 2nd and the beach. From big to small, Playa del Carmen dive shops have it all / Photo: Efrén Velázquez

Tel 984 114 2062 www.fantaseadive.com If we missed a dive shop that you love to dive with here in Playa del Carmen, please hit us up on social media and let us know about it!

TPT FOODIES

Creating a Thanksgiving Feast in Playa Ready to celebrate with your family and friends but having trouble finding all the ingredients for your big meal? Thankfully, Catherine went out shopping and found us everything we need to stuff ourselves this turkey day! BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

ith Thanksgiving just around the corner you will have to scramble to get all your ingredients in time to prepare a real authentic holiday feast. You can certainly head north of the border and bring a suitcase back of goodies galore, or the next group of friends venturing down could gather up some much needed items. Another option might just be our practical and helpful list that we have compiled to aide you in your local search to make that traditional Thanksgiving supper with all the fixings. TIP… Just a reminder. The stores often only stock a handful of each item, so the early bird catches the worm. Don’t want to go through all that trouble then you can always find a local restaurant that does all the work for you, including washing the mountain of dishes afterwards.

Shopping List All prices are in Pesos L i b b y ’s P u r e e d Pu m p k i n $75 Chedraui/ $115 Mega/$51 Pacsadeli Libby’s Easy Pumpkin Pie Mix $77 Pacsadeli G ra h a m c ra c ke r c r u s t $21 Walmart

Philadelphia Cream Cheese $19 Walmart Fruit filling for pie (cherry or apple) $30 Mega/ $39 Walmart Marshmallows $10 Walmart/$10 Mega Fresh squash, pumpkins $9 to $50 p/KG depending on the variety

Dream Whip, whipped topping mix $31 Chedraui

Fresh yams and sweet potato $34 to $39 p/KG most grocery stores

C a m p b e l l’s Tu r ke y G r a v y, c a n $49 Chedraui

Fresh green beans $25 p/KG DAC, Mega, Walmart, Soriana

McCormick, gravy package (powder) $25 Pacsadeli / Soriana

W h o l e C a r o l i n a Tu r ke y $70 p/KG with most turkeys 9 to12 KG Pacsadeli (Walmart & Costco didn’t have their turkey prices yet)

Ocean Spray Whole Cranberry Sauce $38 Chedraui (in the salsa aisle) Bruce’s Whole Yams in 15 OZ jar $28 Pescadeli

Aluminum foil oval turkey pan $13.90Chedraui/Soriana/Walmart Although as of printing of this issue we haven’t found any packages of

The most important ingredients - turkey and wine! / Photo: The Playa Times

stuffing, you will find a simple and delicious stuffing recipe towards the back of this issue.

Addresses of above mentioned stores DAC Avenida 30 and Calle 20 Wa l m a r t Avenida 30 and Calle 10

Pa c s a d e li Avenida Constituyentes and Calle 80 C h e d ra u i Plaza las America or Puerto Aventuras or Carretera and Calle 3 Sur Soriana Centro Maya or Avenida 30 and Calle 38 Mega Avenida 30 and Constituyentes (this location will become a Soriana in near future)

November 11 - 24 2015

TPT FOODIES

Basic Foodies This amazing artisanal cafe and bakery that uses all natural products is a welcome addition to Playa´s food scene BY THEPLAYATIMES

n your way to meet friends at some chain coffee shop in town? Stop! Call your friends and tell them to meet you at Basic Foodie. A mere five to ten minute drive north from Playacar and located on the Federal Highway in the Steren Plaza, Basic Foodie has to be the most delicious addition to Playa’s cafe scene since, well, ever! Owned by Muriel Schiffmann and her husband Alfred Algazi, Basic Foodie is an artisanal cafe and bakery. From the moment you walk through the door, you feel right at home. When you visit Basic Foodie, you are invited to stay as long as you want. Not sure what you want to order? Alfred is an expert at learning very quickly what will satisfy your craving. When Muriel and Alfred set out to create their cafe, they wanted to provide products that were made with healthy, high quality ingredients. After living in France, the United States, and Mexico, they settled on Playa del Carmen as the place to make their dream of a bakery and school come true. They recognized Playa as a place that was growing

Basic Foodie Facts

/ Photos:The Playa Times

Open 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (with plans to extend the hours in high season) Offers high quality, all natural, artisanal products Use locally grown ingredients whenever possible Never use trans fats in their products - only EVOO, canola oils, and grapeseed oils Wifi available Offer classes and workshops (in English, Spanish, and French)

Located in Steren Plaza on the southbound sade of the highway

and was still a great place to raise their family and start their business. What they have created is an amazing cafe and bakery that will make you want to come back time and again. They have a large selection of artisanal teas and coffees, baked goods, flatbreads, baguette sandwiches, and more. And, oh, the scones! Don’t stop by without trying one of their chocolate scones! What sets Basic Foodie apart

EXPAT PRO F IL ES Quit your job and start a beef jerky business in Paradise That is a loaded question as it is a funny, long story how we came to develop the concept of introducing the first artisan jerky in Mexico! A short version....I am a foodie and a creative kitchen rogue who is a jerky enthusiast. There are no quality jerky products here in Playa so my husband and I set to the task of developing a quality product last February and it has finally come to fruition...our launch date is November 4, 2015.

Photo: Sara Kristin Moen

Name: Sara Kristin Moen Where are you originally from and how did you find yourself in Playa? I was raised in a rural part of northern California by a single mother, but spent over a decade of my young adult life in Seattle where I moved from to Playa del Carmen. My husband and I first came to Playa in the spring of 2002 for an extended holiday. Within six months, we had sold everything, packed our pets in a 1989 van and headed south. What inspired you to become the first “jerkista” of Playa?

What is the biggest challenge of starting your own business in Playa? How do you overcome that? I think the biggest mistake people make is jumping in too quickly. I think if you really want to start a business here I would consider the following: Be prepared to live on savings for at least 6 months, DO NOT start a business in low season, and be prepared to work harder then you ever have for a fraction of the money. Also, learn Spanish, avoid partnerships and perhaps the most important of all, be patient and respect the cultural norms. What has been the most fun of starting this venture? The most fun thus far is being in my kitchen creating a product I truly believe in, and being back on the streets of our community and connecting with people and local businesses....the feeling is like no other! You can contact Sara at charkijerky@gmail.com or on Facebook/Ch´arki Jerky.

Do you want to take part of our Expat Profiles? Email edition@meridianmedia.mx

from many of the cafes and bakeries in Playa is their desire to use only natural ingredients. They use locally sourced products whenever they can. When they can’t find their products locally, they try to purchase them from suppliers within Mexico. They also use only natural products. For example, their eggs are local and their butter is from an organic ranch within Mexico where the cows are not fed hormones. They also use

oils such as extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil and avoid all trans fats. If you would like to learn to bake like Muriel, don´t fret. She offers classes and has some great classes coming up for the holiday season, including a Christmas cookie class, breads, and chocolates. Please visit them on Facebook/ Basic Foodie for more information and updates on the baking classes they offer.

ENTERTAINMENT

Cirque du Soleil’s Joya Celebrates One Year of Adventure Joyà is a unique experience of the senses, starting with sight, taste, sound and thrills. It is the only Cirque du Soleil show where the audience has the chance to enjoy a high quality dinner along with the mastery of music, storytelling and acrobatics, set in a beautifully designed building. It is also proudly the only permanent show outside of the U.S. As they celebrate their first anniversary on November 21, I spoke to the international cast and crew to find out more about the jewel in the jungle BY BEATRIZLUCAS

iviera Maya audiences, as spoiled as we are in paradise, are no strangers to the mystical world of the Maya jungle, the mixture between old and the new. In November 2014, the area received a world class resident, as Cirque du Soleil opened their doors to their new show Joyà. The show and its settings are perfectly designed and scripted to reflect a deep respect for the ecological, cultural and historical richness of Mexico. From the first glimpse of the building right to the end of the performance, Joyà transports you into an ethereal world. The scenic elements, the lights, the costumes, gives the audience a unique experience for an evening. The theme, as Joel Bergeron, the show’s director, explained was “inspired by the migration of the monarchs, a connection between Canada and Mexico. The butterfly usually takes three generations to reach their final destination. How does the next generation know where to go? In essence, Joyà elaborates on this idea of the transmission of knowledge.” Indeed, the dream world they created in the midst of the mangroves takes the shape of a lotus flower brushing the water from the cenote. While the light show surrounding the building gives a sense of a living, breathing organism, the inside took inspiration from a naturalium and the library at the UNAM university in Mexico City. The atmosphere is intimate, as performers weave around spectators, and some of the acts take place right on, and above, your table. This intimacy works in favour of Joyà’s storyline, which has much more of a human quality compared to the fantasy stories for which Cirque du Soleil is famous. Joel explained that making the story more relatable was done intentionally in order to transcend the cultural diversity of the spectators. The music is spectacular and adds to the “otherworldly” and cinematic quality, as it mixes contemporary sounds, with oceanic acoustics and Latin vibes. I met with the talented drummer Abraham Buchanan who is originally from Aguascalientes, Mexico. The show was clearly important for him; he said it is “an opportunity to grow as a musician and a professional.” He loves the international working environment, getting to know the other performers from the Cirque family

Photos: Efrén Velázquez

The Joyà is a unique experience in two parts. Photo: Cirque du Soleil

The design team was inspired by the migration of the monarchs, a connectionbetween Canada and Mexico. The butterfly usually takes three generations to reach their final destination. How does the next generation know where to go? In essence, Joyà elaborates on this idea of the transmission of knowledge Joel Bergeron, S h o w D i r e c t o r, J o y à

and being given the opportunity to live in a place others escape to on their holidays. Joyà is an adventure story, and for those that give it life every night, moving to Mexico was also an adventure for them. “It has been a great opportunity for me, but also for most of the artists and the staff that decided to relocate and make this their new home,” states the show’s director, who has been with the company since 1999, traveling the world with different shows. Cirque is famous for their acro-

batic acts, and with a family of more than 30 athletes from all over the world, Joyà does not disappoint. I met with the swinging trapeze duo, Taisiya and Ruslana Bazaliy, gymnasts from Ukraine. They have been touring with Cirque du Soleil for the last 15 years, including nine years with Saltimbanco. In 2012, their act won them the silver medal in the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris and a prize from the Chinese Acrobatic Association. Their performance is a perfect combination of elegance, strength and complexity that leaves you mesmerized. The gymnast twins explained that you need athletic prowess and artistic sensibility to portray the story’s emotion. Joining Cirque required a big transformation on their part, and it took some time to break their gymnastics mould. For a year and a half, prior to joining Joyà, they received coaching in performance, movement, voice, and acting. However, working in the Caribbean also came with some challenges. “The heat affects our energy, and it also takes longer for a cut to heal here because of the humidity. We have adjusted to the weather now, and we love it here.” They spend their time off exploring ruins, beaches and trying out new food in local restaurants.

Swinging Trapeze Duo, Ruslana and Taisiya Bazaliy

Abraham Buchanan, drummeros: Efrén Velázquez

Those behind Joyà have had a very busy year, and they are clearly proud of where the show sits. “It is a live show that offers the opportunity to grow, to find its true rhythm. The menu for the dinner also changes. We will continue to pursue that excellence ensuring Joyà has a very long future,” confirmed Joel Bergeron. In line with the thematic of

An hour before the show, t h e J oy à g a s t ro n o m i c enjoys sets the stage, as the audience experience a high quality and exceptional threecourse dinner inspired by the finest products and flavors of Mexico accompanied as with a bottle of champagne. The culinary experience gives way to the 60-minute performance. Spectators follow the adventures of the heroine of the show, Joyà, a rebellious teenager with a mind of her own à la Amelia Earhart. While her grandfather, Mr. Zelig, the aging naturalist and scientist, the keeper of the library, is also a great ambassador of the Mexican fun-loving sense of humor, ingenuity and kindness.

nature and transmission of knowledge, Joyà is constantly evolving and is a true testament to the blossoming and increasingly rich cultural agenda in the Riviera Maya.

November 11 - 24 2015

ART & CULTURE

Jazz Stars Headline Riviera Maya Jazz festival The free event, scheduled for November 26-28 at Playa del Carmen’s Mamitas beach, has become one of the world’s top jazz festivals, with last year’s event attracting over 45,000 attendees

Big Band Jazz of Solidaridad, with director Kike Mayoral (the gentleman in checkered shirt with cap) / Photo: Catherine Pawelek

BY MELISSAROBLES

Local Big band

he most famous jazz musicians and paradise will come together during the national Jazz Festival on November 26, 27, and 28 at Playa Mamitas in Playa del Carmen. In its thirteenth year, this musical encounter promises to exceed all expectations. It has united stars such as Allan Holdsworth, one of the best guitarists of all time, Sheila E., Phil Perry and Dweezil Zappa. Gino Vanelli will also return to his fans here in Playa del Carmen. Few vacation destinations can boast this lineup. Hendrik Meurkens will share the stage with Gabriel Espinoza; the metal band Resorte is also in the lineup, along with groups Guacamole, Dirty Loops, Torus, Tío Gus and Zawinul Legacy. According to Fernando Toussaint, the event producer, this musical encounter is among the 10 best in the world for the genre. Maintaining quality has not been easy, and in 2015 the show sought out sponsors so it can keep providing quality music.

Headliners include Allan Holdsworth Sheila E. Phil Perry Dweezil Zappa Gino Vanelli Due to government austerity measures, this year’s budget has been cut. “We had the intention to look for sponsors for the first time this year because we want to maintain the level of quality and we know the economical situation is not very good right now to be expecting large amounts,” said the festival organizer, who is also a famous drummer.

Patrons provide hotel rooms, food, air and land transportation for festival participants. However, as they are working with famous musicians, in some cases, Grammy winners, the hotel rooms must be luxurious and the plane tickets first class. Organized by the Tourism Promotion Trust of Cozumel and the Riviera Maya (FPTCRM), more than 35,000 people are expected to attend over the three days of the festival and admission is free. This event is now a tradition for the Mexican Caribbean and looked forward to by locals and tourists alike. It is recommended to take a wrap or towel to sit in the sand, and wear comfortable clothes and sandals; a light sweater is recommended if the ocean breeze is chilly.

Play Festival BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

The Playa Times Meets: M i c h a e l M a u r u s CRYSTALMITCHELL How did you find yourself in little Puerto Morelos, Mexico all the way from Munich? I lived for the last 19 years in Cancun and

traveled back and forth to NYC and Miami for photo shoots. About four years ago I decided to take time off from commercial photography and went to live with a Maya Shaman and his family in the jungle between Valladolid and Chichen Itza. After six months there I wasn’t ready to go back, so a friend suggested to decompress in Puerto Morelos. Four years later I am still decompressing I suppose.

With his project, Soy Puerto Morelos, Michael Maurus from Munich Germany hoped to capture the essence of the small town and connect with the people who give it it’s well-known atmosphere through his passion, photography. What was your intention with the project “Soy Puerto Morelos”? Were you inspired by “Humans of New York” or what gave you the idea? I love the project “Humans of New York” even though the people and lifestyle could not possibly be more opposite then from what Puerto Morelos is. After having taken countless landscape photographs here in Puerto Morelos, I felt that Soy Puerto Morelos allowed Michael to connect with the people of the small town / Photos: Michael Maurus

even though spectacular, there is still something missing that would explain why it is so special here. And one day I just realized that it is the people of Puerto Morelos who round up the experience of being here. Does Puerto Morelos inspire you to continue with your project or would you like to continue this theme in other parts of the world? Even though this project here is officially concluded, I always have the little hand-written sign in my car or camera case and when I see something or somebody interesting I will certainly stop to take the shot. What has been your main reason for staying in Puerto Morelos? Hands down the laid back lifestyle and a community of like-minded people. Most people who came here from either some part of Mexico or the world seem to have in common that they were looking for a place where they can be done with the craziness of the outside world. For the full interview, please check out our online edition at www.theplayatimes.com

The internationally renowned Riviera Maya Jazz Festival (RMJF) is just around the corner (November 26, 27 and 28), featuring great acts like Sheila E., Gino Vannelli and Zappa Plays Zappa. But our local talent will be front and center as well, including an amazing group of musicians called the “Big Band Jazz of Solidaridad Quintana Roo,” under the musical direction of Kike Mayoral. This project was an initiative of the town authorities of Solidaridad and Kike Mayoral, to form a representative group of musicians for the town, and there could be no more perfect venue than the RMJF, to introduce them to the public. These musicians feel that they have an obligation to represent the area worthily, even though some are from other states in Mexico, and a handful are from out of the country. It is what they produce together that is awe inspiring. I had the opportunity to listen to them practice for their big event, and all I had to do was park in front of the Centro Cultural Playa del Carmen (Casa de Cultura) and the music and an ethereal voice, reminding me of a Michael Bublé, drew me right in. The traditional Big Band is formed by over a dozen and a half musicians, eight in the horns section (trumpets and trombones), five saxophones and the rhythm section (bass, drums, guitar and piano). They have continued to add to their original group and the sound that they are creating is a finger snapping rhythmic joy to all that get the chance to hear them play. The current formation includes musicians from different nationalities, although most are Mexican from Michoacán, Yucatán, Distrito Federal, Estado de México, etc. The international musicians hail from North America, Cuba, Spain and Argentina, and even though the band members have only recently started playing together they already sound like a cohesive unit, as we could hear during their rehearsals. Throughout the Festival they will play traditional Big Band themes with music from the 30’s 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, etc. They also intend to incorporate some arrangements of Mexican popular music and songs from around the Caribbean and Latin America, with the hope that “The Rhythm is going to get you”, as it did me. So “Get on your feet”, and give this local band the encouragement to continue to entertain us year round. For more information on the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, times and venues www.rivieramayajazzfestival.com, and Facebook/Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

ENTERTAINMENT

Grammy-Winning Group Toto Perform at Moon Palace in November Cancun’s premier entertainment destination to host legendary Rock group

alace Resorts, the company that sets the standard in five-star, all-inclusive resort accommodations – is pleased to announce Grammy-award winning group, Toto, to appear in concert at the Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21, 2015. As the leader in “awe-inclusive” vacation experiences and world-class entertainment. Toto, has been one of the top-selling tour and recording acts for the past 38 years. The renowned Rock group has released 17 albums and sold more than 35 million copies. Individual band members can be heard on over 5,000 albums, totaling half a billion in sales, and have also received 225 Grammy nominations combined. Top hits include “Africa,” “Rosanna,” “Hold the Line,” “Stop Loving You,” and “I’ll Be Over You.” In 2009, Toto was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum located in Nashville, Tennessee, a feat that has added to their significant repertoire of musical accomplishments. “Palace Resorts prides itself on providing top entertainment acts at its signature property, Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort,” said Gibran Chapur, Executive Vice President of Palace Resorts. “The brand’s commitment to providing stellar entertainment performances like the upcoming Toto concert, coupled with the resort’s top-notch offerings, make our guest experiences go beyond the stan-

About Palace Resorts With eight oceanfront resorts overlooking the sparkling turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, Palace Resorts sets the highest standards for five-star all-inclusive vacations in Mexico and Jamaica. Offering luxurious and spacious accommodations accentuated by signature in-room double whirlpool tubs, nightly entertainment, the Caribbean’s most extravagant spas and premier Jack Nicklaus signature golf courses, Palace Resorts sets the stage for a truly exceptional experience for travelers. The unparalleled level of service and comfort found at each property makes Palace Resorts a leading provider of world-class resort vacations. dard all-inclusive concept.” Concert goers will enjoy a pre-show dinner at 7 p.m. before the performance begins at 9 p.m. The show will take place at the

Group Toto / Photo: www.laut.de

Moon Palace Arena, a 140,000 square foot convention center that opened in 2014. The Arena has already hosted multiple events including performances by Grammy-winning Rock bands Chicago and Kansas, as well as the fourth annual Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival’s Tasting Village and other noteworthy affairs. Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort, a AAA Four Diamond property, is located on Cancun’s tranquil South shore and nestled between 123 acres of tropical foliage and secluded white sand beach. The property continues offering guests an unforgettable vacation experience with world-class hospitality and top entertainment. Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort recently underwent a $100 million dollar enhancement project which included upgrades and renovations to the restaurants, guest rooms, lobbies

and more. The hotel offers guests more than 2,400 waterside and garden view accommodations or golf villa suites. Multiple pools are complemented by two children’s pools, one Golf Club pool, six whirlpools and four swimup bars. Additionally, guests who book a stay of five nights or more are privy to the most valuable vacation promotion on record - $1,500 Resort Credit, which can be used on spa and beauty salon treatments, golf outings, romantic dinners, wedding packages and off-site excursions and tours. Palace Resorts’ all-inclusive accommodations start at $172 per person, per night, based on double occupancy. To reserve your Palace Resorts stay, please visit www.PalaceResorts.com, call (800) 635-1836 or contact your preferred travel professional.

November 11 - 24 2015

MARKETS

COCO´S ANIMAL WELFARE ONLINE AUCTION , goal is to raise

MULTICULTURAL HOLIDAY MARKET , Saturday November 14, 1:00

MI AMIGO DE LA CALLE 1st ANNIVERSARY, Music, dancing, con-

ferences, food and fun! Sunday November 15, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 80th Street between 5th and 10th at Centro Cultural Coracol Marino. Please bring a dog food donation to help them reach their goal of two tons of dog food to help feeds the dogs in need! They are also accepting clothes donations for local Maya communities. More information at Facebook/Mi Amigo de la Calle.

SPECIAL EVENT

ANIMAL WELFARE $75,000 for the construction of their new facility. Items available for bid include tours, language lessons, photography sessions, and more! Online auction is happening now through November 14. More information at Facebook/Coco´s Animal Welfare Playa del Carmen.

ENTERTAINMENT

a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Colegio Papalote 25th Avenue between 30th and 32nd Street. Workshops, book exchange, live music, performance artists, and homemade food. Free. For more information elpapalote@ prodigy.net.mx

FERIA TRENDY, Sunday November 15, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Blue Parrot, 12th street and the beach. Locally made products including clothing, bags, jewelry and more.

BAZAAR, Saturday November 21, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Colegio Papalote 25th Avenue between 30th and 32nd Street. Clothes, food, jewelry, toys, gifts, Christmas decorations, local organic products. $250 pesos to reserve a table. For more information elpapalote@prodigy.net.mx

SOY CERVEZA BEER FESTIVAL,

CHRISTMAS

KAVA KASA LOCAL MARKET every Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kava Kasa, 22nd St. and 10th Ave. Organic produce, fresh home baked goods, artisan crafts and more! Shop local and support Playa.

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November. Central Park Puerto Morelos. $100 pesos gives you a free commemorative glass, one Grupo Modelo 330ml beer, an ID bracelet, access to beer tastings, workshops, talks, and live music. See more at www.soycerveza.com CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL OF CULTURE,

Tuesday 3 to Sunday 22 November. Artists from 16 countries, with special focus on Cuba with Hugo Lobo and Corpusklan, Isla Mujeres, Sunday November 22. 7 p.m. $150 pesos presale, $250 on the door. Poc-Na Hostel, Matamoros 15, Isla Mujeres. www.pocna.com

REGGAE

13th ANNUAL RIVIERA MAYA JAZZ FESTIVAL, Three nights of jazz on

the beach. Artists include Sheila E, Zappa Plays Zappa, Tio Gus, Guacamole, and more. Thursday November 26 - Saturday November 28, Mamita’s Beach Club. Starts 7:00 p.m. Free. More information at Facebook/Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

COCO’s KITTEN CUDDLE. Fridays, 2-4 p.m. Volunteers needed to help socialize kittens. It’s also a great de-stressor! CHARM SCHOOL, every Saturday, 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.

NOVEMBER 11- 24

ACCIÓN ANIMAL ADOPTION FAIR , every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7

2015

p.m. Tenth St. between Ave. 100 and Av. 105, Colonia Ejido. Don’t buy pets, rescue them! Check Facebook /Acción Animal.

THANKSGIVING SALT ROCK GRILLE + Cocktails THANKSGIVING DINNER SPECIAL ,

Thu r sd ay N ove m b e r 26, F i f t h Ave. b e twee n Calle 34 and 38, P laya d e l Car m e n. $ 19 5 p e sos p /p i nc lu d es a hou se salad , oven roasted turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potato, mashed potato, vegetables and stuffing. We will also be baking a variety of pies for dessert. Make reservations at info@saltrockgrille.com, or 984-147-7925.

MOM’S BAR THANKSGIVING BUFFET, Thursday November 26th,

WORKSHOPS & COURSES

COMEDY & SPOKEN WORD

BAKING AND COOKING WORKSHOP at Basic Foodie, Plaza

COMEDY PLAYA, Every Wednesday and Sundays, Stand Up Comedy at Lucky Luciano’s, 28th and 5th. 8 p.m. $100 pesos. Facebook/Comedy Below Sea Level

Steren, Federal Highway. Mondays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Call (984)1091948 or (984)109-4129 to reserve your space. $600 pesos per class. $2000 pesos for four classes. Extra: Ingredients are between $50 and $150 pesos per class. Facebook/Basic Foodie

POETRY FRIDAY ,

every Friday, 8 p.m. El Eden Art Garden, Constituyentes Ave. and 95 Street in Colonia Ejido. Listen to and read poetry. Free entrance.

ART & MUSIC DREAMERS ART FESTIVAL , November 6 to 14. International artists, muralists, specialists and DJs. The Palm Hotel, Blue Parrot and Kodomo Center. Facebook/Dreamers Art Festival, www.dreamersartfest.com

Playa del Carmen. Adult Singing Group. No experience and no audition. Songs in English, from 60s to present day. $205 pesos for four sessions. Facebook/Pop Choir Playa, or Whatsapp/ Contact: Ynez 984 143 8716 (English).

POP CHOIR,

SALSA, BACHATA & KIZOMBA , Saturday nights at Zenzi, 8 p.m., 10th Street and the beach. Free.

Thursdays, 7 p.m. Free Entry. Forum for young artists to present their talents. Le Lotus Rouge, 35th Ave. and 2nd Street, Playa del Carmen. Facebook/Lotus Rouge Playa. ART FORUM,

NOCHE DE DIVAS ,

Every Friday, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. sharp. Music: Classical, Chanson and Boleros. El Jardín, 20th Street between Ave 10 and 15. Beers $20 MXN.

7 p.m., corner of 30th Avenue and 4th Street. $200 p esos p/p includes a traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet with all the trimmings plus dessert. Make reservations at momsbarpdc@ gmail.com.

ZENZI CL ASSIC T HA NKSGIVI NG DI NNE R, Thursday November 26,

4 p.m. 10th Street and the beach. $380 pesos. Make reservations at 984 803 5738. WA H WA H´ s T HA NKSGIVI NG DIN NE R, Thursday November 25, 4

p.m. to 7:00 p.m. 2nd Street and the beach. $250 pesos.

Novembre 11 - 24 2015

5 4 GRAND HYATT

2 3

info@meridianmedia.mx t. 984 8031446

DIRECTORY

MUSEUMS . ·. P LAYA D EL CA R M E N .·. National Museum of Underwater Archeology-Cedam Tues-Sun, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Puerto Aventuras Blvd. AP 1, Puerto Aventuras (984) 873 5002 Museo de arqueología subacuática-CEDAM Xel-Ha Archaeology Museum Tues-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Xel-Ha Park, 307 Federal Highway, km. 240 (984) 803 4403 / 01 800 009 3542 www.xelha.com . · . CA N CU N . · . Maya Museum of Cancun Tues-Sun, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Blvd. Kukulcán km. 16.5, Hotel Zone (988) 885 3842 Museo Maya de Cancún

Ka’Yok’ Planetarium of Cancun Tues-Fri , 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat-Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Palenque Ave., SM 21, MZ 05, LT 1 www.ventanaaluniverso.org

ACCESS TO PUBLIC BEACHES MUSA Cancun Underwater Museum Tues-Sun Nizuc Reef and Manchones Reef (998) 848 8312 / (998) 578 7097 www.musacancun.org www.musaislamujeres.com Mexican Folk Art Museum Tues-Sun, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. (summer) / 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. (winter) Xcaret Park, 307 Federal Highway, km. 282 (984) 206 0038 / 01 800 292 2738 www.xcaret.com.mx .·. TULUM .·. Museum of Prehistory Mon-Sun, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dos Ojos Park, 307 Federal Highway, 17 km. before Tulum Museo de la Prehistoria Parque Dos Ojos www.cenotedosojos.com .·. COZUM EL .·. Museum of Cozumel Island Mon-Sat, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Rafael Melgar Ave. and 4th St. (987) 872 0914 Museo de la Isla de Cozumel .·. OT H ERS .·. The Caste War Museum Tues-Sun, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 26 17th St., Tihosuco, Felipe Carrillo Puerto (983) 208 9203 Museo Guerra de Castas

CULTURAL CENTERS . · . P L AYA D E L CA RM E N .·. Cultural Center of Playa del Carmen Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sat, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 115th Ave. and Cruz de Servicios Ave. (984) 873 2134 Centro Cultural Playa del Carmen La Ceiba Park Tues-Sat, 7 a.m.- 9 p.m. First St. South and Av. 60, Colonia Ejido (984) 859 2327 Parque La Ceiba

El Edén Jardín de Arte Mon-Sat, 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Constituyentes Ave. and 95th St., Catarinas Building (984) 859 3076 El Edén Jardín de Arte Le Lotus Rouge Tues - Sat: 4 p.m.- Midnight Sun: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 35th Avenue and Calle 2 lotusrougeplaya

.·. CANCUN .·. Las Perlas Beach Kukulcán Blvd. km. 2.5, next to Hotel Imperial Las Perlas Langosta Beach Kukulcán Blvd. km. 5 Tortugas Beach Kukulcán Blvd. km. 7, next to the ferry terminal Caracol Beach Kukulcán Blvd. km. 9.5, next to Mocambo Restaurant Gaviota Azul Beach Kukulcán Blvd. km. 9.5, next to Coco Bongo Marlin Beach Tepén St., next to Hotel Barceló Tucancún Beach Chac Mool Beach Blvd. Kukulcán km. 14.5 Ballenas Beach Kukulcán Blvd. km. 14.5, next to Hard Rock Hotel Delfines Beach Kukulcán Blvd. km. 16, next to El Rey Ruins Puerto Morelos 307 Federal Highway km. 324, next to Puerto Morelos Town Square .·. PLAYA DEL CA RME N .·. 1 Xcalacoco Cancún-Tulum Road km. 3, entry by Coca-Cola 2 Punta Esmeralda 112th St. 3 CTM Beach CTM Ave. 4 Shangrila 38th St. 5 Mamitas 28th St. 6 Playa Caribe Access from 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th St. and Constituyentes Ave. 7 Piñatas Beach Second St. next to Fundadores Park 8 Playacar First South Ave. next to the ferry terminal

.·. CANCU N .·. Cultural Center of Cancun Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sat, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Prolongación Yaxchilán Ave. SM 21 (998) 884 8229 casaculturacancun.blogspot.mx Cultural Center Caracol Marino 80th St. and Fifth Ave. (984) 267 3136 Centro Cultural Caracol Marino El Hongo Tues-Sat, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Sun, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 19th St. South Sur and 80th Ave. (984) 109 5356 www.el-hongo.com

Cultural Center of Puerto Morelos 2 Niños Héroes Ave. Puerto Morelos Casa Cultura Puerto Morelos .·. TULUM .·. Cultural House of Tulum Alfa Sur St. and Gama Oriente St. (984) 871 2496 Casa de Cultura de Tulum

RUINS . ·. P LAYA D E L CA R M E N .·. Archaeological Zone of Playa del Carmen Open 24hrs Paseo Xaman-Ha, Playacar Phase I . ·. CA N CU N . · . El Meco Archaeological Zone Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 307 Federal Highway, Prolongación López Portillo Ave. El Rey Archaeological Zone Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Kukulcán Blvd., in front of Playa Delfines, Hotel Zone San Miguelito Archaeological Zone Tues-Sun, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Kukulcán Blvd. km. 16 Ixchel Temple in Isla Mujeres Mon-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Garrafón Park, Garrafón Road, km. 6, Punta Sur (998) 877 1105 . ·. T ULU M . · . Archaeological Zone of Tulum Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 307 Federal Highway, km. 128 (983) 837 0796 Archaeological Zone of Cobá Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Carretera Federal 307, desviación Nuevo Xcan, a 47 km. de Tulum

.·. COZUM EL .·. San Gervasio Archaeological Zone Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Carretera Transversal, km. 7.5 El Cedral Archaeological Zone Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. El Cedral, Cozumel .·. OTH ERS .·. Chichén Itzá Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Cancún-Mérida Highway, 75 miles before Mérida (985) 851 0137 www.chichenitza.inah.gob.mx

.·. CARRET ERA PLAYA-TULUM .·. 9 Punta Venado 307 Federal Highway km. 278, 6 miles from Playa del Carmen 10 Paamul 307 Federal Highway km. 85, 9 miles from Playa del Carmen 11 Puerto Aventuras 307 Federal Highway km. 269, 18 miles from Playa del Carmen 12 Xpu Ha 307 Federal Highway km. 118, 20 miles from Playa del Carmen 13 Akumal 307 Federal Highway km. 256, 23 miles from Playa del Carmen

CENOTES .·. CARRETERA P LAYA-TU LU M . · . 1 Cenote Dos Ojos Xel-Ha Park, 307 Federal Highway, km. 240

CENOTES ROUTE

16 15

PUERTO MORELOS

14 13

12 11 10 PUERTO MO RELOS - LEON A VICARIO

2 Cenote Ponderosa-El Edén 307 Federal Highway km. 36, 14 miles de Playa del Carmen 3 Cenote Taj Mahal 307 Federal Highway, 15 miles from Playa del Carmen 4 Cenote Manatee 307 Federal Highway, next to Tankha residence 5 Cenote Yal-Ku 307 Federal Highway, just before Akumal 6 Cenote ChiKin Ha 307 Federal Highway, just after Pto. Aventuras 7 Cenote Kantun-Chi 307 Federal Highway km. 266.3, next to Hotel Barceló 8 Cenote Cristalino 307 Federal Highway 307, just after Pto. Aventuras 9 Cenote Azul 307 Federal Highway 307, just after Pto. Aventuras

307

1 2 3 4 5 6

PLAYA DEL CARMEN

.·. CEN OT ES ROU TE . · . 10 Cenote Las Mojarras

Pto. Morelos-Valladolid Road, km. 12. 11 Cenote Siete Bocas Pto. Morelos-Valladolid Road, km. 15.5

7 9 12 Cenote Boca del Puma Pto. Morelos-Valladolid Road, km. 16 13 Cenote Verde Lucero Pto. Morelos-Valladolid Road, km. 18. 14 Cenote Chilam Balam Pto. Morelos-Valladolid Road, km. 18.5 15 Cenote La Noria Pto. Morelos-Valladolid Road, km. 19 16 Cenote Kin Ha Pto. Morelos-Valladolid Road, km. 20 17 Cenote Zapote Pto. Morelos-Valladolid Road, km. 20

PUNTA VENADO

PUERTO AVENTURAS

6 8

.·. TULUM . · . 18 Cenote Escondido and Cenote Cristal

14 Xcacel-Xcacelito 307 Federal Highway, 9 miles from Tulum 15 Papaya Beach Tulum-Boca Paila Road km. 4.5

307 Federal Highway, just after Tulum 19 Gran Cenote, Cenote Carwash and Cenote Calavera 109 Tulum-Valladolid Highway 20 Cenote Aktun Chen 307 Federal Highway, 10 miles before Tulum 21 Cenote Angelita 307 Federal Highway, 11 miles after Tulum

AKUMAL 13

307

XEL-HA 1 14

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS (PLAYA DEL CARMEN/CANCUN) Muyil Archaeological Zone Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. 307 Federal Highway, 20 km. south Tulum, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve Uxmal Archaeological Zone Mon-Sun, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 261 Mérida-Santa Elena Federal Highway, Uxmal, Yucatán (999) 944 0033

Emergency

Emergency from cell phone

066

114

Fire Dept. (984) 879 3669 / (998) 884 1202

Hyperbaric chamber (984) 117 0278

Red Cross

TELMEX

(984) 873 1233 / (998) 884 1616

01 800 123 2222

Hospital General

CFE

(984) 206 1690 / (998) 887 3557

01 800 080 0233

CARIBBEAN SEA

VALLA DOLID

109 18 15

TULUM 15

November 11 - 24 2015

DISCOVER MEXICO

The Cenotes Route THECENOTES ROUTE The Yucatan Peninsula is known for its cenotes, natural crystalline water pools which are connected by underwater rivers. The Ruta de los Cenotes (Cenotes Route) is located halfway between Cancun and Playa del Carmen on the old road from Puerto Morelos to Valladolid, referred to today as the Puerto Morelos-Leona Vicario Freeway. The perfect way to visit some of them is by renting a car or you can also buy a guided ATV or bike tour. When entering Puerto Morelos village you will find the road sign to the route. There are eight different cenotes along this route, varying from 30 to 200 feet deep. If you choose to go on your own, adult tickets are from $100 to $300. Here are more details about theses natural wonders.

Local taxi / Photos: Communidad y Biodiversidad A.C.

Distance in miles from Cancun: 22; Playa del Carmen: 20. Cenote Las Mojarras Cenotes Route, Km. 12.5 Type: Open cenote www.parquecenotelasmojarras.com Cenote Siete Bocas Cenotes Route, Km. 15.5 Type: Underground and open cenotes

Puerto Morelos Marine

National Park

BY THEPLAYATIMES Puerto Morelos is a town in the municipality of Benito Juárez, and is located by the second largest coral reef in the world, known as the Mesoamerican Reef System. In this location, ecosystems such as mangroves, sand dunes, and forests can be found. These are natural resources which sustain the economy of the local residents, who live off of tourism and fishing. The Mesoamerican Reef System in front of Puerto Morelos was decreed as a national park on February 2, 1998, as a result of a proposal by the community, to protect it from the encroachment of Cancun tour operators. According to data from the National Commission for Protected Areas (CONANP), “some of the species registered in the National Park are considered threatened or endangered, such as the elk horn coral and sea turtles.” The park has a total area of 9,066 hectares. Inside the park, the “Puerto Morelos Coastal Wetlands” area has 4,000 hectares which “supply fresh water to the national park” and also provide a release of extra water in the event of torrential storms. The mangrove system, which runs parallel to the National Park, is 22 kilometers long and 1.8 kilometers wide, according to the “Characterization and Diagnostics of the Puerto Morelos Wetlands Preserve” study presented by ECOSUR Botanical Garden. Due to the extensive length and various kinds of mangroves in Puerto Morelos, the non profit organization is looking to maintain the “ecological integrity and conserve the aesthetic beauty of the neighboring coral reef,” especially because this ecosystem protects the coast from damage associated with hurricanes and trop-

Marine Fauna in the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park (from SEMARNAP’s June 1999 monitoring survey) Group

Order

Cnidaria

Scleractinia corals

Gorgonacea Hydrozoa Other Sponges Annelids Crustaceans Echinoderms Molluscs Chordata

Number 41 32 64 16 20 10 172 31 33

Fish Reptiles Mammals

226 3 21

Total

669

ical storms, in addition to collecting sediments and being a home to wild birds. In Puerto Morelos, the main kind of mangrove is Conocarpus erectus, followed by Rizhophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa, all which are protected. There are 59 species associated with the mangroves, such as tree, shrub, herbaceous, climbing, fish and palm. The Puerto Morelos Marine National Park can be visited by contacting CONANP or authorized tour operators. You can get more information by calling (998) 871 05 25.

Underground and open cenotes / Photo: agency

Mon-Sun, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Facebook: Cenote 7 bocas Cenote Boca del Puma Cenotes Route, Km. 16. Type: Open cenote Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.bocadelpuma.com Cenote Verde Lucero Cenotes Route, Km. 18. Type: Open cenote Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cenote Chilam Balam Cenotes Route, Km. 18.5 Type: Underground cenote (998) 180 03 07 Cenote La Noria Cenotes Route, Km. 19 Next to La Bendición de Dios Ranch Type: Underground cenote Cenote Kin Ha Cenotes Route, Km. 20. You will see a sign and a dirt road to Kin Ha which is 5 km. away from this point. Type: Semi-open Open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Facebook: Cenotes Kin Ha

November 11 - 24 2015 Men saving their dogs in flood / Photo: GETTY

ANIMAL WELAFARE

Mi Amigo de la Calle Celebrates One Year

Anniversary This group has one mission - to improve the life of neglected pets in Playa del Carmen by collecting food and raising awareness for street and shelter animals. BY NASH

M Are You and Your

Pe t s Pre p a re d ? BY NASH

After the news of Hurricane Patricia on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, we are reminded to give some thought to how quickly disaster can strike. How will we respond when faced with a natural disaster, or what if we had to evacuate the area? Maybe you are prepared and even have an emergency kit and supplies in your home, but what about your pets? You should be ready to take your pets with you in the event of an evacuation. If there is an evacuation do not leave your pets behind. In the case of Hurricane Patricia pets were accepted in shelters. World Animal Protection recently stated, “We commend Mexico for not forgetting animals in disasters. For the first time they were accepted into shelters with people.” Be prepared to leave with your pets by creating a pet emergency kit. Additionally, it is a good idea to have a sticker on your front door stating how many animals are inside the house that need to be rescued with your phone number in case you are away from the house, for example during a fire or flood. Designate a guardian for your pets, the guardian should be able to retrieve your pets in case of emergency and have access to your property. Always ensure your pets are wearing a collar with up-to-date identification tags. Most animals will run during a storm, fireworks or anything that frightens them, always keep your pet inside during the first sign of a storm or fireworks. If you need to evacuate, always bring your pets with you, no pets should ever be left to fend for themselves during a disaster. For more information on how to prepare for and protect your pet during a disaster, we suggest visiting www.humanesociety.org.

Coco’s Animal

Welfare is Growing! BY NASH The donation drive is on! Coco’s has outgrown their current clinic, as the demand to alleviate the suffering of animals through community education, clinic services, fostering of homeless or unwanted cats and dogs has grown exponentially since its beginnings. With a donation of centrally located land from a generous supporter and two foundation grants by IFAW (International Federation for Animal Welfare) and Dog’s Trust, they are moving forward to meet the demands of the community. Construction is in progress but they still need the com-

A pet emergency supply kit should include: Seven days worth of canned or dry pet food. Use cans with a pull top lid or foil pouches. Enough bottled water for you and your pets. A copy of your pet’s health certificates with your documents, a photograph of your pet in the event you are separated and important contacts in a waterproof container.

i Amigo de la Calle is a wonderful group of individuals working together to organize events and fundraisers to educate the community about animals in need. Laura Reyes Rendon the founder of Mi Amigo de la Calle, is working to improve the conditions of street dogs with issues like overpopulation and starvation. They are educating Maya communities and Playa’s neighboring cities about animal health and promoting adoption and sterilization. Mi Amigo de la Calle began with its first event November 23, 2014, organizing a street fair that gives all rescue groups a chance to showcase their adoptable animals. The guests of this family event were asked to contribute bags of dog food. The fair has continued as a quarterly event and each time they set a goal to collect as much dog food as possible. The goal for the first event was to collect one ton of dry dog food. Now, the goal is two tons! The food is later donated to independent animal rescuers and the different animal shelters, including SOS Arca, Accion Animal, Cebiam and the Maya community. To date, they have been able to deliver 10 tons of dog food. Their quarterly events are a great tool to educate and motivate adoptions, sterilization and overall animal welfare. It is a great day for the whole family, with various booths set up by the different rescue

groups, arts and crafts, live music, dancing, food and drinks and adoptable dogs. You never know, you may go home with a new best friend. The one year anniversary event will be held on November 15 from 10 a.m. till 7 p.m. at Caracol Marino on 80th Street between 5th Avenue and 10th. Charanga Sound, Playa’s own rock and reggae band and Vina Hell a Mexican band that blends classical strings with classic rock, will provide the entertainment for this special occasion. Mi Amigo de la Calle is also coordinating a mass dog and cat sterilization campaign in the Maya area November 27, 28, and 29. If you would like to attend, donate or volunteer go to their Facebook/Mi Amigo de la Calle.

Your pet’s medication in a waterproof container. Pillow cases for scooping up a frightened cat, carriers or dog crates, leashes and collars with identity tags. In the home keep extra kitty litter and garbage bags, medical first aid kit, flashlights, cleaning products, blankets, towels and other emergency supplies. Mi amigo de la calle means “my friend from the street” in English / Photo: miamigodelacalle

munity’s help to raise the remaining funds. The new clinic will provide a surgery preparation area, a large operating room with two separate recovery areas, a laboratory, a kitten quarantine room, and an adoptable cat viewing area. There will be two isolation rooms, an overnight hospital for cats and dogs who are a part of the Trap Neuter and Return program, a large multipurpose room for training and children’s education events. Additionally, the clinic will have a separate emergency wildlife treatment room. The new property has a large garden area for monthly adoption events. This new facility will enable Coco’s to support even more animals, more emergencies, and more rescue groups and animal organizations. They expect to help over 8000 animals a year at the new clinic. Coco’s plays an active role in community outreach, providing services and education.

Since 2009, Coco´s has sterilized 16,000 animals and provided medical services and volunteers to ten other rescue groups. They have also adopted out over 1,000 animals. Now they need our help in raising $75,000 USD to help meet their goal to complete their new facility.

The added space will be available for education seminars, courses for kids and more room for volunteers and visiting veterinarians. One initiative to raise funds is well underway, Coco’s online auction has many gift donations including, restaurants, bars, hotels, tourist activities, and pet services. The online auction is a great place to do your Christmas shopping! It will run from November 7 to 14. (time is running out, so check out their website) Coco’s needs to raise $75,000 to meet these goals, some businesses have donated funds, but with a challenge to meet or beat their donation, it is a great way to encourage more donations for an amazing cause. Stay tuned for upcoming fundraisers to make this project happen. For more information about the fundraiser and online auction visit Facebook/Coco´s Animal Welfare Playa del Carmen or email them at info@cocosanimalwelfare.org.

HEALTh

Biodegradable Sunscreens

Only, Please!

Reef Tested, Fishy Approved BY THEPLAYATIMES How many of you remember the first few days of summer beach vacations and your skin was too painful to allow your t-shirt to touch it. Thanks to the little girl and puppy in the iconic Coppertone ad we learned about sun protection. In the 80’s our Oakleys were perched on zinc covered noses, even on the ski slopes. Over the years sunscreens evolved into thinner products that came in a variety of SPF levels and choices of sprays or creams. Unfortunately, scientific studies show that the chemicals found in these sunscreens are actually killing coral reefs, and in this region, contaminating the cenotes. Many nature and adventure parks within the Mexican Caribbean are requiring biodegradable sunscreen. Some may even prevent you from taking your non-biodegradable products into the park with you. Unfortunately, when you are shopping for

Sun protection is important when visiting a tropical location like the Mexican Caribbean. However, more and more locations are requiring that visitors use only biodegradable sunscreen. We take a look at why and where you can buy it

your vacation and walk into your local CVS or Shoppers Drug Mart, these products don’t seem to jump off the shelf at you. However, finding biodegradable sunscreens isn’t as hard as the posters on TripAdvisor would lead you to believe. Stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and even Walmart sell biodegradables. Brands such as Badger Balm, Kiss My Face, and Alba all make biodegradable sunscreens. If you can’t find them in your local area stores, you can go online to order. Websites like www.drugstore.com or www.amazon.com all offer a wide selection of sunscreens that will be allowed. So remember, when you are packing your OP swim trunks and your Oakleys, leave the Coppertone at home and pack a green screen instead.

People react differently to traumas and all reactions are normal / Photo: www.thegranitetower.com/

What is Emotional and Psychological Trauma? A single event or a long term difficult situation can trigger intense physical and emotional stress. Our resident psychotherapist explores the causes, symptoms, and the recovery process BY ROSANOUWERKERK

n emotional and psychological trauma is the result of an extraordinarily stressful experience that shatters your sense of security. According to an article on trauma on the website helpguide.org, it is “not the objective facts that determine whether an event is traumatic, but your subjective emotional experience of the event. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized.” A single event can cause trauma, like an accident. Additionally, trauma can result from an enduring situation like domestic violence. There is an increased risk of trauma if the experience was unexpected, you were not prepared, you felt powerless, it happened repeatedly, someone was intentionally cruel and if it happened in childhood. Not all potentially traumatic events cause lasting emotional and psychological damage. Some people recover quickly from even the most tragic experiences. Others are devastated by experiences that appear to be less disruptive. Although scientists don’t really have an explanation, it is known that people are more susceptible to trauma from a stressful event if they were already stressed, were previously traumatized and if there is a lack of emotional support. People react differently and experience different physical and emotional reactions. Don’t judge yourself. All reactions are normal to an abnormal event. Symp-

toms of trauma are denial, disbelief, anger, irritability, mood swings, easily startled, guilt, shame, self-blame, sadness, anxiety, helplessness, lack of concentration, insomnia, nightmares, emotionally numb, palpitations, pains, fatigue, agitation and muscle tension. These symptoms usually last a few days to a few months. They gradually fade away as you process the trauma. But even if you feel better, from time to time you may suffer from painful memories or emotions, especially in response to triggers like an image or sound that reminds you of the traumatic experience. In this painful process, it is crucial to accept the support of friends and family, to talk about how you feel and to take care of yourself. Recovering from a traumatic event takes time, and everyone heals at his or her own pace. But if months have passed and the symptoms don’t diminish, you may need professional help. Especially if you have trouble functioning, suffer from severe anxiety or depression, have terrifying memories, nightmares or flashbacks experience, increasingly avoid things that remind you of the trauma, feel emotionally numb and disconnected from others or if you use alcohol or drugs to feel better. Rosan Ouwerkerk is a Dutch registered psychotherapist and she runs a private practice in Playa del Carmen. If you think her help is required, you can contact her: rosan.ouwerkerk@gmail.com

November 11 - 24 2015

SPORTS

College Basketball Comes to Riviera Maya The Sixth Annual College Thanksgiving Tournament will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Riviera Maya on the Tuesday November 24 and Wednesday November 25 BY WEBBELKINS

he Thanksgiving holiday pleasures of the Riviera Maya are no mystery, and it makes sense that top-flight college basketball teams from North America would want to take part. Triple Crown Sports is once again bringing the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya to the peninsula, with eight men’s and eight women’s NCAA D-1 basketball programs making a break from a traditional Thanksgiving to sharpen their skills before conference play begins. All games will be played at the newly renovated resort, where the conference center ballroom will be redeployed as a top-notch basketball arena. The University of Maryland’s men’s team, now ranked third nationally among U.S. colleges and universities, and featuring All-American sophomore point guard Melo Trimble, will be striving for a championship win against the three other major U.S. college teams in the tournament--Illinois State, Texas Christian University and the University of Rhode Island. A special court of U.S. collegiate regulation size will again be constructed inside two of the hotel’s ballrooms, along with specially designed stands for spectators holding over 1000 people. Because of these specially designed seat locations, all

NCAA Men and Women´s basketball coming to the Riviera Maya

Photos: wikimedia commons

spectators will be close to the action! “The event brings in some of the very best college basketball teams from the U.S. Many of these players, both men and women, will be playing someday in the NBA and WNBA,” said tournament director Brent Amick. “Anyone who likes basketball should take advantage of

this unique opportunity to see some of the top U.S. college basketball teams compete just a short distance from Playa del Carmen.” The Seaside Rotary Club of Playa del Carmen will have available a limited supply of tickets for the third place consolation game at 6 p.m. and including the Final Cham-

pionship game at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday November 25. Each ticket will be given out for a reasonable donation to the Seaside Rotary Charitable Funds. These donations will be used to benefit local Playa del Carmen school children. Tickets are available at the Oye!

Ghoulish Fun BY CATHERINE PAWELEK Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, Playa del Carmen’s own BRIC Hotel & Spa and Bric Vacation Rentals hosted a fun filled and memorable round of golf at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya Golf Club on Saturday October 31. Since it was Halloween all participants were expected to dress up and even though the requisite pirate, fair maiden, cowboy, ghoul and soccer players were represented, there were a handful outfitted in one of a kind costumes and a few disguised as “El Chapo”.

Golfer practicing his swing before teeing off

Golfers getting ready for the tournament / Photos: Catherine Pawelek

Beer, Wings and Ribs Restaurant at 5th Avenue and 26th Street, and the Wah Wah Beach Club at 2nd Street and Beach Road, and can also be picked up on game day, November 25 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the entrance to the games at the Hard Rock Hotel. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase during the games.

The morning started with a breakfast buffet and a Shotgun Tee time of 8a.m. Mulligans “Do-Over Shots”, were for sale for $100mxn each, and a 17th tee “Beat the Pro” competition raised money and awareness for the KKIS (Keep Kids In School) project. After the 18 hole tournament, transportation was provided from the golf course to Wah Wah Beach Bar for lunch, drinks and prizes, compliments of Bric. Gift certificates to Salt Rock Grille, free massage at the Bric Hotel & Spa, complimentary golf balls, Nature Valley fruit bars, discounts to XelHa and more were provided by sponsors, partners and friends of the BRIC family business.

SPORTS

Playa del Carmen´s Public Sport Facilities Residents and tourists have a wide variety of locations to get outside and participate in sports and other exercise activities THEPLAYATIMES

very morning, it is a common sight to see people in their sports gear running through Playacar or on the beach and even along Fifth Avenue. Since it is closed to car and bicycle traffic, it is a safe place to start the day with an energizing run. However, Playa del Carmen also has four great sports centers that have facilities for many sports, and are also free! The Poliforum on Avenida Juarez and 110th Ave includes professional outdoor and indoor basketball courts, and a seven-a-side soccer field. There are also two regular size soccer fields where they hold local amateur tournaments, two frontenis, and three tennis courts; professional 400-meter tartan athletic and cycling tracks. The Poliforum is open every day from 5 am to 11 pm. Mario Villanueva Sports Center is located downtown on 10th Ave. and 34th St.; it boasts basketball and volleyball courts as well as four tennis courts. Its soccer field is the official training ground of the lo-

Public Sport Facilities: The Poliforum on Avenida Juarez & 110th. Mario Villanueva Sports Center on 10th Avenue and 34th. The Riviera Maya Sports Center on Avenida Universidad and 110th Avenue. Lázaro Cárdenas Sports Center on 30th Ave. and 76th St. North.

cal soccer team Interplaya and the pitch, running track, and stadium were recently remodeled. The center also has a covered area for aerobics and salsa classes. It is open every day from 6 am to 11 pm. The Riviera Maya Sports Center on Avenida Universidad and 110th Ave. has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, baseball, soccer, sevena-side soccer, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, and fields. It is also a great place for people and families to go and relax on its large green areas. Its location away from the downtown area allows those living on the outskirts the opportunity to participate in exercise or sports and is open anytime to the public. Lázaro Cárdenas Sports Center on 30th Ave. and 76th St. North in the Colosio district is where sports lovers can play soccer, indoor and outdoor basketball and volleyball. The sports area also has a covered court for combat sports, and there are regular karate and boxing tournaments held here. There is also a large playground, so is also a great place for the family to spend time together outdoors.

Golf, like all sports, has a plethora of terminology specific to the sport / Photo: wikimedia commons

Fore Birdies, an Eagle and a Bogey Walk Into a Bar:

A Summary of Golf Terms BY THEPLAYATIMES

Double Bogey: two strokes over par.

All sports have their own terminology to describe different actions and plays within the game. Basketball players shoot three-pointers. Baseball players plays hit a home run with bases loaded for a grand slam. Soccer has penalty kicks, free kicks, and kick-offs. The world of golf is no different. Whether you are are headed out to volunteer at the OHL Classic, going as an observer, or watching it on T.V., we thought we would give you a rundown on the terms you will mostly likely hear used. First, the goal of golf is to get the ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible. Each hole is given a par rating and can be either a par-3, par-4, or par-5. Simply put, it is the number of chances you have to hit the ball and get it into the hole. That´s a very simple definition but should give you an idea of what the players are trying to do. Now, here’s some scoring terminology:

Triple Bogey: three strokes over par.

Par: the number of strokes you made equals the par rating for the hole. Birdie: one less stroke than par. For example, on a par 4, you hit the ball three times and on the third stroke it went into the hole. Eagle: two fewer strokes than par. Hole in one: hit it off the tee and it goes into the hole - every golfer´s dream! The Mario Villanueva Sports Center has a newly renovated track, soccer pitch, and stands / Photo: Gobierno Solidaridad

No Visa Needed for this Embassy BY CATHERINE PAWELEK Up Constituyentes between Calle 75 and 85, the sight of a gorgeous bougainvillea is proof that you have arrived at Playa Bicicletero (PB), a.k.a. Bike Embassy, née Embajada Mexicana De La Bicicleta. Whether you are a novice or intermediate, you are covered, advanced, you are in great hands. With PB’s director/ambassador Ivan Orozco Pérez’ support, you are on your way to discovering everything this city has to offer.

Don’t ride too close to parked cars. Reflective gear at night. A helmet (not obligatory). The right shoes. Perfect height for bike, are all mantras from the director and contribute to a great experience. He reminds us of one of the longer bike lanes, paralleling the Carretera from Playa to Xcaret, which he dreams will eventually run from Cancun to Chetumal. On average 14km long, informative, fun, guided, free bike tours, 90 to 120 minutes, start at the shop. Check in with them to confirm the schedule. Often heading towards Playa Esmeralda, up to 80 cyclists embrace a common motto “Biking Means Freedom.” Never ridden a bike before? No worries, a stability class on a special-

Bogey: one stroke over par.

Bike Routes suggestions from Playa Bicicletero / Photo: Playa Bicicletero

Other golf terminology includes: Tee box: where the golfers tee to start the hole. Tee: the little stick that the ball sits on when they hit the ball for the first time at the hole; also used as a verb to describe the player setting up the ball ¨Gary Player is teeing up¨. The green (or putting green): the area around the hole. Fairway: the maintained area between the tee box and the green. Bunker: an obstacle or hazard that is like a big hole or depression and can be filled with sand or grass. Rough: another obstacle, usually uncut grass that lines the fairway. Fore: what golfers yell to warn golfers ahead that the ball is coming their way. There are many more golf terms that golf enthusiasts learn through playing and watching the masters play. Don’t forget to check out the OHL Classic at Mayakoba this year. The pros are teeing off for the professional competition on November 12.

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Novembre 11 - 24 2015

ART & CULTURE

Le premier ministre québécois en voyage officiel à Mexico a annoncé son ambition d’augmenter les échanges mercantiles entre les deux pays PAR CYRIELLENOBLESSE

our assurer son développement économique, le Québec doit miser sur l’exportation accrue de ses produits, en premier lieu vers le Mexique, qui constitue un marché de choix à exploiter. Voilà en substance le message qu’a lancé en début de mission le premier ministre du Québec Philippe Couillard, hier, à Mexico. Les exportations du Québec vers le Mexique sont en croissance, mais c’est loin d’être suffisant, a-t-il indiqué. Il a, pour ce faire, de grandes ambitions : accroître les exportations de la province vers le Mexique d’au moins 20 pour cent par année. En effet, La valeur des exportations québécoises vers le Mexique atteignait 1,2 milliard de dollars en 2014, en hausse de 19,5 pour cent par rapport à l’année précédente. Pour le Québec, le Mexique est devenu le troisième partenaire commercial en importance, donc un territoire qui n’est pas à négliger. «Il faut augmenter encore les échanges, les exportations du Québec vers le Mexique et améliorer la qualité de ces exportations ; aller vers des produits de créativité, de création, des produits à valeur ajoutée », a soutenu M. Couillard. « On a une augmentation de 20 pour cent depuis trois

Pour le Québec, le Mexique est devenu le troisième partenaire commercial en importance, donc un territoire qui n’est pas à négliger ans. J’espère qu’au cours des trois, quatre prochaines années, on aura au moins le même rythme d’augmentation ». En outre, il insiste sur le fait qu’avec une population de seulement 8 millions, le Québec « doit absolument miser sur l’exportation » pour assurer son développement. Il faut noter, cependant, que déjà 600 entreprises québécoises font des affaires au Mexique. Pour accroître les liens Québec-Mexique, M. Couillard va aussi miser sur les rencontres politiques. Le 12 octobre, il s’est entretenu avec le président Enrique Peña Nieto. Ce fut l’occasion de formaliser de façon plus officielle les nombreuses ententes de partenariat existantes entre les deux États. D’autres rencontres sont

Le Chateau Frontenac / Photos: Wikimedia Commons

prévues, notamment avec le chef de gouvernement du district fédéral de Mexico, Miguel Ángel Mancera, le secrétaire de l’Économie du Mexique, Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, de même qu’avec des séna-

teurs. M. Couillard participera également à un forum sur le secteur de l’animation, des jeux vidéo et du multimédia. Source: Jocelyne Richer pour La Presse Canadienne

ENTERPRISE FOCUS

November 11 - 24 2015

Tips to invest in Riviera Maya

Real Estate BY MEXLAW

eal estate investment is an attractive option since properties are continuously increasing their value, they are considered to be low-risk, secure, profitable, and they have a great return on investment. According to experts, properties must be seen as any other financial stock, they should be sold when the market is high since there might be times when the market goes low as well. Values can increase by as much as 50 percent from their current price. For those who are new to real estate investment, they must know that this business is about cash flow not about accumulating properties, by that we mean that the flow of money must be continuous to be able to evaluate other investing options.

To start investing in real estate you must · Have good capital · Financial knowledge · The ability to find good property opportunities · Know ahead that even though there are secure and low risk investments, there is always a possibility to lose some money due to factors like location, overspending on house improvements, or a lack of market to sell the property. Before you invest in Real Estate Analyze the property: location, price, condition, credit, renting and reselling opportunities. Have plenty of options for properties and agencies

Photo: Flickr

to have a better and faster buying process. Search for a property with financial credit that have a better rental potential to make a profit from renting out the property even after paying the bank credit and covering management expenses. Do some research on the rental prices of the area where you are planning to purchase, to pay a fair price and be able to charge the proper amount for rent. Remember that the location must meet the target market you’re trying to reach. Get a property evaluation done by an expert to get a professional view on details and be able to negotiate a better price. Get the services of a specialized lawyer to advise you before and during the transaction, to do research on the title, verify construction permits and confirm if the seller paid taxes and expenses. In the case you require legal assistance in real estate transactions, it is important to seek legal advice from trusted lawyers. For more information on Mexlaw’s Legal Services visit: www.mexlaw.ca - 984 179 8084.

ENTERPRISE FOCUS

How To Get a Credit Card

as a Foreigner in Mexico BY YOLORAMOS- COMPARAGURU.COM

f you plan to settle down in Mexico, you may want to consider using the local financial services. Stop getting charged more than you should in money transfers and fees (as ATM usage). As a foreigner in Mexico it is difficult, but it is possible, to have access to financial services. To save you some time, we asked several banks what is required to get a credit card. All banks have the same basic requirements. Here they are: 1. Immigration form Santander and HSBC require you to have the temporary residency. Banamex asks for the permanent or the temporary residence visa. Bancomer also requires the Temporary Residency. 2. Passport It is used as an official identification. 3. Proof of address They will send your account balances to this address. They accept telephone, water and electricity bills. These should not be older than three months. Some banks ask for the last three monthly bills. 4. Monthly income It depends on the financial product you want. We checked the monthly income necessary for basic credit cards in five banks. Santander: For the Santander Light you need $7,500 MXN.

HSBC: The Classic credit card requires an income of $5,000 MXN. Banamex: For the B-Smart you need $7,000 MXN. BBVA Bancomer: The Blue Credit requires $6,000 MXN. Intercam: For a gold or platinum card, the minimum income is higher. 5. Proof of Income You can use your pay slips, status of investments or checks or your last tax declaration. These should not be older than these months. Some banks ask for the last three monthly pay slips. 6. Good credit score If you have a bad score, your application won’t succeed. If you don’t have a grade, ask for a small personal loan and pay it on time. So you can have a good grade. Tips If you already have a bank account, it is easier to get a credit card, because you already have a record with that bank. If not, open a savings account with the bank before applying for a credit card. Final recommendations A credit card is a financial commitment. You HAVE to pay, if not your credit score will be bad. Because it is credit, you pay more for your purchases. Good luck on getting established!

In case you do not require a credit card, but simply a debit card that you can use for payments and expenses, Intercam Bank welcomes you to open a checking account with them. This comes with a debit card and online banking (both as optional add ons). They only provide corporate credit cards to companies or people who own a business, as well as alternative banking options so that your money remains in dollars, in the case you do not use pesos. In order to open this type of account, you would need: 1. Tourism immigration form or permanent or the temporary residence visa 2. Passport: as a type of identification 3. Proof of address (latest water, electric, telephone bill). In the case the bill is not in the name of the account holder, bring the lease agreement. Optionally, you can also bring proof of address in your home country.

Photo: Agency

Are we moving from a bear to a bull market? / Photo: wikimedia commons

Optimism in the Global Financial Outlook Despite few real changes in the strategies within the world economies, October was the best month for markets in years BY PATTIEBERRY- INTERCAM Only a few months ago the financial outlook was pretty dim. Economic indicators all over the world started to slow. All eyes were on an unexpected slowdown of the U.S. economy and on Europe’s weakness.

The central bank’s announcements were a perfect pretext for investors to change their perception of the financial outlook. Suddenly, optimism was back, and October turned out to be the best month for the markets in years. The Fed meeting arrived in September, and without the expected rate hike. Fed members justified their decision with the global economy’s weakness, especially in China, and the risk this posed for the U.S. and its growth prospects. Then, the ECB announced it was willing and able to increase monetary stimulus and would decide in December; China cut interest rates for the fifth time and reserve requirements for banks for the fourth time, and Japan announced it would increase its asset purchases if inflation did not respond. The central bank’s announcements were a perfect pretext for investors to change their perception of the financial outlook. Suddenly, op-

timism was back, and October turned out to be the best month for the markets in years: the dollar weakened, and the rest of the currencies recovered, especially in emerging economies, bond yields fell back again, commodities stabilized, and stock markets took off and returned to the year’s highs. So, what changed? The Fed didn’t raise the interest rates, as feared, but the expectation was simply moved to December. The ECB has been buying bonds most of the year, the BOJ has purchased assets in huge amounts since 2013, the PBOC has lowered rates six times in less than a year, and reserve requirements five times, and not one of the three has achieved anything even close to success. The truth is that nothing changed. With the data we were getting, everyone in the marketplace wanted to hear the central banks would increase their support for the economies. That wish came true. The reaction of many was to think that liquidity will keep growing, and if we have learned anything in the last few years since the Great Recession, it is that the more liquidity, the more markets rise. So, we are more or less in the same place, with economies hardly growing and still vulnerable, but within a pause in the parade of bad indicators. The real proof will come when the Fed hikes rates and we can see the effect this has on the rest of the economies, because, for the moment, there is no real sign that a true expansion cycle is getting under way. At Intercam, we are interested in receiving your feedback on our articles. Contact us at ftfernandez@ intercam.com.mx

November 11 - 24 2015

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November 11 - 24 2015

TAKE A BREAK

BITTER HOROSCOPES By Craig Norton

SCORPIO

SIM PLY SAV ORY STU FFIN G

(OCTOBER 23RD- NOVEMBER 21ST)

Okay, Scorpio, I’m over the scorpion sting from before. Let’s be friends, okay? This week you will see an improvement in – what is that thing curling over the top of your head? Were you going to sting me while I was giving you good news? Screw you, Scorpio! Screw you!

SAGITTARIUS

HINT The herbs we are using are fresh. If you only have dried on hand then use the 3:1 ratio, as dried herbs have more concent ra te d f lav o r s ( e . g . e a c h t s p. o f dried = 3 tsp. of fresh.) If you can’t find fresh or dried sage, substitute with marjoram or poultry seasoning. Want your stuffing more moist? Use 2 cups of stock.

(NOVEMBER 22ND-DECEMBER 21ST)

Bonus week for you, Sagittarius! You get to proclaim yourself “Awesome” on social media via meme. You are just MAKING it, aren’t you?

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22ND-JANUARY 19TH)

I suggest giving loved ones dual messages this week. Like offering support and criticism at the same time. Also, introduce “a higher power” incongruously into conversations. That always works.

By Catherine Pawelek

AQUARIUS

Ingredients (makes 8 servings)

JANUARY 20THFEBRUARY 18TH

Hey Aquarius, how’s it going? Life got you down? Don’t worry – it is definitely somebody else’s fault. Just apply wine and cigarettes and everything will be fine tomorrow.

PISCES (FEBRUARY 19TH-MARCH 20TH)

ARIES (MARCH 21ST-APRIL 19TH)

Don’t worry Aries, everything is going to be just fine. Because that is what you want. And you always get your way. (Just kidding. This week is going to SUCK!)

RECIPE

This is your time to shine, Pisces! Make a nest out of twigs and leaves and pretend you are a bird. That way, no one will find you. Then, when they walk by, jump out and scream “DON’T LEAVE ME!!” Neediness ALWAYS wins.

1 ½ sticks of unsalted butter 1 cup of diced celery 1 cup onion 1 large diced apple (red delicious, peeled) ½ Tbsp sage (salvia in Spanish) ½ Tbsp thyme (tomillo in Spanish) Salt and Pepper to taste 1 ½ cups unsalted chicken stock 1 egg 3 Tbsp chopped parsley 8 cups stale bread, diced in 1 inch cubes

fer this mixture to a buttered 2 quart baking dish and dot with the remaining butter. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, lightly toss with a fork and bake for 15 to 20 more minutes till golden brown. Serve

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large pan melt 1 stick of butter, and add the celery, onions, apples, sage, thyme, salt and pepper to taste. Saute for 5 minutes till ingredients are cooked through. Add the broth and bring to a light simmer. In a large bowl whisk the egg and parsley, add the cubed bread to the bowl, toss lightly and pour the broth mixture over the bread. Toss well. Trans-

TAURUS (APRIL 20TH-MAY 20TH)

Taurus, have you noticed that just about everything is making you see red this week? That is because you have a short fuse that you refuse to seek therapy for. Good for you!.

GEMINI (MAY 21TH-JUNE 21TH)

Keep on being fickle, cynical, and optimistic at the same time, Gemini! It goes well with your chewing gum, smoking, and playing bingo at the same time.

I’m afraid to ask this question because I know you’re going to make fun of me, but is it true that taxi drivers will kidnap you if your resort is really far away from town? We’re really nervous about it and thinking of renting a car.

CANCER

Nervous Nelly

(JUNE 22ND- JULY 22ND)

Dear Nelly,

Look for good things to happen on or around the 22nd, Cancer. They won’t, but keep looking anyway.

LEO (JULY 22ND – AUGUST 22ND)

Try something you have never done before, Leo. Like not mauling your own young lest they threaten your dominance when they become adults.

VIRGO (AUGUST 23RD – SEPTEMBER 22ND)

Get behind causes only on Facebook and feel like you have made a difference. Remember, the world cares what you vaguely care about, so keep on clicking!

LIBRA

While I cannot speak for all taxi drivers in Playa, I can tell you that a very large percentage of them do not kidnap tourists, no matter how far away their resort is from town. Think of it this way… to kidnap someone, you need to have at least some infrastructure in place to arrange for the ransom. You need a place to keep the kidnappee, a group of friends who are willing to ignore that you are keeping someone there against their will, and phones that are untraceable by local, state, and federal law enforcement who will just figure out where you are and come and arrest you. Then, you need to have a way for the

kidnappee’s family to wire you the money. Since international wire transfers are not entirely the easiest things to manage on the best of days in Mexico, this is highly unlikely. So, you need to be able to figure out a way that the kidnappee’s family can bring you the money, probably in large canvas bags with huge dollar signs on them. Like, smuggling a lot of money is one of those things that customs doesn’t check for when people are entering a foreign country. This is all assuming that the taxi driver knows that the person who he or she is kidnapping has a wealthy enough family to make the whole thing worth it. Put it another way: there are more tourists who get eaten by crocodiles in the lagoon in Cancun every year than who get kidnapped by taxi drivers. Last year, we had the lowest kidnapping rate by taxi drivers ever. The total was zero. The year before that, we nearly beat that number by also having zero taxi driver-related kidnappings. I can understand why you would think that I make fun of you because your question can easily be looked up on Google, like so many of the questions that I get asked each edition. A better question would have been,

“Should I ask the cab driver to stop texting while he’s driving my family at highway speeds?” Another one would be, “Should I bother tipping a cab driver who doesn’t bother to have seat belts in his car?” Or “If my cab driver is clearly drunk, is it socially acceptable to nudge him in the back of the head to keep him from passing out?” Anyway, I hope I have assuaged your fear of being kidnapped by people who basically just tolerate you being in their country and could care less if you visit their country or not. All the best, Craig.

(SEPTEMBER 23RD – OCTOBER 22ND)

Damn it, Libra! Again? I thought we’ve been through this? You put the lime IN the coconut and mix it all up. Trying to put a coconut into a lime just doesn’t work! (Idiot.)

Craig Norton is a Canadian expat and one of the founding members of Comedy Playa. If you have a question email dcraignorton@gmail.com

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November 11 - 24 2015

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