EDITION 65 by theplayatimes

S MASP IDE IN

Biweekly · Year 02 · Number 65 · 20,000 copies · 32 Pages · August 5 - 18 , 2015 www.theplayatimes.com

ON PARLE FRANÇAIS! Voyage et Société

Sargassum

Manque d’inspiration pour le weekend? Allez à Holbox pour vous décontractez, et rencontrez Alizée Planty la kiné dynamique

Affecting Tourism and Sea Turtles To combat the record amounts of seaweed along the coastline, the local, state and federal governments have approved funds to help clean the beaches

>P. 7 Originates in the sargasso Sea in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.

·DISCOVER MEXICO

deposited in the bay to restore and regenerate more than three kilometers of coastal dunes. The results are short term: on the public beach at Calle 88, the recuperated sand dunes can already be seen. Municipal president Mauricio Góngora Escalante confirmed that $1.4 million pesos in additional resources would be granted to increase the number of personnel removing algae. “It was authorized for the members of the Mixed Funds Committee of the Federal Maritime Zone, in this particular case to adequately man- Currently impacting age the sargas- coastal communities throughout the Caribsum,” explained bean and parts of the Góngora Es- United States. calante. On a state level, the planned amount was $12 Important home to a variety of million pesos and another $60 milspecies including baby sea turtles lion pesos could be given by the who use the floating algae for protection from predators. government. Although at first the introduction of heavy machinery had been thick that not even motor boats can restricted by the sea turtle incubation get through it, and fewer sea turtles season, the Secretary of Environmenare coming to the coast to lay eggs. tal and Natural Resources authorized Private and public organizamachinery to be used in specific tions have shown their desire to zones for lapses of 20 days and only help with the algae. 80 workers in places where the waves break. from the Lázaro Cárdenas del Río In some places, the algae is so taxi union will clean the beaches

Photo: Wikipedia

n social media sites, forums, and internet pages, the prevailing question among tourists is the same. “Is sargassum continuing to cause problems in the Riviera Maya?” People with plans to visit and those who have already made reservations fear that the beach of their dreams could be covered with algae. The recurring complaint on sites such as Trip Advisor is that the pictures provided by hotels do not show the current state of the beaches. Some have opted to cancel or postpone their stay due to the large quantity of sargassum on the beach; others have chosen to continue with their vacation plans. This situation is not exclusive to Quintana Roo; the phenomenon is taking place in many vacation sites throughout the Caribbean and the United States. The authorities still don’t agree about the cause of the algae but are in agreement that if it is not attended to promptly, it will bring repercussions on a state whose livelihood is tourism. In the Solidaridad and Playa del Carmen area, more than 4,300 tons of algae has been collected during the year. The director of Zofemat, Héctor Coral Aguilar, has indicated that most of the algae has been

Climate change and other environmental factors are believed to be contributing to the overproduction of sargassum.

Sargassum

The Puuc Route

Facts

Discover the Maya world with a day trip from Merida to five archaeological sites

>P. 14 ART & CULTURE El Alma de Playa Increased levels of sargassum began to appear in the Caribbean as early as 2011.

once every two weeks during the high season and once a month the rest of the year. The season for sargassum has been anticipated and although it generates a bad odor and it is bothersome to swim in algae-covered water, it does not pose any health risks to humans.

Read about the book that highlights the people who helped Playa grow into the international community it is today

Photo: Siente el Corazón de Playa

BY MELISSA ROBLES

Photos: The Playa Times

RIVIERA HIGHLIGHTS

>P. 21

August 5 - 18 2015

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

Beatriz Lucas Editor edition@meridianmedia.mx

Cyrielle Noblesse

Photo: The Playa Times

French Copy Editor

Diego Uribe Marketing Director diego@meridianmedia.mx

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

Under the Seaweed

Nancy González Sales Executive nancy@meridianmedia.mx

Every year it seems some natural phenomenon takes over the talk of the town and this year the focus is on sargassum. The thick and endless layers of brown seaweed have moved into the region, much to the dislike of everyone. The floods of sargassum have been invading the coastline of all Caribbean destinations; it is not a problem exclusive to Mexico. At this point, we clearly cannot stop it from moving in, but there have been large initiatives through clean-up programs to help ensure guests get to enjoy the postcard-worthy beaches that convinced them to come down here on holiday. To control the problem, we must applaud the community groups who have been going out removing the seaweed. The government has also reacted by providing clean-up funds to help curb the situation.

Ana Martínez Community Manager & Marketing marketing@meridianmedia.mx

Efrén Velázquez Iliana Ceballos Graphic Design design@meridianmedia.mx

Milton Rosel Distribution Supervisor distribution@meridianmedia.mx

Despite the commendable effort, there is just too much of it at this stage. Add to this another important economic and environmental factor to the equation – turtles nesting sites-; the deployment of mechanical rakes to speed up the cleaning process will seriously compromise the survival of these threatened reptiles. As such, the decision to speed up the beach recovery through the use of machinery is not one to be taken lightly. With this in mind, more effort should be put into advising on sea currents and identifying places of possible build up in order to act upon and prevent the problem before it reaches our shores. Luckily, there are a number of alternative activities you can take part in the region that do not involve facing seaweed. For those adamant about enjoying the Caribbean sea, there are

a number of excellent diving sites to keep you entertained, as well as taking advantage of the fact that this is the season for swimming along with the largest fish, whale sharks, to the north of the peninsula. Water nymphs can also bathe in one of the many cenotes dotted throughout the state, and often conveniently located near ruins, such is the case with the often overlooked XelHa ruin and cenote (note, this is not the Xel-Ha from the popular park, but in fact a ruin just south of the park). Take the time to visit some of the many inland animal sanctuaries such as YuCare Monkey Sanctuary, Punta Laguna Monkey Sanctuary, and the Vereda de Xcalacoco. There are also a number of Mayan communities, such as Pac Chen and Uxuxubi, who provide windows to the living culture of the Caribbean that are worth your while.

984-803 1446

Congratulations to our Pan American Gold Coin Winner, Salvadore Dzib Ramirez, who won a Pan American commemorative gold plated coin from the 2015 games in Toronto!

info@meridianmedia.mx /theplayatimes @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 MON 10

TUE 11

WED 12

THU 13

FRI 14

32°/25° C

31°/23° C

31°/24° C

32°/25° C

32°/24° C

A couple of morning showers

Partly sunny with a t-storm

A couple of showers

A shower in the afternoon

Cloudy

Some sun with a stray shower

61% chance of rain ESE at 9 km/h

51% chance of rain E at 13 km/h

60% chance of rain E at 15 km/h

41% chance of rain E at 13 km/h

1% chance of rain E at 11 km/h

41% chance of rain E at 13 km/h

WED 5

THU 6

FRI 7

SAT 8

SUN 9

31°/26° C

33°/26° C

32°/24° C

32°/25° C

Partial sunshine

Sunshine and patchy clouds

Mostly sunny and nice

Sunshine and patchy clouds

25% chance of rain E at 15 km/h

5% chance of rain E at 13 km/h

25% chance of rain ESE at 13 km/h

NEWS IN BRIEF

Around Town

Skating Rink & Ski Course

Playa has the first accessible beach in Mexico at Playa Caribe near the Cozumel ferries / Photo: The Playa Times

Playa del Carmen

Aims to be a Fully

Accessible City

ust like in Dubai, the exclusive destination of the United Arab Emirates, there will be an ice skating rink in the Riviera Maya. It will begin operations in 2016. The sun and beach won’t be an obstacle to enjoying the below zero activities. An agreement between the “All Inclusive Collection” and “Camp Woodward” will put the skating rink and ski course in the Hotel Hard Rock Riviera Maya. The installations will also provide programs for inline skating and BMX classes, parkour, animation programs, and hip hop dance, as well as an area for trampolines. There will be a specialized instructor for each activity and will be available through the Resort Credit program.

BY MELISSA ROBLES

o be a fully accessible city is a difficult goal to achieve, but Playa del Carmen is aiming to be totally accessible to people with disabilities. President of Social Development and Citizen Participation, Graciela Falcón Cruz, affirms this goal for the Solidaridad municipality. Events like the Christmas fair and the Playa del Carmen fair directly support people with disabilities and also guarantees their safety and give them an opportunity to have a good time.

It is of vital importance to have a fully accessible city, and we have been working hard to make it more accessible Graciela Falcón Cruz President of Social Development and Citizen Participation “It is of vital importance to have a fully accessible city, and we have been working hard to make it more accessible,” she commented. The first accessible beach in all of Mexico is located at Playa Caribe (also known as Pla-

ya Fundadores). The beach has been adapted for those with disabilities and offers floating lounge chairs, floating walls, access ramps, adjusted lanes, and a service center. Services are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and around 30 people are available to assist during the high season. A second accessible beach is planned by the municipal and state DIF, and will be installed at at Punta Esmeralda in the Colosio neighbourhood. It already has an outdoor free “gym” and soon will have floating chairs, costing the municipality around $4,500 dollars. It will also have showers and bathrooms, just like Playa Caribe. For the enjoyment of youngsters with disabilities, there will be an accessible park on the grounds of of the municipal DIF, sponsored by the OHL Mayakobá Group. This park will benefit more than 500 children. The park will have five different areas for children, including those with low vision, deaf children, and those with other disabilities. Much of downtown Playa del Carmen already has access ramps, but many of them are not yet functional as utility posts block the passage of wheelchairs in some locations. Graciela Falcón expressed that companies such as restaurants, convenience stores, and hotels should do their part to help, by doing things like adding braille menus and making their facilities accessible.

Photo: SEMARNAT

The city is working hard to create accessible facilities, including beach access for people with disabilities

Great Curassow Bird Threatened

n the Vereda de Xcalacoco Animal Sanctuary north of Playa del Carmen, there is a

program to increase the diminishing population of the endangered great curassow bird. Jorge Fuentes, director of the sanctuary, said that there was recently a birth of a new bird of this emblematic Yucatecan species. It is similar in size to a peacock, but with black or brown plumage. The objective is to increase their birth rate and then to teach them to live in the wild. The chicks are nurtured by a female curassow that acts as a surrogate mother. Many great curassow are illegally taken for human consumption.

Photo: Geronimo de franceso

Photo: Agency

BY MELISSA ROBLES

Gum exportation

ecause it has 15 thousand hectares of land which contain chico zapote trees, the ecotourism community of Uxuxubi could begin to export gum to Europe, informed cooperative secretary Juan Pablo Cruz. The Secretary of Agricultural and Rural Development said that there is a program to connect the producers with a company in Chetumal, which would be in charge of processing resin from the trees. This gum is in high demand in countries like England and would be sold in an organic, artisanal form. No extra artificial flavorings would be added. Representatives of the company will visit the town to see if the trees meet their quality standards. After signing the collaboration contract, residents of Uxuxubi will receive training to extract the gum resin from trees.

August 5 - 18 2015

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Next King Tut? In the state of Mexico, Archaeologists discovered liquid mercury under the Pyramids in the ancient city of Teotihuacan BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

lthough liquid mercury has been found in Egyptian tombs as far back as 1500 BC, large quantities of this element have recently been discovered by archaeologists beneath the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan. Last year archaeologist Sergio Gómez of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History announced that three chambers have been found at the end of a tunnel, which had remained intact for 1,800 years. “It’s something that completely surprised us,” he said. According to Archaeology.org, jade statues, jaguar, remains, a box filled with carved shells and rubber balls, metallic spheres dubbed ‘disco balls’ and pyrite mirrors have also been uncovered. Discovered in April of this year, Gómez said that he thought the liquid mercury, also known as quicksilver, could have symbolized an underworld river or lake. According to Mesoamerican lore, reflective surfaces functioned as portals into both the future and as the river that they believed carries us all after death, something not unlike the Styx from Greek mythology. Researchers believe that an undiscovered ancient ritual chamber or even the tomb of a king might rest beneath the ruins of the ancient city, located about 30 miles from Mexico City. It is still not 100 percent clear how ancient Mesoamericans living in Teotihuacan used the metal, but what is known is that they could produce liquid mercury by heating mercury ore. They used the liquid mercury for its blood-red

Teotihuacan Facts UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the state of Mexico 30 miles northeast of Mexico City. The name Teotihuacan was given by the Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs. Original inhabitants are unknown and it was thought to be a multi-ethnic city.

In Mesoamerican lore, reflective surfaces were portals to the future and the river of the afterlife / Photo: INAH

pigment to decorate jade objects and color the bodies of royalty. This is not the first time that liquid mercury has been discovered in Central American ruins. Archaeologists have also found deposits in locations like Kaminaljuyu in Guatemala, Lamanai in Belize and Copan in Honduras. Much work remains to be done but Gómez

believes the team will complete its dig by October 2015, and an announcement of the findings is expected later in the year. Renowned U.S. anthropologist and archaeologist George Cowgill, who has devoted his life to unearthing the site, said the mercury find is just the beginning. “It is still very uncertain, and that is what keeps everybody in suspense.”

ENTERPRISE FOCUS

Working in Multicultural Environments BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

The record low for the peso leaves everyone asking, so what now? / Photo: Agency

The Mexican Peso

Feels the Heat The Mexican peso has fallen sharply against the dollar, but the question is how far can it go, what are the reasons for its weakness and how long will it last? BY PATTIE BERRY - INTERCAM

n the last week of July, the peso reached a new record against the dollar at $16 pesos per dollar. The most negative market participants expected $17 after the Greek referendum, and although it hasn’t reached that level, the depreciation seems unstoppable and it is probably just a matter of time before it does. The peso’s movement, in part, has been a reaction to statements by Fed members that consider the U.S. economy ready for the first rate hike this year. Higher interest rates would make investment in the U.S. more attractive. The Fed committee are meeting in early August, and most investors and analysts assume they are preparing the market for a September hike. Let’s not forget that this whole downward movement started back in October, precisely when the Fed ended its QE program and the peso was at $13.20. In the last few days of 2014, the pressure on the peso spiked, as oil prices melted down. Of course, other oil currencies, like the Canadian dollar, the Norwegian krone, the Brazilian real, not to mention the Russian rouble, all met the same fate. This took the peso all the way to $15. Around March of this year, the Greek saga began to surface, it has been the source of a serious case of risk aversion in global markets. So the peso continued falling to $15.60. Just a couple of weeks ago, everyone’s attention was on the nuclear deal between Iran and the six powers. What the markets took away was that sanctions on Iran will be lifted and, eventually, the country will be back in the oil market, increasing supply. That Iran’s industry has to be rebuilt almost completely, and

that it will take many months before they are able to export didn’t matter to market players – oil prices simply dived again. The Iran deal pushed the peso to $15.90.

There is no lack of reasons for the Mexican peso’s weakness. Among them are the uncertainty regarding Greece these last few months, the Fed getting ready to raise interest rates, the price of oil trending down again, and even the drug lord El Chapo breaking out of the highest security prison in the country.

Playa del Carmen is a veritable melting pot of diversity. It is a privilege to experience such an infinite variety of backgrounds. While truly enjoyable, challenges can present themselves when cultural differences crop up in the workplace. Work ethics, government bureaucracy, and even public transportation for your employees can test most business owners. The key is patience and adaptation. We have all heard about the Day of the Dead, Good Friday, and Christmas Eve but there is one we never knew existed until arriving in Mexico. The highly cultural San Lunes is a revelation, and as it turns out, an unofficial holiday. This holiday is typically observed by many male employees who spill into Monday when they choose to party on Sunday. Between the mandatory soccer matches, family dinners and enough beer to celebrate victory or bemoan defeat, it makes Mondays a day of recuperation and rest. This can be frustrating when you aren’t used to this kind of practice, so weigh the consequences and find an efficient approach. Bureaucracy, red tape and legal obligations required to secure proper documents from all government agencies and receive permits, registrations and licenses, often change on a monthly basis. Inspectors from a variety of federal and state departments will stop by periodically to verify compliance with different laws and regulations, but since those obligations change often, sometimes they aren’t made aware of what is needed to comply. When they do visit to check your credentials, it is important to accept they may be as frustrated as you. It is part of the culture, a way of doing business here and the contents in the report of the inspection may very well reflect the understanding you showed

The thing is that, everything together, plus the fact that Mexico is an emerging economy, and therefore considered more vulnerable, have taken the price of the dollar beyond the psychological resistance at $16, to almost $16.30 pesos. Even worse, the Greek story and the fall in oil prices are still ongoing, and nerves about the Fed will only grow until the meeting, and maybe even beyond. It surely won’t be easy for the peso to find its footing in the immediate future, even though it is extremely under-valued. At Intercam, we are interested in receiving your feedback on our articles. Contact us at ftfernandez@intercam.com.mx

The key is patience and adaptation / Photo:Agency

Doing business in an area with people from cultures different from yours can sometimes be challenging. How you react and deal with these can define your success or failure. Work ethics, government bureaucracy, and even public transportation for your employees can test even the most patient business owner.

the inspector while on the premises. In most of North America, we are used to having our own transportation and in Europe, public transit is quite efficient. It can be easy to forget many Mexican workers use public transportation, which is often inefficient, slow and crowded. As a result, many employees can take more than two hours to get to work. When they arrive late for their 4 p.m. shift, it should not necessarily be considered a sign of disrespect, and you learn how to cope with it. When dealing with cultural differences, more is accomplished with honey than vinegar, making the Great Divide seem smaller and smaller.

August 5 - 18 2015

SOCIÉTÉ

English Summary available on our website theplayatimes.com/ category/on-parle-francais/

Alizée Planty / Photo: Alizée Planty L’île est entourée de mangroves et d’îlots déserts abritant des colonies d’oiseaux / Photo: shutterstock

Venez découvrir le

paradis sur terre : Holbox Que vous soyez en vacances ou résidents voici une idée de week-end, une destination pour s’éloigner de Playa del Carmen pendant deux jours Par Fabrice Gilbert

Depuis le mois de novembre, date à laquelle l’autoroute rejoignant Valladolid depuis Playa del Carmen a été ouverte, nous ne sommes plus qu’à 1h30 du paradis. En effet, Holbox est une île de pêcheurs au milieu d’une des plus belles réserves naturelles du Mexique. On y circule en voiturette de golf, on se promène pieds nus car les routes sont en sable et on y mange du poisson ou des pizzas aux langoustes en sirotant des cocktails dans des petits restaurants familiaux. Inutile de chercher des hôtels all-inclusive ou des chaînes de resort, il n’y en a pas. C’est aussi le plaisir de découvrir au détour de chaque rue des œuvres de Street Art, des fresques peintes chaque année lors de l’International Public Art Festival au mois d’avril. Holbox c’est aussi le tourisme intelligent, en contact avec les habitants et la nature. On nage en regardant passer les flamants roses, de juin à septembre on part avec les pêcheurs qui se transforment en guides pour l’occasion, nager avec les requins-baleines loin des circuits organisés. L’île est entourée de mangroves et d’îlots déserts abritant des colonies d’oiseaux que l’on va voir en barque. Le soir, on se balade en ville, on achète des fruits frais au marché, des colliers de coquillages et on se plonge dans un bon livre et on termine la soirée en regardant un magnifique coucher de soleil sur la mer. L’île souffre néanmoins d’être un paradis sur terre car des investisseurs peu scrupuleux de l’environnement ont de grands projets pour la transformer en site touristique de luxe avec marina, villas et all-inclusive de luxe. Les habitants luttent et ont par deux fois déjà déjoué les tristes plans d’un puissant groupe financier qui lorgne leurs terres. Venez donc découvrir ce lieu magique avant qu’il ne soit défiguré ! Holbox est à 1h30 en voiture de Playa del Carmen puis 30mn en bateau. Vous pouvez laisser votre voiture en sécurité sur le continent dans l’un des nombreux parkings de Chiquila. En autobus, il y a un aller-retour par jour au départ de la station ADO de Playa del Carmen. International Public Art Festival, www.ipaffestival.com Fabrice Gilbert est producteur exécutif de photo de mode, de documentaires et de cinéma. Il vit à Playa del Carmen depuis 2009, www.fabricegilbert.com

Alizée Planty, une jeune physiothérapeute à connaître !

Venez visiter le centre de beauté et remise en forme “Alizée” pour vous sentir bien de la tête aux pieds PAR BARBARA MARTIN-DANIEL Vous êtes certainement passés devant le centre de beauté de la rue 34 entre les avenues 20 et 25. Mais après cet article, vous serez convaincus de le visiter. En plus d’être un salon de beauté c’est un centre de bien-être où vous trouverez plus de cinq disciplines qui vous aideront à vous sentir bien, à récupérer une bonne santé. Alizée, sa propriétaire, originaire du Sud de la France a toujours voulu être kinésithérapeute (synonyme européen de physiothérapeute), une profession rimant avec sport. Comme elle dit, si elle n’avait pas réussi le concours d’entrée pour la Faculté de Médecine, cela aurait été la cata ! Son diplôme de l’Université de Masseur Kinésithérapeute de Toulouse en main, elle part en Guadeloupe. Mais elle décide de changer et donc, direction Playa del Carmen qu’elle connait depuis son enfance. Cela fait maintenant quatre ans qu’elle vit ici. La physiothérapie-kinésithérapie ne vous aide pas seulement à récupérer votre mobilité physique, mais aussi à votre récupération dans les cas pré et post natals grâce au drainage lymphatique, post natals après césarienne, récupération du planché pelvien, incontinence féminine, élimination du mucus dans les bronches, mal être des bébés, cancer du sein, préparation en prévision d’une implantation mammaire et cela en utilisant des méthodes telles que les massages, les ultrasons, l’électrothérapie etc. Pour compléter les services présentés, notre amie a décidé de compléter son équipe d’une nutritionniste et d’un acupuncteur. Vous pouvez également jouir des services d’un centre esthétique habituel

Pour compléter les services présentés, notre amie a décidé de compléter son équipe d’une nutritionniste et d’un acupuncteur. Vous pouvez également jouir des services d’un centre esthétique habituel tel que nous le connaissons (coiffeur, pédicure manucure etc.). tel que nous le connaissons (coiffeur, pédicure manucure etc.). En plus de cette belle entreprise, Alizée travaille avec l’équipe du Cirque du Soleil. Un grand plaisir pour elle : dans ce beau monde, il existe une relation extraordinaire entre l’artiste, le bon fonctionnement de son corps, le spectacle et l’indispensable travail du thérapeute. Sachez qu’en Europe, tout au moins, ces services sont remboursés par la mutuelle (avec prescription médicale) et les assurances privées. En espérant que cette profession sera reconnue aussi par ses pairs à Playa del Carmen, merci Alizée pour ta passion et constance à prendre soin de nous ! Centro de Bienestar y belleza Alizée, Cel: 984 113 50 28. Facebook/Alizeecbb

OUT N ABOUT

Shopping at Boutiques

and Luxury Stores Visitors from all over the world are looking to shop till they drop in Playa del Carmen’s ever growing population of posh stores. We give you the low down on the high end on our very own Fifth Avenue BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

scant few years ago, here in Playa del Carmen, Victoria had no secret, Nike had yet to do it, Haagen Daz was not made like no other, Oakley was still getting ready to gear up for summer, Tommy Bahama was only a legend in his own mind, and Diamonds were not International, but now we are surrounded by global brands, many found in cities like Barcelona, Paris, London and New York.

Have your credit card ready and Playa del Carmen’s multitude of stores will make sure that you get your high-fashion fix. While we await the opening of some of the newer malls, later this year, including the much-anticipated Calle Corazón on 5th Avenue and 14th Street and its smaller sister on 5th and 8th, we can shop until we drop in any number of locales. Starting on the Nueva Quinta (between

Calle 44 and 20) stop by Galeria Luis Sottil on Calle 32, featuring his eye-popping nature and wildlife paintings, full of color and energy. Vibrant and unique at Calle 26 is Pineda Covalin boutique, a Mexican fashion house that uses traditional images from native Mexican cultures in the creation of gloriously colored handbags, clothing, scarves and more. The three-storied Quinta Alegria, located on 5th and Constituyentes, has international mid to luxury brands. Need your Clinique skincare product fix or the latest fragrance developed by Dolce & Gabbana, and then head over to Ultrafemme. Want to add a print surplice bodysuit to your closet? Bebe to the rescue. Continue your trek south and dozens of luxury stores will beckon, including the posh Ultra Jewels store. Here you can purchase a Tag Heuer watch as modeled by spokesperson Leonardo DiCaprio or a diamond encrusted pink gold Bvlgari wedding band to remember that special event. Perfect companions to that spread-collared blue shirt from the Hugo Boss store just down the street. At the end of 5th Avenue, the street turns into cobblestone walkways and a courtyard, just a stone’s throw from Playa del Carmen’s ferry and pier. This 12-year-old open-air shopping mall houses over 30 stores representing a dozen countries. Enter Spain’s Zara, Pull & Bear from England, Italy’s Armani Exchange, Mexico’s own Zingara Swimwear and Daniel Espinosa Jewelry, as well as France’s branded Vilebrequin. Have your credit card ready and Playa del Carmen’s multitude of stores will make sure that you get your high-fashion fix.

Paseo del Carmen near the ferry to Cozumel offers a number of high end stores

Ultrafemme has a large selection of all your favorite perfumes / Photos: The Playa Times

The Prison Art Store on 5th near the ferries sells beautiful, one of a kind bags and more / Photo: The Playa Times

Playa’s Top Artisan Crafts, Galleries and Street Vendors BY CATHERINE PAWELEK Besides a tan and great memories, everybody wants to go home with a souvenir to remind them of their stay in the Riviera Maya. Bringing home that everlasting, hangon-a-wall kind of souvenir, not one relegated to the dark recesses of your attic, takes some thought. It may seem like a good idea to buy that 36-inch sombrero and those noisy maracas, but with a little more thought and some helpful hints, you will be on your friend’s Christmas list forever and will have that . For that authentic purchase, just check that it was actually made in Mexico. Hand-painted ceramics are always a big hit. Maybe that beautiful sunflower-embellished sink is too big to carry home, ask if they will ship it (with insurance) or buy the smaller picture frame with the same motif, and you can hand-carry it on the plane (as opposed to that sombrero). Try Guelaguetza Gallery on 5th Ave and 40th Street or Siete Detalles on 1st Avenue and 14th Street. Bring home an Arbol de la Vida (Tree of life) Mexican ceramic crafts, dating back 3000 years and can take several weeks to make. Sol Jaguar on 5th Ave and 4th Street. Just by the ferry terminal is Prison Art, where you will find the beautiful and unique designs tattooed onto leather bags and accessories made by inmates in Mexico, this is a store well worth a visit. Want to be reminded of your lazy, relaxing days in paradise while at home? Check out the comfortable hammocks at La Casa de

If you find something you love but it seems too heavy to carry, ask the shop if they can ship it for you. Don’t forget to ask about insuring your purchase before shipping. Hamacas on 30th Ave and 54th Street. Take home a silver bracelet or necklace with a piece of amber, just be careful because not everything that shines is silver, so look for the 925 or 999 hallmark stamped into the piece, like you might find at Ambarte at Constituyentes and 5th Avenue. Some of the street carts or vendors with tables pitched up along the avenue offer many of the above items, as well as faux logo’d caps, bags, wallets and T-shirts. Check out a variety of locales before committing. They will still be there tomorrow, and if you get home and discover that $5 USD Louis Vuitton Cap or those “silver” earrings aren’t the real deal, at least you didn’t pay an arm and a leg for it! If you are staying in Playacar, be sure to check out Plaza Playacar Shopping Mall on Paseo Xaman Ha, Playacar Fase II.

August 5 - 18 2015

This Little Piggy Went to Market in Playa del Carmen The growing demand for supporting local producers and artisans has resulted in several well served markets cropping up on a weekly basis, are featuring a variety of homemade/locally sourced/ organic products. BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

ere are five Eco Markets in Playa del Carmen alone, without mentioning those in Tulum and Cancun. Not all the providers attend every week, and not all products are available at every event, so check out each location for a variety of offerings. COCO BEA CH ECO MARK ET When and Where: Fridays from 9a.m. to 11a.m. in the courtyard at Alizes Condominiums, CTM (46th Street) and Flamingo (kitty corner from Elements Hotel). Produce: Locally baked artisanal breads and tarts, cookies and honey (miel de abeja), soaps (e.g. rosemary). Handmade can-

vas bags with leather straps, cotton wraps, handstitched bathing suits, fresh juices, colorful macarons, Venezuelan specialties, sauces, quiches, empanadas, coconut oil, savoury seeds Tel: 984 801 9391 KAVA KASA M ARKE T When and Where: Tuesdays from 11a.m. to 1p.m., located on Calle 22 between 5th Ave and 10th Ave. Produce: Fresh herbs, spices, wheatgrass, kava, natural

peanut butter, muffins, breads, pies, essential oils, strudel, cookies, coffee, jewelry, organic vegetables and fruits, jams, handmade clothes, sausages, empanadas, honey, soaps, cereal Tel: 984 157 7381 Facebook/kavakasa M IC R OFARMS R I V I ERA M AYA When and Where: Daily just off the Carretera 307 Avenida 55 and Calle 18 N, Col. Ejido. Drive southbound on the road parallel to the Carretera, heading out of Playa del Carmen, just before La Floresta Restaurant turn right, then left on 55Ave. Produce: Cabbage, sunflower, broccoli, radish, elote, kale, arugula, beets, cilantro, leeks, bok choy, eggs, amaranto, dressings, microgreens, fresh organic herbs Tel: 984 129 5787 Facebook/Microfarms Riviera Maya Email: microfarmsmx@gmail.com

TPT FOODIES

PA R Q U E L A CE I B A When and Where: Third Saturday of each month, 1p.m. to 5p.m. at 60 Diagonal y 2 Sur, Calle 1 Sur, Ejidal. Produce: Gluten free, preserves and jellies, honey, vanilla, cakes, tarts, cookies, crackers, handmade sandals and clothes, hand woven baskets, organic pineapples, smoothies, hand embroidered dresses and tops. Tel: 984 859 2327 Email: parquelaceiba@florafaunaycultura.org CE NT R O CU LT U RA L CA RA CO L M A R I NO When and Where: Eco Tianguis y Trueque (part of Red de Trueque Solidaria PDC). Once a month, different days (usually 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.), so check their website and Facebook. It will restart in September. Calle 80 between 5th Ave and 10th Ave. Produce: Jams, organic coffee, honey, books, eggs, essential oils, vanilla and more Tel: 984 2673136 Facebook/Red de Trueque Solidaria PDC Email: centrocaracolmarino@gmail.com

TPT FOODIES

I Am Not a Spy And Other Curious Things Your Waiters Say

Sometimes we all get lost in translation /Photo: Agency

CATHERINE PAWELEK From the hilarious to the absurd, I have always been a bit surprised at the things waiters here in Playa say during their limited time with you at the table. Most places that serve tacos, aguachiles and tostadas serve a half dozen condiments, and invariably, in a fast-paced flurry of words, and probably because it is said 58 times a shift, the waiter says “muy picante, picante, poco, dulce, ajo, chipotle.” This may or may not be accompanied by harried pointing. I will be honest, in the beginning, by the time he got to salsa numero tres, I had forgotten which one was the mind-blowing-not-tonight salsa and which one the Casper and milquetoast. So we have learned to ask which one is el MAS picante, and

often just to verify, dip a teeny-weeny tip of our fork’s tine into the sauce. With good intentions, many waiters literally translate from Spanish to English when addressing customers, and some of these don’t always work. Being called lady, by my overly enthusiastic waiter, sounds terrific in Spanish as señora is a respectful term, but it doesn’t have the same connotation in English. Maybe if I was Lady Macbeth or Lady Gaga. When my husband is called sir, it is definitely professional, as is señor, but when they call him mister, I am ready for a rib-tickling segue to Mister Ed or Mister T. On the other hand, we should remember to call out to our waiter courteously. Although many of my Hispanic friends get a waiter’s attention by saying muchacho, a more oft-used word even when the waiter is older than you is joven (young man). This works exceptionally well when they are mesmerized by their favorite team playing on TV. Calling a waiter by their given name is always a personal touch, but if he introduces himself as Geriel Giovanni Antonio Manuel, just revert to joven. Although my Spanish has increasingly improved during the past 18 months, I still see waiters leaning in closer, while watching my lips and I tend to speak louder, as we both try to get our meaning across, creating a little vaudeville-shtick. My husband’s ponytail is often the inspiration to being called Highlander, Amigo, or Argentino. After 34 years of marriage even I didn’t realize he looked so Argentinean. Last fall a customer asked one of our waiters whether we had “mince pie” for dessert, and his reply was “I am not a spy.” That still brings a belly-laugh to all of us. We have seen visitors, not familiar with the way la cuenta is printed and wonder whether that $750 check for two is in dollars. That might be a valid question if it was a five-star restaurant at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but not here. Explaining that the $ sign is similar in Mexico as U.S. and the bill is really only $48 USD makes for a happy customer.

We Came, We Saw,

We Overcame The Paweleks moved to Playa with the idea of semi-retiring, but they decided they wanted to keep going and open SALT ROCK Grille + Cocktails on 5th Avenue BY CATHERINE PAWELEK

ight years ago we wondered what the future might hold and where we could live affordably once we reached 60 and decided to semi-retire. Jose Luis, my husband, grew up in Argentina, and I, in the Netherlands. However, we lived over 37 years in the U.S. Taking that into consideration we looked, traveled, read, asked, discussed, blogged and visited Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras and Belize numerous times. We analyzed, calculated and then made our wish list.

...That’s when we realized that the uniqueness of Playa del Carmen and environs, an area we had been visiting for 25 years, not only met, but surpassed our requirements. That is when we realized that the uniqueness of Playa del Carmen, an area we had been visiting for 25 years, not only met, but surpassed our requirements. The dirt roads, fishing shacks, and live-aboard scuba boats have given way to cobblestones, multi-national companies, and 4,000 passenger cruise ships. In the past couple of years, Playa started of-

fering amenities that we wanted, others that we needed, and many that we could afford. All the while, retaining some of those small-town qualities, where you really do know your neighbor. Our initial intention was to retire after having created and run six restaurants in the States and finally selling our last in Las Vegas. But, we soon realized that after 35 years in hospitality, it was in our blood, and a daily transfusion was needed to sustain our life. Instead of retiring we decided to do it again. Almost fifteen months ago we opened our restaurant SALT ROCK Grille + Cocktails, offering global food with a twist, in the upand-coming area in Playa del Carmen called La Nueva Quinta. My husband, Jose Luis is our chef and during his time out of the kitchen he loves to kayak, run and swim. I make the desserts for our restaurant, which might include triple chocolate brownies and key lime pie and taking up with my first love, writing, has been cathartic. After an eight-year hiatus, I picked up the manuscript I had started in 2007 and have written more during the past three months than I did the first year. Inspiration is not difficult to find here, and I am determined to finish the next great crime/ detective novel by mid-September. Living in a quiet area just 15 minutes south of Playa allows us to enjoy the fun, busy, sometimes hectic town, balanced by the peacefulness of our home. We have the best of both worlds, abuzz with locals, visitors and expats from around the globe.

Catherine and Jose Luis Pawelek / Photo: Catherine and Jose Luis Pawelek

August 5 - 18 2015

TPT FOODIES

Fish Taco “Friendzy” Twenty readers will have the chance to meet up and enjoy sampling some of Playa del Carmen’s most mouth watering fish tacos for free BY THE PLAYA TIMES

ficionados of the fish taco will know that it is not merely tortilla+fish = fish taco. The traditional fish taco is made using fried fish fillets with lettuce or cabbage, pico de gallo and either a sour cream or

Cevicheria “La Marina” We have the best fish tacos in Playa, as the tacos are handcrafted with care. We are very affordable and always available for all Playa del Carmen and all the Riviera. Come along and taste our new flavor! Cevicheria “La Marina” is located at 115th Avenue, between 10th and 12th street, Playa del Carmen. Facebook/La Cevichería la Marina Playa Del Carmen.

La Floresta The fish tacos from La Floresta have been, are and will be synonymous with refinement and tradition. No doubt an iconic landmark in Playa del Carmen, the simplicity of a piece of battered fish, pico de gallo and a mixture of delicious sauces, together make a truly exceptional dish that, over time, has managed to become the favorite of locals and foreigners alike. La Floresta is located at 50th North street with Calle 14th Street, Ejido, Playa del Carmen. Facebook/ LaFlorestaPlaya.

El Oasis Mariscos Our Taco de Jaiba recipe is unique. Created with onions, garlic, tomato purée, capers and a sprinkle of raisins, and flavored with laurel and oregano. Oasis is located at 22th North Street and the Federal Highway, Playa Del Carmen. www.eloasismariscos.com

Kuni Kuni food truck serves the best fish tacos in Playa del Carmen. Quality, flavor and hygiene are our trademark. You can’t miss the Kuni’s incredible street food truck. Come and taste our fish, prawn, calamari, octopus and our famous toritos! You will love it!

Kuni is located at 14bis Street, between 25 and 30th, Downtown Playa del Carmen.

mayonnaise, some salsa, and the important spritz of lime. Here is your chance to get to know other people out and about in Playa, while you sample some of Playa’s best fishy delights. All for free! If you want to be one of the lucky readers, please email The Playa Times at mar-

keting@meridianmedia.mx with the email headline “I love fish tacos”, or message us on Facebook/The Playa Times. Places are limited so you cannot take part without contacting The Playa Times beforehand.

The tasting stops:

COMMUNITY

KKIS Thanks The Playa Times Readers

Receiving the Ecological Merit Award / Photo: Moce Yux Custal A.C

Moce Yax Cuxtal A.C. A mostly all female environmental organization have been actively working towards protecting and preventing further destruction of the natural area

In Edition 53 (February 18- March 03) we published an article on the KKIS Project (Keeping Kids in School), a registered non-profit organization, about their auction to raise funds and provide low income children school supplies and increase school attendance. We recently received this letter thanking all the readers who helped make the auction a success.

“Your contribution to the 2015 KKIS Project Auction has made it possible for us to deliver school supplies to over 1,000 children in need on the first day of school (August 24). The attached card was done by one of the students at the DIF School where we teach English and conveys our honest gratitude for your support. Hope you are having a great summer!” Gayle Collins

BY MELISSA ROBLES

n environmental organization in the Riviera Maya is called Moce Yax Cuxtal, which means ‘Citizen’s Ecological Movement’ in Maya. Laura Artemisa Patiño Esquivel, program and project coordinator for the organization, remembers the surge in interest in the year 2000 with the objective of defending the Xcacel-Xcacelito bays where there are sea turtle sanctuaries, when four hotels were planned to be built on the beach. A group of 10 people were against these actions, but they were not taken into account by authorities because they were not legally recognized. “A French friend invited us to the presentation of the project in Playacar, we were going to meetings about the hotel construction until they denied us access because we were not legally registered as an organization,” she explained. The objective of the group was achieved, and the Xcacel-Xcacelito bay is the only place left undeveloped in the entire tourist corridor. The group has been the subject of threats, robberies, and intimidating acts for daring to raise their voice against companies that damage the ecosystem. “One of the most difficult moments is when we file a lawsuit, they take it like we are the bad guys and the government nor the promoter want to do an honest job, you have to make appointments to see specialists, notaries, people who know what they are talking about, to be able to say why we are filing a lawsuit.” Another success story of the non-governmental organization is when they achieved a common front with representatives of a private

EXPAT P RO FI L ES

Moce Yax Cuxtal most notable achievements Stopped development at Xcacel-Xcacelito bay, which is now the only place left undeveloped in the entire tourist corridor. Achieved a common front among hotels, restaurants, businesses and ecologists to stop the government from authorizing the construction of the Storage Facility Terminal of the Caribbean in Punta Venado, which the Transfluid company promoted.

initiative so that the government would not authorize the construction of the Storage Facility Terminal of the Caribbean in Punta Venado, which the Transfluid company promoted. Hotel and restaurant employees, ecologists, and businessmen united so that this storage center for more than 420 thousand barrels of fuel, 280 thousand barrel tanks of turbosine, two 80 thousand barrels of magna cas, one 30 thousand barrel tank of premium gasoline, and two 30 thousand barrel tanks of diesel would not be constructed in the area. They all agreed that in the event of a leak, the damage to the area would be irreversible. They also provide classes for all ages and offer organic gardening workshops. To find out more, visit Facebook/moce.yaxcuxtal and watch videos on their YouTube channel MOCE Yax Cuxtal.

Quit Your Job and Become a Director of an Animal Rescue Organization in Paradise NAME: Jan Northenscold WHERE ARE YOU FROM? My husband Erik and I moved to Playa from Mankato, Minnesota in October of 2011. Mankato is a small city about an hour south of Minneapolis.

Photo: Jan Northenscold

HOW DID YOU BECOME A CO-DIRECTOR OF PLAYA ANIMAL RESCUE (PAR)? We were aware from our many visits to the Playa area that there was a huge problem with dogs on the street. Within

a month of us moving here, we had, along with our advisory board, formed a Civil Association to make a new shelter. We all worked tirelessly until five months later we had a new facility to aid our mission of rescuing abused, injured, and homeless dogs. WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS? My main focus for work is to make sure all legal aspects of the rescue are up to date, including: licenses, permits, taxes, accounting, and banking. My main personal focus is to stop and enjoy the paradise where I

live! I love exploring my new country!

hundreds of dogs would have had a very different ending than the one they got.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT LIVWHAT WAS THE HARDEST THING ING AND WORKING HERE? Obviously the sea and the weather are ABOUT MOVING HERE? WHAT WOULD a huge draw for me. I moved here from a YOU DO DIFFERENTLY? landlocked frozen tundra! I love the chal- The hardest part of making the move to lenge of learning everything over, culture, Playa is making the decision that a move laws, language, and how to do business. is what you want. Once that decision was If it is true that keeping your brain active made, it couldn’t happen fast enough for is a way to stay young, I may never die! I me. I can’t think of anything I would have also love making a difference. Knowing ev- done differently, everything has turned eryday that if it weren’t for the hard work out beautifully for us! everyone at PAR puts in, Do you want to take part of our Expat Profiles? Email edition@meridianmedia.mx

August 5 - 18 2015

SPORTS

Fun in the Sun! Water Sport Options in the Riviera Maya Our sports reporter, Juan Sosa, highlights sports that help you burn off some of those calories you may be taking in on your Caribbean vacation! BY JUAN SOSA

ome people’s ideal Caribbean vacation is to lay on the beach and relax with a good book and an even better drink. Others are looking for a little more action. For those looking to get a good workout in or try a new sport, we have outlined some popular beach related activities available in the area. Kiteboarding, also known as kitesurfing, is considered a relatively young sport that is growing in popularity. Kiteboarders use a board similar to a surfboard and are attached via a harness and lines to a large canopy or kite. Kiteboarding is very popular in Tulum and there is increasing demand for the sport in Playa del Carmen. In the Cancun

area, Isla Blanca is a renowned kiteboarding spot. Schools are available in Playa, Tulum, Cancun and other locations in the area. Standup paddleboarding is another water sport growing in popularity. More commonly known as SUP, this involves using a large board, similar to a surfboard, and a paddle. People who are looking for all over body conditioning or a cross training option use SUP as a great workout. Many yoga fans are moving their practice to SUP boards, loving the balance it requires and the stillness the water can provide. There are various locations, including many resorts, along the coast where you can take classes and rent boards. Maybe sailing across the sea at high speeds isn’t your thing, or you are not looking for an intense core workout? Then, check out kayaking for another

water sport option. Kayaking is still a sport that involves strength and stamina but can be enjoyed by most fitness levels, especially on calm days. Most resorts and many beachfront hotels offer kayaks (either included in your stay or for an extra charge). There are also rental facilities in Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Isla Mujeres. Frescobol, or beach paddle ball, is very popular in many beach locations across the globe. Playa has an association that just held its first world championships at Mamitas Beach Club, in which 16 countries participated. They competed for 40 tickets to the open games in Japan of this year. A frescobol school will soon open in Playa del Carmen. It is an easy sport to practice, and the great thing about it is the equipment is lightweight and minimal.

Three courts are located in Cancun at #311 Avenida Huayacan / Photos: Juan Sosa

Mexico: Birthplace of Padel Tennis

Rental facilities and classes are available at various locations / Photo: Agency

Women’s Soccer in Playa del Carmen BY JUAN SOSA

city of the team who wins semifinals.

On July 18, six teams participated in tournaments in Playa del Carmen. These teams are Chiapas FC, Proyectos Comitán, both from Chiapas, Stars Of The Future from Tabasco, Pumitas from Chetumal, Real Sociedad and Guerreras J, both from Playa del Carmen. Isaías López Álvarez, whom league president Rodrigo Dey appointed to organize the event, informed us that all teams are part of the Southwestern Mexico Major League. With a game calendar that goes from July 18 to October 10, you have the chance to enjoy these games at the Colosio sporting facility every 15 days at 8 p.m. Watching the battles in these matches leaves no doubt that these are serious competitors with a love of the game.

In addition to these games, Rodrigo Dey, president of major league women’s soccer in Mexico, announced

Juventus-Guerrera

The game calendar in Playa del Carmen is as follows: Saturday, August 1: Guerreras J. vs. Proyectos Comitán Sunday, August 2: Real Sociedad FC vs .Proyectos Comitán Saturday, September 12: Real Sociedad FC vs. Guerreras J. Semifinals: 1 against 4 on October 10 and 2 against 3, also on October 10. The final game will be held in the

Real Sociedad / Photos: Juan Sosa

that the finals of the 2015 Apertura tournament will take part from December 17 to 22 the in Playa del Carmen. This distinction is due to the patience and hard work of Isaías Álvarez López.

BY JUAN SOSA

Padel tennis was invented in Acapulco in 1969, when engineer Enrique Corcuera wanted to build a tennis court at his house, but because he didn’t have enough space, he made it smaller, leaving part of the court up against a high wall. After 46 years, padel appears to be gaining a new following, with the support of the Mexican Padel Federation (FEMEPA) and the National Sporting Commission (CONADE). In 2014, the state governments of Guerrero and Quintana Roo were able to construct padel courts and bring more people to play this 27 rule sport. In the Riviera Maya, this sport is already a reality. For example, the OHL-Mayakoba volunteers organized the first padel tournament in Mayakoba, which 28 pairs participated, 20 of men and eight of women. This competition took place in the Tennis Center in Mayakoba from June 8 to 19. There have also been competitions in hotels in Tulum and Playa del Carmen. Padel tennis has been played in Cancun at #311 Avenida Huayacan for around five years. Here, three courts can be found, along with a small observation terrace for those who wish to watch games. There are two annual tourna-

4 players in doubles formation. Underhand serves, second serves allowed when there is a fault. Scoring is the same as in tennis, best out of five sets. The padel is solid with no strings, with perforations. The ball has less pressure than a tennis ball. Walls/fences are used, although the ball has to bounce in the court before hitting a wall and can not bounce again. ments, and private lessons can be arranged. Students must be at least eight although younger students can have a sample class to evaluate their aptitude.

DISCOVER MEXICO

The Playa times uuc (“mound” in Mayan) region is 50 miles south Merida in the southern area of Yucatan and northern Campeche. It is considered a key point for Maya culture, development and architecture. Puuc is one of the five Maya architectural styles and it is characterized by smooth walls on the first floors and fretworks on the upper part of the building. The region is full of archaeological sites, some of them restored and others still covered by vegetation. The Puuc Route is a wellknown cycling route. Bikers usually start in Uxmal and ride for 50 miles until arriving to the archaeological site of Oxkutzcab.

Distance in miles to Uxmal from Cancun:

240 From Playa del Carmen:

271

e t u o R c u u The P HOW TO GET THERE You can get to Merida by car taking the 305 toll road from Playa del Carmen. ADO buses have hourly departures from Playa del Carmen and every 30 minutes from Cancun. For routes and schedules, check www.ado.com.mx. Merida also has an international airport. Check www.cancunairplanetours.com or www. aerosaab.com for information about private flights from both cities. Once in Merida, here are the options: Car Take 65 St. in Merida’s downtown towards Itzaes Ave. You will find the road sign to Uxmal. It takes around one hour. The Puuc Route starts in this city. Bus There is one second-class TAME bus route to the Puuc region leaving at 8 a.m. on Sunday. It stops for 30 minutes in Labná, Xlapak, Sayil and Kabah and finishes the route in Uxmal where tourists have two hours to visit the site. The round trip fare cost $178 but does not include the entry tickets to the sites.

WHAT TO SEE Uxmal. The city’s population reached 20,000 during the Classic period. In 1996, Uxmal (meaning “built three times” in Mayan) was declared a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, together with Chichén Itzá and Mayapán. Distance from Merida: 50 miles. Tickets are $117 pesos

Catedral de Puebla / Photo: travelreportmx.com

Kabah. This city, whose name means “strong hand” in Mayan, is the second largest archaeological site in the Puuc Route. It is also the home of one of the region’s largest chultuns which were the structures used to stock rainwater up. Distance from Merida: 63 miles. Tickets are $43 pesos. Sayil. Sayil (“ants place” in Mayan) is known for its three-storey Great Palace which used to have 85 bedrooms. It also has a viewpoint called El Mirador, one of the site´s oldest buildings. Distance from Merida: 68 miles. Tickets are $43 pesos. Puebla has a church for everyday of the year / Photo: Wikipedia

Xlapak. Its most outstanding building is El Palacio (The Palace). Xlapak’s (“old walls” in Mayan) inhabitants were very religious and worshiped Chaac, the god of the rain. Distance from Merida: 72 miles. Free entrance. Labná. This is one of the oldest archaeological discovered in the region and it is mostly unexplored. Labná’s (“old houses” in Mayan) Great Palace has around 70 rooms. Distance from Merida: 72 miles. Free entrance. Tickets are $43 pesos. All sites are open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Puebla The City of Angels Located in the state of Puebla, this bustling urban metropolis is home to 365 churches, museums and cultural centers, and mole poblano BY CATHERINE PAWELEK HISTORY According to legend, Julián Garcés, bishop of Tlaxcala, had a vivid dream about where to build a new city, and after taking some of his brothers out in search of the place, he found the location shown in his dream, calling it Puebla de los Ángeles. The city was founded in 1531 and after numerous floods and rebuilding, eventually became the main route between Mexico City and Veracruz, the port on the Caribbean coast and the connection to Spain. CULTURE Visit Puebla’s 365 churches, one for each day of the year or pop in to Centro Cultural Santa Rosa or the Museo Amparo. Discover Casa de Alfeñique, named for the intricate mortar work that covers its façade or the Cathedral that took 300 years to build. A must see is the Talavera pottery that comes from this region, and is distinguished by a milky-white glaze, mostly decorated in blue, reminding us of Dutch Delft Blue. Nowadays yellow, black, green, orange and mauve are being incorporated.

cy / Wikipedia Photos: Agen

INDUSTRIES The countryside lends itself to fahrvergnügen (driving pleasure), and it is no surprise, since the larg-

est VW Factory outside of Germany is located here. Although industry accounts for approximately 80 percent of the area’s economy, some agriculture can still be found in the form of peach, pear and avocado groves, corn, bean and wheat, as well as the raising of pigs, cattle and sheep. FOOD & DRINK An umami-like depth of spicy, sweet, savory and salty describes Puebla’s famous mole poblano. The most commonly quoted version of its origin incorporates 16th century nuns from the Convent of Santa Rosa. The archbishop was coming for an unexpected visit and they had nothing to prepare for him except for an old turkey, which they put in a cazuela and either due to divine intervention or a gust of wind, a variety of spices and flavorings made its way into the pot, including chili peppers, cinnamon, garlic, day-old bread, chocolate and approximately twenty other ingredients. The sauce simmered for hours, was poured over the turkey and received the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval from the archbishop. Another source of pride for Puebla is chiles en nogada, displaying the colors of the Mexican flag with the chiles representing green, the nogada (walnut cream sauce) white and pomegranate seeds the red.

DISCOVER MEXICO

August 5 - 18 2015

3 6

5 LUCKY LUCIANO LA CHOPERIA

4 3

5 5

1 2

info@meridianmedia.mx t. 984 8031446

August 5 - 18 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

COMEDY COMEDY BELOW SEA LEVEL, every Wednesday and Sunday, Stand Up Comedy at Lucky Luciano’s, 28th and 5th, $100 MXN. More information at Facebook/Comedy Below Playa.

ANIMAL WELFARE KITTEN CUDDLING, every Friday, 2 p.m. Help kittens available for adoption with socialization through cuddling and play! Check Facebook/Coco’s Animal Welfare Playa del Carmen for more details .

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.

ACCIÓN ANIMAL ADOPTION FAIR, every Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tenth St. between Av. 100 and Av. 105, Colonia Ejido. Don’t buy pets, rescue them! Check Facebook /Acción Animal.

SPOKEN WORD 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.

HEALTH & YOGA

ACTING LESSONS, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Caracol Marino Cultural Centre, 80th St. between 10th and Fifth. For more information contact centrocaracol@gmail.com.

ZUMBA IN THE CLUB, International Zumba Masterclass, Saturday August 8 at 7 p.m. (registration 6:30 p.m.), Blue Parrot 12th street and the beach. $150 pesos, children under 12 free. More information Facebook/Blue Parrot or Facebook/Zumba World Playa del Carmen

AUGUST 5- 18

2015

ART

MEDIATION TUESDAYS, at Palapa Suuk. Every Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. on Av. CTM 777 between 5a Av. and 10th Av. Cost: 60 pesos. For more info visit www.posadasuuk.com.

ALEBRIJES (Oaxacan Folk Art), From July 20 to August 14, every Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. Centro Cultural Playa del Carmen, Av. CTM and Av. 115 across the street from Plaza Las Americas. For more info call 87 730 50. Ext. 1058.

“PAY WHAT YOU CAN” YOGA, daily classes, all levels welcome, limited mats & blocks to borrow. Kava Kasa located in Hotel Aventura Mexicana, Calle 24 between 5 and 10. Cost: Donation. For specific times check on Facebook / Kava Kasa.

FERIA TRENDY, locally made arts, crafts, jewelry and more, Blue Parrot. 12th street and the beach. Check Facebook/FERIA Trendy or Facebook/Blue Parrot to confirm dates.

DOCUMENTARIES AND FILMS SPORTS BICINETA BIKE RIDE, every Wednesday 8 p.m. City Hall, Plaza 28 de Julio, 8th St. and 15th Ave. Explore the cycle paths of Playa del Carmen and meet like-minded local bikers.

CYCLING EMBASSY’S BIKE RIDE, every Saturday, 5.30 p.m. Constituyentes Ave. and Diagonal 85. Bike loans and free drinks! Check out the route on Facebook/ Playa Bicicletero.

EL CINE CLUB (Tulum), Saturday August 8, 7:30 p.m. The Life Of Pi, at Aldea Zama, Highway 109, Hotel Zone. Free entrance. Check Facebook/ElClubCine for more details. EL CINE CLUB, Every Friday, 8 p.m. La Ceiba Park, First St. South and 60th Ave. in Colonia Ejidal. Free entrance. Check Facebook/ElClubCine for schedule.

EDEN JARDIN DEL ARTE, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. Constituyentes Ave. and 95 Street in Colonia Ejido. Free entrance.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Curtain Rises in Playa On the anniversary of Solidaridad, the new theatre opened its doors to a full house with free performances BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE OF SOLIDARIDAD

he Playa del Carmen Theatre finally opened its doors on July 29. The new infrastructure allows for first class entertainment, worthy of a world-class destination such as the Riviera Maya. The concept of the theater was based on classic Italian theaters with 736 seats and areas designated for wheelchairs and people with disabilities. From every seat, you have a perfect view of the stage, ensuring the audience’s enjoyment and appreciation of the shows. The acoustics of the space are optimised throughout the exhibition hall. The theatre also has emergency exits, individual and collective dressing rooms, a rehearsal room, a props and machinery room, and service area, among others. For the opening night, the city theatre presented the Quintana Roo Symphony Orchestra, with the special participation and debut of Contemporary Dance Company of Solidaridad. Over the next few days, “The Vagina Monologues” was performed, as well as the ballet gala performances from the Classical Dance Company of Quintana Roo, and a child’s play from the puppet company “Shuto”, a hit at the Cervantino Festival of Guadalajara.

The theatre has a capacity for 736 seats / Photos: Dirección de Cultura de Solidaridad

For all productions, there was a full house and a joyful atmosphere from the audience for the opening this new arts and culture center. The reception area also functions as a gallery space to exhibit works from artists of the region. Meanwhile the artistic community of Playa del Carmen expressed their thanks to the mayor of Solidaridad, Mauricio Góngora Escalante, for supporting the arts and culture in this destination. Fernando Toussaint, musician and producer of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival said: “We are overjoyed as this new theater will provide a stage to put our Solidarense artists in the spotlight for national and international stages, as well as have the

conditions to bring great productions to the Solidaridad society to enjoy.” According to Xavier de Maria y Campos, a prominent visual artist, the new theatre is a dream come true for all the artistic community: “This is a great motivation for the various performance arts and more,” he said. The aim for the theatre is to provide top quality, free performances which can be accessed by all citizens, with a focus on productions for families to contribute to the education and culture of the youth in the state. The theatre will also host commercial productions that will help contribute to its maintenance.

August 5 - 18 2015

ART & CULTURE

Playa d e l Al m a Vo l . 2 Playa’s Heart and Soul in Images The second volume of the photo book honoring the people who helped put this little beach town on the map BY ADRIAN LEDEZMA

s the sun falls on a hot summer day in Playa del Carmen, Victor Gómez, 57, waits patiently outside a photo studio. He is wearing blue shorts and a plain white t-shirt, a look as relaxed as the expressions he has acquired after living here for over 20 years. “I remember those early days. People knew each other by name, no last names at all. We even knew whose dogs were on the streets,” he said, minutes before he was photographed by an old friend of his, an Italian photographer who used to live here many years ago, when this place “was just a little town by the beach.” On this evening they are reuniting as part of the project Playa del Alma Vol. 2 (The Soul of Playa Vol. 2). This photo book highlights those who contributed to the town’s growth through their efforts in areas such as tourism, education, culture and communication, explains Javier Martínez, the mastermind behind the book. “It is a tribute to those who put their hearts into building Playa,” he says. “A cultural movement that is looking to rescue a little bit of the old Playa and its founding citizens.” The project was born back in 2002 when Martínez and his Italian friend, Anthony Caronia, started taking pictures of Playa original residents. Three years later they published the first photobook Playa del Alma with 2000 issues. After a decade, both have decided to give continuity to this tribute by photographing those who moved here between 1995 and 2002. “It was because of people from all over the world that Playa got a spot on the map,” says Gómez, who after growing in Mexico City worked in Los Angeles, California. Then, ended up living by the Caribbean; first in Cancún and then in Playa del Carmen. Gomez’s face is one of the many that Caronia has seen through the lense of his camera in the last few days. Although he now lives in Brazil with his family, he came all the way to Playa to photograph the original contributors to Playa. Apart from the excitement that this project generates in him he says he senses magic and harmony when his eyes recognize old friends. The friends who keep building Playa, the town where he met his wife and where her daughter was born. “This is about keeping track of the people who converted Playa into what it is right now, with their love, presence, passion and art,” Caronia says. “I’m proud to be part of this history. Playa has given me so much. Playa tiene mucho corazón.”

ANA GARCÍA

PAOLA BOFISE

CARMEN ABDALLA

MONICA ATREYU

CHINO MORO

LIKAS CALCAGNO

MAURICIO GÓNGORA

ANTHONY CARONIA Y LUCIA ZVERKO

You can find out more on Facebook/Siente El Corazón de Playa

XAVIER FUX

SIMONE SERMANTEI Y NANCY LIZZOTE / Photos: Siente el Corazón de Playa

This photo book highlights those who contributed to the town’s growth

SUSANA MARTINEZ

ART & CULTURE know Did you

that...

The Dance of the Flyers of Papantla

feet) high. The pole is 18m (60 le. 5 flyers climb the po elements, , fire, water and earth 4 flyers represent wind points. inal as well as the 4 card drum at the plays on his flute and 1 flyer is a priest who top of the pole. nd the pole, tly 13 revolutions arou Hispanic The flyers make exac epr e th of ar time span to represent the 52 ye sun is born. new cosmic cycle when a . to be 1,500 years old The ritual is believed ltural Heritage med an Intangible Cu The ritual was na09 by UNESCO in 20 .

The ancient ritual, originally from Veracruz, is a ceremony to call to the gods for rain as a result of drought scares in the area

Watch the flyers at the Tulum ruins entrance, and in Playa at the Parque Fundadores everyday / Photo: Wikipedia

BY THE PLAYA TIMES

he popular Papantla Flyers are one of the most endearing traditions of Mexico. At Parque Fundadores, next to the Cozumel ferry pier, everyday five Papantla Flyers perform their ritual by spinning into the void to the sound of the flute and drum, asking the rain god Tlaloc to bless the fields and end droughts. The Playa Times interviewed the men who have entertained thousands of onlookers with their aerial maneuvers. Félix García

Jiménez, a member of the Papantla Flyers here in Playa del Carmen, explained this traditional ritual: “The five flyers climb up the pole, which is 18m (60 feet) high. The cardinal points are represented by the four flyers and on the top of the pole, and there is a chief who is called Phiuth, which means ‘leader’ or ‘priest’ in the Totonaca language (from the Veracruz area) and he has the mission of calling on god Tlaloc”. “This is an ancient ritual of our ancestors from Papantla, Veracruz, where we all originate from. Its purpose is to ensure the fields are

blessed with rain. That is what the ceremony asks for.” At the beginning of each ‘flight’, the priest dances to the ‘song of forgiveness’, where he asks Tlaloc permission to begin the ritual. He then bows to each cardinal point while more songs are played and climbs to the top of the pole followed by the four flyers. Before they throw themselves from the top, the priest looks to the East, where the sun rises, and he prays for the flyers. “The priest taps his feet on the top of the pole before the flyers jump. Our ancestors thought that this attracted the god of thunder. The tapping sound refers to the thunder,” said Félix García. The flyers jump with a rope tied around their ankles and spin around the pole thirteen times which, multiplied by the four flyers, makes the number of the weeks of Totonaca calendar, fifty-two. In the early form, instead of five men there were six men dressed as birds with each member climbing on top and performing a dance and at the end tied ropes around their waist and then jumped in unison and descended downwards. Many villages in Mexico banned this version of the practice due to injuries and even fatalities. The Papantla clothes are traditionally red in color and are handmade by the flyers them-

Flyer of Papantla / Photo: Flickr

selves. They wear a hat with mirrors, which represents the sunrays, feathers referring to birds´ tails and seven rainbow colored strips. The flyers begin their training at a young age and there is even a school in the city of Papantla that begins teaching the children from five years old the ancient ritual in order to promote and preserve the tradition. You can see the Papantla Flyers´ show every day at Parque Fundadores on 1st St South and the beach, between 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. They also perform at the main entrance to the Tulum ruins. They receive no salaries, so they depend solely on spectator contributions to keep this fascinating tradition alive.

The Legend of Xtabay -If Looks Could Kill BY ALEJANDRA BARRADAS

Legends are stories passed down from generation to generation, a mixture of reality and fantasy that give an identity and form part of a community’s culture. Mexico is a country full of culture history, and of course, legends. One of the most popular legends in the Yucatan Peninsula is that of Xtabay. Wrapped in a bright white huipil showing the curves of her body, this mythical female figure sits at the base of a tree, combing her long black hair in hopes of attracting unsuspecting men. Drunks and sleepwalkers are often seduced and even irresistibly drawn to Xibalbá (the underground world where death and sickness reign). “If she appears to you, don’t look at her face,” is the advice given by generations of Yucatecans. It is Xtabay, they warn. The legend tells the story of two women, Xtabay, and Utz-Colel. Xtabay, a woman known as Xkeban (sinner), was the antithesis of UtzColel. She was very beautiful, but she worked as a prostitute. She was still pious and good in her actions toward others, but she was criticized and shunned until the day she died. Her virtues as a person made her body emit an agreeable aroma that revealed her true goodness to the village. On her tomb grew delicate flowers called Xtabentun, which later gave their name to the delicious Yucatecan liquor. Both Xtabay

“If she appears to you, don’t look at her face” / Photos: Alejandra Barradas

This mythical female figure sits at the base of a tree, combing her long black hair in hopes of attracting unsuspecting men.

and the flower were equally enticing to men. Incredulous, the “perfect” but mean-hearted Utz-Colel denied that the perfume could come from the grave of a sinner. Time passed, and eventually Utz-Colel died, but her body began to emit a horrible odor, which was believed to reflect her true essence. Utz-Colel asked evil spirits for help to be able to return to earth and attract men using the identity of Xtabay, but with a love that kills.

Whoever finds the false Xtabay is a dead man: she invites them for a walk, seduces them, and then shows them her sharp nails. Some say she takes the form of a tree, others say she bothers travelers. If you doubt the story and suddenly find yourself one night on the beach after a few drinks in the company of a beautiful woman dressed in a huipil, don’t worry, just don’t look at her face!

August 5 - 18 2015

ANIMAL WALFARE

A Declining Population of Jaguars The largest big cat in the Americas is close to extinction and already extinct in Uruguay and El Salvador. Some people are working hard to learn about these majestic, sacred cats and are helping to educate the public about the decline in their population w w w. c o c o s a n ima l wa l fa re.c o m / Photo: Cocos

BY NASH

aúl Padilla Borja loves big cats. As a child, Raúl was addicted to nature and animals, skipping school to go explore the woods. Now a tour guide at Rio Secreto Reserva Natural, he has a passion for researching and protecting Mexico’s big cats, especially the jaguar. He has taken it upon himself to find ways to protect the jaguar from extinction. Rio Secreto supplied him with trap cameras so he can monitor the big cats, tracking their numbers and daily routines. The biggest problem for these animals is development, clearing land that used to be their home, hunting grounds and the corridors they roam. Their territory is shrinking at an extremely rapid pace, leaving the jaguar and many other animals nowhere to go. The jaguar is a terrestrial and opportunistic predator. Although there are no known incidents that the jaguar will hurt humans they are wandering into the neighbourhoods looking for food, unfortunately sometimes domestic dogs and livestock become their victims. The jaguars are also showing up to the turtle nesting sites; there they can prey on the turtle’s predators as well as the turtles and eggs. Raúl’s concern is that with all the rapid development going on in Quintana Roo, we have not left any space for them, the jaguars need

Did you

Coco’s Animal Welfare

know

that...

Looking Out For Those That Can Not Speak for Themselves BY NASH

gest The jaguar is the lar s, cat in the Amerit.ca growing up to 6 fee of 12-20 years. They have a lifespan h the brain, unlike ey by biting throug e neck. Jaguar kill their pr ug l by biting thro h th most big cats that kil immers. Jaguars are good sw ique like a their coat is unt. on s ot sp tta se ro ca The ed to identify each fingerprint, and is us into extinction. The jaguar is fading

corridors to travel. A male’s territory is estimated to be between 8,000 and 15,000 hectares. The new developments and highways have put the cats in jeopardy, for instance, the new highway to Merida has invaded many species’ travel routes with the high-speed traffic killing our wildlife including the jaguar. Their numbers have decreased over the years, despite being on the endangered species list. Raul points out that for every 1000 homes there is one tree. The sewer contamination we are creating is seeping into the underground water supply putting all animals, in-

Jaguars are at risk of extinction as a result of development / Photo: savingtheamazon.wordpress.com

cluding us in danger. He reminds us that the jaguar is part of Mexican history, they are a huge part of Maya culture and deserve respect and protection. Although protected by law, there are still some people in the ejidos killing the big cats, this is why education and research is so important. Raul has created a presentation to educate people and hopes to create one specifically for children. At this time, there are two jaguars living near Rio Secreto, one male, one female. At one time, the female was spotted with a cub, but the cub has not been seen since.

What started out as a passion for rescuing kittens by Laura Raikes,the founder of Coco’s Animal Welfare, has evolved into an incredibly important non-profit organization for Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya. Coco’s Animal Welfare is “dedicated to reducing and controlling cat and dog populations in Playa del Carmen (PdC) and the Riviera Maya (RM), Mexico, through (their) permanent clinic facility and mobile spay and neuter clinics throughout the region. Low cost or free sterilization is provided for pets, street dogs and cats, and animals rescued by local rescue groups.” Coco’s offers many programs to support their mission including spay and neuter clinics, a kitten support program, dog rescue support, the Cachito Fund, cat cafes, and community outreach. As part of controlling overpopulation, they conduct a TNVR (Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return) program. Feral cats are humanely trapped, sterilized at the clinic, given a rabies vaccine and then released back to their colony. These cats are usually older and not suitable for adoption, but with sterilization and vaccinations they can live a healthier life. Young cats and kittens are sterilized, vaccinated and up for adoption at Coco’s. Visiting the poor areas of Playa

treating dogs and cats, they soon realize the need for an outreach for people as well. Coco’s and IFAW are now visiting these poverty-stricken areas with doctors and vets, and bringing necessities for both humans and pets. Educating the next generation is of utmost importance and Coco’s provides education to children about animal care and respect through fun interactive activities such as puppet shows, day camps, and Mi Amigo de la Calle (local fundraising events). Coco’s vets and volunteers also participate in sterilization campaigns such as ViDAS. A mobile van donated by IFAW (International Fund For Animal Welfare) is used for community outreach in the poorer neighborhoods where money for veterinary care is scarce. The dogs are picked up and brought to Coco’s for sterilization or medical treatment and then delivered back to their homes. Additionally, Coco’s also provides spay and neuters for all rescue groups, the municipal pound, local shelters and private rescuers in the area. Their clinic is averaging 2025 serializations a day. Coco’s Animal Welfare is funded through private donations and fundraising. If you would like to donate, volunteer, foster or learn more go to www.cocosanimalwelfare.com or on Facebook/Cocos Animal Welfare.

GOOD TO KNOW

Leaving Mexico?

Claim Your Tax Refund BY BEATRIZ LUCAS You took advantage of the low peso value and bought some (really) early Christmas gifts for your loved ones, and now, hot diggity you can claim a refund on the taxes when leaving Mexico. Now, all you need to know is if you fit the requirements:

Recycling programs are helping to create a culture of recycling / Photos: The Playa Times

Recycling Process

in Quintana Roo TPT talks to a company behind the scenes that sorts out recyclables in the state BY JOE MALDONADO

The service is currently only available in cities with greater affluence of foreign tourists. Within the Yucatan Peninsula, this only applies to Progreso, Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Majahual. On a national level, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Ensenada. There are 500 stores in Quintana Roo taking part in the Money Back program, including department stores, jewelry, cosmetics, handcrafts, electronics, fashion, sports, home goods. If you are interested in finding out which specific stores are par-

n Quintana Roo, there is no industry for the treatment of solid waste that can be recycled. Therefore, companies like Reciclemos (Let’s Recycle) operating in town, are responsible for collecting the waste to be sent to places where it can be processed. Refugio García Eustaquio, manager of Reciclemos, explained the process that lets us reuse materials such as cardboard, paper, PET plastic, and glass. “We have been working for ten years in Playa del Carmen. We recycle all fibrous materials, paper cardboard, paper, PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate) and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene). Now that we have the program for Recycling Waste in Exchange for Food, we also recycle glass.” The Recycling Waste in Exchange for Food program is a state program where every week they go to a specific spot in town, mainly parks, so people can bring their recyclables and in return receive food products. Once the material is collected, it is organized and sent according to the process it requires. Refugio García explained, “Glass is separated by colors and crushed; we compact the cardboard and send it to Mexico City to a multinational company. We send the plastic to Cancun where the process of crushing and grinding and washing is done and then sent to Mexico City, the United States or Japan, according to

You are returning home by air or sea. You have fiscal receipts of your purchase. You made a minimum purchase of $1,200 pesos (including tax) per establishment and you paid by card (credit card, debit or services emitted abroad by foreign financial institutions), or up to $3,000 per tourist paid in cash. The purchases you made were from establishments that take part in the “Program in tax refund for foreign tourists”.

Cardboard is compacted and sent to Mexico city.

Collection of recyclables every month

240 20 12

tons of cardboard

tons of plastic PET

tons of HDPE plastic

product quality.” “We send it where it can be treated because in Quintana Roo there are no such processing plants; here we just collect, sort, pack and send it to select industries,” he added. On average, each month they collect 240 tons of cardboard; 20 tons of plastic PET and 12 tons HDPE plastic. Just three years ago, the recyclables brought for sorting were contaminated, and was not suitable for recycling. Now, there are improvements in the quality of material that is brought to be recycled. García Eustaquio said a culture of recycling within the community continues to grow thanks to programs like for the Recycling Waste in Exchange for Food program.

Photo: Agency

ticipating in the Money Back, go to: www.moneyback.mx/shophere-taxback.html To get your tax refund, you must: Fill out an application form for the tax refund (available from www. moneyback.mx/PDF/moneyback-formato-devolucion-2015.pdf or from the airport). At the service sites located in ports and airports, present the merchandise that you wish to get refunded and that is leaving the country with you. There you will have the documentation and merchandise verified. If the merchandise is less than $5,000 (including tax) the revision may or may not take place depending on those doing the revisions. Once everything has been reviewed, the refund payment will be issued electronically, to the same means of payment used for the original purchase, or 50 percent of the amount of your purchased - on an amount that does not exceed $10,000 - can be refunded in cash; the remaining 50 percent will be refunded via electronic funds within a 40 day period. For more information, you can call INFOSAT toll free from Mexico +01 800 46 36 728, from the U.S. and Canada call +1 877 44 88 728. Now, all you have to do is imagine what you are going to do with it. Source:SAT website: “Tax Refund for Foreign Tourists” www.sat. gob.mx/english/Paginas/Extranjeros/ Tax_refund_for_foreign_tourists.aspx h t t p : / / w w w. m o n e y b a c k . m x / shophere-taxback.html

GOOD TO KNOW

Don’t Worry! Be Happy! Psychologist Marisa Marza outlines seven ways to help build your child’s confidence while increasing their happiness BY MARISA MARZA

ave you ever asked yourself what children need to be happy? In this article, we will discuss seven keys to happiness in children.

1. Establish an eating schedule. When a child is hungry, they can feel bad and reflects in their behavior. Routines make children feel safe and calm. 2. Help them to sleep well. Respect for the natural sleep cycle is necessary for our children to rest and have the energy they need. Sleeping well determines the mood of everyone in the family. 3. Promote creative, spontaneous play. Children are characterized by their imagination and great capacity for wonder. Let them resolve their moments of boredom on their own and limit their television and video game time. Promote reading and give them the chance to spend time outside and where they can get to know other children.

Children are characterized by their imagination and great capacity for wonder. Let them resolve their moments of boredom on their own and limit their television and video game time. Promote reading and give them the chance to spend time outside and where they can get to know other children. 4. Let them express themselves. Children are learning to identify and manage their emotions. They need to express themselves, and it would be an error to not give them this opportunity or dismiss their feelings. Avoid letting them keep their emotions bottled up, this creates more problems in the long-term future. Let them express themselves in their way and then look for a way to help them. 5. Let them make their own decisions. Children must learn to follow instructions; this is necessary because they do not have the ability or wisdom to make certain decisions. However,

Photo: Agency

Children need to feel more connected, increase their self-esteem to be happy / Photo:Instagram

there are situations where you can give them the opportunity to decide. Let them choose their clothes or what to eat for dinner at least one day per week. This can give them a feeling of security, as well as letting them feel good. 6. Give them your complete attention. Children notice when you are not paying attention to them. When our children feel like we listen to their wishes, needs, and joys, they feel more connected, their self-esteem is improved, and they feel happier. 7. Make them feel loved. Independently of their behavior, children need

Colegio Inglés

The first steps to a great future

to feel that they are always loved by their parents and have their unconditional support. Being loved will give them the confidence and determination that they need from adults to take positive risks, and it is fundamental so that they learn that making mistakes is normal. If you take these ideas into consideration and put them into practice, you will begin to see an immediate change in your children! Marisa Marza is a psychologist and teacher of psychology at the Alfa School in Playa del Carmen. You can contact her at marisamarzabenaiges@hotmail.com, 9841526615, or Facebook/Marisa Marza

ment we also provide: Rhythms, songs and games, IT, a library, physical education and swimming, classes on values and self-esteem. Something new for your child... Farm Come to enjoy and get to know domestic animals that live at the school! Your little ones will have the opportunity to be beside the animals and learn how to take care of them and the where food comes from (such as eggs and milk).

Photo: Colegio Iglés

Vegetable Garden Your little one will be able to grow their own vegetables, which will allow them to learn the difference between fruits and vegetables, trees and plants. They will also be able to experience the wonder of planting, tending and harvesting.

Our education program is based on the constructivist philosophy: Children construct their knowledge! WE OFFER KINDERGARTEN, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL

KINDERGARTEN Develop values and habits through fun activities Work on monthly projects with their peers. Analyze and reflect on their learning, to make it meaningful, Develop routines and establish limits.

We develop all training courses, such as: Personal and social development. Language and communication. Mathematical thinking. Global awareness. Artistic expression and exploration. Physical development and health. And to complement their develop-

City of children In this space, your little one will learn more about the adult world, such as the value of money and work. They will be given the opportunity to try 15 different types of careers. We also provide childcare services till 5:30 p.m.* PRIMARY We teach them values... Our educational program is based on the constructivist philosophy; children construct their own knowledge: Create habits of cleanliness, order,

punctuality, writing and reading. Develop values and different skills each week. Have a high reading level and an extensive vocabulary. Establish a critical attitude towards the information they receive from the media. Our Teachers Promote individual skills and team activities to develop their thinking and emotional skills. At all times, teachers encourage teamwork. Promote the habit of reading and focus on reaching goals consistently, through dynamic and fun activities. Our academic program follows the curriculum of the Ministry of Public Education (SEP). Our evaluations have an avant-garde approach, create learning opportunities. The areas of development that we take the most care are: Language development and communication skills Mathematical thinking Exploration and understanding of nature and society Personal development and coexistence ASK ABOUT OUR FREE ENTRANCE EXAM FOR ALL LEVELS UNTIL AUGUST 15 TEL. (984) 267 29 99 WITH 10 LINES ADDRESS: LOTE EJIDAL NO.24 FRACC. 4 EJIDO NORTE. SOLIDARIDAD, QUINTANA ROO. WHATS APP 984 127 85 87

August 5 - 18 2015

HEALTH

Hospitals in Playa and Cancun BY CATHERINE PAWELEK None of us expect to wind up in the hospital on our vacations but, unfortunately, accidents and emergencies do happen. We have outlined for you some of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high quality hospitals that are commonly used by tourists and residents alike.

Photo: Agency

Enlarged Prostate BY DR. JAIME RODRIGO BAEZ REYES

he prostate is a gland located in the urinary tract under the bladder and around the urethra. Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is a benign condition that happens in all men. In nearly half of all men, BPH can result in benign prostate enlargement (BPE). Due to this enlargement the urine flow can be obstructed. This is a condition called Chronic Bladder Outlet Obstruction (BOO).

Diagnosis A series of tests has to be done for the urologist to understand the cause of the symptoms. First, a clinical history and physical exam are fundamental. Blood and urine tests, as well as images of the bladder and prostate, are also necessary. Treating Physician Medical treatment is suggested when the symptoms are bothersome and begin to affect the quality of life. There are various groups

In Playa del Carmen HOSPITEN Here you will find English speaking staff and advanced health care but higher prices, including internal medicine, urology, orthopedic surgery, pulmonary, cardiology, pediatrics, Emergency care. Open 24 Hours. www.hospiten.com.mx/en Federal highway 307, South of Samâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club Tel: 984 803 1002 COSTAMED Cardiology, gastroenterology, urology, plastic surgery, orthopedics, internal medicine, general surgery, neurology with English speaking staff. They accept many domestic and international insurance plans, with preapproval and a letter of guarantee prior to your discharge. Open 24 Hours. www.costamed.com.mx West side of the federal highway 307 between 23 and 27 street. Tel: 984 803 7777

Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPE) These pathologies can cause an obstruction in the urinary tract in men over 50 years old. These prostate symptoms can be very problematic, but it is important to know that BPE is not prostate cancer. Symptoms Symptoms occur when the enlargement compresses the urethra where the urine leaves the bladder. Sometimes the symptoms can be very bothersome and can have a negative effect on the quality of life. In these cases, the patient can benefit from treatment. The symptoms caused by BPE are called Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) and can be a sign of another condition that is also affecting the urinary system. BPE can cause someone to urinate several times during the day and can cause the patient to get up at night to empty his bladder. It can also cause urinary urgency which in some cases can cause the involuntary loss of urine. BPE can affect the urine flow by making it very slow, even causing the flow to stop and start again several times while emptying the bladder. It can even provoke struggling in order to restart the urine flow.

If you are a foreign national with either temporary or permanent residency, you can benefit from enrolling in either Seguro Popular or IMSS, which provides free and lowcost medical care. Bring copies and originals of your visa, passport, CURP, utility bill, Apostilled Birth certificate with an infantsized picture to the Hospital General in Playa on Constituyentes and 115 Avenue to apply for your Seguro Popular (Federal Program). Or you can register at IMSS (State Program), same requirements as above. In Playa located on Avenue 30 and 6th st, and in Cancun, Av. Coba on the Corner of Av. Tulum, in front of Chedraui.

The area has high quality hospital care / Photo: Agency

Dr. Jaime Rodrigo Baez Reyes / Photo: Dr. Jaime Rodrigo Baez Reyes

of medications indicated for the treatment of Chronic Bladder Outlet Obstruction. Together with the urologist, the patient can decide which is the best option for him. When Should Surgery Be Considered? When the symptoms worsen even with the use of medication for BPE. During surgical treatment, the urologist will remove a large part of the prostate. Each procedure has its advantages and disadvantages. The selection of treatment depends on the individual situation of each patient. Dr. Jaime Rodrigo Baez Reyes is a urologist at COSTAMED

HOSPITAL GENERAL de Playa del Carmen Open in 2011 with 120 beds, providing general surgery, internal medicine, E.R., pediatrics, gynecology, orthopedics, urology. www.salud.qroo.gob.mx/portal/hospitales/playa/ Constituyentes and 135 Ave. Tel: 984 206 1690 HOSPITAL SAN CARLOS RIVIERA MAYA Emergency Care, therapeutic, neurology, gynecology, internal medicine, surgery, pediatric, Urology. They accept some insurance plans e.g. Axa Assistance and Tui. Carretera 307 between 20 and 22 St. www.hospitalsancarlos.com.mx Tel 984 859 3314 In Cancun HOSPITAL GALENIA A highly specialized hospital, the only one of its kind in Mexico, that has received several international accreditations. The facility is modern with advanced medical infrastructure and technology and highly trained staff. Caters for Medical Tourism. www.hospitalgalenia.com/en Av. Tulum, Mz.01, Lote 01, SM.12, Corner of Nizuc Santa Maria Sike,, Cancun, Q.R. Tel: 01 998 891 5200 HOSPITEN See the entry for Playa del Carmen for more information. www.hospiten.com.mx/en Av. Bonampak, SM10, Cancun. Tel: 01 998 881 37 00 AMERIMED Bilingual staff who are up to speed on the same health care services provided in the USA and Canada. Specialists are both certified by Mexican and U.S. health authorities. www.amerimedcancun.com Tulum Av. Sur 260, Sm 7, Cancun. Call toll free from the USA or Canada by dialing 1 855 99 AMERIMED. For 24 hour ER call Tel: 998 881 3400

TAKE A BREAK

BITTER HOROSCOPES

Directions

By Craig Norton

LEO

Bring a pot of salted water to boil and add half the onion and whole garlic clove to the water. Clean, peel and cut the cactus into 1 inch strips and add to the water. Reduce to a simmer and cook until tender and dark green, about 10-15 minutes.

Nopal Cactus Salad with Cheese

(JULY 22RD – AUGUST 22ND)

Venus will shift gears on Saturday until September 6, first transiting through your second house of work, money and security. Avoid making luxury purchases for the rest of the month, as you’re likely to experience some pricey buyer’s remorse.

VIRGO

Meanwhile, chop the tomatoes to make about 2 cups, place in a colander and allow to drain.

(AUGUST 23RD – SEPTEMBER 22ND)

Your moods could be all over the map during this six-week cycle. You may realize that a certain situation is not going to work out.

Chop the remaining onion to make about 1 ½ cups. Place into a large bowl and add the cilantro, serrano chile, oregano, juice from the limes, oil and salt. add the drained tomatoes and toss gently.

LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23RD – OCTOBER 22ND)

Strengthen that backbone, Libra. The synergy you seek in your partnerships may be harder to come by over the next five months as unpredictable Uranus spins retrograde in your seventh house of committed relationships from Sunday until December 25. Just in time for Christmas!!

Ingredients (2 servings)

SCORPIO Venus will do backstrokes from Saturday until September 6, which could disrupt the harmony of some important bonds. If you adhere to a strict diet, you could be motivated to experiment. Like, how does maple syrup taste on French fries on pizza?

SAGITTARIUS

RECIPE

(OCTOBER 23RD- NOVEMBER 21ST)

1 pound nopal paddles 1 large white onion 1 garlic clove 2 tomatoes 1 cup chopped cilantro 1 serrano chile

½ tsp. Mexican oregano 2 limes 2 tsp. oil ½ tsp. salt ¼ cup crumbled queso fresco Avocado for garnish

Once the cactus is tender, place in the colander and rinse with cold water and drain. Add the cactus to the tomato and onion mixture; toss gently and refrigerate at least 1 hour. To serve, sprinkle with cheese and garnish with avocado slices.

From July 31 on, Venus can disrupt any romantic travel; so rethink that late summer getaway à deux. We recommend ditching the “ball and chain,” hitting Atlantic City, and let the chips fall where they may.

CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22ND-JANUARY 19TH)

Come August 7, Venus will dive into your eighth house of intimacy, sex and soul merging. We recommend putting out an album, something with lots of bass and meaningful lyrics. Think “Barry White meets Taylor Swift.”

CROSSWORD

(NOVEMBER 22ND-DEC 21ST)

AQUARIUS Your planetary ruler, unpredictable Uranus, will backspin through your communication sector from Sunday until December 25. Your avant-garde visions and daring statements are likely to be misinterpreted. Develop them behind the scenes but keep them in your private collection until you’ve really had a chance to consider their impact on other people. Then STRIKE!

PISCES (FEBRUARY 19TH-MARCH 20TH)

Venus will backspin from Saturday until September 6, and for the first week it will travel through your committed relationship house. You closest alliances may experience growing pains.

WORD SEARCH

JANUARY 20THFEBRUARY 18TH

ARIES (MARCH 21ST-APRIL 19TH)

From Wednesday, July 22 until August 23, you could really make a splash in the public eye. Get thee to a stage, set, or podium. Or a nunnery. You kind of make an ass out of yourself when thee get to public places.

Across 1 4 8 9 10 11 12 17 19 21 22 23 24

Down

Friends in Spain (6) Serve food (4,2) Strained (5) Relief in time of distress (7) Sure (7) Desert haven (5) Thrown away (9) Slumbered (5) Little known (7) Unfavourable (7) Cricket trophy (5) Girls (6) Sport on a court (6)

FAMILY ORPHAN NOBILITY BARONESS FIANCE MARRIAGE COUSIN GUARDIAN MAIDEN LINEAGE KIN PRINCE CLAN

TAURUS Do some couchsurfing yourself, or enjoy a cozy reunion, or renting a beach cottage for a sweet retreat. Basically, we have no idea what you should do this week, Taurus. You’re on your own.

GEMINI (MAY 21TH-JUNE 21TH)

Are your words hitting the mark? Enlist a stylist, social media expert or editor to help you repackage “the Gemini brand” so that your missives match your mission. Remember, everybody is watching you at all times since you are the center of the freaking universe.

CANCER (JUNE 22ND- JULY 22ND)

Have you properly regaled your birthday season, Cancer? Squeeze in another few drops of celebration on Monday and Tuesday. Cocaine and champagne make a great combo, FYI.

SUDOKU PUZZLE

(APRIL 20TH-MAY 20TH)

Enter digits from 9 to 1 into the blank spaces Every row most contain one of each digit So must every column, as must every 3x3 square

1 2 3 5 6 7 9 13 14 15 16 18

Tomfoolery (6) Disregarded (7) Greek letter (5) Fashionable clique (2-5) Owls’ cries (5) Read attentively (6) Small country of southeast Asia (9) Liberate (3,4) Eldest son of a French king (7) Attack (6) Periodical population count (6) Much-impersonated singer, d. 1977 (5)

LAST ISSUE'S SOLUTION

August 5 - 18 2015

COMEDY CORNER 29

Kiteboarding is a terrific sport. We have been lucky to see it’s popularity increase in the last 10 years here in Playa. But for many years we have been lucky. When a large kite comes crashing down, the chances of an accident seem to grow on our beautiful populated beaches. Last summer a swimmer was killed in Nantucket,Mass.,USA.

jogger was killed in Boston, Mass., USA.

Yesterday, just south of Fisherman’s an

Now, I love construction. I think it is a great

instructor was working with a student...para-

way to put up buildings. Just yesterday, I was

chute [student size] up in the air. Not sure of

walking on 38th, just south of 20th, and there was

the safety of walking under the kite, I tapped

scaffolding up. I motioned to a worker if I could

the instructor on the shoulder to question

walk under it. He nodded. A wheelbarrow full of

the safety of proceeding under the kite.

bricks came crashing down right behind me! I was

Will Me Never Talk Spanish Pretty?

The instructor’s English was excellent,

covered in dust! Sure, I could have just taken the extra two seconds to walk AROUND the potential

I equally admire and loathe polyglots.

something like: Yes. El Chapo is bad. He left

much better than my Spanish. He said, “no problem - not to worry”.

hazard, but couldn’t the Mayor step in and DO

You know, the people who speak three, four,

his room. Maybe they return him but me no

something?

and sometimes more languages. I watch

think yes. Yes, Donald Trump is idiot. May-

my friends switch between languages like

be El Chapo bite him. (“Stupid! The verb is

I switch channels on a Tuesday afternoon.

matar not morder!”)

So I did continue my walk and on my return, got a visual nod & wave from the teacher.

Another thing that I think should be ad-

Today, the same instructor in the same

dressed by the Federal Police is jogging on 5th

spot was there. I made eye contact with him

Avenue. Now, I love fitness, but the other day, a

again and he waved me on. On returning the

jogger was running on 5th, and he very nearly ran

Meanwhile, I sit like a kitten whose eyesight

Someday I will stop asking women

teacher was now 10 meters [14 yards] from

into me while I was carrying a coffee. I could have

hasn’t fully developed trying to follow a

how they feel while breaded (empanizado)

his student but..facing me. I hesitated and

been scalded! The police should do something about this before someone almost gets scalded!

moth flying around the room.

when I meant pregnant (embarazada). No

then walked under the kite, only to hear it

I remember many years ago reading “Me

more copious amounts of ham after asking

I can easily avoid – babies in strollers! what is up

Talk Pretty Someday” by David Sedaris. In

for 300 (tres cientos) pesos of ham, when I

with that, parents? Can’t you just CARRY your

it, he recounts living in France and his ridic-

meant 30 (treinta). I will no longer speak ill

ulously funny attempts at learning French.

of beautiful places - like poor Punta Laguna

I remember laughing at his stories until I

(drop one letter out of punta it becomes a very bad word).

come crashing down behind me --now I’m en-

While we were on the topic of obstacles that

tangled in the lines/cords. I was shocked and angry but physically fine. This could have been a serious accident.

babies instead of putting them in something that

Please could someone- the mayor, the

might get in my way unless I SLIGHTLY alter my

Federales -- address this issue???? The sport

course? Can’t we call the governor, the military, Peña Nieto … SOMEBODY … before I stub my toe

cried. “Oh wouldn’t that be fun to move to

needs to be controlled before someone is killed.

on a stroller that I can walk around with ease, be-

another country and learn a new language!”

ing fully ambulatory?

I thought to myself.

Your, Entangled Expat Playacar, Fase Uno. Dear Entangled, Thank you for your letter. As anyone who

Anyway, Entangled, sorry for making fun of

adult is a ridiculous undertaking and

Well, here I sit. Questioning my Span-

yet this is what I am doing. Maybe you

neath something that is very temporarily up in the

ish skills yet again. Wondering if in the near

are doing the same. I take comfort that

air is really more your fault than someone else’s

future I will comfortably chat alongside my

maybe you too have asked for two va-

responsibility. Also, you will notice I never once

Spanish speaking friends discussing any

ginas in a restaurant, or chicken nipples

topic (in the proper tense). All the while

at the meat counter. Let us take comfort

pulling from the vast Spanish vocabulary

in knowing we are out there, together,

database in my brain and tossing in Mexican

loose on the streets of Playa, inflicting our

colloquialisms to boot. Yes, I can carry on a

poorly conjugated verbs on unsuspecting

conversation (and swear like a Teamster)

Mexicans. Hey, at least somos tomando....

in Spanish but if you were to translate my

no, somos trayendo ....no, estamos tratan-

conversations back into English it would be

do? Ayúdame!

you, but you should realize that walking under-

pointed out your terrible proofreading skills. Ex-

reads my column knows, for me, safety comes

cept for just now.

first! For example, we have a lot of construction

Yo u r,

here in Playa. With the increase in construction, the possibilities for accidents grows. Last week, a

Learning another language as an

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

CLASSIFIEDS

GENERAL SERVICES

MEXLAW Licensed Canadian and Mexican law firm, English Spoken Plaza Paseo Coba, Local 301, second floor, Av. Paseo Coba Playa del Carmen Tel: 984 147 6502, Email: info@mexlaw.ca

RENTALS & PROPERTIES

If you are interested in listing your business or services in our classifieds section, please contact us at info@meridianmedia.mx

Plaza Paseo Coba, 2nd Floor. Visit www.clickvista.mx, or send us an email info@clickvista.mx GMB Real Estate Solutions 42th St. with 1st. Av 77710 Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, MX. +52 (984) 267 3242 / +52 1 (984) 188 3429 info@.gmb.mx / www.gmb.mx

( See The Playa Times Map)

MEDICAL & DENTAL

ROTARY CLUB PLAYA DEL CARMEN SEASIDE Weekly meeting at SOHO HOTEL. 24 st. and 10th Avenue. Tuesdays 12:30p.m. Visitors welcome, for more inforamtion email: scotlyall@live.com LIFE CHANGE CHURCH, NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHRISTIAN MESSAGES Every Sunday 10:45 a.m. English Service City Express Hotel Meeting Rooms. Playacar Entrance Next to Sams Club on Carretera Federal 307 KANTUNCHI EcoPark Located in the heart of the Riviera Maya. Federal Highway 307, just 90 km south of Cancun, 22 km south of Playa del Carmen, and approximately 2 km south of Puerto Aventuras

RESTAURANTS LOCO JOE 30th Ave. North, between Constituyentes and 20th street. Tel. 984 803 5369

CONTACTS & PERSONALS

FUSION BEACH BAR & GRILL 6th street and the beach Tel: 984 873 0374 MR DOG DEL CARIBE 2nd Street North between Fifth and 10th Ave. Tel: 984 147 386 BUENERRIMO Playacar on Avenida Paseo Tulum local 17. Tel: 984 803 0175 DIÀVOLO PIZZA Ave. Arco Vial, 28 de Julio. Tel: 994 109 1175 IL BARETTO ITALIAN RESTAURANT Fifth Avenue with 26th Street. Tel: 984 803 0257

FREE SPORT CENTERS MARIO VILLANUEVA SPORTS CENTER Location: 10th Ave. and 34th St. Colonia Centro Opening Hours: Mon-Sun, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Facilities: Four tennis courts, basketball and volleyball courts, a soccer field, an athletic track and a covered area for aerobics and salsa classes. POLIFORUM Location: Avenida Juárez and 110th Ave. Colonia Ejidal Opening hours: Mon-Sun, 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Facilities: Seven-a-side soccer field, outdoor and indoor basketball courts, two frontenis and three tennis courts, two soccer fields, a professional 400-meter tartan athletic and cycling tracks.

TOP MEXICO REAL ESTATE Mexico Real Estate, Buyers’ Representatives Mex: 984 267 2449 USA/Can: 512 879 6543 CLICK VISTA ClickVista provides immersive visual tours online.

AA MEETINGS IN ENGLISH. Everyday at 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at 12 p.m. AI-anon Meetings every Wednesday at 4 p.m. 45th Avenue between Juarez and 2nd St. For more information: info@aaplayadelcarmen.com

RIVIERA MAYA SPORTS CENTER Location: Avenida Universidad and 110th Ave. Facilities: Baseball, soccer, seven-a-side soccer, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts and fields, and Olympic sized swimming pool, a motocross track and large green areas.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS English spoken Tuesdays and Fridays 5:30 p.m. Spanish spoken Monday to Friday 7 p.m. 35th Avenue and 34th Street Playa del Carmen. info@naplaya.com

LÁZARO CÁRDENAS SPORTS CENTER Location: 30th Ave. and 76th St. Colonia Colosio Facilities: Indoor and outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, a soccer field, a covered court for combat sports and a large playground.

# TPThrifty

TPTCOUPONS

About Our New Home Delivery Subscription

emember the good ol’ days when everything was done by hand? The Playa Times does. We have been a leading provider of

newspaper hand delivery to offices, hotels and business from Cancun to Tulum for a few years now. We know the value of adding a personal touch to everything we

do, and we go out of our way to offer a level of service to each and everyone in the region. Whether you are in an apartment, time share or a house, The Playa

How m u ch i s i t to s u bsc r i be? We offer three different packages to suit your needs. Take note, the subscription fee will be fully paid back to you with vouchers from partner restaurants in the region.

$500 pesos for a yearly subscription. For 24 issues. $350 pesos for a 6 month subscription. For 12 issues. $250 pesos for a 3 month subscription. For 6 issues. You can acti vate o r d eact ivate yo u r su bsc ri p ti o n a t a ny ti m e.

H ow do yo u reg i ste r ? Write us an email with the title “Home Delivery Subscription Request” at info@meridianmedia.mx, and we will get back to you with the details.

How to pay? When you send us an email, we will give you the option of paying through

a bank deposit, or you can pay cash to the delivery team, who will provide you with a receipt. Our subscription services are flexible and convenient to meet the requirements of all in the Mexican Caribbean, so contact us for more information.

Times will hand delivery to your homes— our drivers know the state inside and out. You can now have your morning cup of coffee and newspaper in hand in no time!