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Life's a Beach - Observations on Life and Real EstLife's a Beach - Observations on Life and Real EstReports and observations about life from an ex-pat family in Playa del Carmen Mexico. Real Estate market updates and new Real Estate listings of interest. Relocation advice and reviews on local schools, markets, healthcare providers and restaurants. Articles
Run for the Roses at Wicky's in Playa del Carmen!!
2010-04-24 18:52:00 Wicky’s First Annual Kentucky Derby Charity Event Saturday, May 1, 2010 Wicky’s Restaurant & Beach Club in Playa del Carmen is hosting their first Annual Kentucky Derby Race & Charity Event on Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 12:00 pm to 7:00pm. Entry fee and raffle proceeds will be donated to Playa’s Peanut Pet Shelter, a no-kill animal shelter dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitation and re-homing of injured and abandoned dogs and cats. Wicky’s invites teams of two persons to enter with a creative team name and compete for prizes in a human wheel barrel race at Wicky’s Beach. Practice laps begin at 3:00pm with the race gates opening on the beach at 4:00pm. The day’s events will begin at noon with live entertainment and a BBQ Buffet featuring BBQ Ribs, Pulled Pork, BBQ Chicken, Baked Beans, Pasta Salad, Fresh Fruit and Green Chopped Salad. The Derby’s favorite, a Frosty Min... More About: Roses , Playa del Carmen
Road Trip 2010 - Day 7 - Sumidero Canyon and Zinacantan
2010-04-18 18:18:00 On day seven of our adventure it was the girls turn to sleep in. Rob and Cole had breakfast at the organic coffee shop, BioMaya, right next door to our hotel and then ventured over to the zocalo to watch the vendors setting up for the day. Birdie and I woke up late and I took advantage of the internet in our room, a welcomed first, to catch up on email and do a blog entry. Internet has been hard to come by in our accommodations and I have given up trying to maintain any semblance of a schedule. Lots of burning and clearing going on in the hills Our plan for the day was to catch a boat tour of the Sumidero Canyon located about an hour west near the capital, Tuztla Gutierrez. In contrast to Palenque, this part of Chiapas experiences true seasons. Many of the trees were just starting to sprout leaves after a cold winter. We even saw road signs advising caution in the event of snow! In order to save time, we took the cuota road, shaving twenty minutes off of our drive time and preservi... More About: Trip , Road Trip , Road
Gardening in Mexico - Flamboyant Tree
2010-04-16 14:00:00 Six years ago, when we arrived in Playa del Carmen for the first time, I was struck by the beauty of a particular tree that seemed to grow prolifically in this tropical region. The Flamboyant Tree or Royal Poinciana is ablaze with fiery red flowers when it blooms, surrounded by delicate fern-like foliage. In the spring, when the leaves and flowers die off and drop, what remains is the skeletal structure covered with hundreds of large (often as long as 24 inches) hard seed pods. The seeds inside are often collected and used inside handmade percussion instruments or strung onto thread for necklaces and bracelets. Photo Credit: Forest Starr and Kim StarrFamily: FabaceaeGenus: DelonixSpecies: regiaCommon Names: Flamboyant Tree, Flame Tree, Peacock FlowerOrigin: MadagascarCategory: Tender Perennial, TropicalHeight: 20-40 feetHardiness: USDA 9b-11These are some of my favorite flowering trees and as I will be doing a lot of landscaping over the next few years, I definitely wanted to incorp... More About: Mexico , Gardening
Road Trip 2010 - Day 6 - San Cristobal de las Casas
2010-04-15 14:00:00 This morning in San Cristobal was cloudy and quite cool. We were all well rested and ready to go so we hustled into the bright courtyard for breakfast. Finally able to access the internet, we had a lot of email to catch up on and pictures to upload. The weather being what it was, I marked off a few points of interest on our handy tourist map to occupy our day. Tired flower girl The Museum of Jade was just around the corner from our new hotel, Posada Paraiso, so after checking in, we visited the museum and gift shop. The exhibit was small but quite interesting, culminating in a replica of King Pakal’s tomb complete with his mysterious Jade mask. The kids thought this was "super chido!". I honestly was not aware that photography was prohibited in the museum until I saw the sign on our way out. My bad. Enjoy the ill-gotten pictures. A fine replica of the Jade mask of King PakalReplicated Tomb of Pakal Our next stop was the Museum of Amber located in La Merced, an ... More About: Trip , Road Trip , Road
Road Trip 2010 - Day 5 - Misol Ha
2010-04-13 17:32:00 After another fine breakfast in the jungle restaurant of Don Mucho, we packed up and started off on the long drive south to San Cristobal. Having already experienced a portion of what this road would bring us, no one was particularly looking forward to this leg of the journey. Knowing that we would also have to backtrack along this route on our way north to Campeche made it even worse. We cursed every tope, road block and switchback along the way. We made our scheduled stop to see the falls at Misol Ha and, as this was not a planned swimming opportunity, it was a bit of a “Griswolds Visit the Grand Canyon” experience. I don’t think the kids were too disappointed, their lips just now returning to the proper shade of pink after our afternoon in the old waters of Aguas Azules. The site is beautiful and so easy to get to from Palenque. It has the feel of a state park with all the accompanying facilities and far fewer vendors to contend with. If you are travelling in th... More About: Trip , Road Trip , Road
Road Trip 2010 - Day 4 - Aguas Azules
2010-04-13 04:22:00 In an effort to not wear everyone out, we kept Day 4 of our itinerary was fairly low key. After a late breakfast across the street at Don Mucho, we reserved our luxury accommodations for one more night and then drove 60 kilometers south to the waterfalls of Aguas Azules.Breakfast at Don Mucho Cool fountain in the jungle that allegedly purifies the water as it circulates. Must do more research on this one....jThe road twisted and turned through tiny villages set into the sides of the mountains, reminding us very much of the area around Xela in Guatemala. At various points along the way, the townspeople set up makeshift roadblocks across the narrow road, some in an effort to slow down the tourists and tempt them with bananas, corn and tamales for sale. Others pulled up ropes across the way to extort money out of the drivers before allowing them to pass. We found that moving ahead, slowly but surely, would force them to eventually drop the rope and allow us to pass. Many times, those h... More About: Trip , Road Trip , Road
Road Trip 2010 - Day 3 The Ruins at Palenque
2010-04-03 17:20:00 We awoke on day 3 of our adventure in Palenque on the edge of the biosphere. My plan had been to celebrate Cole’s 7th birthday with a fun trip to Aguas Azules and the magnificent waterfalls at Misol Ha. The weather cloudy, rainy and a chilly 54 degrees dictated otherwise. We had a great breakfast at Don Mucho and then headed off to see the famed archeological site. The birthday boy! Our cabanaBrrrrrrr.Although we were not starting off until later morning, the cool temperatures and cloud cover kept us comfortable throughout the day. We parked our car in the lower lot by the exit and easily found (or rather were found by) a guide, Edgar, happy to show us the ruins with a full commentary in English for $600 pesos, an acceptable amount based on my research. Our money turns out to have been well spent. Edgar, born and raised in Palenque knew these ruins like the back of his hand. As a child, this was his playground, the ruins and the dense jungle fueling his young imagination,... More About: Trip , Road Trip , Road
Road Trip 2010 - Day 2 - Calakmul to Palenque
2010-04-02 17:40:00 Birdie and I rose early this morning, roused by the cacophony of the sounds coming from the jungle around us. After a failed attempt to connect to the internet, we joined the boys for a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit and omelets. Cole and friend Breakfast at Puerta CalakmulDespite my desire to find lodging as close to the ruin site as possible, our hotel was still a good hour and a half from the archeological zone. We twisted and turned our way south, stopping only to snap a few photos of the flora and fauna. Upon reaching the ruins we entered into a good sized parking area which was nearly empty and an attractive reception center, also empty. We were unpleasantly surprised to find no water available for sale, nor were there any printed maps or guides for hire. We made a good mental note of the site map at the entrance and carried on down the path and into the jungle. Having arrived in the morning, we were there at the right time to see dozens of spider monkeys swinging and... More About: Trip , Road Trip , Road
Road Trip 2010 - Day 1 - Playa del Carmen to Calakmul
2010-04-01 19:14:00 Welcome to the Kinnon Family Road Trip 2010! Day 1 of our itinerary brought us from Playa del Carmen to Calakmul, a ruin site of great cultural significance in the Classic Period, located in the state of Campeche. We made great time moving south on 307, the same road that carried us to Belize in 2008 and then Guatemala in 2009. As expected, as every year, we noted more and more construction, particularly in Tulum and Bacalar. The turnoff toward Escarcega took us into new territory but through a countryside that remained familiar. The well kept, wide two lane highway stretched out long and straight, through acres and acres of small farms and sugarcane plantations. While this kind of ride bores my husband to tears, I enjoy trying to make out what crops are being cultivated by the campesinos and what also seems to grow wild in the fields along the road. No video games. No DVDs. Just books and a lot of imagination.The ruins at Rio BecThis is an area far more dependent on agricultur... More About: Road Trip
Affordable Produce in Playa del Carmen
2008-12-04 14:54:00 Since our last trip to The United States, a fabulous family Thankgiving and 60th birthday celebration for my MIL in Miami, I am even more appreciative of the affordability of our food staples and produce. Yesterday was Wednesday, the day where all the stores have fruits and veggies marked down even lower than usual. I know "Life's a Beach" readers have an understandable fascination with daily life in Mexico so, here is yesterday' s haul from Mega and the associated costs below.cebolla blanca (white onion)...........1.7 kilos..........................$24.51zana horia cambria (baby carrots) .57 kilos..........................$4.72colif lor (cauliflower)........................1 large head....................$13.40platano (bananas)..........................1.75 kilos........................$7.90pepino (cucumbers)........................1.51 kilos........................$9.36limones (limes)................................0. 59 kilo... More About: Playa del Carmen , Carmen , Produce
Chris Bolister Croons at The Luna Blue in Playa del Carmen
2008-12-03 17:41:00 Last night was the inauguration of "Bolister in The Blue ", an evening of acoustic music and song from Playa favorite, the talented and charming Chris Bolister. Perched on a swing at the bar, surrounded by friends old and new, Chris entertained the crowd with well-loved tunes from yesterday and today. There was a lot of laughing and singing along and I am certain Tuesday nights will be hopping at The Luna Blue Hotel from now on. Here are a few of the many pictures taken throughout the evening. Lots and lots of familiar faces here including but by no means limited to StewartG, Barry, Vanessa, Maggie, A'ndrea and Larry, Jimmy and Jan.Bolister and Papa T.Keith and MayteJan, Jimmymn and Maggie (Rissask)Heather and JimmyLawyer, General Contractor, Spinning Instructor and Good Pal StewartG.....and RobStuart (Who I might add, as of this posting, has not yet turned up today!)Barry Launius and Papa T.Jimmy and Vanessa (Lolabella)There was a lot of this..... More About: Playa del Carmen , Carmen
Giving Thanks. Giving Back.
2008-12-01 04:16:00 Every year, we take a day to give Thanks. We thank our ancestors for their sacrifice and struggle culminating in the liberties we enjoy today. We give thanks for our families and friends and we take a moment to reflect on how truly fortunate we are. Of course, we all have our own way of celebrating Thanksgiving but, generally, it involves gorging ourselves with copious amounts of turkey, watching football and passing out, belts loosened, on the couch. Don't get me wrong. I am a huge fan of our traditional Thanksgiving festivities but I also think that one of the best ways to give thanks is to give back, to sacrifice a bit of our time, money and/or resources to help those less fortunate than ourselves.I thought I might take this opportunity to give some well-deserved press to four of my favorite charities for 2008. Each was chosen because it is the pet project of someone I like and respect. Some I have written about in previous blog entries. Others may be new to "Life... More About: Back , Giving
Paintings for Playa del Carmen's Pets
2008-11-25 16:32:00 Last night was the innaugural evening for this year's Paintings for Pets fundraiser hosted by Tony and Cheri Head of the famed Luna Blue Hotel in Playa del Carmen. Well loved, award winning artist Barry Launius generously offered to show and sell many of his beautiful Caribbean themed acrylic and watercolor paintings and to donate 50% of the proceeds to Playa del Carmen's beloved Peanut Pet Shelter. Barry and his lovely wife Phyllis were in attendance to meet and greet and, of course, Andy, Jen and Adam were on hand to welcome guests and talk about the needs of their amazing no-kill shelter. The Luna Blue Tiki Bar did a brisk business while Tony served up his now famous cheeseburgers in paradise to a hungry crowd. Rob and I brought our good friends Mike (WWMD) and Sue from Chicago to check out the artwork and enjoy a few pomegranite margaritas! Rob with Mike and Sue, swingin' at The Tiki Bar!The artist, Barry (Caribbean Colors) with Lib...
Salpicar Carwash in Playa del Carmen - Functional AND Fun!
2008-11-24 19:13:00 Now that I am back in school every morning (more on that later) I find that my schedule is getting really tight. My blogging has become less frequent. My message board activities are sporadic. I have been sorely neglecting my fellow blogger pals for the past few weeks (Apologies to all. You know who you are.) Worst of all, my free time with my kids is cut into as well. Now that the little one's are getting older, they are involved in their own extracurricular activities and, where as last year, we had all afternoon to hang out together and play, now I don't see them most days until five o'clock. In response to this, Cole and I have come up with our own special bi-weekly activity, just so that we can do something "special" together, just me and him. What do you do with a five year old boy in the limited space of 45 minutes every other Monday? Why, have an outing at the Salpicar Carwash, of course! Seriously, what kid doesn't like the carw... More About: Playa del Carmen , Carmen
The German Baker in Playa del Carmen
2008-11-23 05:02:00 Ever on the lookout for something yummy, last week, I stumbled upon some lovely homemade breads at my favorite produce market, Dac. For the past two weeks, a small table has been set up out front offering samples of these tasty baked goods to the customers of the market, the clientele of "Nativo" and passersby. They have a nice variety of dessert/breakfast breads and muffins including Calabaza (pumpkin), Platano con chocolate (banana with chocolate chips) Elote (corn), Zanahoria con Pasas (carrot with raisins) and Naranja (orange). There is also a variety of savory breads suitable for sandwiches, all made with whole grains and flavored naturally with spices, nuts and seeds. I have now tried almost every flavor and each is wonderful. Unlike most of the cakes and pastries I have tried here, these baked treats are moist and have the proper amount of sweetness. I can't recommend one variety over another. You will just have to try them all. The baker, Sandra, a transp... More About: German , Playa del Carmen , Carmen , Baker
Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!!
2008-11-17 14:00:00 Where has the time gone? Seven years ago today you and I battled it out for 36 hours in St. Peter's Hospital. You've been a fighter ever since. In case I forget to tell you often enough, you are the best thing that ever happened to me and I treasure you every day. Happy Birthday Catherine Elizabeth. More About: Beautiful , Girl , Happy Birthday
Old Photos of Mahahual, Xcalak and Bacalar
2008-11-16 12:00:00 Look at this great old photograph I found. This is the beach road south of what is now, the town of Mahahual!Pretty cool, yes? Actually, this is a photo I took back in 2006. It has been altered with an online tool called a Bakumatsu Koshashin Generator. “Koshashin” means “old photo”. “Bakumatsu” means, literally, “end of feudal era”, specifically, the end of Edo shogunate era (circa 1860). The name of this process translates to something like “generator for photos over 150 years old”. I don't generally blog about "bloggy' things but I thought this was fun and gave me a chance to play with some of our "older" photos from past getaways. Check out the photos below from Bacalar, Mahahual and Xcalak.   ; More About: Photos
Fusion Hotel - The Culture Orphans and More!
2008-11-15 12:30:00 I always say I am going to make a point of breaking out of my routine but, somehow, I usually end up at the same old places. Then, I get bored with "the same old places" and I don't go out at all! Thursday night, I broke from my usual routine and wandered down to Fusion Hotel on the beach. I met up with Rob, Jill, J.J. and Cheryl from Atlanta, after The Nasty Bastards finished up their regular Thursday night gig at Bad Boys. Some of us (and I'm not naming names) had, apparently, been seriously over-served earlier in the evening so it was a rather rambunctious group! Bad Brad and the Culture Orphans are part of the Thursday night line up at Fusion and always put on a great show. We would also be entertained by a percussion group and the ever appealing fire dancers. If you haven't had a chance to get down there yet, Fusion should be on your short list for not just night-time fun but delicious food as well. The staff is super friendly and the whole Caribbean ...
Marina Turquesa in Puerto Aventuras
2008-11-14 12:30:00 We are delivering another penthouse this week at our own Marina Turquesa Condominiums in Puerto Aventuras and Stuart managed to get some nice updated photos of the property and this recently completed unit. The work is very nearly complete. We are still waiting for the delivery of the globes for the external lighting elements and, of course, the elevator. The entrance to the pool area up from the marina is almost done and everything looks just great. While there are countless things we will do differently the next time around, we are very pleased with the outcome.View from the second floor down to the pool.The new perimeter wall has been completed and looks pretty. The lamps are awaiting their globes.Looking up from the marina.The clients did a bit of their own redesign in the kitchen and it turned out well.Bathroom with standard fixtures.Ticul sinksAll the woodwork in these condos was handcrafted onsite!Oh yeah! A jacuzzi under the stars!For dining al fresco, an outdoor f...
"I Thought YOU Were Driving!" - Part 2
2008-11-13 05:12:00 The second installment in the short series of articles I am writing for the popular regional website www.PlayaMayaNews.com has just been posted."I Thought YOU Were Driving !" - How a nice suburban family ended up in Playa del Carmen, Mexico accounts our experiences moving and adjusting to a new way of life in a strange new world. Part 2 covers our first full year in Playa including, but not limited to, purchasing our first piece of property, schooling our children and surviving Hurricanes Emily and Wilma!"I Thought YOU Were Driving!" - Part 1"I Thought YOU Were Driving!" - Part 2Good times and good friends in Playa del Carmen - 2005
Playa del Carmen Construction Update - November 2008
2008-11-11 23:00:00 The high season for vacation rentals is nearly upon us and several developers are putting the finishing touches on their projects while some seem to be a bit behind. This entry should be of as much interest to those of you who have booked one of these condominiums for your holiday vacation as to those of you who have invested in these properties. Some of you have asked why we show some of the same properties in every installment. The reason is two-fold. First we show the properties where many of our customers have invested. The other properties are shown by request from our readers. If there is a project you would like to see represented in these updates, just let me know!The star of the show this year, Azul Fives in Xcalacoco, is exceding all expectations. We toured the property again this week with Buyers looking to pick up an additional unit and we were just blown away. Take a look for yourself! Are we looking forward to Phase 2 of this resort project? Ye... More About: Playa del Carmen , Construction , Carmen , Update , November
Papalote Students Celebrate the Festival of San Martin
2008-11-09 01:45:00 Every November, closely following Dia de los Muertos, the students of El Papalote School participate in a traditional celebration of San Martin . This festival, also known as Martinmas, recognizes Martin, originally a soldier in Roman army in the 4th century. The legends tells that one freezing winter night he came upon a poor beggar, half-naked and suffering in the cold. Martin took off his own heavy cloak and cut it in half with his sword, giving half to the shivering beggar. That night, Jesus appeared in Martin's dream, wrapped in the same piece of cloak that Martin had given the beggar, and said to the angels: “Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clothed me.” From that moment on, Martin dedicated his life to serving God and helping those in need. He ultimately became the patron saint of beggars, drunks and outcasts, dedicating his life to caring for those on the fringe of society... More About: Students , Celebrate , Festival
Dia de los Muertos in Playa del Carmen
2008-11-05 22:46:00 Most people, knowing my disinterest in Halloween, are confused to learn that I really enjoy the celebration of Dia de los Muertos. As a matter of fact, this is my favorite holiday in my new home country and I look forward to it every year! Commonly known as Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), this is actually two holidays celebrated on the first two days of November, presenting an interesting mix of pre-Hispanic practices and Roman Catholicism. November 1st (All Saints Day) and is the day generally set aside to remember children and babies who have passed while November 2nd (All Souls Day) has its focus on adults who have moved on to the next realm. This is a time set aside every year for everyone to recognize, remember and celebrate the lives of their ancestors and departed loved ones. This time of reflection is unique to each family and the festivities vary regionally. It is a time not only to applaud and appreciate accomplishments but to acknowledg... More About: Playa del Carmen , Carmen
"Happy" Halloween?
2008-11-01 18:38:00 I'm not big on Halloween . There. I've said it. I wish I was like all my pals in Playa who plan and prepare their costumes 364 days a year in anticipation of October 31st. I love looking at all the pictures from the parties and marvel at the creativity of the costumes and make-up effects. I am envious of the imagination necessary to concoct all the fabulous props and amazed at the efforts made to get the look just right. Every year I think to myself, "This is the year. Rob and I will dress up and really DO Halloween, just like everyone else." Well, it hasn't happened yet and it didn't happen this year. I didn't dress up. I didn't got to any of the crazy parties and I am sure that, once again, I passed on a really fun night out on the town. I was safely home in bed by midnight, safe from Playa's ghosts, goblins, pirates and vampires. Having said all that, Halloween is not completely lost on me. I LOVE carving pumpkins with my k... More About: Happy
Welcome Back, Sarah and Adam
2008-10-10 17:07:00 Still suffering from a bad "rainy season" cold, I managed to drag my snifflly, achy self off of the sofa and down to Captain Dave's to meet up with our dear friend Sarah B and her adorable fiance (very soon to be husband) Adam . They have planned a beautiful ceremony on the beach in the Sian Kaan, surrounded by family and friends, followed by an evening of revellry downtown. We wanted to make sure the kids had a chance to see Miss Sarah and Adam and to welcome their guests to Playa properly. I can think of no better way than with an evening of fun at Captain Dave's listening to J.J. and the Nasty B.astards. Then again, I'm probably a bit biased ;)SarahB with Cole, Birdie and Connor on the beach at Captain Dave'sRob imparting words of wisdom. Remember Adam, "Follow, pay, carry".SarahB with friends and family.Oh yes. Look who's back as well!! Welcome back Shar!!John, SarahB, Judy, Libby and AdamAnd Jana's back too, snugglin... More About: Back
Happy Anniversary Dr. Taco!!
2008-10-07 13:30:00 This week, Dr. Taco celebrates five years in Playa del Carmen, serving up some of the best and freshest fast food in town! In the recently innaugurated space on 10th Avenue, Carlo, Cecilia and the whole crew threw a raucous party on Saturday night with copious cold cervezas and a dj spinning great tunes. There were lots of tasty tacos and dancing in the street! It was evident by the tremendous turnout that Carlo and his family are well loved in Playa del Carmen. The crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk in front of Dr. Taco.Dancing in the streets!Beautiful Miss KatPer (Babes Noodles and Bar) and RobLena (Babes Noodles and Bar) and friendsThis party was fun for kids of all ages.Cole, Connor and Birdie devour one of Dr. Taco's enormous burritos.A very late night for this little girl.Kat, Claire, Cecilia, Carlo and Sara (PlayaMayaNews)Rob and Carlo aka Dr. TacoCongratulations Carlo and Cecilia and thank you for five years and food and friendship. We... More About: Anniversary , Happy , Happy Anniversary
Chillin' at The Mojo Zone
2008-10-05 20:08:00 This weekend, after our ritual Friday dinner at Chicago Don Jose with Kim and J.J., we all headed over to Bad Brad's place, The Mojo Zone , to see if there was any live music to be had. Small bars and live music venues like this are hit particularly hard in the low season. When the world famous Tequilla Barrel has only 5 tables full on a Friday night, you KNOW that it's October in Playa! We were joined by Andy and Jen, our own English Stuart and Brad's girlfriend Monica and managed to have a great time and make some music of our own. J.J. and Andy both joined Brad and his crew on stage, entertaining our small group until closing time.A very quiet 5th Avenue in Playa del CarmenEnjoying a cool night of Mojo Zone's rooftop terrace.Me and AndyPretty KimMonica and BradJen and meKim, Jen and MonicaAndy lovin' up on Rob. Monica lovin' up on JenJ.J. and AndyThanks to Brad and his crew for a fun night. Even though we were the only customer...
Welcoming Autumn in Playa del Carmen
2008-09-30 00:11:00 Life in a tropical climate comes with a host of challenges. The scorching sun, the heat, the unrelenting humidity all take some getting used to. (We’re not even going to begin the BUG discussion) After four years, our blood has certainly thinned sufficiently and we have acclimated to the weather of our region. There are certain differences that, no matter how long we live here, we will never truly adjust to. Coming from the northeastern United States, the change of seasons and the accompanying changes in temperature and our surrounding landscape, are ingrained so deeply in our perception of “the way the world works” that we are left every year feeling like something is missing at certain times of the year.In reality, we do have seasonal changes here, some of which are more obvious than others. Nights in December are considerably chillier than those in June. Perhaps not so chilly as to require the purchase of the heavily quilted jackets, scarves and gloves... More About: Playa del Carmen , Carmen , Autumn
I Thought You Were Driving!
2008-09-28 23:16:00 Recently, while Rob and I were doing our Spotlight Interview for Playa Maya News, the question came up. A question I have been asked and have answered hundreds of times since we arrived in Playa del Carmen with our children nearly four years ago. "What made you decide to move to Mexico?" While, from a business standpoint, as real estate developers, the answer is obvious, our personal reasons for moving our family from upstate New York to Playa del Carmen are a bit more involved. Certainly, as many investors successfully do, we could have bought, built and sold our properties remotely, maintaining our home and comfortable lifestyle in the United States. Rather, we saw a tremendous opportunity to make a significant and meaningful change in our lives and the lives of our children.Read Part 1 of the series here: "I Thought You Were Driving !" ~ How a nice suburban family ended up in Playa del Carmen, Mexico~ Rob and I in the garden at La Cueva del Chango in Play...
Construction Update - September 2008
More articles from this author:2008-09-26 16:04:00 In anticipation of high season and the promised delivery dates of many projects, builders have been kicking it into overdrive to meet their deadlines. Lots of progress to show in this photo report. As always, click on the name of the project to see even more current photos, specific sales and pricing information.The Elements - Last year's biggest seller is feeling the pressure from the U.S. economic slump. Sales have slowed but the well funded developer is pressing ahead and they are on schedule to deliver in time for this high season. This property promises to be a very popular vacation rental option.Casa del Mar , also located on Coco beach, just south of the Elements, is also moving along well.Deva - Chunky on the outside, cool and funky on the inside. This well priced property is just a few moments walk from Coco Beach and is selling well. We were very impressed with the units and the view from the rooftop infinity pool is lovely.Arena is just n... More About: Construction , Update , September , 2008 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |



