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July 12, 2010

Summer in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Ten things I believe about living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico in the summer

If you are thinking of coming down for a visit or to live, these thoughts may help you plan and pack.

- Intense heat and high humidity is good for the skin.
- Living with access to a pool is a necessity.
- Owning two or three swimsuits is important so you always have a dry one.
- It’s fun to change clothes three times a day.
- The calories from iced coffees don’t count because you sweat the calories away.
- Two or three showers a day are usually needed and are also healthy for your skin.
- To work out with no air conditioning in your gym burns lots of fat.
- One should always carry water with them and drink lots and that is healthy.
- Sunhats can be a fashion statement.
- You can wear less clothing and that saves on laundry.

All in all, I am very glad we moved our family here; hot summers and all. Just look at those palm trees! Now excuse me, my hammock is beckoning me and I think I feel a breeze.

Enjoy life's adventures!


Courtesy: Suzanne Marie Bandick by The Humorous Side of Living in Mexico

July 7, 2010

Parque La Ceiba, Riviera Maya

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), green areas are indispensable for healthy human development, and recommends cities to at least have 9 m2 of green areas per person.

In Quintana Roo, accelerated urban and tourist development have sacrificed green areas and city inhabitants do not have enough space for healthy family leisure in a natural environment.
Because of this, La Ceiba Park, the Heart of Playa was created as an initiative of Flora, Fauna and Culture of Mexico, A.C. (FFCM). It was also an invitation to the different sectors of the community to teach people about the importance of having public spaces that promote environmental and human health in our city.

Parque La Ceiba is an important step that will contribute to improving the quality of life for people, and at the same time offer spaces for the conservation of our natural and cultural heritage.

It offers free and open spaces like pathways, an amphitheatre, multiuse rooms, exposition areas, kiosks, picnic areas, children's playground, as well as a nursery that promotes the rescue of local vegetation. Besides the cultural and environmental benefits, Parque La Ceiba is an example of the benefits that can be reaped from the alliances among the private sector, government and society's initiative proposing programs and projects that contribute to reaching an equilibrium between urban and tourist development with the human, cultural and natural side of it, using the creation of green areas and spaces for family recreation and cultural development for Playa del Carmen's population.

At Parque La Ceiba you can try art workshops and physical activities. In addition to this, one saturday each month, “Sábados de Tianguis” are organized, there you can buy and sell food from the region, arts & crafts, plants, and much more.

Take a look the current summer calendar available:
More info:
http://www.florafaunaycultura.org/
parquelaceiba@florafaunaycultura.org



10 Things To Do In The Rain in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

It is true, we have rainy days. And though it seems a sucky day when it rains, it really is a great day as you then do other things than go to the beach, or walk around. Playa Del Carmen also has fun things indoors, but considering that most people want to be outside, very few know about these indoor things to do.

1. Go to the movies. There are two movie theatres, in Centro Maya and Plaza Las Americas. For non spanish speakers, it is a perfect way to spend the day. English movies are in English with spanish subtitles so it is like being at home going to the movies. The popcorn is great, the movies are recent hits and it is a great way to hide from the rain.

2. Go shopping in the local malls. Mexcio has some great deals all the time…we wont tell you about our 12 USD dresses and pants we can get…but I think the cat is now out of the bag. 5th ave is not that fun in the rain but the malls are perfect.

3. Play a game of scrabble Many hotels have board games and it is fun to sit down with your travel mate or other guests and play a board game….scrabble is our personal favorite…and can be played in any language..

4. Sleep. If you are on vacation why not sit in your hotel room and sleep. When was the last time you could actually sleep all day and catch up on your zzzz’s and feel guilty that you are not cleaning, repairing or doing something in the house. There is nothing for you to fix, or do so spend the day dreaming and relaxing..what a treat.

5. Go Diving. whether you are wet on land or in the water, when you are diving it is all the same. Never tried diving? Well a rainy day is perfect day to try…

6. Get all your Christmas shopping done online Wow an entire day to surf and buy and then have everything shipped for the time you your return home.

7. Go to the ruins. Pack an extra set or clothes and go to the ruins when no one will be there. How great to have one of the archeological sites to your self. Umbrella in hand, the Mayas lived in the rain too so you can see it from a different perspective!

8. Check out the Grocery stores. grocery stores are a cultural tour in and of themselves so go to Chedraui, Soriana or Mega and see what residents have for local groceries. You can tell a lot about a society from their grocery stores….

9. Have a long brunch. A three hour brunch with coffee, chatting, a book or the newspaper. There are over 700 eateries in Playa Del Carmen to choose from. Not only is the food decadent but the time to eat leisurely and just relax is even better..

10. Go fora drive. Just because it is raining in Playa del Carmen does nto mean it is raining everywhere else. Tropical Rains are very different from rains in the north… we have seen rains that are city specific and or street specific, yes we get crazy rain where it rains on one side of the street but not the other…so your tanning may just be 45 minutes away…

Raining days are gifts and get you thinking about your vacation differently. Take advantage of these days and do something different….! rarely does it last all day and rarely are you stuck somewhere without anything to do…rain is fun, it is just provides different opportunities…

Courtesy: by Life Just Became Simpler

July 4, 2010

Mexico’s Economy Races Ahead

Yesterday’s cover story in the New York Times reported that Mexico and other Latin American economies are significantly outpacing their northern counterparts and most other countries around the world.

While Europe and the U.S. worry over massive deficits and fears over a fragile recovery, Mexico and other Latin countries have been controlling debt, keeping taxes low and inflation under control which is encouraging investment and fueling growth.

Mexico is now surging out of the recession with a 4.3 percent growth rate in the first quarter and is on pace to reach 5 percent this year, "outpacing the U.S. economy", Canada and most of Europe. In fact, the Mexican economy is growing so quickly the Central Bank had to up its growth view almost 2 points from just a few months ago.

Currently, Mexico is enjoying the lowest business tax rate of 13 major countries, the strongest currency (peso) against the dollar, and one of the fastest growing real estate investment markets in the world.

If you have specific questions I may be able to offer some guidance and real estate investment options.

Courtesy and by Micahel Zenn from Investment Properties Mexico

Celebration the 4th of July at Wicky's Restaurant & Beach Club

Get ready for the 4th of July Bash, Sunday at 4pm with live music from the Nasty Bastards Band, All American Buffet,Beach Games & Fireworks!


Wicky's Restaurant & Beach Club

Prime Steaks & Fresh Market Seafood
Wicky’s sophisticated, air-conditioned beachfront restaurant and seaside terrace is the premier choice for your night out in Playa del Carmen. Wicky's proudly serves Certified Angus Beef imported fresh directly from the United States and fresh seafood caught from our Caribbean waters. We expertly age our hand-cut steaks for maximum flavor and tenderness, before finishing them to your specifications in our 1300 degree Fahrenheit broilers. Dinners are paired with the finest wine labels from around the world and our bilingual servers will exceed your expectations assuring the most exceptional culinary experience in the Riviera Maya.

Breakfast, Lunch & Beach Club

By day, relax at Playa's newest beach club, or enjoy breakfast or lunch on our seaside terrace or in our air-conditioned restaurant with free WiFi, and let our professional, bilingual staff take care of the rest!

Meetings, Weddings & Special Events
Exquisite seaside restaurant features sophisticated ambiance for corporate minds, intimate affairs or extravagant events from 10-375 people. Call us to book our private room with spectacular sea views featuring Playa's only cascading glass waterfall elegantly accented with mood lighting for special occasions or ask about our buyout opportunities for larger events.

Call the Wicky's staff at 011-52-984-873-3541, Toll-Free Within USA: 1-877-WICKYS1 (1-877-942-5971), Toll-Free Within Mexico: 001-877-WICKYS1 (001-877-942-5971) or visit us at www.wickysplayadelcarmen.com

July 3, 2010

Tips to buy Real Estate in Cancún.

Cancun is not only an amazing resort destination it's becoming a popular location in which to invest in real estate. With over 3 million tourists visiting the area, a number on the rise, which is known as a tropical paradise, its no wonder more and more people are looking to invest in time share's, condos and other homes. Not surprisingly though, this is one of the most costly locations and the home of a lot of new developments and incredible luxury condominiums. Where to buy in the Cancun area is an interesting topic today since there is so much new development, such disparate pricing and such varied opportunity.

Geographically, Cancun and the Riviera Maya are on the eastern coast of Mexico, about 550 miles south of Miami. Cancun Island sits adjacent to the Mexican coast and houses the most development and the large number of hotels and attractions. Still, as this destination has become more popular, the hotel, timeshare and condominium developments have expanded as well, along with golf courses, improved infrastructure and access to more local flora and fauna so that now Cancun Island is not the only developed area.

Cancun, located in the state of Quintana Roo in Mexico has an international airport and a flourishing economy. The most popular housing options are apartments or condominiums, typically in small apartment complexes, although that landscape is steadily changing. If you look at any Cancun real estate listings, you'll see a vast number of pre-construction Cancun condominium opportunities that can range up to the millions of dollars. These luxury developments offer all the amenities you could need but you do pay the price.

As in all of Mexico, foreigners can purchase land and condominiums in any location, with one caveat. According to the Mexican Constitution, no foreigner can own property within 50 kilometers of the any Mexican border, or within 50 kilometers of the coast, but today this is allowed as long as the property is owned through a bank trust. Essentially, this means that you, as the buyer, still have all the rights and privileges associated with owning the property - the bank merely holds the title in name. This law has allowed many developers and foreign investment capital into several Mexican resort cities and has allowed for a lot of growth within in the Mexican economy.

If you do want to purchase Cancun real estate, you should definitely visit prior to determining the location in which you wish to purchase and the kind of development or home you buy. Once you establish your chosen location and your budget, you'll need to find the right professional help to close on your real estate purchase.

Visit us at www.rivieramayaweb.com to start planning your upcoming family vacation or relocation to our sunny destination.

Courtesy: Grupo Expansión División Inmobiliaria/Cancún Real Estate

July 1, 2010

Tickets Available Online for Taste of Playa 2010

Limited release all-inclusive VIP Passes and discounted sampling tickets are now available for Taste of Playa 2010 through advance purchase online at http://www.tasteofplaya.com/. The highly anticipated culinary event will take place November 21 in Playa del Carmen.

More than 50 area restaurants, bars and specialty food retailers will participate in the daylong festival, which celebrates the cultural diversity and culinary traditions that have helped make the Riviera Maya one of the top travel destinations in the world. Last year’s premiere event was so successful that organizers anticipate attendance to more than double this year, and VIP Passes are expected to sell out quickly. The passes, which cost $35 US, give holders early entrance to the event where they can mingle with the chefs and be the first to sample the signature dishes. VIP Pass holders will also have access to the exclusive VIP lounge, a comfortable seating area reserved especially for them.

“VIP Passes were available only locally last year and sold out so fast that many of our international guests were unable to purchase them when they arrived in Playa,” said Executive Committee member Monica Hartlief, “This year, we want to make sure everyone who wants a pass has a chance to purchase it … but don’t wait too long, because there are only 120 VIP Passes for sale.”

Individual sampling tickets will be readily available up to and at the event, but those who purchase them online before October 31 will receive a discount. To purchase sampling tickets and VIP Passes, or for more information about the festival and its participants, visit http://www.tasteofplaya.com.

Taste of Playa is a community-oriented culinary event that celebrates the creativity and diverse cultural influences of chefs throughout the Riviera Maya. Taste of Playa 2010 will take place on November 21 in Playa del Carmen’s Parque Fundadores. The event is open to the public, with tickets and all-inclusive VIP Passes available for sale. Proceeds will go to a food education program initiated by the Rotary Club in Playa del Carmen that will directly benefit the children and families of the Riviera Maya.

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Media Contact:
Nicola Inwood or Michele Kinnon
marketing@tasteofplaya.com
www.tasteofplaya.com
011 52 1 984 125 5608