Friday, July 9, 2010

Colours Abound!

I read on someone's blog a while back, that bloggers who use pictures are 'LAZY' bloggers. I couldn't disagree more!

Colours abound in Nature!

Colours abound in hanging hammocks!

Colours abound in patterned MAYAN jackets!

Colours abound in nature and school signs!

Colours abound in open hammocks!


Colours abound in a fishing boat prior to an 
afternoon storm!


Thursday, June 24, 2010

Paamul - RV Camping (permanent/temporary, Lodging, Diving


All campers, either permanent or temporary, have access to this simple, yet elegant pool and restaurant at Paamul. We LOVE to come here, 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen. It is quiet, different, peaceful and rustic. Paamul is a little tricky to describe because it is a RV Trailer park with a twist, for campers, divers and tourists wanting lodging. It is not a highly commercialized tourist area. Paamul is a well maintained RV park, with small hotels, a restaurant and spots for campers. There are 185 spots for RV's (135 permanent and 51 open). There are 12 spaces for tents.

Here, Alfredo relaxes in the infinity pool. People (non campers) can use the pool and chairs, by simply buying a drink (soda, beer, liquor). This is really a good deal. During the week, it is so empty and calm. Often a golf cart will pull up and the local residents go for a quick swim, into the ocean or to the breezy restaurant for a beer.

Another shot of the pool, reaching into the ocean. This beach is very close to the coral reefs and if you want Scuba Mex is happy to take you diving.

Although, mostly RV populate Paamal, you can stay in hotels or cabanas, so close to the ocean. This is the back of one new hotel and here you can see the staircase, UNDER A MEXICAN PALAPA.


Very interesting PERMANENT RV's are along the roads of this RV park. Here is a close up shot of an entrance. People own the land but must follow certain rules. The trailer and open living space must be under a palapa. This "trailer" has been covered with cement and painted. Usually, the kitchen and living space is outside.

This is another shot of the one above. You can see the stainless steel fridge.


Notice, these properties have a front area. Many are filled with plants and flowers.


And satellite dishes!!!!! See the trailer and outdoor living space under the palapa.

Forty years, ago, Paamul was a coconut ranch. The son of the original owners of the ranch, is the current owner of this unique, isolated area along the riveria maya. Many Canadians and Americans own the permanent RV spots and visit part time during the year. Once such couple is Glen and Susan. They spend their summers in Southern Ontario on Guelph Lake. Check out their blog www.palapalife.blogspot.com Their posting of April 10, 2010 provides some interesting information about Paamul. Also, a quick search on google will show many excellent photos to give you the Paamal feeling. We find ourselves heading to Paamal often for the quiet, peaceful, open feeling.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Moving Around Nature!


Although the ¨pillars¨ of this condo building
seem to be real tree trucks, it is just an illusion. They are
constructed to appear this way.

Watch carefully as you walk along many sidewalks in Playa
del Carmen. The sign with the E means No Parking,
No ESTACIONAMIENTO! The yellow line along the curb
also indicates No Parking. If you get a parking ticket, the
police put it on your windshield BUT also take your
back licence plate. So you must go to the police station
to get it back! No tickets for walking around trees on
sidewalks though!

This information palapa looks like it just belongs among
the trees and plants!

Drivers also need to be careful moving around nature on
city streets. You need to take a very wide right hand
turn entering from the side street on to this major road!

Walkers beware. Many people tend to just walk on the
side of the road. On the right, you see the underground
parking entrance to this condo building.

Another example of moving around nature!




Sunday, June 6, 2010

Just Hanging Out!


Nice beach to camp and HANG OUT at in Tulum!


Mexico BEACH soccer team JUST HANGING OUT during
half time in the final match of a two day
weekend tournament.

There were teams representing Mexico, England, Venezula, Spain,
Italy, Germany, Brazil, France, Switerland
and many more countries.

All the players live in Playa del Carmen.


Alfredo swinging and HANGING OUT at a beach bar
in Tulum.


Me just HANGING OUT in a hammock chair at the same
Tulum beach where Alfredo was hanging out.


Here, a young lady appeared to be meditating as she was
HANGING OUT at the beach on a early beautiful day
in Tulum.

Friday, May 14, 2010

I Do!








It is Friday afternoon in Playa del Carmen. As many resorts prepare for 6PM weddings on the beach, who would not say, I DO, to their loved one and the magnificant colour! Your senses are awakened to the brilliance of natural colour. Since my arrival back in Mexico, I have seen at least four weddings on the beach and not just on Fridays. Everyone in white. Some brides and grooms in bare feet. Flowers are in brides´ hair. Many wearing fashionable sunglasses. Guests carrying their stillo highheels and wondering, I am sure, why they brought them. Fathers proudly walking daughters down the sandy aisle. The pics show some wedding preparations taking place this afternooon and some colourful Mexican plants. Enjoy!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

It's Sunday - Let's Go To the BEACH!






When one conjures up thoughts of vacationing in the Rivera Maya, you think of and can find pictures on the Internet of pristine beaches filled with tourists, beach chairs, tables of drinks, appetizers and swimming pools near the ocean. I think you have the picture in your head. BUT, for the local Mexicans, Sunday is their beach day! It is beach day for the entire family. On Sunday, the Mexicans love to go to the beach with coolers filled with pop and beer, blankets, some with folding tables and lots of food. It is pure enjoyment to see the Mexicans enjoying THEIR day. In Playa Del Carmen, past the notarious Mamitas beach, you will eventually find the colossal beach. On occasion, Alfredo and I have got up at 7AM to go to this popular beach with the local Mexicans. Families are there early playing in the waves and water. It is a pure pleasure for me. The photos were taken on a Sunday.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Mexico Moves Sand, Canada Moves Snow

In 2005, Hurricane Wilma caused a great deal of destruction as well as soil erosion along the beach coasts of the Rivera Maya. An attempt was made to resolve the erosion of the beaches. It did not work.
In September 2009 (four months ago), a second attempt started in Cancun. The beach recovery has made its way to Playa del Carmen. Boats dredge sand from the ocean bottom and pipe, then dump it along the beaches. Huge pipes transport and pile sand on the beaches.



A great deal of controversy has surrounded this one billion peso project. 1.3 billion gallons of sand will be brought to the beaches. They are using 2 thousand tons of pipeline materials. The main controversy has been the ecological effects on the coral reefs and ocean bottom. It is a hard call as this area depends on its pristine, world famous beaches for the livehood of many people.


So now, the beach fronts of many of the Playa del Carmen hotels are off limits. The project was to take four months but as most large endeavours, there were many delays.

Each day, you can go and see the changes that occur. It is hard to believe how the beaches can be transformed so quickly.

My sister tells me that in British Columbia, Canada, snow is being moved up to the mountains to accommodate the Winter Olympics, beginning next month.




Monday, January 11, 2010

¡Recycling!

It is 6:30 AM and I am standing on the balcony of the bedroom. I take a close up shot of this view in the distance. It is not an uncommon sight, people going through garbage and collecting tins. There is no recycling for homes, condo or apartment buildings here. Playa del Carmen has just recently put recycling containers on the beach and the main street. These containers are so small, they fill quickly though. Garbage cans or bags, or in this case, the condo building has a small dumpster, are in front of all homes and buildings. The garbage is collected daily, sometimes twice. At all times of the day or night, families, mothers with young children, singles or couples are going through the garbage collecting tins. I have seen this practise for almost 7 years now. If I have a lot of tins, I put them in a bag and wait until someone comes by or I give the bag to them directly. They are grateful.

Once enough cans have been collected, these people will take them to an aluminum plant, to have them weighed and then to recycling. As you can imagine, they do not get a lot of money per kilogram but it is a small source of income for these people. The hardest part is when I see mothers and children collecting.
This couple leaves the dumpster as they found it. It looks like they are sharing a joke. I see they have sticks. Many don´t and use their bare hands to go through the garbage.

Now, it is 6:40 AM and they continue on until they find another garbage container, big or small. As I watch, another man approaches the last dumpster. He will be disappointed.


Sunday, January 3, 2010

¡Feliz Ano Neuvo!

At the stroke of midnight to welcome the new year, the 12 grapes were eaten and the sidra served. Each year, I can only manage 4 grapes but everyone else seems to eat all 12 in record breaking time. We had the T.V. on for the countdown and each had their glass of 12 grapes. Then sidra was poured into the glasses. After midnight, a meal is eaten. A very Happy New Year 2010!

1) OH, the grapes and sidra are a Mexican tradition. As you eat a grape, one for each month, you make a wish. Then you fill your glass with sidra and drink that. Grapes and bottles of sidra appear in Walmart and Mega right after Christmas. Here are other New Year´s Eve traditions in Mexico. We followed all of them but did not go around the block with the suitcase, we just walked out the door and back in again.
2) On New Year´s Eve wear red underwear for good luck in love in the coming year, or yellow for financial success. The stores in Mexico are filled with red and yellow undergarments right after Christmas.
3) Walk around the block with a suitcase if you're hoping to travel in the coming year.
4) Open your door and sweep out all the bad.
5) Put money in your shoe for financial success.