Renee Wathelet - Perspective on Human Fragileness

Heartfelt sympathy to Renee's friends and family. Renee's life reflects the beauty and fraileness of life. Renee gives us strength to follow our passions and live our dreams. My father, when he was in his 60's, lost a life time friend in a similar fashion. His friend was living in Toronto and was brutally stabbed to death, in his Toronto apartment. Tragedies help us to reflect on the beauty of life as well as its mysteries and sometimes I feel, its injustices, its fragile nature.
My photos were taken in Tulum. I dedicate them to Renee, the early morning and the Mexican setting sun.

Mexico´s Independence Day, 1

Taken from: www.gomexico.about.com
September 15th, 16th

In the early hours of September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, rang the church bell to gather the townspeople. He called for the people of Mexico to rise up against the Spanish Crown, thus initiating Mexico's War of Independence. The country did not achieve independence until 1821, but it is this event, known as the Grito de Dolores which is commemorated every year in town squares across Mexico.

The largest Independence Day celebration takes place in Mexico City's Zocalo, which is decorated from the beginning of September with red, white and green lights and Mexican flags. On the 15th, at 11 pm the President of the Republic goes out onto the central balcony of the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), rings the bell (the same bell Hidalgo rang in 1810, brought to Mexico City in 1886) and cries to the people gathered in the square below, who enthusiastically respond "¡Viva!"
The words of the Grito may vary, but they go something like this:
¡Vivan los heroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Viva!¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva!¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva!¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez! ¡Viva!¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva!¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva!¡Viva nuestra independencia! ¡Viva!¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva! At the end of the third ¡Viva Mexico! the crowd goes wild waving flags and ringing noisemakers. Then fireworks light up the sky as the crowd cheers. Later the Mexican national anthem is sung.

The celebrations described above, are played out in most Mexican communities. Before the president or mayor comes out at 11PM, entertainment and food are being enjoyed by thousands.
In Playa del Carmen, a musical group, who would perform in the evening, tests out the sound centre in el centro! The time was around 1PM in the afternoon. The crowds began coming at 7PM.

This display was on the right side of Playa del Carmen´s city hall. On the left was Viva.¨ Viva Mexico (Bravo Mexico)

There were several big screens in the town centre so the crowds could see the many kinds of entertainment and speeches. The mayor spoke from the top of the ¨palace¨or city hall.

Independence Day Celebrations, 2

In Playa del Carmen, there were 1000´s of people gathered in the town centre (el centro) for the celebrations, young and old alike. I am not good at taking night photos! There were lots of food carts, musical groups and dances The stage was across the street from the city hall in the picture. This is the balcony where the major calls for Viva Mexico cheers!

As part of the preparations, street vendor carts start appearing two weeks before Independence Day. Unfortunately, this photo does not show the striking colours of these carts that are pulled along the roads. Here two vendors take a rest. People buy flags, horns, drums and trinkets. The noise at the celebration shows such national pride. The flags wave high.

The police presence was felt all day on September 15th. The streets were closed off early in the morning and the police patrolled all blocked streets.

The evening ends with the mayor of Playa del Carmen coming out to cheer with the crowds at 11PM (Viva Mexico - see above). His speech is followed by fireworks. Each firework sent up, exploded white, then broke out into three parts, green, white and red (the Mexican flag´s colours). The fireworks were spectacular with the 1000´s of people clapping, blowing horns, beating drums and waving flags.

Under this ¨palapa¨is a tourist information booth. It is right beside the city hall.

Public School Neighborhoods, 1

Water is being delivered to neighborhoods. You can buy your water from street vendors or corner stores. Yesterday, we stopped a truck and paid $1.40 for the traditional 20 L container of water. You must return your empty jug for a new one. If I remember correctly, it is $6.00 or so to buy your first container. This is drinking and cooking water. I cook with this water, but Alfredo will use the tap water for cooking.

Two families would live in this concrete structure.

Here is a photo of another home in one neighborhood in Playa del Carmen. Here is one of the many contradictions I see daily. As you know, Playa del Carmen is one of the world´s top tourist destinations, for fun in the sand and sun. This neighborhood, where the photos of the homes are taken, would be about 10 city blocks from the beach. Homes sell for millions near the beach.

A proud father walks his son and daughter to the primary school, you will see in the following post. They still had a way to go on this gravel road. Everyone seems in good spirits when I took this photo Thursday morning!

Public School Neighborhoods, 2

This little girl cried for her mama for such a long time at the gates of a public kindergarten/primary school in Playa del Carmen. Over my thirty years of teaching, how many times have I heard this same September cry from Kindergarten students! To make matters worse, a few minutes later a little boy arrived and also clung to the bars as his mom turned and walked away. His mom and I shared a knowing smile of his love for her and how her son would settle down in a while.

How universal sand is! The diggers, the explorers, the searchers of gold! I hope Clarksdale children in Ontario, Canada are enjoying their sand pit as I post this blog! Here´s to you, Shelley, a true believer in Kindergarten sand and water tables.

A slightly, more confident Mexican student walks to his Kindergarten door. Is that a Curious George backpack? Cute uniform, eh?

A little girl joins the boys at the sand hill! Thank goodness the bell has not rung yet!

Here is the primary school, behind a small police station. Can you see the horse in the lower right hand side of the photo? Marie, you get the close ups of the horse in your email!

Labour Day Weekend 1

This is another favourite beach of mine in Mexico. I call it the turtle beach. It is a protected area and there is no tourist construction allowed. There is one building with washrooms and a study centre for those who study the sea turtles. This is the beach where we came last year to see the turtles lay their eggs. It is hard to believe our planet is in trouble when you are on this beach. Do you like our new beach umbrella and chair? Since there is nothing commercial, you must bring any chairs or food you want.

Here is Alfredo reading his morning newspaper. He will only stay in the shade unless he is swimming. Four or five more groups came to the beach while we were there. It is becoming much more popular. We stayed about three hours, ten in the morning until one in the afternoon. I swim, walk and relax in my chair!

This is the sign for the beach, along the highway. The name is Mayan, Xcacel, Xcacelito, Sanctuary of the Turtle Marina. At the bottom, it says ¨controlled access¨. When you get close to the beach, there is a gate and you must make a donation towards the turtle studies. We asked about seeing the turtles hatch this year and were told to watch the newspapers as it could be anytime in September. That would be something to see.

Labour Day Weekend 2

A Taste of Playa

This was a special event in Playa del Carmen on Saturday from 3 to 9PM. Thirty five restaurants prepared displays and had food samples, from wine, seafood, traditional mexican cuisine to dessert crepes. You bought tickets, each worth 10 pesos or one dollar. The booths asked either 1 or 2 tickets for a sample.
I took this photo, because of my love of candy floss (thanks to Clarksdale Public School)! I laughed when I saw this man because he was not actually part of the event but knew that perhaps he could sell his product. Often on the streets in Playa you will see candy floss being sold like this. They visit many places. For those of you that read Alfredo´s birthday post, I bought candy floss at his birthday party! You can buy pink, purple or blue for 20 pesos, 2 dollars. There you go, for my sophisticated taste!!!!






Alfredo awaits a chocolate fruit crepe for dessert. He had bananas, strawberries, kiwi and crushed nuts in his crepe. Of course, he shared with me.

From a Taste of Playa website:

Each year, Taste of Playa will donate proceeds from the event to a local non-profit food or clean water program. The goal of the Taste of Playa is to help develop and sustain community programs that will have a positive effect on the residents of Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya.

This event was non profit and the proceeds went to an international school just outside Playa del Carmen. The school´s philosophy is based on Waldorf principals. YOU REALLY MUST CHECK OUT THE SCHOOL´S WEBSITE. They quote world leaders such as Gandhi (home page) and St Francis of Assisi.

I love the following quote from their admission pages:

There is no uniform, but clothes and shoes are not permitted with pictures of superheroes, cartoons, brand names or advertising.

www.akluum.com

Labour Day Weekend 3

Carmen Chapel is one block from the beach. On Saturday (of Labour Day weekend), there were two Mexican weddings held. The first at 1PM and the second at 6PM. I don´t now if you can see the ocean through the arched window but it is a magnificent view! The chapel is in one of busiest tourist streets in Playa.

At any time of any day, you can see people in the chapel praying and reflecting.

This new chapel in Playa del Carmen was built 2 years ago. The ¨Virgen del Carmen¨is the patron saint of fisherman. Historically and still today, Playa del Carmen was and is a fishing village. Early in the morning, you can see the fisherman return with their catches of the day.

Public Schools, Private Schools

Here is the entrance to a PUBLIC school in Playa del Carmen. This public school is upper elementary, grades 6, 7 and 8. A picture is worth a thousand words. At this school, there are two different times. The first group attends from 7:30AM until 1:30PM. The next group of students arrive from 2PM until 8PM. This school is across the street from a busy bus station and is appropriately four blocks from the apartment.

This is the entrance to a SMALL private school, one block from the apartment. It accomodates students from JK to secondary. It would cost families appropriately $200.00 a month and all their learning materials.

This photo looks inside the gate of the PUBLIC school. Can you see the two classroom entrances? There are three more structures like this. At this school, the soccer field, band practise and meeting areas are being reconstructed.

At Its'atil (this PRIVATE school), you can see two signs. One sign is the mission statement for the school and the other is the vision statement. I have seen Spanish copies of Stephen Covey´s 7 Habits here. In Spanish, Los 7 hábitos de la gente altamente efectiva. The mission and vision statements are posted on all four sides of the school.

Sunday - Part One

Sundays in Mexico are quiet relaxing! The streets seem empty because everyone is on their way to the beach. Sundays are family days. We decided to go to one of my favourite beaches at Puerto Adventuras Sunday morning. I knew this would involve our breakfast at a popular, roadside taco stand, on the highway before our exit to the beach! Here is Alfredo, with a big smile, waiting to give our taco filling requests. It is 11AM, Sunday, August 30th.

Here is our outdoor table and in front, a fresh juice stand.

I had three tacos and freshly squeezed orange juice. My first taco was a cream sauce and peppers. The second taco was chicken and the third rice. The best part of the chicken and rice taco was that the sauce was mole (mow-lay). I love mole. It takes forever to make and is a combination of lots of peppers and chocolate. It is somewhat sweet, but the peppers give a taste like nothing else! Check out Sunday-Part Two (below)!

Sunday - Part Two

This is one of the first beaches that I went to along the Rivera Maya, six years ago, when I lived in Mexico. That is, with the exception of the glorious beach in Playa del Carmen! It is about 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen on the way to Tulum. It is the beach at Puerto Adventuras! With each trip to Mexico, Alfredo, tiredlessly, on one Sunday, will take me back to this beach that I love. Well, the resort isn´t that bad either...ha, ha.
Hope you can feel the lovely breeze and hear the soft waves!

Of course, there is a palapa at this resort and beach. Under the palapa, there is a bar and grill. It never fails, that we order pina coladas!

As we had our afternoon drink, I took a picture UNDER THE PALAPA. Cool menu, eh?

School Begins!

School began in Mexico on Monday, August 24th! As in Canada, the stores are full of Back to School indicators! This sign in Spanish says ¨Happy Return to Classes!¨ The students must purchase all consumable materials for themselves and for the classroom! There are stores that sell necessary texts and books. Students must purchase these as well. Nothing is provided by the schools.

All students in Mexico wear uniforms! All stores sell them cheaply. Each private school, has a different colour of skirt or pant. All shirts and blouses are white. All public schools girls wear pink skirts and the boys navy blue shorts or pants. In Walmart or the Mega (a big Mexican chain), the white tops sell for $2.50 and the bottoms for around $4.00. I always thought this topic of uniforms was a great one to debate for staff and students. I love to see the school children in their simple 100%, Mexican made uniforms!

I love going into this store to buy fruit and vegetables. This display of pinatas was right beside the ¨Happy Return to Classes¨and uniform pics. How bright and colourful. In Mexico, when a student has a birthday, the family provides lunch and a pinata for the child´s class.

Here is my palapa shot for this post! I took this picture UNDER A PALAPA on the beach. I was laying on my chair and just looked up and shot the photo!

A Mexican Party!

Can you imagine being a member of this Miriachi band and playing in the middle of the day in 34 degree heat with a humidex of 40 degrees? For Mexican birthday, YES!!

On Friday, August 21st, Alfredo celebrated his birthday. We went, along with his son, to a restaurant. On Saturday, Alfredo threw a birthday party for his family and friends. In Mexico, it is traditional, for the person who is celebrating to make all the preparations for the party, except the cake which is provided by a family member. What is a Mexican party without a Mariachi band. Alfredo hired the band to play for an hour. Traditionally, the band plays some songs and then asks the audience for requests. Since 30 family and friends were at the party, the songs continued and continued. After the hours, the applause brought the band back for two more songs!

I include this picture because here Alfredo and his son sit and wait for the guests to arrive. When I took this picture, we had just arrived. It was 2:30 and the party was to begin at 2! For those of you reading this blog and know me and my need for being punctual, you will understand a little more into the Mexican style of life. A couple of hours later all 30 guests were there. Here is a brief timeline on how Alfredo prepared for his party - Saturday afternoon 2-9 PM.

1. Thursday - sent out invitations

2. Friday night, 6:30PM went to restaurant to make reservations and pre order drinks and appetizers

3. Friday night, 9PM phoned various Mariachi bands to find best price, then booked

4. Saturday morning at 11 AM went to order 10 BBQ chicken, rice and tortillas to take to the restaurant. It is always amazing for me to see how smoothly this party came together and over the past six years other events I have seen planned with 24 hours. Alfredo continues to tease me about me not believing he just went into the shower at 2PM the day of his party that was scheduled to begin at 2! He said, ¨Trust me. No one will be there until at least 3.¨Of course he was right. The party was perfect!

Here is my photo of a palapa for this post. This is an apartment complex with several buildings. The smaller palapa is the security palapa for vehicles entering and leaving. The one behind is a place for people to meet for parties and eating. This complex is about two blocks from the apartment here.

On Sunday (after the Friday and Saturday birthday weekend), we went to the beach around noon. On the way back to the apartment around 5PM, we stopped at this little bar for a drink (pop only) and a hamburger. As we walked by we saw a special, a beer and hamburger for 5o pesos ($5.00). When I asked about the Canada connection, the waitress told me the owner was Canadian!