February 2010 , the Olympics are coming to Vancouver, Canada and the surrounding area. Oh what fun and what a great experience! Some are saying..oh my goodness I will be help captive in my own city…
Well, being the good Canadians that we are, we have thought of an idea. But we can not take credit for it. If you do not want the crowds and all the excitement, why not get out of town for 2 weeks, rent out your house to some visitors and use the money to come to mexico for 2 weeks. It is a great way to avoid the crowds, pay for your winter vacation and return refreshed, rejuvenated, and tanned…with some extra Vitamin D in your system. To top it off, if you book your Olympic get out of town getaway before Dec 15, 2009 we will give you a 10% discount on your room. Now how is that for an incentive!
The bookings are already coming in from those who really do not want to be there. Yes this is a proud day, the Olympics in B.C. and if we were living in the area, we would be there with bells on. there are a lot of volunteer opportunities, the lottery for the opening and closing ceremonies have been completed, so if you did not win the tickets, make your own lottery! Put your house up for rent and escape!
It is a thought, but a pretty good one….sitting on the beach with your PA and watching the olympics while you soak up the sun….the decision is yours.
For hotel rates and bookings email us at info@tropicalcasablanca.com or check out the webpage at www.tropicalcasablanca.com
The biggest question on the planet in trade journals, in friendly discussions and really through world wide circles is…what really is the key component that has effected world wide travel…………hmmmmm..if I had a silver ball…
So check this out and put in your two sense (or it is cents) worth..
We will report the results October 2 2009.
Playa Del Carmen has been known as a beach destination, a gateway to the Mayan Ruins, a diving destination and a chill town where people felt they were getting away from big city life. The history of Playa Del Carmen started in the 1970’s when divers wanted to catch the ferry to the ‘new’ dive destination of Cozumel, discovered by the one and only Jacque Cousteau, well not discovered, but made popular by this diving icon who publicized the beauty of the 2nd largest Barrier reef in the world.
After a recent event held in Playa, People are talking about this town as a food destination. Yes, a food destination that they are right! Taste of Playa was an event developed by a group of business women who felt that there was one area that Playa was famous for but not highlighted. THE FOOD! So on September 5, 2009 over 25 restaurants came together in the central Zocalo, Parque Fundadores, and bam! Residents and tourists had a lightbulb go off in their heads! Playa Del Carmen is a food destination, and we have to say, people were impressed.
Other international cities are great at highlighting their chefs, their restaurants and their produce. Here in Playa, people just create and they forget about getting the word out. We don’t have many international publicists who tell the world how great the food it, restaurants just cook, create and make people happy. But the word is out and a portion of the Playa Del Carmen restaurants put their food on display. The result, great food, a great time, great feedback and people are now understanding the genius of the chefs in this area.
So what was so great about the day? This event and the restaurants that participated did educate the public on what they had to offer. They showed how they use local ingredients to to create great flavours, and great meals. Local chefs and international chefs who have chosen Playa Del Carmen as their home and business destination, worked together to show people how they use basic ingredients and traditional influences to make world class meals. Tacos are not just tacos any more, cochinta pibil, an ancient mayan recipe, is not just a meal served at special occasions. Playa Del Carmen is no longer a place of taco stands and street food, though this is a part of what makes Playa so special, it is a food destination that compares to any other international city in the world. Bold statement but true! And there are some pretty consciencous chefs out there that continue to improve and work on their craft, food.
If you have never thought of Playa Del Carmen as a food destination, think again. With over 700 eateries in the city, there is a variety that compares to Toronto, or New York. There is a variety that matches any price point, any desire or any craving. Welcome to the new foodies haven and it would be to your advantage to check out www.tasteofplaya.com to research the restaurants that participated and the new ones booking for 2010. Taste of Playa is dedicated to highlight the creativity of chefs in the area and will continue to bring new information to people coming to visit. Check it out and email at info@tasteofplaya.com if you want further information on Playa restaurants, lastest events and upcoming food demonstrations.
We have some very very good news! And considering the global situation right now for everyone we are happy to be the bearers of great news!
Recently Abyss Dive Center, Tank-Ha Dive Center and Protec Advanced Training Facility came together and agreed on a joint project called the Riviera Maya Dive Alliance. This Alliance, founded by the three dive centers, is here to promote diving activities and events in the Riviera Maya. This is a milestone decision and no one has heard of such an alliance being done, we think world wide.
There are formalized organizations all over the world, PADI is a formalized dive association, APSA is a formalized local association, but this is the first time dive centers have gathered together to share expertise, ideas and resources to fuel a diving destination. these dive centers have been friends for a long time, and they are all passionate about what they do. As most corporations are downsizing and thinking outside the box, these three owners and their employees have gotten together to combat the current global business changes.
All dive ceters have been friends and dive business owners for a long time. We have been through a lot together and this weird thing going on in the world is just another thing, but it required some attention and required some thoughtful strategy. The Riveria Maya Dive Alliance is what came out of some discussions and we think it is great. there is strength in numbers and already we are witnessing this strength.
What has sprung out of this is a great new contest for all divers, cave divers, cavern divers, open water divers, and yes even snorkelers. The 1st annual RIVIERA MAYA SCUBA DIVING PHOTO CONTEST has been born! And we think it is the first photo contest that includes all three areas with the opportunity for rebreathers, snorkelers and tech divers. By the end of this there will be a great gallery and documentation of the reefs and caverns systems in the area. NOW HOW IS THAT FOR BRAINSTORMING!
the dates for the contest will be December 5 to the 12th 2009, just in time for some great scuba photos to be turned into Christmas presents for your family and friends. and if that does not work for you then a trip to Mexico will enable you to do some inexpensive christmas shopping before the holidays!!! The website will all the information is posted on www.divingphotocontest.com . there are special dive packages, with accomodations, and the week is filled with free seminars, so there will be some education mixing itself into the pot.
To top off this great news, we can also announce that the title sponsor the event will be Canon Cameras, a long standing friend with Tank Ha dive center and they are thrilled that the dive centers have started this incredible initiative. check out the information about the Riveria Maya Dive Alliance on their new webpage at www.scubadivinginmexico.com
This is exciting news not only for us but for divers all over the world, as one stop dive shopping just got alot easier and availability to dive information just became a lot more fun!
Watch for more news in the upcoming weeks as this event starts to unfold and more sponsors come on board!
It was fun to make and even more fun to watch….
For your viewing pleasure and information. It was really fun doing this and we thank Russell and his team for getting us together and doing some fun hours of filming…
http://community.playadelcarmen.com/video/taste-of-playa-international
The Taste of Playa ‘Chick’ committee is rocking and rolling again with some new stuff in the works. Last week, Monica and Nicola were asked to attend a press conference at the local jail, this is the long term jail not the over night, oopps I got too drunk, jail.
As a part of the process for the implementation of Taste of Playa, it was suggested that we make a donation of medication and sporting equipment to the local longer term jail. MOnica arranged for the medications, Nicola arranged for the sporting equipment and also convinced Dave to donate old Treasure Hunt Abyss Tshirts that were from past years to the inmates. Off we went to the outskirts of Playa Del Carmen in an non-airconditioned car, that is death in itself in August, to the front steps of the Municipal Jail.
Now just a bit of background on Nicola and Monica. Theya re two very strong, unafraid women who are not generally intimidated by anything. Give them a job, no matter how hard or how challenging, and they will do it. When they found themselves in the jail stuck in a room with bars, it was the waiting room for visitors in the general courtyard, they felt bad, as the inmates had a clear view of them and there was a feeling of seperation. It felt like Nicola and Monica were in jail and it did not seem right to have these guys looking into the cage where they were waiting for the others to arrive for the press conference.
The courtyard was an outdoor space that held the inmates, over 372 of them, and they were making hammocks, beaded jewlery, furniture and attending a church sermon. Nicola and Monica wanted out and wanted to check out the things that were being made and the items that the inmates were asked to do or produce. With a local guard in tow, the women went around and learned more about hammock making then they have ever seen in their lives…and then the other wares came out and each inmate explained in detail how they made their things, how they sold them and of course, wouldwe buy something.
It was an eye opening situation and these two women spent over 40 minutes chatting, understanding and getting to know the inmates in the Municipal Jail. They were not dumb, but when having a tour of the jail and trying to understand the level of crime that these guys had committed, the answer was “these are the stupid guys, petty theft, weapon charges, robbery, etc…these were not the federal offenders who had committed murder, major drug crimes, etc.” Some may be falsely accused as happens all over the world and they will be released back into society, they are not hard core criminals at the moment and with rehabilitation may not return to their lifestyle that got them put in.
Monica and Nicola were touched and their minds started to work overtime to see how they could assist in the rehabilitation of the inmates. the inmates were working hard, they were proud of what they were doing and it is thought that few know that the local jail is selling hammocks. After the press conference with local municipal leaders, the conversations continued as to how the two local woman could help more than through the donations. No we were not going to become missionaries and talk the words of the bible and rehabilitate the spirits of these men, we wanted to think of a way to concretely effect the lives of these men who embraced our questions and inquisitiveness…As the Director of Health said in his speech at the press conference, “We are all one and we are only seperated at the moment by the these walls, for a short period of time, and these women want to show that you are part of the whole and will return to the whole in a few months. You are not forgotten”
So stay tuned for the ideas that these women come up with AFTER the event as the event is taking up most of their time. taste of Playa is rolling out fast and is going very well..this month is a busy month getting everything prepared and ready for SEPTEMBER 5, 2009. If you have not booked your flight i would think about doing it now…
On July 26, 2009 the Mayan New Year began and this year it is the Self Existing Yellow Seed. I dont know if you know but Catalino, our maintenance man, is Mayan and we do follow the language, the history and the New Year of this great civilization. We all find it fascintating and look forward to the new learnings that we have.
Last year was the year of the Blue Electric Storm, a time for cleansing, rehabilitation, and just cleaning out your stuff. this year is an awakening year, a year to realize your potential and dreams, your visions and desires. Yes I am sounding a bit spiritual and hokey, but we find this educational. the Mayans were great mathmaticians, and they have had a huge influence on the philosophies and beliefs of the people living in the Yucatan. Part of life here is learning and understanding the different perspectives of others and how they make sense of the world.
‘This information was taken from a webpage that explains in English the yellow seed. Whether you believe this or not, it is still fun to read and understand others ideas of the world.
Qualities of Yellow Seed: seed, seeding manifestation, self-germination, fertile ground, creation and gestation, patterning of the light, opening, possibility erupting.
Yellow Seed is the ordered pattern of growth. Just as a seed contains the hologram of its completion, the process of manifestation follows a natural order. The charged seed, your true desire or vision, becomes the focus for germination.
Your true desires and dreams contain an innate intelligence that can break through even the rigidity of fixed expectations. Planting a new seed, even in the hard soil of old belief systems, can bring unexpected magic and growth.
Be willing to break open the constraining shells of past patterns, the shackles of belief structures. Call forth your creative involvement with life. This involvement frees and awakens the powerful energy of the life force, shifting your perceptions and experience, catalyzing the manifestation of your dreams. Participate spontaneously in your growth, unrestricted by the illusion of old structures that once provided safety. Move forward into the light of new possibilities.
Our Tone for this year is Tone 4- Self-Existing
In alignment with the natural cycles, may the sacred take form in the Great Mystery revealed through you.
Qualities: Order, definition, discrimination, natural cycles, meaningful alignment.
‘Four is the ray of measure, the alignment with natural cycles. It is the square, the base of the pyramid, the solid foundation that unifies the lines of directional force. Four is the diamond asking you to utilize tools of discrimination.
Now is the time to manifest your dream or vision. Look to natural logic, order and definition – these gifts support the whisperings of your creative spirit. You are the architect who manifests your dreams! You are being brought into meaningful alignment, bringing healing into this cycle of your life.
The four directions offer you assistance in understanding universal physical laws. Use measure as a tool of consciousness to mold time, form and space. Now is the time to focus, to connect tangibly with the undefined. Take your ideas and give them discipline and form.
Here are some other websites that explain the significance of the New Mayan New Year:
http://galacticculture.wordpress.com/
http://www.planetartnetwork.info/espanol/dootspa_eventos.html this website shows that all over the world people celebrate the Mayan New year, in many different ways. It is not just in Mexico, it is all over the world
The reports about our sponsors have been many but that is because Taste of Playa is getting tons of support from local businesses who believe in the benefits and importance of Playa Del Carmen Events.
Events, no matter who they support, are an important part of any community. They are used by businesses all over the world as the old school ’social media marketing strategy’ that gets people together, talking about things, sharing information in person. In this case, the event is sharing information about Playa Del Carmen, honouring what has shaped Playa Del Carmen as a destination and the players who have contributed to the face of Playa Del Carmen. One event may focus on diving and Playa as a divers destination, another event may focus on archeology and the Rivera Maya as a Mayan historical destination, or on fashion showing the support of designers internationally who want to use the Mexican Caribbean as their backdrop to show the creations they have made.
Taste of Playa decided to use food as their event focus, or specifically local restaurants that have choosen this location to set up shop, use the ingredients that are grwon throughout mexico and create what we all need to survive and thrive. Food. Restaurants and restaurant owners have shaped this region and their influence has put a stamp on the city. people come to Playa Del Carmen to share in a diverse selection of eateries, restaurants, and tastes. We are lucky to have such an eclectic mix of chefs, cooks, owners and patrons who bring to the table, the dining table, the influences that have shaped their cooking, their dishes and their lives.
Other non related food businesses know that without the creativity of the chefs and restaurants in Playa del Carmen, they too could not have taken part in such a great city and prosper as they do. The more people, whether it be residents or visitors, that come to experience Playa Del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, means taht there is a greater demand for other services. All are linked to one another and all enjoy the lives that have been created in this Mexican Caribbean coastal city.
The group of sponsors we wish to honour and thank are our Pastry Chef Sponsors, the smaller businesses who depend on the community for thier strength and business health. These businesses are the backbone to the event Taste of Playa and were some fo the first to join in the ‘food campaign’. We thank each and every one of them for their understanding that Taste of Playa is about food, but it is about celebrating where we live and the community that has developed over time. Thank you to:
Carrera and Associates, a local accounting firm run by a wonderful family who always lends community support professionally and personally
In the Roo, an online Playa del Carmen information website that continues to tell the world about the great things that happen in Playa Del Carmen
Abyss Dive Center, a local dive center and training facility that has been in Playa Del Carmen for over 13 years and has watched this city grow
La Rana Cansada, a local hotel and bar that has for over 9 years supported individuals and events and has been a monument in the Playa community
Acanto CondoHotel a great little hotel that has watched their neighbourhood change, and grow and mold itself into one of the finer downtown areas
Puerto Adventuras Info an online portal that brings news about this city to their neighbours, and the globe
Coco’s Cat Rescue, a local non for profit that was anti-upped by an anonymous donor who wants the world to know about their great strides in helping the homeless cat population in Playa Del Carmen
To all, we commend your efforts and support of Taste of Playa and we look forward to seeing you at the event.
So we have heard that some of our neighbours to the north are suffering….from SUN deprevation. And we wanted to let you know we are willing to share, our sun, but only within the kilometers of the beaches we have access to. We do not have the power to bring to you up north, or where ever you may be, but we do have the power to assist in your sun bathing, gloating, while visiting us here.
We have no idea what is happening to you up north, it is summer, in case it was not evident. The sun is supposed to be shining, and out and bathing you with some Vitamin D, but that is not necessarily the case the for all people in north. Yes many of you have sun and heat and a summer, but lets take a minute, a minute of silence, for those who are not GETTING IT! Just thank god it is not snowing in July or at least not yet.
Yes, the SAD disease is sad, and we are trying really hard to feel your pain, but we get sun every day, all day and it is hot…the beach is really the only place you want to be, with a cold glass of something, and a friend to share it with.
Our question is why wait and suffer this summer out when in a few hours you could fly to the beaches of Mexico and forget about the weather at home….you deserve one week of sun, fun and relaxation. The Vitamin D could do wonders for you and it could be rationalized as ‘doctors orders’ .
So dont suffer, you don’t need to. There is enough sun for everyone in the Riviera Maya and we will share.
