Author Archives: Thomas Lloyd

Run for Happiness! Run for Health! Run for Charity! Or just Run!

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Sunday in Playa del Carmen was filled with motivation and fun at the 1st annual 5k and 10k Solidaridad race!  The race started at Centro Maya and continued on highway 307 over the bridges!  The great thing about this event was that the energy reached all different crowds.  Some younger, some older, some runners some walkers!  In any case we saw a great diversity running this race and many expats involved.

 

A World-Wide Trend

Over the last couple years these kinds of races as well as marathons have become extremely popular and it’s providing motivation to get people to train and be in better shape! This trend has gone all over the world and of course in Mexico as well!

 


Ready, Set, Go!

On Sunday the race started at 7 am!  Runners were given chips to put into their shoes to track their times!    The runners took off from Centro Maya, up the highway bridges and around back to Centro Maya for the finish line!  At the end of the race there was a lot of energy and a big party to congratulate the runners but also to wish Playa del Carmen a happy 20th Birthday!  (… as a municipality; the town is much older.)

 

Mmm … Food Again

Pizza was provided by De local restaurant as well as many food options available including fruit, sandwiches, sweet breads and pastries, plenty of water, juice and rehydrating beverages!  Besides the generous breakfast there was energetic music, an announcement of the winners and we can’t forget FREE massages for all the runners!  It was truly a well thought and organized event and was definitely a great and rewarding experience for all that participated!

 

Top Mexico Participates … Along with Everyone Else

One of our very own team members ran the 10k race and finished in one hour and six minutes! She says she loves these kinds of events because it gives her motivation to practice, train and stay in shape; and at the end of the day makes her feel proud!
We saw men and women of all ages running including children, people running with their dogs, mothers pushing their babies in the strollers, even a very talented man balancing a soccer ball on his nose all throughout the 10k course!  Incredible!  We think it’s great that there was so much turn out and excitement here in Playa for this event!  It makes us feel more proud every day to see the love everyone has for our small beach town and to see so much turn out for community events!

 

If this kind of activity is something you enjoy doing go ahead and add some of the Riviera Maya races to your list.  Following this last race there will be a night run in Cancun with glow sticks and Neon lights in August.  If you like more of a challenge you might want to join the Cancun Marathon in December which has a route running throughout the hotel zone!  If running isn’t your thing come out and cheer the runners on!  They always appreciate the support!

 

-by Bea Lozano
Livin' Playa video interview

Meet Kristie Scivally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma!

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As part of our Livin’ Playa Series we are showing and capturing the real life of expats and snowbirds in Playa del Carmen!

 

We had the lovely opportunity to talk with Kristie Scivally from Oklahoma City Oklahoma!  We were interested to talk with Kristie because she is a die-hard Playa fan who chooses to spend all of her vacation time here in Playa.  We wanted to find out why!  So this is her story!

 

(To see more real-life stories in YouTube, click here.)

 

Kristie lives a normal life back in Oklahoma City.  She raises a 10 year old boy and works very hard.  She has been coming to Playa for the past 10 years, right around the time her son was born. She likes to take any chance she can take to be here.  She visits approximately 4 or 5 times per year and by this time has become a Playa expert as she has watched this lovely beach town evolve and grow without ever sacrificing its charm.

 

Kristie usually spends a bigger chunk of time, of about a month, here during the summer since her son is free from school during that time.  Throughout the year she takes smaller trips of about a week or so whenever her son gets a break from school! And when she is not here, she is always planning and looking forward to her next trip!

 

So we wanted to know, Why Playa?
If you get the chance to take 4 or 5 vacations every year then why not change it up a little? This is an easy question for Kristie to answer.  She simply loves Playa!  We all know that when you love something you should stick with it.  Kristie comes to Playa for a wide scale of reasons.  The atmosphere, the beach, great food, the family friendly environment and also because of safety!

 

Some of her favorite things to do here are to go to the beach, lounge by the pool, take her son for a ride in the go karts or other fun kids activities, walk on the 5th Avenue, socialize with friends while enjoying nice dinners and wine!  She also loves the fact that you can come here and still escape to other beautiful gems such as Tulum, Chichen-itza and many other paradise locations all within the Riviera Maya!  This is all a part of the life in Playa!

 

Good Friends
Over time Kristie has made good friendships with expats who live here year round and she looks forward to spending time with them each visit.  Playa del Carmen is, in fact, a home away from home for Kristie and her son!

 

At this point in Kristie’s life she is not prepared to live here full-time but knows that once here son is out of school, and she can retire, Playa is the place she wants to be!  For now she will continue to escape to Playa for vacation and keeping dreaming that little dream of one day living here!

 

To hear what Kristie has to say please click on this link for her testimonial on You tube!

 

We love our town of Playa del Carmen and we want to get the word out that this is a great place to live, retire and vacation!  What better way to do that than by letting you meet people who can give you the real scoop!  Stay tuned for more testimonials for our Livin’ Playa series!

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

My real estate - Mexico real estate buyers tools

Cathy Tells You about Life in Playa del Carmen! (Video – Livin’ Playa)

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Do you ever imagine what life in Playa del Carmen would be like? Walking on the beach, yoga, Spanish classes, martini’s at the poolside, relaxed expat clubs …

Sounds almost too perfect, doesn’t it?

Well, people who live here can tell you that that’s what life is actually like.  We have another video in our Livin’ Playa series, this time an interview with Cathy Morrison.  Cathy is a past client of ours – we helped her and her husband find their ideal condo in Quadra Alea.  And guess what life is like for her:

(If you can’t see the video, click here.)

 

Walking on the beach, yoga, Spanish classes, martini’s at the poolside, relaxed expat clubs …

Life in Playa is relaxation!

-by Thomas Lloyd
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Travel Tips – The Charm and Beauty of Mexico City

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When I tell people that Mexico City is a great place to travel to, they usually give me a funny look – like they think it’s a joke, just waiting for me to start laughing.

 

“Isn’t that a big, ugly city, full of smog, litter, traffic, graffiti, poverty and crime?” is what runs through most people’s minds. “It’s not safe, is it?”

 

Mexicans as much as anyone else have a very negative image of the city (compare to how most Americans feel about New York, or Canadians about Toronto.) But contrary to what people think, it really is a good place to travel.

 

You’ll notice that this page speaks highly of its travel potential.  This travel site ranks it as Mexico’s #1 place to travel to, safely.

 

Balanced View

I love Mexico City.  That’s where I’m from.  But I think there’s more to it than that.  At the same time, I want to be honest; some of the ugliest places I’ve seen in any city are in that city. Yet, blocks away there are some of the most beautiful and interesting places you’ll find anywhere – even compared to Europe.  These are some of the reasons I recommend the city.

 

Colonial Charm – The old downtown of Mexico City (“Centro Historico”) with its splendid old churches and blocks upon blocks of beautiful Mexican architecture has been very well preserved and I would say it holds out well against any other colonial city, and even the charming European cities everyone goes on about.

 

Unique Culture – Walking around downtown Mexico City, you really feel something different. While the city is busy, it’s also relaxed and enjoys life. There are men playing guitar in the parks, and bands with young and old people dancing on the weekends.  The huge city square has been home to some of the most massive outdoor concerts of all styles.  And then there’s Garibaldi Square with its mariachis …

 

History, Museums, Art – If you love fine culture and learning about history, you will love Mexico City.  It has an excellent Museum of Anthropology, and the Bellas Artes fine art museum, among many, many similar  items.  There are also many religious sites, like the famous Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

 


Parks and Canals – Inside and just outside of the city there are parks of all sizes, ranging from fairly pure nature and authentic Mexican countryside to very elegantly landscaped urban “park-ettes” ideal for sitting down with an ice cream. One of the most famous parks (Chapultapec) has a castle in the middle of it. There are also the famous canals of Xolchimilco in the south of the city where long boats offer both quiet, relaxing rides, and “parties on the go.”

 

Food – In Mexico City, you can find food from any part of Mexico; but as all people from the city point out, it has its own unique style.  There are also the city’s favorites, like tacos “al pastor” which offer meat similar to that found on doner kebabs.

 

Low Cost of Everything!! People who live in the city will tell you that part of its charm is that you can go out with only a dollar in your pocket (just enough for the subway and bus) and still fully enjoy an active day out in the city.  Street music, art displays, shows and much more are open for the public.  Museums and galleries are free on certain days. While you’ll want to enjoy the finer points of the city, you’ll find that your expenses in the city tend to be low – even compared to tourist locations in Mexico!

 


The Weather – I always tell people that weather in Mexico City is nearly perfect.  Imagine something like late summer, but all year round.  The days are sunny and warm (not hot!) and the nights cool off nicely.  The rainy season can bring heavy downpours, but even these usually last for only an hour or so, and clear up quickly.

 

So, in conclusion, I wouldn’t recommend Mexico City as a place for expats to live (although it is in fact home to many who happily live there.)  But I would most certainly recommend a visit.  Plan your trip, investigate the  main attractions (there are many – you’ll have to pick and choose!) and stick to the tourist areas.  You’ll probably wonder why you never got to know this incredible city!

 

-by Bea Lozano
Kit_Ownership

An adventure through Paradise to Punta Allen

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I would like to share an experience of friend who traveled through the Jungle to the small little fishing village of Punta Allen.  The way she described it to me was somewhat humorous as they did not travel the traditional way through the jungle to arrive there.  Punta Allen is a very cute and small fishing village past Tulum and Sian Ka’an.  In order to get there you must travel through a rocky dirt road through the jungle.

 

There are many beautiful things to see as you travel through before arriving to the quaint little town.  My friend’s journey began in Playa del Carmen where she and her husband rented a scooter to take a spontaneous weekend getaway.

 

In Tulum

Although very close to home they stayed one night in a tiny but sweet and clean hotel room in the center of Tulum.  When they awoke in the morning they decided to head off to Punta Allen as they had heard about this destination yet knew nothing about it.  Still they wanted to find out.  They asked a few locals in town how to get there and received some directions but were advised to rent a jeep or a 4×4 if at all possible.

 

Adventurous Mishaps …
Being adventurous and spontaneous as they are they decided to ignore the advice and swing it on the scooter! Well about a quarter of the way through the long dirt road of Sian Ka’an, they finally realized the importance of the 4×4 as the ride was very slow and very bumpy.  None the less, they took frequent stops to take a look and snap photos of all the beauty that surrounded them.

 

There are beautiful jungles, pristine bays of water, and sheer quiet and relaxation!  In some points of the route you will even see camping areas where people come to enjoy a place where the jungle truly meets the sea.  They realized half way that they hadn’t even arrived to their destination yet and they were already taking in quite a beautiful experience.  Alas, they arrived and there was the sign “Welcome to Punta Allen”!  It probably should have taken them half the time in a jeep but they didn’t mind because it was an experience.

 

Definitely Not a Resort!
Punta Allen is a tiny fishing village that attracts some attention for a quiet weekend or night away however fully maintains its charm.  There is only one restaurant there and they have some options for cabanas.This is not a place for resort goers!

 

The cabanas are small, simple, clean and nice!  You are surrounded by beauty and nature.  There is a light house if you stroll down the path and in the little town you will see what some may think of as typical Mexico as this is not a tourist destination in general. The main activity there is fishing and as a tour option you can head out on a boat with a guided tour out into the ocean.  Other than that it’s all about the relaxation.  My friend thought it to be quite cute and funny that the restaurant owned a turkey for a pet, which had been tied to a tree in the restaurant, you know, just in case it ran away!

 

The Journey Home

The duration of the stay was not too long; only one night but enough to have a beautiful experience.  Then they headed home back on the scooter back towards Tulum and back to Playa.  It is truly wonderful that when you live here you have the option to just pick up and go somewhere and explore in such a beautiful place!

 

We should remember that some people save up for a year to take a vacation out to the Riviera Maya to explore and experience as much as they can because for many it is only a once in a lifetime event or at least every once in a while.  Take advantage of what you have surrounding you and go!

 

-by Bea Lozano

 
Mexico Real Estate e-book

Where Is It Safe to Travel in Mexico? … to Live in Mexico?

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Expats living in Mexico will almost invariably feel confident in the safety of the place where they live; being here in person allows people to experience first hand that life here is safe.

Yet many expats also want the experience of traveling to other parts of the country.  Those who aren’t expats yet (but are planning on it) will want to know which areas are statistically safe.

For these purposes, the US Department of State’s “Clear for Travel” list is useful.  I approve of this list, because it let’s people know that many parts of Mexico are safe for travel, and serves as a beginning of a balance to the negative travel advisories lists that have gained so much attention. (I also approve of the travel advisories list – people need to know where they shouldn’t go, too!)

As far as I know, this list isn’t exhaustive; if a place isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean it’s not safe.  These are just the most frequently visited places that have been given a definite “clear.” So if the place you’re thinking of visiting is not listed here, do some extra research  before stroking it of your list.

CITIES CLEAR FOR TRAVEL

The follow tourist cities and places continue to have no warning or advisories in effect:

Baja California Sur: No advisory is in effect.

Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, La Paz, Todos Santos, Isla Espiritu Santo, Loreto, Laguna San Ignacio, Magdelena Bay

 

Campeche: No advisory is in effect.

Campeche City, Calakmul, Edzna

 

Chiapas: No advisory is in effect.

San Cristobal de las Casas, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Comitán, Tapachula, Palenque, Yaxchilán, Bonampak, Toniná, Sumidero Canyon, San Juan Chamula, Zinacantan

 

Guanajuato: No advisory is in effect.

Guanajuato City, Leon, San Miguel de Allende

 

Guerrero*:

Acapulco, Taxco, Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa

 

Jalisco:

Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Tequila

 

Distrito Federal: No advisory is in effect.

Mexico City (Polanco, Santa Fe, San Angel, Coyoacan, La Condesa, Chapultepec Park, Bascilica de Guadalupe, Historic Center, Zócalo, Xochimilco, Teotihuacan, Templo Mayor, Bellas Artes)

 

Michoacan*:

Morelia*

 

Nayarit:

Riviera Nayarit, Nuevo Vallarta, Punta de Mita, Sayulita, Bucerias

 


Oaxaca: No advisory is in effect.

Oaxaca City, Sierra Norte, Monte Alban, Mitla,  Teotitlán del Valle, San Bartolo de Coyotepec, San Martin Tilcajete,  Cuilápam de Guerrero, Tlacolula,  Huatulco, Puerto Escondido

Puebla: No advisory is in effect.

Puebla City, San Andres Cholula, San Pedro Cholula

 

Queretaro: No advisory is in effect.

Queretaro City, Bernal

 

Quintana Roo: No advisory is in effect.

Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum,  Playa del Carmen, Mayakoba, Akumal, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Aventuras, Cozumel, Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve,  Xpu-Ha

 

Sinaloa*:

Mazatlan*

 

Tabasco: No advisory is in effect.

Villahermosa

 

Yucatan: No advisory is in effect.

Merida, Chichen Itza, Isla Holbox,  Ek Balam, Valladolid,  Izmal, Uxmal

 

*There are advisories in effect for the state. The listed cities are okay for travel but you should exercise caution and stay within tourist areas.

(From the US Department of State, as listed in Journey Mexico.)

There are many safe places to live in Mexico, and even more great (and safe) places to travel to.

 

-by Thomas Lloyd
Mexico Real Estate Testimonials

New Pyramids Discovered in Veracruz, Mexico

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Once again, Mexico shows that it is capable of discovering, analyzing and preserving ancient pyramid sites for the sake of science and enjoyment of visitors.  All of this comes in complete contrast to the destruction of Mayan pyramids reported from Central America.  Here’s an excerpt from a news report:

 

An ancient settlement, including 30 skeletons and the ruins of a pyramid, believed to be up to 2,000 years old, has been unearthed in Mexico.

 

The discovery was made during construction work in eastern Mexico. Clay figurines, jade beads, mirrors and animal remains have also been found in the site of the graves in the town of Jaltipan, southeast of Veracruz, according to the National Anthropology and History Institute (INAH).

 

Researchers believe the settlement was occupied from around the first century AD until AD 600 or 700. However, little is known about the people who lived there, ‘LiveScience’ reported. (source: Business Standard)

 

Mexico offers contact with and information on a rich variety of ancient civilizations that lived throughout the country for anyone who wishes to travel and see these sites.  Yet another reason to choose Mexico.

-by Thomas Lloyd
Mexico Real Estate Investment Kit

A Fair is More Than a Fair, It’s a Whole Affair! Playa del Carmen Fair 2013

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The Playa del Carmen Fair is a summer event that many locals and expats look forward to all year!  The Fair will usually take place at some point in July and runs for a little over a week!  During that time the streets around Wal-Mart are closed down and packed up with rides, food vendors, craft and merchandise vendors, and entertainment areas.  This is normal for any fair that you will find in your own home town but anywhere you go each place will bring its own Flare!  Mexico certainly brings its own and I want to show you some of the ways we do it.

 


The Rides

Let’s start with the rides.  There is a nice selection of easy going or thrilling rides both for adults and kits.  Of course you will find the ever so famous BIG WHEEL; most know it as the Ferris Wheel!  This is a common ride among fairs everywhere and is sort of the landmark of the whole event!  Another favorite in the Playa Fair is the sky ride where many people wait in line for hours to take a ski slope type trip through a couple blocks of the town center.  Other rides include some fast adult thrillers whipping you around and upside down and some fun picks for the kids!

 


Games & Shows

If rides are not your thing there are plenty of other things to keep you busy!  There are many games to play that will offer prizes for the winners. Also there is a special entertainment tent where you can see many different kinds of shows put on locals in the community including dance and music which in most cases is rich in culture!

 

Shopping

There are plenty of shopping opportunities for local products and handcrafts. This is a good place to find a cheap colorful pair of shades, some nice decorative Mexican handcraft, plenty of jewelry, even shoes!  And that is just to name a few!

 

Mmmm … Food!

Now everyone’s favorite Fair subject!  The FOOD!  A fair would not be a fair without traditional fair food.  Depending on where you come from the food may change but the craze and eagerness to eat delicious things will stay the same.
Some common and traditional foods include corn on the cob that is smothered with mayo, parmesan cheese, lime and chili!  Also, churros which in my opinion are another version of a fried dough covered in sugar; they are simply amazing.

How many ways can you cook a banana?  Well at the fair you can fry it either to a crisp like chips and eat them as such or until soft and sweet to smother it in a sweet vanilla crème sauce called Lechera! Either way you are in for a treat!

Now on to the marquesitas!  Marquesitas are made with a batter almost like a crepe but when cooked the dough gets crunch like a soft waffle cone filled with cheese or sweets like nutella or sweet caramel.

Don’t have a sweet tooth? Well that’s ok.  There are like three different ways to eat hot dogs.  Try them small and cut up with fries, traditional or make it a corn dog! Here in Mexico we like variety!  Other traditional whole foods include hamburgers and of course tacos and quesadillas!!!  It is likely you will arrive home nice and full!

But don’t worry, you don’t have to wait until next July for these delicious treats because it’s likely you will see them again in February when Playa holds its annual carnival event!

To see some great photos of this year’s event please visit our album on Facebook

 

-by Bea Lozano
Mexico Real Estate Testimonials Continue reading →

New, State-of-the-Art Planetarium to Open in Cancun

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I love museums with ancient animals, scientific discoveries and stuff like that.  I also love planetariums – they’re just so amazing to see!

 

The good news is that Cancun will be getting a planetarium VERY soon, which will be great for anyone living in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum – and even for those in Merida or Costa Maya.

 

Here are some details I found in a local Spanish news source:

  • –It will be opening on July 19 (tomorrow!)
  • –It will be called the Ka’Yok Scientific, Technological and Cultural Planetarium Complex of Cancun
  • –“Ka’Yok” means “window to the universe” in Maya
  • –The planetarium will be one of 10 most advanced in the world in terms of scientific and technological equipment
  • –It will feature cutting-edge technological tools, interactive and multimedia, as well as a more advanced projection system to show images of stars on a perforated aluminum screen 12 meters in diameter
  • –The observatory will be equipped with a 16-inch telescope, educational workshops, a museum on the Mayan science of space.
  • –The complex was built in a record time of seven months with an investment of about 40 million pesos (about $3.2 million USD.)
  • –The complex consists of the planetarium, the observatory, a water museum, an eco-technology park, an auditorium and botanical gardens.

 

This sounds like it will be quite the place to visit, with plenty to do both for families and for retired couples.  I can’t wait to make a trip out there.

 

– by Thomas Lloyd
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