Author Archives: Thomas Lloyd

Want to Know What an Ancient Mayan Market Looked Like? Try Playa del Carmen

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Have you ever wondered what an ancient Maya market looked like?

 

Sure, there are “modern” Mayan markets in the Yucatan Peninsula – they are only “modern” in the sense that they exist in the present age.  But we all know that things have changed over the past 500 – 1000 years.

 

Fortunately, the Mayan’s ancient civilization was well documented, and combined with archaeological research as well as the culture’s own tradition, it has been possible to set up an ancient Mayan market, in Playa del Carmen!

 

Xcaret, a theme park just on the south edge of town, hosted the event.

 

I had the chance to go! Take a look at the pictures:

 

Notice the ancient Mayan garb of the vendors:

 

These are almost hairless dogs that the ancient Mayans and Aztecs kept:

 

If you ever get the chance, go to a market like this one – it’s quite the experience!

 

-by Bea Lozano

 

Mexico Health Care Kit

Colosio Beach in Playa del Carmen is One of Those Quiet Places I Love

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As I’ve pointed out recently, I love getting up in the morning, and just going out for a relaxing walk along a quiet, empty beach – I usually do this after dropping the kids off at school.

 

We all love getting into the action and doing stuff.  But we also have those quiet moments just to enjoy the sound of the waves and the feeling of sand on our feet!

 

Luckily for me, I have one such beach just a short walk from my home – Colosio Beach.

 

One of the biggest charms of this beach is that it’s very quiet and natural; you feel you’re miles away from town, but it’s right next to the heart of all the action downtown Playa.

 

Recently, a couple of new hotels and condos have been opened along this beach, but they are a little back from the beach with the natural vegetation still growing next to the sand, preserving the tranquil atmosphere.

 

Take a look at some pictures:

 

Retiring in Playa del Carmen

 

Retiring in Playa del Carmen

 

Notice the crab in the middle:

Retiring in Playa del Carmen

 

Retiring in Playa del Carmen

 

For a full gallery of pictures of Colosio Beach, as well as videos and maps, click here.

 

-by Bea Lozano

 

Mexico Real Estate Testimonials

Visit the Beautiful Silver Town of Taxco in Central Mexico

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Mexico Discovery TripsNestled in the rugged hills of central Mexico is the silver mining town of Taxco. Little white homes and shops line steeply sloped streets; the entire town is on a hillside.  Standing above the town is the classic old church, which looks taller than it actually is since it’s located uphill from most of the town.

 

I simply love walking around the town.  It feels like you’re stepping into a different time.

 

The Silver

Than there is the silver.  Taxco has remained true to its mining town heritage with silver shops on every corner, selling necklaces, rings, figures, engravings and much more.  The pure silver is of high quality and prices are low.

 

Whether you a silver fanatic or not, I’m sure you’ll find a few knickknacks to take home.  I always do.

 

As you can see in the picture below, the shops selling silver are much more in an informal “market” style than an elegant jewelry shop.  For me, this is part of the charm.

 


How to Get There

Most retirees tend to settle in the popular beachfront locations in Mexico, or in the two interior towns of Chapala or San Miguel del Allende.  But getting to a place like Taxco is not so difficult.

 

Very cheap plane tickets can be found to Mexico City from the places like Cancun – often under $100 USD round trip.  If you fly to the nearby city of Toluca, you’re even closer to Taxco (as well as the quaint lakefront town of Valle de Bravo) and you will skip out on Mexico City’s traffic.

 

The bus ride is about 2 hours from Toluca.  Mexico City should only be about 20 minutes more by distance, but traffic could add another hour.

 

Now, this sounds like a lot of travel just to get to a little silver town, even though it is picturesque and quaint; however, there are a number of beautiful little gems hidden in these hills, and it’s worth a discovery trip of a few days – or even a week or two – in this part of central Mexico.

 

More Pictures

This is a beautiful view of the town at sunset:

Here you can see how the houses and shops line the steep streets:

Thi is the picturesque town square, right in front of the church, as is always the case in Mexico:

I hope that you have the pleasure to visit Taxco one day in your Mexico retirement!

 

-by Bea Lozano

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Playa del Carmen Now Has an Animal Protection Act!

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As I noted at the end of Friday’s post about bullfights and cockfights, Playa del Carmen had just passed an animal protection act!  Here’s an excerpt from a local news source, dated Friday, May 17:

Representatives in the [state’s] 13th Legislature unanimously approve the new Animal Protection and Wellbeing Act.  The law presents a legal mechanism which will protect not only pets, but also all species of animals, by establishing new standards to guarantee wellbeing, care and proper treatment, to avoid mistreatment, cruelty and suffering.

The law applies to the state of Quintana Roo, which also includes Cancun, Cozumel, Tulum and Costa Maya.

This is an important step in a series of actions that have already been taking place to help protect animals.

Many expats are involved in animal rescue and shelter as a way to contribute back into the community that has given them their new home.

I’m proud to be living in a part of Mexico that is taking decisive steps in the right direction to protect animals!

-by Bea Lozano

Mexico Insurance Kit

Have You Ever Seen a Bull Fight? Or Maybe a Cock Fight?

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Today, just for fun, I did a Google image search for “Mexico.”  The first 10 pictures or so are maps, and then the pictures of Mexico’s distinct cultural traits begin to come up – typical food, traditional clothes, festivals, beaches, Mayan pyramids, etc.

 

Two pictures turned up that reminded me of another side of Mexico that tourists seldom see – the bull fights and the cock fights.

 

The Bull Fights

I don’t think this practice is wide spread, but Mexico City actually has the world’s largest bullfighting stadium with spectacles every day.  I believe the practice has been maintained solely because of its uniqueness and its history.

 

I’ve seen a bullfight or two, just to satisfy my curiosity.  I can’t say it’s my cup of tea!

 

The Cock Fights

This a common pastime in Mexico’s countryside; it is considered an especially “macho” or manly activity.  From what I’ve heard, it’s very violent and bloody.

 

The Moral Question

Of course, these spectacles have huge moral questions behind them and are a nightmare for animal rights.

 

On one hand, I can fully understand why a tourist or expat traveling to parts of the country where these are practiced would want to see them – they’re just so unique and, for some people, captivating.

On the other hand, it’s good to be conscientious of not putting money into irresponsible practices.  In the end each person has to decide on their own conscience.

Yet, approve or disapprove, these practices are well-ingrained features of Mexican culture, especially of the tougher, working class “macho” culture.  And, for better or for worse, they’re probably here to stay – at  within our own lifetimes and well beyond.

 

LAST MINUTE UPDATE: I just found out that Quintana Roo, the state where we live, has passed an animal protection act! It probably won’t affect the bullfights or cockfights since those take place mostly in other parts of the country, but it’s progress!  I’ll write more about it next week.

 

-by Bea Lozano

 

Mexico Insurance Kit

Oops – Did Somebody Die Here?

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“Did somebody die on the construction site?”

 

That was the question I got earlier this month on a phone call.  It was a Canadian who we helped buy a home in a new development here in Playa.  I have to admit – I was worried, even though I shouldn’t have been.
“What do you mean?” I asked. “What happened?”

 

“Well there’s a cross up on one the buildings – one that they’re still working on. It looks handmade, just out of wood from the site. They put it up quickly this morning.  We tried asking the workers, but, you know, the whole Spanish-English thing.”

 

“Really?  Are you sure?  I haven’t heard anything.”

 

“Well we say a priest there and everything.  It looked like some special service – we thought it might be some memorial on site for the other workers or something.”

 

After ending the phone call I was about to start making some frantic calls to the developer and construction team. But Bea had overheard.

 

“What’s going on?” she asked.

 

I told her the story.

 

“Oh, they do that every year at the beginning of May. It’s for the day of the workers and the Holy Cross.”

 

Of course!  I knew that.  The concerned Canadians on the phone had got me worried, made me forget the culture.

 

At the beginning of May there are two holidays that workers have combined in a way.  May 1 is the international worker’s day, which is important for construction workers.  May 3 is the day of the Holy Cross, which is why they put the cross up.  They often have a priest come and bless the construction site.

 

I called the Canadians back.  We all shared a good laugh – and a sigh of relief!

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

Mexico Insurance Kit

Mayan Pyramid Bulldozed – But Not in Mexico!

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This is a a sad, sad situation.  I friend sent me a BBC article about a a 2300 year old Mayan pyramid that was recently bulldozed!  That means the pyramid is several hundred years older than even the famous ones at Chichen Itza!

 

I guess a construction crew was looking for road fill and decided to bulldoze this “mound.”  The government officials say it was impossible not to know  that it was a Mayan pyramid – I’m guessing because of the shape, and, if you look at the pictures, it’s more than obvious that it’s a structure that they’re dismantling.

 

Can you imagine that??? A 2300 Mayan pyramid for road fill!

 

Where Was This Atrocity?

But here’s the catch; this was NOT in Mexico.  This was in Belize, the country that borders Mexico, just south of the Mexican Caribbean, starting where serene, quiet and virtually unknown Costa Maya area ends.

 

The article says that this is pretty common in Belize.

 


In Mexico, this Wouldn’t Happen

Some Americans have been looking towards Belize and similar places for their new warm-weather home.  While I’m not going to get into comparing different Caribbean or Central American destinations, I will say that I’m glad to live in a country that protects its history.

 

Here in Playa del Carmen, for example, we have 2 small, minor pyramid sites right in the city.

 

  1. One is in the heart of downtown, just behind the storefront on Fifth Avenue.  It was incorporated into the development so people eating the restaurant can enjoy views of it.
  2. Another is in Playacar, a gated community right next to downtown. They made the area surrounding the pyramid a park, preserving a good deal of vegetation, helping to make the community greener with another park area, protecting the Mayan pyramid and allowing people to enjoy seeing it.

 

Out the jungle there are also many Mayan sites which archaeologists are constantly visiting.  Many have been uncovered and are being planned for tourist visits.  Even in non tourist area (I’ve been to quite a few) the pyramids may not get much investment to make them pretty for visitors, but at the very least they are left alone and no one bulldozes them.

 

Sure, many Mexicans may not be as knowledgeable of their history as they should be, but at least they respect these artifacts.

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

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Pyramid Marketing or Relaxing Retirement on Mexico’s Beaches?

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The word is getting out there; more and more Americans are worried that they won’t have enough money to retire comfortably.

 

Wall Street Journal has taken notice.  Yahoo News did too.  It’s becoming common place to see articles analyzing the situation and offering advice for those who are approaching retirement with lower funds than they would ideally want or need.  Solutions are being offered up that include anything from even more frugality to elaborate savings and tax strategies.

 

This guy is even suggesting that the best solution is to join an internet based pyramid marketing program. (He’s the CEO, so no surprises …!)

 

 

Now, I have nothing against how people make a livelihood, but let’s just get right down to a simple, basic question:

 

How would you prefer to spend your retirement years?  Trying to sell products to your family, friends and neighbors, or simply enjoying a relaxing life on the beach?

 

I think even JR Ridinger would choose beach.  (He’s so rich, he doesn’t have much to worry about, but if it came right to down to it …)
The point is that if you retire in Mexico, you won’t have to become a pyramid salesman in your free time to make ends meet – or, if you do, that money will sure go a heck of a lot further.  This true of any part time job.

 

And what about those elaborate savings and tax strategies?  Go for it!  No one will complain about having too much saved.  But why not take some of the pressure off and enjoy the hard work you’re putting into those savings a little more?

 

-by Thomas Lloyd

 

Awa Condos Playa del Carmen

This Morning, I Took a Walk on the Beach in Playa del Carmen

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Sometimes it’s not only work that distracts you from the simple pleasures of life; sometimes it’s real, important and practical issues like the cost of living, modern conveniences, cheap flights, the cost of health care or even planning your next trip.

 

The beautiful thing about living in Playa del Carmen is that every morning you get up and see the sun rising over the Caribbean beyond the beach, the smell of the salt in the air, the refreshing breeze; that pure beauty of a simple daily pleasure strikes you, making you forget about whatever else it is that distracts you from those simple pleasures.

 

This morning, like so many other mornings, I took a walk on the beach. While there are so many other exciting things to write about, we can’t forget about these wonderful, beautiful moments!

 

-by Bea Lozano

 

Awa Condos Playa del Carmen

Happy Mother’s Day – Mexican Style!

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Now, just so you know, Mother’s Day is celebrated in Mexico on May 10, regardless of the day of the week. But, to share a taste of Mother’s Day in the true Mexican style with you, here’s a bit of mariachi – a special Mother’s Day song:

(If you can’t see the video, click here to see it in our blog.)

I hope you enjoyed! And a happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, from Bea and me!

-by Thomas Lloyd

Now, just so you know, Mother’s Day is celebrated in Mexico on May 10, regardless of the day of the week. But, to share a taste of Mother’s Day in the true Mexican style with you, here’s a bit of mariachi – a special Mother’s Day song:

I hope you enjoyed! And a happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, from Bea and me!

-by Thomas Lloyd