Category Archives: Events

The Inspiring Cirque Du Soleil Set to Grace the Riviera Maya with its Magic in November 2014

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If you are a resident in the Riviera Maya it is likely that you have already heard the great news that Cirque du Soleil is making its grand entrance to the Riviera Maya later on this year!

This news comes with great excitement since many people have waited years for this genre of entertainment to make its way to the Cancun/Riviera Maya area.

Bigger cities in Mexico have seen various visits from Cirque du Soleil but never to the Riviera Maya region. And now, not only will Cirque du Soleil be headed to town for a visit but they are coming to stay!

Cirque du Soleil joins hands to create an experience like no other

Cirque du Soleil has teamed up with Grupo Vidanta, a major Mexico resort developer, to build Latin America’s first permanent Cirque du Soleil Theater.  In fact, there are only a few other locations in the world where the show will run daily in a permanent location, one of those well-known locations being Las Vegas.

The new venue will is going to be built on the Riviera Maya strip about 10 minutes South of Cancun airport, nearby to the beautiful Mayan Palace resort which is directly affiliated with Grupo Vidanta.

Cirque du Soleil is sets out to create a Customized Experience in the Riviera Maya

The new Yucatan jungle inspired theater will be like no other Cirque Theater ever built, as it is intended for a smaller, more intimate, experience.  It is planned to consist of only 600 seats and will operate as a dinner theater, making this Cirque show to be even more unique and special.

This exclusive Riviera Maya Cirque du Soleil show is expected to be 70 minutes long and will run daily, adding yet another “must do” on the itinerary for visitors to Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

Strong news for the healthy growth of the Riviera Maya

This news would have to get some people thinking, clearly this kind of investment has come about due to the increased demand of tourism and residency in the Riviera Maya.  Certainly the Riviera Maya is different than Las Vegas but they share a common factor, which is that people will continue to travel! And people will always continue to seek new entertainment options in the region.

The Riviera Maya is a solid location that shows promise; as we continue to see major initiatives such as this, we can feel more confident in that every day.

Since the Theater will not be open until November, there are still plenty of things to keep you busy.  For more information on upcoming events and things going on around town don’t forget to subscribe to our special Playa del Carmen blog or follow Mexico real estate on Facebook.

1st Annual Peek-rroton Dog Run in Playa del Carmen – Fun for everyone, especially our Furry Friends!

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Running in Playa del Carmen is fun for everyone! Of course, even for our furry friends!  On Sunday February 9 Playa del Carmen residents came out to enjoy a fun and fairly non competitive road race with their friends, family and their dogs.

Playa del Carmen’s 1st annual Peek-rroton was a huge success and a quite enjoyable one.  Some of our team members were at the race with their own dogs along with our favorite Top Dog “Topper”.

There were dogs of all kinds! From large Great Danes to mini Chihuahuas; some even dressed up for the occasion!

The race was a 3 kilometer race.  Some walked with their dogs while others ran!  But no matter how you got to the finish line or at what speed; one things is for sure, that everyone was having a great time!

A free and fun race for everyone!

Registration for the event was absolutely free, which was a big benefit for the entire community of Playa del Carmen.  Normal road races would range anywhere from 200 to 300 pesos for registration.

This unique running event in Playa del Carmen was an awesome event for adults, children, retirees, and of course the dogs!

Bringing the Community of Playa del Carmen together!

The first ever race was held at CTM with 10th avenue which is essentially becoming the “new Playa”.  It made me happy to see the diverse community of Playa residents come together to take part in this Sunday morning event.

Next Peek-rrton in Playa del Carmen!

We are excited to hear that there will be another Peek-rroton coming soon which will take route through some of the beautiful jungle area of Playa. I hope that this race, as well as other events like this one, will spread throughout the different neighborhoods in town highlighting that Playa del Carmen is not just about the beach and 5th avenue!  It is a safe and lively town all the way through!

Playa del Carmen is a Pet Friendly Town!

It’s not doubt that Playa del Carmen is dog friendly and continues to show their love for animals.  Animal rescue is a huge initiative in Playa del Carmen.  If you are thinking about adopting a dog find out how you can rescue and save a life at Playa Animal Rescue (PAR).

If you liked this, you’ll love this:  Join us next week at the Playa del Carmen Colorate 5K road race where all participants will be splashed bright with color as they run towards the finish line!  If you don’t like to run, come cheer on your friends!  See more about running in Playa del Carmen!

Xplor’s Bravest Race – Do you think you are Brave Enough to Cross the Finish Line?

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The first ever bravest race at Xplor Park was a huge success this past Sunday in Playa del Carmen!  This was a well anticipated race well planned by the makers of Xplor, who strived to deliver a quality fun experience for both competitors and spectators of the race.

The Bravest race was a 5k obstacle run with daring challenges and opportunities to overcome fear. The race did not revolve around time, but rather around clearing the obstacles and challenges ahead of you.

Finishers of the race finished with sincere pride for their athletic and mental achievement.  Many who participated in the race spent months training physically and mentally.

In addition to the main race, there was also a Bravest Kids Race where the youngsters were able to show their “kiddie” strength.

The Bravest Race was a fun event for all ages!

There was plenty of room to handle a high demand of the race.  There were new races groups starting every 30 minutes throughout out the day, ending at 2 pm.

Watching the race was just as fun as competing in it.  Family and friends got to enjoy watching their loved ones on huge LED big screen TV’s while enjoying live music, food and entertainment.

The Bravest race was an event including the whole community.  The Playa del Carmen Boy Scout chapter volunteered by handing out water and supplies and also by directing competitors in the right direction.

The bravest race also supported exceptional cause for charity! Krispy Kreme Doughnuts were being sold as a way to collect proceeds for “Projecto Sonrisa”, a group of Patch Adam type animated clowns who make special hospital visits to brighten the days of sick children.

The race was sponsored by TV Azteca, the second largest TV network in Mexico bringing lots of extra attention to Xplor, Playa del Carmen and the entire Riviera Maya!

After the race there was a huge party which turned out to be a great family fun day for all competitors, volunteers, and spectators!

We are looking forward to the next Bravest Race which is expected to be scheduled for July!  Do you think you are the Bravest?  Come and find out!  See you in July!

BPM Music Festival – Playa del Carmen’s Prime Yearly Event!

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Among the many events in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya each year, is the BPM Music Festival, bringing the most people to the area than any other consecutive two weeks out of the year.  While the music may not be for everyone, this music festival is a major event in Playa del Carmen bringing in a ton of money for all businesses, service workers and owners of real estate in Playa del Carmen!

Playa del Carmen is a Place for Everyone to Share Happily!

It is also the time of year when you see an incredible mix of people from all over the world, every age, and every status!  It is incredible when you can find a place that can accommodate every taste, every style, every preference and way of life!  Playa del Carmen is just that…A place for everyone!

If you are not a fan of the electro style music, other people still enjoy enjoy the sheer energy of Playa del Carmen during this time of year.  There are many people filling up the main streets, walking, shopping and gazing around.

Great Entertainment in Playa del Carmen!

It is a great time of year to seek entertainment any night of the week.  Every night you can find live bands, fire shows, specialty dancers and performers.

Restaurants tend to fill up during the days of the BPM, so make reservations and have a little extra patience for your server!  I should mention that service workers wait all year for January to come!  Most servers, bartenders and managers work 7 days a week and long hours to keep up with the crowds and demand.

BPM Beach Club Locations!

Many of the BPM festivities will be held at the major beach clubs in the downtown area of Playa del Camren.  The areas you can expect to see the biggest crowds (day and night) are Cannibal Royal, Mamita’s Beach, Kool Beach, Blue Parrot and Coco Maya!

Quieter Beaches around Playa del Carmen!

If you are not a fan of the music, or the crowds, t-ere are still plenty of beaches left for an easy relaxing day!   If quiet is what you are searching the best spot to lay down your towel is in Playacar.  And don’t forget there are other beautiful Riviera Maya beaches just a short drive away in Xpu-Ha, Xcacel, Tulum and Akumal.

If you are in Playa del Carmen already, enjoy the season all that beautiful Playa del Carmen has to offer.  For more news on upcoming Events in Playa del Carmen find us on Facebook to keep up with the latest!

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival: Rain or Shine!

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If you were lucky enough to have attended the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival this year then you certainly had a real treat!  The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival went on Rain or shine this past weekend, bringing an incredible crowd down to Mamitas Beach Playa del Carmen to enjoy great music on the beach; all for free!

The main headliner of the whole Jazz Festival was, ever so popular, “Earth Wind and Fire”! They brought us three of the basic elements while nature brought us the fourth…Water (rain)!  Although the rain delayed the performance just a little, nothing could scare away the crowd who stood tight with their blankets and picnic baskets full of snacks, wine and other beverages!

Besides Earth, Wind and Fire there were many other spectacular performances, over the three day event, by artists such as Frank Gambale, Brent Fischer and many many more!

A well-loved and enjoyable occasion!

It was certainly an enjoyment to be a part of such a well-loved and popular event in Playa del Carmen!  Many expats made the journey down to Playa del Carmen specifically to attend the Jazz Festival that brings more and more Americans and Canadians down to the area every year!

If you are not familiar with the occasion, it is one of the best events hitting the Riviera Maya every year!  Many come for the music but also because the setting brings an extra charm to the event.  You can show up to the beach with your blanket or chair, bring your own drinks, and take your whole family or group of friends with you to enjoy the show.

 
The setting of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival kind of reminds me of going to the drive in movie theater, with your whole family packed in the car and all your own goodies, to enjoy a major motion picture outdoors.  If you are part of the baby boomer generation, I’m almost sure you can relate with that feeling!

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is for the young and the young at heart!

What made the festival even more remarkable was that among the great turnout, there were people there were people of all ages joining in on the fun together!  Whether you are 20 years old or 65 years old, the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival brings music into the hearts of everyone!

I found that some people were just content relaxing with their wine and enjoying the music; while others were dancing the night away underneath the stars!

Start Planning for next year!

If you did miss the Riviera Maya Jazz festival, be sure to add it to your calendar for next year!  It is such a great time of year to come to the Riviera Maya, due to the beautiful comfortable weather temperatures and the variety of November events such as the Jazz Festival, Taste of Playa, and of course the beachfront Thanksgiving celebrations!

I should also mention that if you purchase plane tickets for November you can take advantage of generally low prices. right before the peak season starts in late December!

This is certainly an exciting time in Playa del Carmen!  The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is always the very start of snowbird season here in the Riviera Maya!  Many expats who come for the event will remain here at least until April to escape those cold winter months!

To showcase some of the fun of the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, I would like to leave you with a short video of the excellent performance by Earth Wind and Fire!   Enjoy and see you next year!

 

Action Packed November Events in Playa del Carmen – Golf, Food, Music and Fun!

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November is a busy month in Playa del Carmen!  As low season is nearing the end, and more people start to arrive in to the area, we have packed lots of events in our calendars starting this month!  November is a time for Golf Lovers, Food Lovers, and Music Lovers!  If you love all three you are in for an extra special treat!

What can you expect to see around Playa?


The OHL PGA Golf Tournament! Kicking off a slew of November events in Playa del Carmen is the annual OHL Classic PGA Golf Tournament at Maya Koba!  Come see the pros, and spend the day with your friends and family on one of the most prestigious golf courses in Mexico.  The PGA Golf Tournament will start off on Thursday November 14th and run through Sunday November 17th.

If you like to golf and want to get in on some golfing action, join in for the “Golf para todos” event on Saturday November 16th!  This fun event was a huge hit during the entire summer at Maya Koba!  This Saturday, as part of the PGA Tournament schedule, will be the final chance you have to partake in the fun for this season!

There will be lots of tourists flying in to be a part of the event so you may be noticing Playa a bit busier this coming weekend.  If you already live in Playa del Carmen this can be a great weekend activity to add to your agenda!

Annual Taste of Playa!  Get your mouths watering for Playa del Carmen’s annual Taste of Playa event coming Sunday November 24th at Parque Fundadores.  This is an annual event held in Playa and is one of the most popular, and geared up for, events of the year.    An incredible selection of Playa chefs, caterers and restaurants will be there to provide you samples of their best dishes.
You can pay for your samples by purchasing “Playa Pesos” which is a similar concept to buying tickets for a carnival ride.  Once you purchase your Playa pesos you can use them towards food samplings which range 2-3 pesos per sample.

If you like you can purchase VIP tickets which get you early entrance, special VIP seating and 20 Playa Pesos towards your samples!  The event will run from 3-9 pm!  This is a do not miss event if you are Playa.  Where else do you get to try the best of Playa del Carmen’s amazing selection of restaurants all one on place.

Taste of Playa Pre-Gaming!  Do not forget to pre-game for this exciting event by participating in some of the “Taste of Playa Kick off” events!  On November 16th Wah Wah Beach bar will be a hosting a Taste of Playa Pre party event!  Come and join in for National Open bar and Appetizer buffet for 450 pesos at the door (online tickets available for 400 pesos).  The party will include raffles and great live music as well.

Casa del Agua will also be hosting their yearly Taste of Playa food and wine paring dinner on Wednesday November 20th.  The dinner costs 750 pesos and can also be purchased online through the Taste of Playa Website.

Riviera Maya Jazz Festival!  All the fun and all the food all lead down to one well anticipated yearly event – The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival!  Here we will see amazing artists such as Earth Wind and Fire take the stage at Mamita’s Beach in Playa del Carmen.  This event starts off on November 28th and runs through November 30th.
This is often times the weekend that starts brining our friendly snowbirds down from the United States and Canada to spend the winter.  The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival has been an incredible success in past years and is expected to carry on the same great reputation and popularity for years to come.

If you are wondering time of year is great for travel in Playa del Carmen, November is your prime time.  On top of the fact that there are fun events going on throughout the entire month, you can also still take advantage of low season rates on airfare and hotel stays.

We, at Top Mexico Real Estate, hope to see you around town this November in Playa del Carmen!

Pass the mashed potatoes! A Real Thanksgiving in Playa del Carmen!

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November has come yet again and you know what that means! The Holidays!  One minute its July and you are enjoying long summer days and then all of a sudden you are organizing your holiday to do list!

If you are living in Playa del Carmen during the holiday season, you might find yourself wondering, “What will I do for the holidays?”

Let’s start with Part 1!  The Thanksgiving Feast!
For some of you, it may be the first year you are in Playa del Carmen for Thanksgiving and for others you may have already started new Playa del Carmen Thanksgiving traditions; whether it is to go to your favorite restaurant or cook your own delicious Thanksgiving dinner.

But if you aren’t sure what to do this coming Thanksgiving, we at Top Mexico Real Estate have a few suggestions for you!

 

Let someone else do the cooking while I catch some sun and sip my margarita!
If you are looking for someone to do the cooking for you, there are some great restaurant options in Playa; some even right on the beach!  What better way to spend Thanksgiving than to eat your Turkey with your feet in the sand!  Wah Wah beach bar is throwing their Annual Thanksgiving All you can eat Bash and the price for this all you can eat extravaganza is shocking!  For just 150 pesos you can stuff yourself like a turkey for 3 hours straight! Not a bad deal huh?

Wah Wah will be serving traditional Thanksgiving favorites, starting with the turkey all the way down to that homemade pumpkin pie!

If you are looking for something with a little less sand and a little more formal atmosphere, restaurants like Auja Maya are serving up your Thanksgiving favorites “sit down dinner style”.  Reservations are encouraged to insure your table.

Be on the lookout for other restaurants and beach clubs soon to announce their Thanksgiving offerings.

A home cooked meal under your own roof!

For those of you who love Thanksgiving under your own roof you can certainly make a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner in your Playa del Carmen home.  Playa is well equipped for these kinds of occasions.  Walmart, Sam’s Club, Mega and other major grocers will be selling turkeys (fresh and frozen).  Even if you don’t have the whole entire family here to entertain there is no doubt you will have friends that wouldn’t mind the invite. Create new traditions, try new recipes and start the holiday season off with your own taste.

A little help with the pie please!
If you want to have your Thanksgiving at home but could use some help to do the baking, there are some great solutions!  Places like Café Martin surely wouldn’t mind whipping up a few Pumpkin Pies to sweeten your occasion!

Just remember in Playa del Carmen you are never really far from home!  If you live in Playa or are considering living here, you can always take comfort in knowing you still have the same conveniences and services as back in the United States and Canada.

Running the 10 Kilometer Cancun Neon Race

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For all you runners out there!  We wanted to draw attention to the great race opportunities that are being offered here in the Riviera Maya.  Like other major cities all across the world, the Riviera Maya is joining in on this much participated trend. Last month we told you about 5k and 10k (3 and 6 mile) race that was held right here in Playa del Carmen and since then we have traveled to Cancun to participate in the 5 and 10 k Neon Race in Cancun.

A Family Event

This turned out to be an incredible event for runners and also for supporters who were cheering on their friends and family!  The event started at 6 pm where runners got themselves all decked out with Neon Paint and glow sticks!  There were other items for sale like funny colorful hats, sunglasses and glowing headbands!  It was a chance to express yourself and be creative while you run!  We saw people all dressed up with neon colored wigs, body paint, crazy skirts and stockings and bright colored running sneakers!  It definitely brought personality and fun to running!


Neon Night

As soon as the night sky came along the sky was lit up with Neon colors and it looked awesome!!  There was a slight hiccup when a huge raincloud made its way through about 10 minutes before starting but that didn’t stop the runners.  The race went on!  Thankfully the rain stopped shortly after and the runners had a dry run!

Why Pay to Run?

But what’s with the trend?  Why would someone pay money for a number for something they can do for free every day in their own neighborhood?

One of our team members who ran the race says:

“I don’t necessarily love running but I am addicted to the feeling you get when crossing the finish line!  It’s amazing to see all the people out there cheering you on!  It’s invigorating and exciting and gives you adrenaline!

“Nobody actually wants to run a 21k or 42k race but they want the feeling you get from surviving it and accomplishing the seemingly impossible task of pushing your body to the limit and fighting through to the end.  It makes other things seem less impossible in life. 

“We all run for different reasons and all of them being great ones and healthy ones!  You can run because your happy or maybe you need to burn some anger, or maybe you just want to let your mind be free for each step you take towards the finish line; it could be as simple as running for a cause like breast cancer or other wonderful organizations where your efforts will be appreciated. 

“I have good strong legs!  When I run I remember the people who don’t have legs and wish they could run.  This is why I run and why it feels good!”
As the Good Feeling catches on we will likely see more and more of these races popping up and definitely more contributors.  If you are looking for other race opportunities close to Playa here are a couple recommendations:

“The running Dead Cancun” https://www.facebook.com/TheRunningDeadCancun coming to Puerto Morelos on September 22nd!  You may choose to be a runner having to escape the zombies or twist it up a bit and do a monster chase to scare away the runners.  Sounds like a super fun haunted house type event to me!

Then there is the Annual Marathon Riviera Maya coming October 27th right in Playa del Carmen! https://www.facebook.com/maratonrivieramaya

 

-by Bea Lozano 
Mexico Condo Hotel Kit

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

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
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