LOCAL Accessible Tourism >03 >06 DISCOVER MEXICO Discover the Costa Maya with its fishing villages, manatee sanctuary, Mayan ruins and much more in our section for independent travelers Riviera Highlights ·SPECIAL · US tourists with some disability spend $13.6 million USD per year travelling. are hotels adapting their facilities? ART & CULTURE Read our exclusive interview with these legends who will grace the stage at the 2014 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival Chick Corea & Pat Metheny >13 Photo: Agency Photo: The Playa Times www.theplayatimes.com Biweekly · Year 02 · Number 47 · 20,000 copies · 16 Pages · Nov 26- Dec 9, 2014 s n e Photo: Agency Photos: Chick Corea Productions / The Kurlan Agency BY CARLOS UNDERWOOD R escued spider monkeys and other species currently liv- ing at the Tulum Monkey Sanctuary need the help of the community. Richard M. Mileski (1954-2014), the sanctuary found- er, died on October 13 after being charged at by a camel he saved from a circus. For 15 years, he dedicated his life to protecting animals but he never expected that if he passed away, his animals and his land would be in state of neglect and abandonment. Through the website www.go- fundme.com/tulummonkey, John is collecting funds in order to start a new conservation project. Having already saved 16 captive spider monkeys, white-tailed deers, iguanas, horses, donkeys, ducks, dogs, innumerable birds, a crocodile and other animals, all of which belonged to a circus, the project has become an animal rescue model within the state of Quintana Roo. However, with great work comes great responsibility, all these species need food and care, which does not come for free. According to Cavanaugh, most spider monkeys only make safe pets for about four years but they have a life expectancy of up to 50 years. When these pets are released into the wild they face an imminent death sentence, with 99.5% mortal- ity rate. The sanctuary is as a result, a safe haven and necessity to the well being of this species. John T. Cavanaugh, friend of Rich- ard and manager of the center, is look- ing for help to ensure the animals do not end up adrift. Currently the Sanctu- ary has no owner because Richard did not include this specification in his will and in addition, the sanctuary now has to move location. After finding out about the sanc- tuary’s case, Kim and Garry Robb and Alberto Delgado who own a ranch one hour from Tulum, agreed to set up their 1,500 acre land in order to accommodate the animals. Although the animals have a new place to stay, they need resources to maintain which will be The Yucatan Center for Animal Rescue and Ecolo- gy, or YUCARE Ranch. John´s project encompasses conservation schemes, education and tourism activities, and with the help of donations, the feed- ing and maintenance of animals. The Sanctuary and program has become a prime example of self-sustainability and low-impact tourism. As well as the Monkey Sanctuary, the YUCARE Ranch will have experienced and non-experienced volunteers who will stay at the cen- ter for sev- eral weeks, helping the monkeys adapt to a more natural habitat. Seven out of the 16 monkeys were born at the former sanctuary and the remainder were handed over after being confiscated by the Federal Office of Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), which is the body in charge of endangered ani- mals that are being illegally held in captivity or used for publicity Those interested in the project can contact John T. Cavanaugh via the website http://yucare.org/ or to do- nate go to http://www.go- fundme.com/tulummonkey. Tulum animal rescue center fundraising to keep their conservation and tourism program (YUCARE) running on neighboring land Let´s Save the Monkey Sanctuary Having already saved 16 captive spider monkeys, white-tailed deers, iguanas, horses, donkeys, ducks, dogs and a crocodile, all of which belonged to a circus, the project has become an animal rescue model within the state of Quintana Roo MODEL INITIATIVE 50 years survival of monkeys in captivity 22 years survival of monkeys in the wild 2,000 monkeys held in Yucatan Source: http://yucare.org
Transcript
LOCAL
Accessible Tourism
>03
>06
DISCOVER MEXICO
Discover the Costa Maya with its fishing villages, manatee sanctuary, Mayan ruins and much more in our section for independent travelers
Riviera Highlights
·SPECIAL ·
US tourists with some disability spend $13.6 million USD per year travelling. are hotels adapting their facilities?
ART & CULTURE
Read our exclusive interview with these legends who will grace the stage at the 2014 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival
Chick Corea & Pat Metheny
>13
Phot
o: A
genc
y
Phot
o: Th
e Play
a Tim
es
www.theplayatimes.com
Biweekly · Year 02 · Number 47 · 20,000 copies · 16 Pages · Nov 26- Dec 9, 2014
12 hours of live HD television
coverage
Phot
o: A
genc
y Ph
otos
: Chi
ck Co
rea P
rodu
ctio
ns / T
he Ku
rlan
Agen
cy
BY CARLOS UNDERWOOD
Rescued spider monkeys and other species currently liv-ing at the Tulum Monkey Sanctuary need the help of
the community. Richard M. Mileski (1954-2014), the sanctuary found-er, died on October 13 after being charged at by a camel he saved from a circus. For 15 years, he dedicated his life to protecting animals but he never expected that if he passed away, his animals and his land would be in state of neglect and abandonment.
Through the website www.go-fundme.com/tulummonkey, John is collecting funds in order to start a new conservation project. Having already saved 16 captive spider monkeys, white-tailed deers, iguanas, horses, donkeys, ducks, dogs, innumerable birds, a crocodile and other animals, all of which belonged to a circus, the project has become an animal rescue model within the state of Quintana Roo. However, with great work comes great responsibility, all these species need food and care, which does not come for free.
According to Cavanaugh, most spider monkeys only make safe pets for about four years but they have a life expectancy of up to 50 years. When these pets are released into the wild they face an imminent death sentence, with 99.5% mortal-ity rate. The sanctuary is as a result, a safe haven and necessity to the well being of this species.
John T. Cavanaugh, friend of Rich-ard and manager of the center, is look-ing for help to ensure the animals do not end up adrift. Currently the Sanctu-ary has no owner because Richard did
not include this specification in his will and in addition, the sanctuary now has to move location.
After finding out about the sanc-tuary’s case, Kim and Garry Robb and Alberto Delgado who own a ranch one hour from Tulum, agreed to set up their 1,500 acre land in order to accommodate the animals.
Although the animals have a new place to stay, they need resources to maintain which will be The Yucatan Center for Animal Rescue and Ecolo-gy, or YUCARE Ranch. John´s project encompasses conservation schemes, education and tourism activities, and with the help of donations, the feed-ing and maintenance of animals. The Sanctuary and program has become a prime example of self-sustainability and low-impact tourism.
As well as the Monkey Sanctuary, the YUCARE Ranch will have experienced and non-exper ienced volunteers who will stay at the cen-ter for sev-eral weeks,
helping the monkeys adapt to a more natural habitat.
Seven out of the 16 monkeys were born at the former sanctuary and the remainder were handed over after being confiscated by the Federal Office of Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), which is the body in charge of endangered ani-mals that are being illegally held in captivity or used for publicity
Those interested in the project can contact John T. Cavanaugh via the website http://yucare.org/ or to do-nate go to http://www.go-fundme.com/tulummonkey.
Tulum animal rescue center fundraising to keep their conservation and tourism program (YUCARE) running on neighboring land
Let´s Savethe Monkey Sanctuary
Having already saved 16 captive spider monkeys, white-tailed deers, iguanas, horses, donkeys, ducks, dogs and a crocodile, all of which belonged to a circus, the project has become an animal rescue model within the state of Quintana Roo
MODEL INITIATIVE
50
years survival of monkeys in captivity
22
years survival of monkeys in the wild
2,000 monkeysh e ld i n Yu ca ta n
Source: http://yucare.org
2
THE PLAYA TIMES RIVIERA MAYA'S COMMUNITY PAPER Periódico Quincenal. Número de Certificado de Reserva otorgado por el Instituto Nacional de Derechos de Autor: (PENDIENTE). Número de Certificado de Licitud de Título: (en trámite). Número de Certificado de Licitud de Contenido: (en trámite). Domicilio de la publicación: Plaza Paseo Coba, 2do piso local 301, Playacar fase II, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, Quintana Roo C.P. 77710. Impreso en talleres Grupo Megamedia Prolongación de Montejo número 301, entre 40 y 42, fraccionamiento Campestre, Mérida, Yucatán. Distribuidor: Meridian Media, S.A. de C.V., Plaza Paseo Coba, 2do piso local 301, Playacar fase II, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, Quintana Roo C.P. 77710.
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>EditorialOur Posts Loud and Clear
Christmas in Playa?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Did you know that we have audios of all our articles avail-able on our website? Just go to www.theplayatimes.com, scroll down and you will find a “Lis-ten to this Post” button at the end of each one. Enjoy every edition loud and clear.
We are happy to announce that our next issue will in-clude a supplement with the best ideas for your Caribbean holidays. Don´t know where to dine out or buy original presents yet? The Playa Times will bring special discounts in local establishments for all our readers.
We want to wish all our American read-ers a happy Thanksgiving with their family and friends. Also, we would love to know how you spend this special day in Pla-ya del Carmen so please share your celebra-tion pics with us on our Facebook page /theplayatimes.
Nov 26-Dec 9, 2014 3LOCAL NEWSLOCAL NEWS
Destination for All: Accessible
Tourism, a Worthy Investment
BY JESÚS SIERRA
“The number of visitors with a disability increased by up to 5 percent in the region in 2014,” said Judith Cárdenas, director
of an agency specialized in accessible transport for tourism.
Despite this in- formation, neither the Quintana Roo Ministry of Tourism (Sedetur) nor
other agencies have details on the total number of
disabled tourists that come to the state.
“A disabled per-son travels with three more people on av-
erage,” explained Cárdenas, who has 10 years of experience in this sector. She
added that this year, the company
she manages received around 1,000 tourists with some form of disability.
One of the factors that influences the arrival of this kind of tourism to the region is the accessibility of ho-
tels. Cárdenas said that new hotels in the Riviera Maya are usually adapt-ed since they the meet architectonic standards required in the country of origin of the hotel chain. Neverthe-less, she added that “there is still a lot to do regarding this issue. Public investment does not always consider the facilities or accessibility of these places for the disabled.”
“The situation is different in Can-cun where many hotels were built 30 years ago. The accessibility for dis-abled people was not very common back then. When they built those hotels they did not think about these problems,” Cárdenas mentioned.
It was not until hurricane Wilma devastated Cancun in 2005 that some hotels, when carrying out their re-modeling, started to modify their in-frastructure in order to make it more accessible for people with disabilities.
Even the concept of “accessible tourism” is relatively recent. It was only in 1991 that the World Tourism Orga-nization (UNWTO) started to make the first recommendations on the subject. The organization made a second revi-sion in 2013 when the number of tour-ists with some disability increased up to 11 percent in countries like Australia or the United Kingdom.
According to the 2013 UNWTO report, the average expense of a tour-ists with disabilities was higher than that of a regular visitor. US tourists with some disability or reduced mo-bility spend $13.6 million USD travel-ling every year.
In terms of the nationalities that are most in need of accessible transport in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Cárdenas said that “the main market comes from the United States and Canada followed by the English, French and Spanish.”
BY CARLOS UNDERWOOD
The reported cases of dengue have de-creased across the whole state by 80 percent, 40 percent in Playa del Carmen, confirmed Ós-car Rodríguez Mendoza, director of Playa del Carmen Health Department, who added that, currently, there are 68 cases of “probable” den-gue, compared to this time last year when the number of cases recorded was around 200.
He further indicated that these are record numbers, a historical achievement, much low-er than in previous years. He declared that the fogging and spray drive as part of the anti-den-gue campaign has reached 34 thousand blocks throughout the municipality as well as collecting 20 thousand tons of junk and trash from patios and abandoned plots throughout the city.
“The last report stated approximately 68 likely dengue cases, the exact numbers are not available. This number has decreased by 40 percent, last year there were 200 cases around this time of year,” said Mendoza, who added:
“We continue working, 20 thousand tons of junk has been collected, 34 thousand blocks throughout the municipality have been sprayed. We continue with this work and begin the den-gue prevention campaign, which is providing
further information on how to prevent it.” He noted that precise indications on how
to avoid the disease will be distributed, includ-ing information on how to keep your patios and homes clean and free of stagnant water, as this acts as a breeding grounds for the mosqui-to Aedes aegypti.
“Statewide the total number of reported cases for dengue has dropped by 80 percent,” said Mendoza.
Similarly, the civil servant stated that by the first semester of 2015 the vaccine against dengue will be approved in Mexico, and will be made available in the state by mid-April, although there is no official date at this time.
He added that even though there is a vac-cine “people shouldn’t lower their guard” as it would only be “partial” and not “universal” prevention, as it would not protect from the four types of dengue nor would it work for the chikungunya fever.
Despite the latter, Mexico is the first country in the world to receive this vac-cine and will greatly help in further reduc-ing the number of dengue hemorrhagic fe-ver (DHF), which in many cases can be fatal. There is a protocol for the vaccine although more information is needed in that regard.
Dengue Cases Decrease Statewide
According to the UNWTO, disabled tourists spend more than the average visitor. An expert tells us about the advance of hotels in the region have reached in this regard
Fogging and spray drive as part of the anti-dengue campaign / Photo: Unidad del Vocero
Beach access for wheelchairs in All Inclusive Hotel / Photo: The Playa Times
The number of visitors with a disability increased by up to 5 percent in the
region in 2014”
Judith Cárdenas Director of an accessible tourism agency
5% increase in tourists
with disabilities in Cancun and the Riviera
Maya for 2014
4 COMMUNITY
The American golfer took home the prize money of one million dollars with six birdies on the final day of the OHL Classic at Mayakoba
BY CARLOS UNDERWOOD
The OHL at Mayakoba Classic, the first PGA Tour event played outside of the United States and Canada, concluded by giving a prize sum of
USD $ 6.1 million, greater than any oth-er golf tournament in Latin America. The champion this year was the American Char-ley Hoffman, with six birdies in the fourth and final day.
The event was held from November 10 to 16 and was attended by 132 professional golfers who played four rounds in El Cama-león Golf Club at Mayakoba, in the Riviera Maya, Mexico.
The president of the OHL Group, Juan Miguel Villar-Mir and the state governor, Roberto Borge Ángulo, delivered the El Cameleón trophy to Charley Hoffman, the victorious champion of the OHL Classic 2014 at Mayakoba, in its eighth edition. Present at the event was the commissioner of the PGA Tour, Timothy W. Finchem.
Charley Hoffman received a check for US $ 1,089 million and 500 FedEx Cup points, and the invitation to play the Masters at Au-gusta, Georgia, United States.
The training
Hoffman Wins
El Camaleón
Hoffman Wins
El Camaleón
Charley Hoffman, Roberto Borge, Juan Miguel Villar-Mir and the OHL Classic at Mayakoba crew
Closet caption / Photo:Agency
1 Charley Hoffman -17
2 Shawn Stefani -16
T3 Danny Lee -15
T3 Andres Gonzales -15
Winners
Mauricio Góngora, Roberto Borge, Charley Hoffman, Timothy W. Finchem and Juan Miguel Villar-Mir
Charley Hoffman and his happy family / Photos: OHL Classic at Mayakoba
Large crowds flock to the first OHL Classic at Mayakoba
A powerful swing
What was Charley
Hoffman´s prize?
million dollars
FedEx Cup points
Invitation to
the Masters at Augusta
1,089
500
Nov 26-Dec 9, 2014 5COMMUNITY
Help Eva Sofia
BY THE PLAYA TIMES
Ten months old baby Eva So-fia was born with a very com-plex congenital disease. Her heart is located on the oppo-
site side of her body. After consulting many doctors in the United States she is in a very critical situation since her oxygen level has dropped to 52%, the lowest her doctors have seen so far.
One of her main symptoms is that her feet, hands and around her mouth look blue (cyanosis). She gets tired very easily and it is very difficult for her to crawl or play since her blood does not flow cor-rectly. Her parents cannot let her cry because of the lack of oxygen.
She needs to have a procedure done in a period of 4 to 6 weeks in Houston, the only place where it can be done due to the complexity. This type of surgery costs a minimum
of $300,000 USD and her parents need to present the whole amount upfront just so Eva can be admitted.
For this purpose, Eva´s worried parents have organized a fundrais-ing event on December 6 at 8 p.m. at The Public Place on Avenida Avi-
ación, Plaza Paseo Coba. Local 210. Playacar Fase II. You can also make an online donation on www.gofund-me.com/saveevasofia.
More information about Eva´s case on www.saveeva.org
BY CARLOS UNDERWOOD
Laura Rendón, head of the move-ment My Street Friend (Mi Amigo de la Calle), organized the first fundrais-ing event for stray dogs, taken care of by a group of rescue organisations in the Riviera Maya. The goal, which was to reach one ton of dog food in donations by those attending the event, received a staggering 1.5 tons, with an additional $10,000 pesos in cash donations.
Approximately 500 residents showed up, which was held at The Caracol Marino Cultural Center, on 80th street between 10th and 5th avenue, on November 23. Ex-perts also attended to help answer questions and provide tips on the proper care of pets, as well as many local businesses providing artis-
anal and organic products for sale. “My Street Friend helps stray dogs and is for people who are interest-ed in adopting and neutering their pets. Our target was to reach one ton in dog food to help rescue cen-ters and help finance future rescues and feed those already in shelters, pay vet bills, and carry out neutering campaigns in more deprived areas of Quintana Roo, who do not receive ac-cess to this type of services for their pets or strays,” explained Rendón.
During the event, there were sev-eral parades of dogs up for adoption from the rescue group Acción Animal.
Moreover, Laura explained, the stray dog population in Playa del Car-men is out of control, and the prob-lem needs to be addressed urgently. The number of dogs at risk is substan-tial and growing every month.
Residents for stray dogs
Baby Eva Sofia / Photo: Facebook Save Eva Sofia
A happy dog on the day of the fundraiser / Photo:The Playa Times
The baby´s parents are desperately looking for funds so their daughter can have a procedure in Houston which would to solve her complex congenital disease
$300,000 USD need
to be raised in a period of 4 to 6 weeks
6 DISCOVER MEXICO
Costa Maya is comprised of the southern area of Quintana Roo right before Belize´s border. This unique area sur-rounds the city of Chetumal and its varied destinations suit every taste.Due to Costa Maya´s considerable expanse we have divided it into three areas: the inland area, characterized by jungle ecosystems; Mayan ruins and by the beauty of the Magical Town of Bacalar; the Chetumal bay area with its
lagoons and wildlife sanctuary; and the coastal area, a divers´ paradise, which goes from Punta Herrero to Xcalak along the Mesoamerican Reef.
Calderitas. This 5,000 inhabitant fishing village is well known for being the place where people from Chetumal go to eat great seafood with a beautiful seaview and sunbathe. From Calderi-
Distance in miles from Cancun: 212; 236; Playa del Carmen: 193 miles (to Chetumal)
Co�ta Maya-Chetumal Bay A�ea
BY CARLOS UNDERWOOD
According to Armando Lor-ence Camargo, president of the Quintana Roo Ma-rine Turtle Committee,
189,512 turtles were born from 10,735 nests in Quintana Roo during the 2014 breeding season which goes from May to November.
Even though this is a good re-sult, the figures did not reach the ones in 2012 when the committee reported the historic record of more than 11,000 nests. Lorence point-ed out that these are preliminary figures since they need to add the results of some other turtle camps, although the final result is not ex-pected to change much.
“The information is partial since we need some more camps´ information and the last turtles of the season are still being born. These are the results until Septem-ber 2014. The Workshop on the Results of the 2014 Turtle Breeding Season will take place on Decem-ber 5 and 6,” Lorence explained.
2012 broke the Tabasco or green sea turtle and the loggerhead turtle breeding record with 7,673 and 2,000 nests reported respectively. This year, more loggerhead turtles were born: 32,758 from 43,142 eggs laid in 2,000 nests.
15,052 green sea turtles were born from 16,669 eggs laid in 7,673 nests. In the case of the hawksbill turtle, 1,702 hatchlings were born from 2,402 eggs laid in 25 nests. There were no reports on the leatherback sea turtle which is a much more unusual turtle species in the region.
In Quintana Roo, there are around 80 turtle camps located in
Isla Mujeres, Contoy, Cozumel, Tu-lum, Akumal, Xcacel-Xcacelito and Playa del Carmen where govern-mental and non-governmental or-ganizations work. Marine turtles are protected by Mexican law since they are endangered species.
Four turtle species breed in the state but the loggerhead turtle is the only one that nests in Quintana Roo, therefore it requires special protec-tion. Most of the loggerhead nests are made in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Tulum and the Xcacel-Xca-celito Turtle Sanctuary.
Other topics will be discussed at the Workshop on the Results of the 2014 Turtle Breeding Season be-sides this season´s figures, such as the state of the Marine Turtle Nat-ural Sanctuary in Akumal which is going through a critical situation be-cause of the human activity impact.
Turtle Breeding
Season Comes to an End
Baby turtles on their way to the sea / Photo: Unidad del Vocero
HOW TO GET THERE
Car
Chetumal has ground access along Highway 307 from Cancun and Playa. The trip from Playa del Carmen takes around three hours, or four if you come from Cancun. Bus
There is an ADO bus station on 179 Salvador Novo Ave. in Chetumal´s downtown. There are buses every two hours from Playa del Carmen and Cancun. One way tickets cost $352 and $294 pesos (depending on the departure time) and it takes almost six hours. You can check routes and schedules on www.ado.com.mx.
Flights
Chetumal International Airport is 1.5 miles away from downtown Chetumal. Although it receives a couple of commercial flights a month, it is mainly used for private flights. Aerosaab offers six passenger one-way flights from Playa del Carmen to Chetumal for $1,385 USD and from Cancun for $1,550 USD, www.aerosaab.com.
Once you are in Chetumal the best way to get to Costa Maya´s attractions is by renting a car. You can get to Calderitas by taking Centenario Ave. or the coastal Boulevard Bahía Chetumal, which also leads to Oxtankah. In order to go to Laguna Guerrero take the road to Raudales vil-lage which departs from the traffic circle in the end of Centenario Ave. in Calderitas. Drive 4.5 miles and take the detour on the right to Punta Lagarto. Laguna Guerrero is 8 miles from there.
WHAT TO SEE
tas you can take a boat and visit Tamalcab island, which is 1.5 miles away from the coast. It is considered one of the best fishing places of the re-gion and is the habitat of the spider monkey, coati and osprey.Distance from Chetumal: 5 miles
Oxtankah ruins. Oxtankah means “between branches”. This Mayan site reached its peak during the Classic period between 300 and 600 B. C. The remains are located around two squares called Abejas (bees) and Columnas (columns). It also stands out for its Christian chapel remains which are believed to be built by Spanish conqueror Alonso de Ávila in 1531.Distance from Chetumal: 9 milesTickets: $42 pesosOpen 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lagoon of Guerrero-Manatee Sanctuary. It is one of Quintana Roo´s most important Protected Natural Areas because it is the home of around 90 out of the 200 manatees of the state as well as other threat-ened species such as the swamp crocodile, the river turtle and the jaguar. It is characterized by its shallow waters, which are 3 to 16 feet deep, and other bodies of water. This place is mostly known as El Corral de Daniel (Daniel’s yard) named after a manatee who is taken care of by the guide Eladio Juárez. Distance from Chetumal: 14 milesFree entrance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
80 turtle camps in Quintana Roo
green sea turtles
hawksbill turtles were born in 2014
15,052
1,702
loggerhead turtles
32,758
Nov 26-Dec 9, 2014 7ENTERPRISE FOCUS
When we talk about human and constitutional rights it is implied that we are talking about very technical specifi-
cations of Mexican law which are exclusive to the legal environment of the country.
Nevertheless, when we carefully ana-lyze the scope of this law system and its philosophical, humanistic, political, even economic and social construct, which are its essence, it is clear that, in the necessary cases, it is a useful legal tool in the world of business and life in general in Mexico. Misunderstood by a lot of Mexicans and completely unknown to most foreigners, the constitutional rights trial (juicio de amparo) is the backbone of the legal sys-tem in Mexico, acting as the largest and strongest defense against erroneous acts of authority for those in the country.
In general terms, the constitutional rights trial is a legal concept that gives, to both Mexican and foreigners in Mex-ico alike, security and legal certainty of their constitutional rights through a court ruling.
This court ruling is final always when it is issued by the highest rank of Tribu-nal Circuit and the Supreme Court of Jus-tice of the Nation, who ensure its effects are permanent.
The content is subject to what the Con-stitution states, which essentially contains the rights of nationals or foreigners, an indi-vidual or a corporation (persona física and persona moral, respectively) and provides the boundaries for the acts of authority.
This idea of protecting people arose from the evolution of humanistic ideas in Europe during the 18th century, and took shape in the 19th century, and was in the hands of Manuel Crescencio Rejón de Alcalá, who was the one to propose a way of asserting people’s rights that were stipulated in the Constitution at the time.
Currently, the constitutional rights trial has inspired the creation of rights and mechanisms which defend citizens worldwide from the acts of government affecting their heritage or integrity, as well as modification of existing mecha-nisms to expand its scope.
The legal forum
The constitutional rights trialBy Gerardo González
Gerardo González is lawyer specializing in corporate law, and a graduate from the Interamerican University for Development in Merida, where he originates from. If you have a topic in mind you would like him to address in his column, write to him at [email protected]
BY PATRICIA BERRY- INTERCAM
A couple of weeks ago, all eyes were set on central banks and their efforts to lift the world economy out
of the 6 year funk. Japan’s promise of another round of cash injections fed the latest bout of investor optimism that sent markets to new highs.
As usually happens in the world of financial markets, most participants’ attention was suddenly diverted back to the issue of economic growth.
First, China published its eco-nomic figures for October, which did not make for happy reading as nearly
all indicators came in below expec-tations. The Chinese economy is not
accelerating, but, in fact, it seems to continue to lose momentum. It is
now highly unlikely it will achieve the 2014 seven percent growth target set forth by the government. The Chinese authorities don’t seem overly worried by the data and the markets keep their hopes up for eventual stimu-lus. The fact is, China is not currently contributing to the global economy’s healing process.
Next, GDP growth figures for the third quarter of the year began in ear-nest. The US and the UK grew a little faster than estimated, the Euro Zone managed to grow slightly more than in the second quarter, although it is by no means out of the woods: France sur-prisingly grew faster than expected and Spain maintained its rhythm, Germa-ny eked out only a minimum positive advance and Italy remained in reces-
sion. All in all, the European Monetary Union remains uncomfortably close to a relapse into recession, which means more pressure is being piled on the Eu-ropean Central Bank to finally adopt a full Quantitative Easing program (a policy incentive used by central banks) –printing euros to buy corporate and sovereign bonds – to further stimulate activity in the region.
Finally, Japan published its results last Monday and shocked everyone by actually contracting for the third con-secutive quarter. It was well known that PM Shinzo Abe’s plans for the economy were not fulfilling the high expectations, but a technical recession was definitely not on anyone’s mind.
The latest stimulus packages from the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan have reced-ed somewhat as a result. Enthusi-asm has been taken down a notch, as it is looking increasingly likely that the US and UK will be the only relatively healthy growth engines for the global economy, at least in 2015. Which begs the question: will that be enough?
The World’s Economy
Takes a U-Turn for the Worse
Recent growth and enthusiasm for a recovery of global markets has been replaced by the looming reality of further economic slump, with only US and UK markets staying afloat
China is not currently contributing to the global economy’s healing process / Photo:Agency
Economic figures for October did not make for
happy reading as nearly all indicators came in below
expectations
8 CANCUN
Nov 26-Dec 9, 2014 9PLAYA DEL CARMEN
10 HEALTH & BEAUTY
BY ANA ACOSTA
There is a lot of controversy based on which of these two oils are best for cooking, mainly as a result of the vast amount of dietary information avail-
able. In general terms we can speak of “good fats” (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) and “bad fats” (saturated). We can say that olive oil has 78% good fats (monounsaturat-ed) against only 6% present in coconut oil. In contrast, olive oil has 8% bad fats with 92% present in coconut oil.
These fats are stored as fatty acids. Not to be confused with fats, fatty acids are chains of car-bons with hydrogens attached to them and an “acid” group at one end of the molecule. These differ in length of the carbon chain, known as short-chain fatty acids, medium-chain fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids. Each acid serves dif-ferent purposes in the body—some are “burned” or oxidized for energy, some are structural fea-tures of cell membranes, whilec others perform special duties in nerve cell tissues.
Many argue that coconut oil is not that harm-ful because the main source of its saturated fat is lauric acid (50%) which is a medium-chain fatty acid and helps break down, transport and is used as an energy source more rapidly than long-chain fatty acids. As such, lauric acid from coconut oil scarcely accumulate in adipose tissue (the tissue where fat is stored), although more studies are needed to validate this.
According to general recommendations on
the prevention of cardiovascular disease, it is recommended that the total fat intake in the diet should be less than 30%, which should corre-spond to: less than 10% in saturated fats (bad), 10% in polyunsaturated fats (good) and between 10-15% monounsaturated (good), with a total daily cholesterol intake of less than 300 mg.
To choose the most suitable oil there are two points you need to know: the smoke point and the chemical transformation produced by the heat. The smoke point is the temperature the oil begins to smoke (i.e. burn) producing toxic and harmful gases like free radicals. Each type of oil has a smoke point due to their chemical characteristics. It could be said that the higher the smoke point, the healthier the oil because it needs more heat to burn. In this sense, the smoke point of olive oil is medium-high, while the coconut is medium-low.
In conclusion, coconut oil can be used spo-radically for cooking especially baking at low temperatures. Moreover it is excellent for hair and skin due to its antimicrobial and antiseptic characteristics. But overall, olive is the most beneficial oil for cooking at high temperature in terms of smoke point and lipid profile. The intake recommendation for oil is 2 to three ta-blespoons daily, crude.
Ana Acosta Rodríguez is a Nutritionist based in Playa del Carmen. Her specialties include
Maternal-Child Nutrition, pregnancy & lactation. You can contact her at
Know the features of these two fats whose moderate consumption is recommended in order to prevent cardiovascular disease
Coconut Oil
vs. Olive Oil
Coconut oil is excellent for hair and skin due to its antimicrobial characteristics / Photo:Agency
Nov 26-Dec 9, 2014 11HEALTH & BEAUTY
BY DR. LUIS DAVID SUÁREZ, MD
In the face of a cancer diagnosis, in conventional medical care we are presented with the options to un-dergo surgery, receive chemother-
apies and/or radiation. Most times, combinations of the above are pre-scribed. For many patients, the treat-ment ends there. But the reality is that many cancer patients (as much as 90 percent in certain surveys) are also using Complementary or Alter-native Medicine (CAM) treatments. Most patients are afraid to tell their oncologist and surgeons about this because they expect to be criticized, ridiculed, and told to stop.
But fortunately, experts in On-cology are starting to take a more holistic, long-term approach to the disease, and are paying closer atten-tion to the overall health of patients suffering from cancer. This has given birth to the rapidly expanding field of Integrative Oncology, which fuses the best of CAM treatments.
Places like the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Mayo Clinic and the University of California have in-corporated Integrative Oncology de-
partments and programs.Integrative Oncology strategies
such as nutritional advice, exercise (including yoga and Qi-gong), mind-fulness meditation, and targeted sup-plements can reduce inflammation and boost immunity, which can reduce the risk of relapse. Acupuncture can help reduce pain, nausea and insomnia. Ozone therapy can boost the antioxi-dant system, reducing chemothera-py side effects. Over the course of six articles, we will briefly review some of the benefits of these thera-pies in Integrative Oncology.
The good news is that many of these protocols can help lower can-cer risk in “healthy” people too. They are powerful cancer prevention strat-
egies. That’s important because, as many oncologists often like to say: ‘we are all potential cancer patients.’
Integrative Medicine (IM) has the following principles: it includes ideas and practices that are beyond the scope of the conventional, but it neither rejects conventional ther-
apies nor accepts alterna-tive ones uncritically. It
emphasizes the natural healing power of the
human organism, with its primary goal being to support, facilitate and enhance that innate capacity. IM views the patient as a whole, includ-ing the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and even social dimensions of their experience. IM considers all aspects of lifestyle, since our genes are influenced by the way we interact with the environment, and thus diet, exercise, patterns of sleep,
stress, and even relationships have an impact in our health. IM also em-phasizes the critical role of a deeper and more committed Medical-Patient relationship, in which both parties are involved in the treatment and are able to communicate comfortably.
Dr. Luis David Suárez is a specialist
in Medical Acupuncture and Phytother-apy and director of SANAR Center
for Integrative Medicine.
Experts in Oncology are starting to recognise the benefits of more holistic treatments for patients suffering from cancer as well as a preventative measure to lower cancer risks in healthy patients
What is Integrative Oncology?
Chiropractic Care, The Original Recipe for Youth
BY DR. RICHARD MCCARTHY
In the last ten years there has been an increase in miracle creams, medications and alternative therapies that claim to make you look and feel younger. �ere is no shortage of people who buy into these products be-cause, these days, everyone wants fast and e�ortless ways to look and feel younger.
‘Youth’ is a multibillion dollar industry. Just don’t be fooled. Many of these products are so new that we don’t know their long term e�ects or whether they will leave you worse o� with time than you are now. In addition, there are countless therapies and treatments available in Mexico that have never been tested or appro-ved by agencies such as the FDA.
�ere is however one therapy that has been around a long time which has proved to be very e�ective for millions of patients in helping people look and feel younger. �is is chiropractic care.
When the joints of your body are sti�, sore, and your back aches, your knees ache and crack, this makes you look and feel older. When a chiropractor lines up the unbalanced joints, works on the pressure points, stretches the painful articulations in a certain way, you may think he has performed a miracle.
However, I don’t believe in miracles. Everyday I see people who are sti� and sore who don’t take care of themselves. �e pres-sure slowly builds up in their body and slows them down, making them function as if they were �ve to ten years older than they actually are. Many people don’t even realize that they
are not functioning normally. It is such a great feeling to be able to help a patient feel younger.
Be careful when selecting the unproven miracle cures. Isn’t it better to choose a real therapy that is 100% natural and has stood the test of time?
CHIROPRACTORFor a safe, effective chiropractor
Dr. Richard McCarthy
at The New Gym, Playa Del Carmen
Tel: 984 873 2098
Up to 90% of cancer patients use complementary and alternative medicine
treatments in combination with conventional
medical treatment.
Acupuncture can help reduce pain and nausea in cancer patients / Photo: Agency
12 DINING OUT
The culture of mezcal and the
way it has risen from oblivion to
its now well-deserved fame, has
many factors and variables, but there is
one solid constant: the fantastic kaleido-
scope of people involved.
From the long history of mezcal mas-
ters, families and communities keeping
the heritage and culture alive, to the sui
generis mezcaliers, connoisseurs, adorers,
chefs, mixologists, artists and the random
characters who are drawn into its gravita-
tional field, all end up in the heart of the
mezcal universe.
The story starts on a sunny morning,
when I met a güero on a scooter who took
me to his cool den overlooking Oaxaca city
at Colonia Volcanes to try his private selec-
tion of mezcales and pulque.
This güero, Judah Kruper, was drifting
around Mexico looking for sea, waves and
adventure when a swell took him into the
arms of his future wife Valentina. Coinci-
dentally, Valentina´s father is a mezcal
master in Yegole, a hidden town in the
hillsides before the Oaxaca valley. The day
Judah went to ask for her hand in marriage,
her father greeted him with one the most
interesting and clandestine mezcals avail-
able, the dreaded mezcal de puntas. For
those who have yet to encounter puntas,
it is the first part of the distillation process
and is considered to be very strong, reaching
up to 140º proof, with an explosive effect
and a subtle, long aftertaste.
Although it was completely un-
planned, that initial meeting of the two
men (and minds) was the day Mezcal
Vago was born. It has now been three
years since Judah and his father-in-law,
Apolonio, set off on their journey to-
gether producing their great mezcales,
which are sought after and exported to
Europe and the U.S.
Mezcal Vago’s popularity is attributed
to its rich and unique flavor profile, which
is carefully crafted, in small batches, using
select organic ingredients and enhanced
with roasted elote (corn) during the process.
This story of people coming together
and building upon a family legacy is the
essence of the things I love about mez-
cal: friendly warm, simple while complex
flavors, with the spirit to celebrate, share
and enjoy. ¡Salud!
MezcalThe Heart of Mezcal
By Ramiro Vázquez
Ramiro Vázquez is a representative of Mezcales de Lulá.
Soy Cerveza Festival Is Here!
BY CARLOS UNDERWOOD
2014 Soy Cerveza (“I Am Beer”) Festival will take place on November 29-30 at Puerto Morelos Central Park
by the seafront. According to their website www.soycerveza.com, the aim is to “invite people to experience something which goes further than just having a chela (Mexican slang for beer)” with the help of national and international beer experts who will be there to show participants how to taste different types of beers.
According to Soy Cerveza organiz-ers, around 1,500 attendants are ex-pected every day. The best beer brands and producers around the world will be presented as well as national and international craft beers.
Local restaurants will be offering beer pairings. For an entry price of $100 pesos, participants will have the right to keep a commemorative glass, a complementary Heineken beer, a bracelet and access to the beer tastings, lectures and concerts.
Tickets are on sale at Beer Box Cancun and at El Pilón restaurant on Avenida Juárez and 35th Ave. in Pla-ya del Carmen. The festival will last from 2 p.m. to 12 p.m. The entrance to the workshops and lectures is free but it is recommended to book in ad-
vance as places are limited. The fes-tival will offer non-alcoholic drinks and food as well.
For more information check
www.soycerveza.com and the Face-book page /soycerveza.
BY ROCÍO NORZAGARAY
It is evident that we are in the era of well being and health, since it is in-creasingly common to meet people who take care of their diet. I notice it with my clients when they send me emails specifying what they want to eat. Big corporations have also taken note of this upcoming trend to the point that their commercial spin on products now captures this new and promising market trend. A very clear example of this is Coca Cola, who just launched a new sweetened version, supposedly using stevia.
According to data compiled over the last decade by Mexico’s agricul-ture ministry, SAGARPA, organic food production in Mexico grew exponen-tially, going from 33,587 producers to over 169,750. This trend, which can only be regarded as something positive, is in part due to associations such as Mexican Organic Impulse who
have pushed to establish a credible rep-utation for Mexican organic agriculture as a great business opportunity for both national and international markets, especially in terms of tropical products which cannot be produced in developed countries as in the case of coffee, mango, banana, avocado, cacao, hibiscus, citrus, papaya and coconut.
Another surprising fact is that 85% of the production of certified or-ganic products are for export. Which is also great as it allows us to compete internationally, but it would be better if the percentage of production for lo-cal consumption that remains in our country was much greater than 15%. As a result, it is still difficult to access organic produce in Quintana Roo. This is all the more reason why it is worthwhile supporting the work and effort of active members of the com-munity who organize local eco-mar-kets, in different locations and online. A listing of these markets can now be
found in the What’s On section of The Playa Times.
Furthermore, I am firm believer that the best approach for getting the nutrition and health benefits you need is to grow your own food. It may seem difficult at first but it is easier than you think and it is incredibly fascinating and satisfying. Who does not like to go to a restaurant and see the chef come out of their vegetable garden and collect the fresh ingredients mo-ments before it reaches your plate? I recently had the opportunity to meet a company dedicated to this purpose here in Quintana Roo, its name Petit Farm (www.petitfarm.mx.) Its basic product is a pot of fiberglass with the exact measure so you can grow up to four-teen different species of fruits and vegetables. They deliver the planting and harvesting schedule with expla-nations of how and when to irrigate every variety.
This op-tion is highly recommend-
ed, since not all of us have
a big yard and the thought of not relying on supermarkets to access a healthier life is something that fills me with excitement.
Rocío Norzagaray is a sommelier. Contact her on [email protected] and www.privatechefplaya.com.
Towards Responsible Consumption
Are you crazy for beer? This event brings to Puerto Morelos the best national, international and craft brands together with local music concerts
Saturday 29
2 p.m. Dj Beat49
3 p.m. Dj Raul
6 p.m. Alice Whisper
7 p.m. Ganjanistas
8 p.m. Hartiko
9 p.m. Circus show
9.30 p.m.Cuban son concert
Sunday 30
1 p.m. Dj Chocolat
4 p.m. Surfing Monsters
5 p.m. La banda de pelos
6 p.m. Matizze
7 p.m. El Son del Barrio
8 p.m. Efecto Dopamina –
Tribute to Bob Marley
9 p.m. Mariachi
CONCERTS LINE-UP
German sausages and beer at Soy Cerveza Festival 2012 in Isla Mujeres / Photos: Facebook Soy Cerveza
Nov 26-Dec 9, 2014 13ART & CULTURE
Chick Corea and Pat Metheny,
the Brains behind Fusion
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF JAZZ’S CURRENT SITUATION? DO YOU THINK THAT MUSIC DOWNLOADS AND POOR JAZZ PROMOTION IS RESTRICTING MUSICIANS TO JUST PLAYING CONCERTS?
Chick Corea (CC): I like to think we can change for the better. I don’t be-lieve you can force an individual or the public into being more ethical in regards to accessing music. I like to appeal to a person’s innate good-will and reason. I think “jazz” and all types of music and arts are in the good hands of creative artists around the world who are constantly work-ing to improve conditions and im-prove their art form. Pat Metheny (PM): It has always been very difficult to get noticed and each generation faces unique challenges and also gains unique opportuni-
ties. But also, I feel if you really have something happening that has a cer-tain authenticity, there is a chance you may be able to have a tiny place in the culture of your time. I think just being a good player isn’t really enough, but I think that has always been the case. Not only do you have to play in a way that flows smoothly- there are plenty of people able to do that - but you need to actually aspire to the creation of ideas that no one has ever really thought of before, one way or another.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PLAYA DEL CARMEN AS THE VENUE FOR THE RIVIERA MAYA JAZZ FESTIVAL CONSIDERING THAT IT IS MOST-LY A TOURISTIC PLACE RATHER THAN CULTURAL?
CC: I’m not familiar with the crowd in Playa del Carmen but I look for-
ward to our concert there. I love to play for people anywhere.PM: I am really lucky in that I get to play in a lot of different settings and environments. It isn’t unusual for me to play in a 10,000 seat stadium one night and a 75 seat jazz club the next. Each gig is unique and that is part of what makes it fun. For instance, you could play gigs for three days in the same town and each of those audiences would be very different one day to the next. You never re-ally know what to expect. I play each gig like it is going to be the last and always hope for the best from each audience. YOU HAD MILES DAVIS, DIZZY GILLESPIE, ETC. AND PEOPLE TODAY ARE LISTENING TO YOU. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NEW GENERA-TIONS OF JAZZ MUSICIANS?
CC: Life moves on and cultures grow and change. As I said, the music is in the good and creative hands of future gen-erations, actually it always has been.PM: I have always been kind of non-aligned with the community in gener-al, so it is hard for me to say. I hang out and do projects with everyone across the board at different times, from the elder giants like Roy Haynes, to the generation immediately older than me, like Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock and Jack Dejohnette to some of the younger guys like Josh Redman and even the really new guys like Logan Richardson. To me, what has not changed is the commitment
to having a deep relationship with the music itself. Every other way in which music gets pigeonholed, is just cultur-al etiquettes and politics, neither of which have much value compared to the currency of the raw music itself.
WHEN YOU STOP PLAYING AND COM-POSING, WHO WILL BE YOUR SUCCES-SORS? ALSO, WHICH BANDS DO YOU LIKE LISTENING TO BESIDES JAZZ?
CC: I don’t know about “successors”. The public and the musicians will naturally choose their leaders. I like listening to a lot of different kinds of music and bands. I’m always finding something new and interesting.PM: I am not a huge fan of the whole idea of “genre” or styles of music. To me, music is one big thing. The musicians who I have admired the most are the ones who have a deep reservoir of knowledge and insight not just about music, but about life in general and are able to illustrate their passions through sound. When a musician can improvise this knowl-edge and passion on the spot, that is usually my favorite kind of musician.
YOU HAVE ACHIEVED TO MOVE THE CONCEPT OF CLASSIC JAZZ TOWARDS SOMETHING MORE ACCESSIBLE BY MERGING IT WITH OTHER STYLES. ARE YOU PLANNING ANYTHING EVEN MORE REVOLUTIONARY?
CC: I am working on several projects and future tours. I’m finding new ways to use electronics. I’m in the process of writing new music for orchestras and small chamber mu-sic ensembles. There are many more experiments in progress in my mind and in my studio.PM: I don’t really think like that. I re-ally just try to represent in sound the things that I have found to be true to life and that I really love about mu-sic. Sometimes I need new tools to do that, but often just sitting down to play a simple guitar chord is enough.
BY JESUS SIERRA
Last Friday, November 21, the
event Creative Living (Vive Creativo) took place at the University La Salle in Cancun as part of the activities of the Marketing Workshops. Students and members of the general public had the opportunity to attend con-ferences and seminars aimed to give students a broader view of this sector for their future careers.
“We want to provide a space for the talent of Cancun, so that young people have the chance to interact fully with the marketplace. More than 27 exhibitors attended and all are en-
trepreneurs,” said Alejandra Zavala, one of the organizers of Living Cre-atively. The event, which is accessible to the general public, included the participation of illustrators, fashion designers and chefs, all of which were Cancun residents.
Enrique Galicia, illustrator with over 15 years of experience, designs, produc-es and markets his own creations. One of the keys to success of an entrepre-neur, Galicia highlights, is originality.
“The key is to mix design with il-lustration, there is no compromise be-tween these two,” said the illustrator. With regards to the problems in gain-ing recognition and work in this sector,
Galicia stated that it “is a slow process that requires a lot of dedication.”
The event finished with YouTube blogger Caelike, who has more than 3 million subscribers on her video chan-nel. She answered questions from her
fans and spoke about the responsibility that comes with having a large audience. “You have to think about what you say, how you say it and the fact that you have some power over those who watch you.”
A Creative Future for the Youth of Cancun
After our first success back in October 2007 we kept rehearsing a lot,
preparing more songs for our music demo which would help us get more gigs at well-paid venues in and around Playa del Carmen.
Our repertoire was really interesting and after a couple of months, together with the little ups and downs of life, we were ready to start recording our demo. For this, we went back to Freddy’s studio in Co-losio, where he had all his pro-fessional recording and audio equipment. At times, Freddy and I didn’t always see eye to eye. For instance, his idea of recording my voice twice for the same song (overlapping) to add more vocal volume, although a known method, did not strike me such a good idea. Why? Be-cause recording is not easy, it re-quires a lot of work, and singing the same line or song twice with the exact same tones, length and intonation, is very hard. However, it was his recording studio, his duo, his long-term experience and so it was done his way. The outcome was ok, although definitely not great, but at least we had our demo, with lots of voice volume.
With the demo in our hands, we were finally ready to knock on the doors of a variety of bars, restaurants, hotels, you name it. This was towards the end of May or early June 2008. Mid-June we had a gig at a local event at La Caldera recording studio which was quite successful. Soon af-ter, Freddy decided to go work in the US for three months. I was so disappointed! Neverthe-less I took it as easy as possible and used the break to rearrange some issues in my own career. Back then I was still not a full-time musician and took it more as a hobby.
Three months later, Freddy came back with the news that he would no longer have time for the music business. And as it so hap-pened, our band Agharta stayed underground and never really reached to success.
My Odyssey Through Music
Freddy (3)By Aitana
Both musicians are top of the bill at Riviera Maya Jazz Festival which will take place at Mamita´s beach on November 27-29
Caelike, YouTube blogger / Photo: The Playa Times
For more information about the author
and her band check out the Facebook
pages /aitana.singer.jewelrydesigner
and /NightBrain.
Composers Chick Corea and Pat Metheny / Photo: Chick Corea Productions / The Kurlan Agency
BY MARÍA MOROTE
According to the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival´s director, Fernando Toussaint, this year the event will not feature “popular” bands like Earth Wind & Fire or Incognito but more alternative artists which show the multiple nuances of the genre. The Playa Times was fortunate to
interview online two of the festival´s stars, Chick Corea and Pat Metheny.
The musicians who I have admired the most are the ones who have a
deep reservoir of knowledge and insight not just about music, but about life in general and are able to illustrate their passions through sound.”
Pat Metheny Guitar player
14 TAKE A BREAK
HOROSCOPES
SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22ND-DEC 21ST)
Avoid overcommitting to what could initially seem like a great idea. You could get in over your head lacking the necessary support. Reflecting on import-ant issues will be time well spent.
CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22ND-JANUARY 19TH)
Your cooperation will be very welcome. Though you may need to sacrifice a bit, your efforts will be rewarded. Plus, you’re in a position to see your social standing in a more favorable light.
AQUARIUSJANUARY 20THFEBRUARY 18TH
You’ll be eager to get out and enjoy life. Be careful as someone you connect with may not be completely trustworthy. Accept invitations and you’ll have more opportunities for fun and romance!
PISCES(FEBRUARY 19TH-MARCH 20TH)
A focus on broadening your horizons might encourage you to get involved with those who share your ideas. A course you’re passionate about could also be the reason that a romance gets off.
ARIES (MARCH 21ST-APRIL 19TH)
You may be busy sorting out your financial affairs early on and making sure that your money is safe. This is a good time to create a budget that can see you through the holiday period.
TAURUS(APRIL 20TH-MAY 20TH)
Your social life may keep you busy early on, though you might need to attend more formal events than usual. This can be a very productive time when you can accomplish a great deal.
GEMINI(MAY 21TH-JUNE 21TH)
You’ll be working hard early on, and you may feel the pressure to meet deadlines or targets. How-ever, there’s no point in challenging the boss or those who don’t think like you do.
CANCER
(JUNE 22ND- JULY 22ND)
Romance could be a serious subject involving much discussion. This isn’t a good time to plan for the fu-ture. You’ll begin to feel brighter and calmer as the focus shifts to your work sector.
LEO (JULY 23RD – AUGUST 22ND)
You may feel aspects of your family life and attendant responsibilities crowding in on you. But you’ll be surprised by how quickly things change.
VIRGO (AUGUST 23RD – SEPTEMBER 22ND)
This period is excellent for putting your ana-lytical skills to good use. There’s much you can accom-plish when you put your mind to it, and this includes finding solutions.
LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23RD – OCTOBER 22ND)
Get your financial ducks in a row by cutting back where needed. Influences encourage you to weed out unnecessary luxuries in order to save for something more important.
SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23RD- NOVEMBER 21ST)
Don’t put off making a serious decision. The sooner you make it, the less anxious you’ll feel. If you’ve been considering making a commitment to a project, the thought of getting involved might sud-denly become appealing.
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Enter digits from 9 to 1 intothe blank spaces
Every row most contain oneof each digit
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Boil the potatoes. In a frying pan, add the olive oil and fry the cho-pped onions, add the garlic and the tomatoes finely chopped at the end. Then, add the cod to the pan and a little more olive oil. Leave to fry for 5 minutes (approximately). Finally, add the olives, the boiled potatoes and the chile. Season with salt and pepper and serve with bread.
For the cod: Wash cod pieces two days prior with water. Change the water every day in that period to get rid of the salt. Shred it.
Bacalao (Christmas Cod)
Ingredients:
3.5 lb. tomatoes2 medium sized onions3.5 lb. cod shredded4 large garlic clovesOlives to tasteChile güero to taste1 lb. cambray potatoes2 cups olive oilSalt and pepper to taste
Ornamental style associated with Louis XV (6)Boastful courage (7)Boundary (5)Derision (7)African equine (5)Motor fuel (6)Cannabis (9)On a site (anag) (7)Itinerant (7)Bite (6)Stage business (6)Donated (5)Force into action (5)
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Nov 26-Dec 9, 2014 15CLASSIFIEDS
ClassifiedsGENERAL SERVICES
PLAYAEASYIf you don’t speak fluent Spanish or are new to the area, we provide an educated, experienc ed, and multilingual team ready to get errands and personal task done so you can enjoy Playa del Carmen.Email: [email protected] Facebook: Playaeasy
RENTALS & PROPERTIES
NORTH AMERICAN STANDARDSPROPERTY SERVICESManagement, rentals and sales at their best.Playa del Carmen, Mexico. See our ad on the front page. CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY!984 873 3548 website: [email protected] our ad on the front page
MEDICAL & DENTAL
OFFSHORE HEALTH BENEFITS LTD.Global medical insurance and air ambulance For expatriates throughout Latin America.Access to top-rated hospitals throughoout Mexi-co, USA, Europe and beyond.25% discount through The Caribbean Expatriate Medical Group / No application or agent fees.Vonage (USA) 512 296 4976www.offshorehealthbenefits.com
BOKANOVA DENTAL CENTRECosmetic dentistry, dental implants,orthodontics, oral surgery, endodonticsENGLISH SPOKEN Plaza Paraiso10th Avenue South, near the entrance toPlayacar, Playa del Carmen.Telephone 984 803 1043
MD PLAYA MEDICAL Specialists in endocrinology, cardiology, general medicine, psychiatry, orthopedics and trauma, dermatology, gynaecology ,obstetrics and chil-dren’s medicine.Plaza Paraiso Caribe. 5th Street between Avenues 10 & 15. For appoint-ments call 984 803 0648.
RESTAURANTS
RESTAURANTE PATANEGRADelicious homemade Spanish food. Try the best tapas, paellas, cold and more. Fine selection of Spanish red and white wines. On 26th St. between Avenues 10 and 15.Telephone 984 877 0701. Facebook Restaurante Patanegra
CONTACTS & PERSONALS
ROTARY CLUB PLAYA DEL CARMEN SEASIDEWeekly meetings at SOHO HOTEL.24 St and 10 st avenue. Tuesdays 12.30pmVisitors are welcome, for more information [email protected]
ROTARY CLUB PLAYA DEL CARMEN SEASIDEWeekly meetings at LA FRAGATA Restaurant.26 St and 1st avenue. Tuesdays 12.30pmVisitors are welcome, for more information email:[email protected]
Craig Norton is a Canadian expat and the one of the founding members of Comedy Playa. If you have a
question you would like to ask him (for a friend), please email [email protected]
Well, Fiscally, I think you just have to be super blunt. Most people in
the service industry the world over like to know that they are audition-
ing for their wages every time they go to work, so your first course of action is to ask the manager to gather the staff from the entire hotel and hold a Q&A.
Examples of some questions and answers could be:Q: “How can we be sure that we’ll get your arrogant money?”A: “By waiting on my family as if you’ve been poi-soned and we alone have the antidote.” Q: “Sometimes I have hundreds of rooms to attend to in any given shift. Is there a way that you could summon me personally whenever you need items like bendy straws for your bratty kids or a fluffier pillow for your gigantic head?”A: “Yes. We will be setting fire to the hallway we are staying on whenever we want something. Not need. Just want. We like mayonnaise for our fries, so make sure that gets stuck in your head. If we see ketchup, no tippy for you.” Q: “The daily wage in Mexico is approximately $65.53 pesos. How much of a tip can we expect from you if we drop everything we are doing when-ever you feel the slightest inclination to summon us?”A: “Excellent question. I make enough money to take my family on a 5 star vacation to a foreign
country, so I am clearly better than you. I know that’s not much of an answer, but I’m also an undiagnosed narcissist who thinks the world revolves around him. If you’re wondering how much money I make, I don’t like to talk about it, but we own sev-eral homes and many recreational vehicles for our children to entertain their equally spoiled friends. (P.S. It’s in the six figures. P.P.S. It’s $450,000 a year.) Q: “This is my second job. Sometimes my head-aches are very bad from lack of sleep. Will there be any yelling or berating that I can look forward to in lieu of a tip?”A: “Absolutely. I will go out of my way to make sure you understand just how badly bringing me orange juice with pulp has ruined my vacation. After all, I assumed that 5 star means “flawless perfection” and that every staff member is a super comput-er-capable of controlling the universe with their minds, so forgetting something as simple as pulpy orange juice will be met with a scurrilous upbraiding in front of your coworkers and other hotel guests. Our family motto on vacation is: ‘If the staff isn’t spoken down to, how will they know to look up to us?’”
Any of these could work for you, Fiscally. Then
again, you could try to remember that the people who are working in hospitality generally work ten to twelve hour days, that they do it six days a week, and that they are human beings with respect and dignity, and should be treated as such.
My general rule of thumb is to use the follow-
ing equation: Did I request something that was brought to me with zero effort on my part? If yes, then ask: was the item I requested included in the price of my vacation? If yes, then I try to muster the character to not be a dick and tip my servers 20% regardless of how many extra minutes I had to wait for my third coffee.
Hope this helps and happy trails.
Craig.
If you have any questions about the available dogs from Playa Animal Rescue, contact Pat at [email protected]
Kiki was born around March 2011 and arrived at our shelter in March 2014. Kiki is an adult female. She is a very happy, playful and affectionate girl. She is a very good walker on a leash! Kiki was rescued from the street and fostered by her rescuers until we had room for her at the shelter. She is a very happy-go-lucky girl, and loves people and attention. She is outgoing and affectionate. Kiki looks like she might be part Scotty.
KIKI
I’ve heard that taxis rip you off in Playa if you are
a tourist. Is this true? How can we get a fair rate?
Ticket to Ride
Yeah. I’m not touching this one.
Dear Craig,
We’re staying at a 5 star all-inclusive this winter
and we want to know the policy on tipping. We
like to tip, but ONLY if the service is exceptional.
What is the proper way to get this point across to
