MayanRivieraGringa.com

On May 4, 2010, “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” by Pablo Picasso (1932), sold for $106,482,500 via Christie’s in NYC.  This Picasso was from the private collection of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney F. Brody — a real estate developer in California who had acquired an impressive modern art collection.  I want to share this article from Vanity Fair that talks about the late Brodys, their collection, and shows some incredible pictures of their private home (‘a modern-art temple’) before the art pieces were removed for auction.  (See the article HERE)

I’m pretty excited that Mexico is celebrating 200 years
of independence (from Spain) this month.  I’d love to be
IN Mexico–but at least there are a lot of great events in honor
of this day right here at home. Big cities all across
the U.S. (and Canada) are festijaring in Mexico’s behalf
this month.

Find a fiesta — be a part of history!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

*El Grito y la Celebracion Oficial del Bicentenario de la Independencia de Mexico (Fort Worth)

La Gran Plaza de Fort Worth, 4200 South Freeway in Fort Worth
El Consulado General de Mexico en Dallas 4 – 7 pm Entrada GRATIS
ime@consulmexdallas.com 214-932-8671

*El Grito y la Celebracion Oficial del Bicentenario de la Independencia de Mexico (Dallas)

Dallas Arena, Dallas Convention Center, 650 South Griffin St in Downtown Dallas
El Consulado General de Mexico en Dallas 5:30 – 10:30 pm Entrada GRATIS con boleto
ime@consulmexdallas.com 214-932-8671

Thursday, September 16, 2010

*16 de Septiembre en Fiesta Tianguis

La Flama, Lobillos Musical, Mariachis, Folkloricos, Comida Tipica and Over 100 Vendors
Fiesta Tianguis, 2100 W. Nortwest Highway
accionamerica.com 5pm FREE
accionamerica@aol.com 469-258-4406

*Celebrate “El Grito” & 25 years of Teatro Dallas

Fundraiser Cocktail party hosted by Gloria Campos. An evening of fun with a silent auction followed by the play Leona Vicario.
Latino Cultural Center in Dallas TX 75204
Teatro Dallas 7 pm $50-$75-$20 $5
teatro@airmail.net 214-689-6492 View WEBSITE

*FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls – Rafa Marquez & Thierry Henry

The captain of the Mexican National Team, Rafael Marquez, teams up with International French superstar Thierry Henry to take on FC Dallas Captain Daniel Hernandez & MVP candidate David Ferreira (first 5,000 fans receive a free soccer ball courtesy of Winstar Casino). Come out and celebrate Mexican Independence Day and the Bicentennial with your FC Dallas! We’ll celebrate with performer Cristina Eustace (Ganadora de Objectivo Fama) and a performance from Mariachi Allende. GET HERE EARLY!  Pizza Hut Park – 9200 World Cup Way in Frisco. In the description, right after, “Get here early!” can you locate:“Special Offer Code: fcd” 8 PM $14 – $25 ~ rmartinez@fcdallas.net 469-365-0043 View WEBSITE

Friday, September 17, 2010

*“Dieciséis de Septiembre Celebración” at MLK Center

The celebration will include a guest speaker, educational activities, vendor booths, food, games, and live-local entertainment. Classical Guitarist Fidel Sanchez will perform at 1:00 pm.
MLKing Center, 2922 MLK Blvd
MLK Center 11 am – 5 pm Patrick.jackson@dallascityhall.com 214-679-8418

*Leona Vicario (Obra de Teatro)

En los siglos 18 y 19 las mujeres se quedaban en la casa. pero Leona Vicario conspiró contra la corona española. Fue periodista, espía y se enamoró apasionadamente de Quintana Roo, uno de los líderes de la Independencia de México. Latino Cultural Center in Dallas TX 75204.  ~ Teatro Dallas 8 pm $15 teatro@airmail.net 214-689-6492 View WEBSITE

Saturday, September 18, 2010

*Opening of The Mexican Bicentennial Celebration

The McKinney Avenue Contemporary is pleased to announce its participation, along with other Dallas art institutions, in celebrating Mexico’s Independence from Spain. This bicentennial celebration will include exhibitions in all three of The MAC galleries. The two large galleries will focus on The Cult of Death/La Santa Muerte and Los Olvidados/The Forgotten Ones. The third gallery will feature an exhibit entitled Los Colores del Cielo/The Colors of Heaven, a video created by Quin Mathews.  3120 McKinney Avenue ~ The Mckinney Avenue Contemporary 5 pm to 8 pm 241-953-1212 View WEBSITE

*Cultural celebration of Latin America’s Bicentennial – hosted by Voces y Danzas de Chile

Voces y Danzas de Chile invita a celebrar el bicentenario de Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador y Chile! Cultural performances from each country, plus traditional dinner and dancing with our DJ.

Fairview Farm Corral Barn, 3314 North Central Expw. Suite 100, in Plano
Voces y Danzas de Chile 7 PM $ 25.00 incluye comida tipica chilena. Tambien habra comida tipica para comprar de los paises celebrandro el bicentenario.  isabel_78@hotmail.com 469-733-5375 View WEBSITE

*Leona Vicario (Obra de Teatro)

En los siglos 18 y 19 las mujeres se quedaban en la casa pero Loena Vicario conspiró contra la cornoa española. Fue periodista, espía y se enamoró apasionadamente de Quintana Roo, uno de los líderes de la Independencia de México.
Latino Cultural Center in Dallas TX 75204.  Teatro Dallas 8 pm $15 ~ teatro@airmail.net 214-689-6492 View WEBSITE

June 18–December 26, 2010

*México 200 ~ José Guadalupe Posada: The Birth of Mexican Modernism

(dallasmuseumofmodernart.org)

For México 200, a Museum-wide celebration of the bicentennial of Mexico’s Independence, the DMA will present two special exhibitions of modern and contemporary Mexican art on the Museum’s first floor, beginning June 18.

http://www.dallasmuseumofart.org/View/CurrentExhibitions/dma_305995

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Mexico 2000 Ballet Folklorico will hold its production, Sept. 26 at the Granville Arts Center in Garland.  http://www.mexico2000.net/portada.htm

(more…)

The next day was our last at Balamku.  Once again, the sun wasn’t really out.  We ate breakfast in the main building at Balamku (my favorite meal in Mexico – fresh fruit, granola, and yogurt!)

After breakfast, we went for a walk north along the shoreline.  This crab was hUgE!

Then we decided to try the kayaks and take some snorkel gear with us.  Unfortunately, el mar Caribeno was pretty rough that day, so we didn’t even get out of our kayaks.  Also, the water was a weird color and very cloudy.  Interesting.  It was also difficult to paddle back in to the shore.  We had to do the parallel-thing for a bit and ride the tide ’til we found an entrance in the current.  Kayaking is always fun, though.

In the afternoon, we went back into town to relax and grab some chips and guacamole at Jaime’s (on the malecon — great guacamole!  And Jaime is a doll!!!!)

Jaime then kindly offered us use of his kayaks and some snorkel equipment (we were asking about the capsized boat out in the bay), and we had an entirely different kayak and snorkel experience!  It was awesome!  The water in Mahahual bay is gorgeous!  And the bottom is the pure-white Caribbean sand that I love.

We had another easy night at Balamku, and then woke the next morning, gathered our stuff, and said goodbye to Balamku Inn.

Next post:  My morning walk on the malecon in Mahahual.

Balamku Inn, continued…

After our siesta in the shaded, beach-front hammocks, we went to our room and got ready for dinner.  I had heard a lot of great reviews of a restaurant just up the road from Balamku called “Travel Inn”.

http://www.spinetrak.net/wp/2009/02/23/travel-inn-mahahual-mexico/

Travel Inn is run by a Dutch couple and they make some downright awesome non-Mexican food.  The night we went, there was only one other table occupied by two couples.  Very quaint.  It was raining outside, and when it got dark we felt like we were in one of the most remote locations in the world.  It was an exciting feeling.

We thought we were full (satisfechas) after the main meal, but then we noticed the other couples eating something that looked incredible and that we decided we had to try.  It was scrumptious!  A thick, homemade chocolate cake with fresh cream pored over the top.  Yum!

*Unfortunately, I forgot my camera when we went to eat at Travel Inn, so all of these photos are taken with my cell phone.  Not the best photography, but it still looks good, though, right?!!!!

The last thing I have to say about our dinner/evening at Travel Inn, is that for some reason I kept having “Robinson Crusoe” images run through my head.  I think my brain was fixating on this near-by  ”villa”!

After returning from dinner, back in our room at Balamku, Ariana talked me into watching “My Sister’s Keeper“.  With all the windows open, overhead fans on, and the lights out, we settled on my bed with A’s laptop.  Half-way through the movie, the rain started coming down something fierce!  Then it came through our windows.  By the end of the movie, we were damp and muggy (mostly from me sobbing like a baby, I think) and there were huge rain puddles on the floor of our room.  It was one of those “Bag it all!  I’m just going to collapse where I am and go with it!” nights.  It was quite surreal.

Balamku Inn: Part III, next.

The day we moved to Balamku Inn was hot and muggy with grey clouds quickly approaching. We were up for the adventure, though, and arrived without a problem (since we knew exactly where we were going from having traveled the road to get to Maya Chan). Balamku’s peace and serenity were immediately apparent as not a soul was in sight. Alan (one of the owners) soon found us (and let us know we could have used the bell (why is it that I feel like using one of those is rude?)) and gave us our choice of a couple of rooms.

We chose the bottom-floor, figuring we would keep cooler at ground-level since heat rises; and to have less stairs to climb on my … ahem, frequent “breaks” (I love drinking Coca Lites on the beach!).

Let me ask you something–when in a hot, humid, tropical climate what is the first thing you do when you get into your hotel room (after the porter has left)? Check the A/C, right? We dropped our bags, wiped our faces and immediately did a 360 looking for the A/C mechanism. Then I did another 360. As I was standing there dumbfounded, Alan knocked on our door to tell us something so I quickly asked him where the thermostat was located. His response? No A/C at Balamku.

What?

No, seriously.

And so I have an evil confession to make: I am not fully Green.

I guess it’s like being a vegetarian that still eats animal by-products (ie: dairy)–I am a Green supporter who chooses A/C.

I can live with the cooler in lieu of the mini-fridge.

I can do the refilled jug of water instead of water bottles.

I can manage the Green toilet (a first for me).

But beat me now, because I admit I’ll drip all you want on the beach but I unabashedly enjoy sweat-free nights. Oh, man.

After apologizing to Ariana, and truly feeling dumbfounded at my lack of detail (how’d I miss that?), we headed straight for the shaded hammocks to take an afternoon siesta (the sun was definitely not out). We settled in quite nicely (with one trip back to the room for bug spray), and enjoyed a very pleasant, late-afternoon snooze. (The best hammock sleep I’ve ever had!)

(Balamku Inn–Part II coming soon.)

I’m a So-Cal girl through and through.  However, there’s also quite a bit of southeastern Utah in me–thanks to my dad. Dad  left the Beehive state to get his doctorate degree from USC and never moved back (my mom was a So-Cal girl so that’s where they stayed).  A few years ago, Dad retired from CSUF, and my parents moved here to Texas.  The deal was, though, that they would spend their summers in southeastern Utah.

There are thousands of stories and historical facts I could share, but that will have to wait for another day.  I just wanted to share some cell-phone pics taken by a family member who recently drove through the area.  (Not great quality pictures, since they’re from inside a car and taken with a cell phone, but the beauty still comes through.  It’s gorgeous.)

This last picture was taken especially for me.  This is a little roadside cafe called “The Patio” that has the bEsT shakes (thick!!!) ever.  As a teenager, The Patio was the place to hang on a hot summer day.

To get more information, buy tickets, ask questions, etc., see the Taste of Playa website (or http://www.tasteofplaya.com/).

http://www.tasteofplaya.com

“Taste of Playa is a community based culinary festival set in the heart of the Riviera Maya. With inspiration drawn from the dreams of several local business owners, this event was conceived as a way to celebrate the extraordinary talents of chefs and restaurateurs who have chosen Playa del Carmen as their home and establish the Riviera Maya as a world class culinary destination.” (From “About” on tasteofplaya.com.)

I especially like the Taste of Playa blog – posts about food, recipes, suggestions, and more!

http://tasteofplayadelcarmen.wordpress.com/

Read my newest article for Being Latino!

http://beinglatino.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/the-american-dream/

Los 40 Cañones was awesome!  I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed staying somewhere as much as this boutique hotel.  Quaint with a big heart!  The rooms were clean, the location perfect, and the beach pure paradise. 

We were in Room #2, which was a large, 2-bed room on the second floor at the back (beach side) of the hotel. The room had:  A TV, a mini-fridge, closet, A/C, and wi-fi (hit and miss).  The room did NOT have:  A telephone, a bathtub, or good water pressure in the shower.  We never turned on the TV, the A/C was magnificent, and the only thing I missed was water pressure in the shower. 

The view from Room #2 was incredible.  The only thing I wished was that the white wall was a little shorter so we could sit on the patio and enjoy the view unobstructed.

View of Los 40 Canones from the water (back side)!

The sight of the Mahahual lighthouse was thrilling!  We had arrived.  It felt a lot like what I’ve witnessed marathon runners exhibit as they cross the finish line–a sense of accomplishment, relief, and a small bit of disbelief.  (Admittedly without the extreme exhaustion, sweat, rubber-legs, dehydration, etc.)  My dream of experiencing Mahahual was finally in front of me.  I was crossing the finish line of this personal journey.The initial feeling of exhilaration quickly faded to solemnity.  In August 2007, Mahahual was hit dead-on by Category 5 Hurricane Dean–the strongest cyclone of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. (To see a great photo-essay on the aftermath of Hurricane Dean in Mahahual by LocoGringo.com, click HERE.) The damage from Hurricane Dean was still very apparent, and the gloomy skies overhead made the scene in front of us even more grievous.  As palpable as that feeling was, however, there was also a sense of hope and rebirth.  I felt as if I had arrived at just the right moment in time–on the one hand, the tragedy of the past was clearly visible; on the other, the determination of a new beginning was shining brightly.