Walking About Playa

[Libby]

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The summers in Playa del Carmen are sizzling hot, but the tourists just keep on coming. Playa is hopping right now! As usual, visitors have come from all over the world, but we are especially seeing a lot of Mexicans right now.

Yesterday, after lunch at La Fragata with the lovely Marissab, I took a little walk to check out the action on the beach. Kool and Mamitas beach clubs were particularly vibrant, packed with people and energy! See for yourself.

Kool Beach Club



Kids at play


People everywhere, to the south:


And to the north:


At Mamitas Beach Club





I wasn't the only one taking pictures.


Work it, girl!


Things were a big more low key at Las Palapas.




And now, I'm going a bit off-topic. You may remember in my last walk, I photographed John next to a cenote. That cenote has been there for years, but just days after In The Roo published that photo, the cenote has suddenly been declared as "peligro" (dangerous). Now, I know how much power In The Roo really has! HA HA HA!!

[maestranba]

Wow! The beach is really crowded. It looks like it did in Feb. I'm glad we'll be in the north end in front of Shangri La where it'll be a little less packed!

Thanks for posting more pics, Libby! I hope you got to cool off in the water after your photo shoot!!

[Libby]

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Hand painted signs, or rotulos in Spanish, are traditionally used in Mexico to advertise businesses, announce upcoming events, and declare property for sale. In the tourist zones of Playa del Carmen, these rotulos have largely been replaced by modern digitally produced signage. But in the surrounding areas where most of us live, rotulos are still very prevalent.

Even public service announcements are painted on walls. In a previous entry, I shared pictures of three of these announcements. Today on my walk, I noticed an entire wall of psas on 20th Avenue between Constituyentes and Calle 20. Here they are with English translations.

"We work to confront obstacles and to put an end to violence against women and children. You are not alone. Integral Union for the Attention of Women" (Sorry, tough to translate the name of the organization.)


"Do you live in an environment where you are yelled at, humiliated or threatened? That is family violence! You are not alone. Integral Union for the Attention of Women"


"Love and family kindness, for a life without drugs. Call us ..."


"My alcoholism damages whoever I love most. Family violence. Call us ..."


"Be careful of addictions!" -- The picture here is a play on words since 'aguas con', literally water with, is a colloquialism that actually means 'be careful'.


"If you want to fly ... Do it with a book. Never with drugs. Call us ..."


"Pushes and insults are violence. Is that the kind of relationship you want to have? State Anti-Addiction Council. Call us …"


"There are so many things that you can do. To live without drugs, call us ..."

[Bluespicker]

Cool pics of the signs Libby....thanks for translating.

[Elves]

I really enjoy this thread Libby. Keep it coming!

[Libby]

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Today, the municipality of Solidaridad turns 15 years old. Solidaridad governs the towns of Playa del Carmen, Paamul, Xpu-Ha, Puerto Aventuras and northern Akumal. Until just a few months ago, it also included Tulum. But Tulum recently won a fight to secede from Solidaridad and form their own municipality, taking most of Akumal and Chemuyil with it.

Solidaridad won its own fight fifteen years ago. For many years, Playa del Carmen and the rest of the tiny fishing villages along the Riviera Maya were governed by the municipality of Cozumel. As Cancun grew more popular, travelers started headed south and discovered beautiful, unspoiled beaches. With increased tourism, Playa del Carmen grew larger and yearned to govern itself. In 1993, Playa won that right and seceded from the Cozumel municipality. Solidaridad was born.



A program including live music was to be held at 8pm at the July 28th Park (often informally referred to as the zocalo or mail square) across from the Municipal Palace (City Hall).


On display at the Municipal Palace, were a series of photographs chronicling the history of Solidaridad and Playa del Carmen.


Here is a sampling of those photos.

WARNING: One of these photos includes a topless woman. Hey, if a Mexican government entity can post it publicly, why can't I!

"The original Playa: Village of Fisherman" - Notice the boys in their underwear. They don't even look embarassed at having their picture taken! In some parts of Mexico, it's still not unusual to see boys and even grown men enjoying the beach in their underwear.


"El Cantil. One of the first restaurants in Playa by Jorge Millet. Located at the main park (Founders)"


"Main beach. In front of Founders park. In the back is the first lighthouse which is now gone."


"View of the main beach. In the back is the dock."


"Juarez Avenue. In front of the central park (Founders). Now you will find the Tacolote restaurant." - Actually, Tacolote is no longer there. It is now Cholula Life.


Not sure who this is, but thought it was a cute picture.


"Tourists on the beach. 1990" - Foreign tourists brought a lot of changes to the Riviera Maya.


"Mario Villanueva Madrid with members of Playa society." - Mario Villanueva is revered around these parts for his role in founding the new municipality of Solidaridad in 1993 and for promoting the Riviera Maya as a tourist area while governor of our state of Quintana Roo. Playa's own soccer stadium is named after him. He is also a convicted drug felon serving time in U.S. prison.


"The politicans of today. Back then they were kids."


"The main beach. In front of La Tarraya. 1993" - La Tarraya is still in the same location!


"Playacar Beach. In the back is the dock and the first Hotel Molcas."


"Time to start to build a new Playa del Carmen. Juarez Avenue and Federal Highway (307)"

[Libby]

Originally Posted by Bluespicker

Cool pics of the signs Libby....thanks for translating.

I just hope I'm doing the original sayings justice!! If anyone does notice a mistake in my translations, please DO point it out! I have lots yet to learn!

And thanks Elves! I'm trying really hard to keep it going this time.

[SUNBABY]

Those are great pics Libby. I remember when 307 was only 2 lanes with jungles on both sides. Playa was just a stop sign and flashing light on the highway. I remember looking down Juarez from there....there wasn't much to see. There was a whole bunch of stick huts near the intersection and a pemex station. We didn't stop there then, we were on a bus tour to Tulum. I really don't remember if there was anything at Puerto aAventuras then.

hope you got some more stuff on the history of Playa.

[silvergirl]

Very cool, Libby!!

[maestranba]

Thanks, Libby! I love the close-ups of the historical pics.

About 10 years ago, after my first trip to Playa, my principal came to my classroom door one day and delivered a new student. She couldn't speak a word of English and was from Mexico. I was to "take care of her" all day, except when she went to ESL class! Much to my surprise, when I asked her where she was from she shyly replied, "Playa del Carmen." I was amazed! Her father had been a fisherman and her mother left him with 5 kids in tow to come to the States. I have no idea what brought them to our town, but within 6 months, little Brenda was fluent in English and had completely transitioned into our culture!

[Cosmo]

Thanks Libby, looks a lot different now than it did in '92...

[Opatije]

Truly amazing...thanks for the great photos.

[Dan-0]

"Mario Villanueva Madrid with members of Playa society." - Mario Villanueva is revered around these parts for his role in founding the new municipality of Solidaridad in 1993 and for promoting the Riviera Maya as a tourist area while governor of our state of Quintana Roo. Playa's own soccer stadium is named after him. He is also a convicted drug felon serving time in U.S. prison.

Has Villanueva been extradited? I've heard talk about it for a long time, but I hadn't heard that they had actually done it.

[HAWKEYE]

Those are awesome Libby.
Thank's.
Craig.

[Libby]

Originally Posted by Dan-0

Has Villanueva been extradited? I've heard talk about it for a long time, but I hadn't heard that they had actually done it.

He was extradited to the U.S. And a few months ago (I think), I had read that he was convicted of drug trafficking in the U.S., so I assumed he was serving time. I haven't heard anything since then. But now I can not find any news articles about him from 2008 to confirm. Can anyone else confirm?

[Libby]

I did some more digging, and I found this article in Spanish.

Mario Villanueva recibe 36 años de condena

It says that he was convicted of drug trafficking by a Mexican court and his original sentence of 6 years was increased to 36 years.

I'm all confused now. At the time, I thought he had been released from Mexican prison but then brought back in to await the U.S. extradition charges. The extradition charges were approved, but maybe he never made it to the U.S. and so now, he's serving time in Mexican prison again? But I don't understand where the original 6 years that the article mentions comes in. Regardless, it seems that he's been convicted of drug trafficking and may be in prison somewhere.