 |
 |
Places to Stay
Things to Do
Getting Around
Places to Eat
Dive Shops
Services
Real Estate
Poster Art
News/Reviews
Photos
Area Maps
Travel Links
      |
 |
1/26/02
Hotel Occpancy Rate
Hotel Occupancy as of 1/24/02:
Available Rooms--43,893
Occupied Rooms--29,162
Rate of Occupancy--66.3%
Same Time Last Year:
Available Rooms--40,293
Occupied Rooms--34,739
Rate of Occupancy--86.2%
Difference in Occupancy:-16%
Tortilla Prices Skyrocket by 20%
A country wide raise of a peso per kilo for corn tortillas was attributed to a 500 pesos price hike per ton of masa harina (corn flour). The peso raise from 5 pesos per kilo will have a particularly hard impact on poor families living near the subsistence level.
There are programs in place to assist the poorest of citizens that reduce the price per kilo down to 4 pesos. Still, for a family of 5 that bring in 1500 pesos per month minimum wage and need to buy at least a kilo of tortillas per day, it is going be tougher.
Blood and Sand in Cancun
A matador
survived a serious attack by a very talented Spanish Fighting bull.
The matador was was knocked down and gored by the raging animal. Toreros
rapidly came to the felled matador's assistance and distracted the
animal. The matador was quickly taken to the American Hospital where
he underwent surgery to repair his damaged left leg. He is expected
to fully recover.
In the 12 year history of La Plaza de
Bonampak Bullfight Ring in Cancun there have only been 4 incidents
of gored toreros. No toreros have been killed.
Many bulls have.
If you are interested in seeing a direct
connection with Spain's colonial influence on Mexico and a beautiful
pageant surrounding a serious blood sport, then La Plaza de Bonampak
is the place to be on Wednesdays. Any, taxi driver can tell you where
to find La Plaza de Bonampak and would be glad to take you there.
If you arrive before 11:00 am you should have no trouble finding a
seat. It is not for the faint of heart or squeamish.
If after a day at the bullfights you
still have an appetite, then you should cross the street to the famous
Yucateco (Yucatan) restaurant of Los Almendros. Try the Panuchos de
Cochinita and a cold Montejo beer, and you will thank yourself for
being in Cancun. No, bull.
Photos by Voz del Caribe
|
News & Reviews Here is where we post local news and possible points of interests, if you are planning to visit the the Riviera Maya and Cancun area. We will also have occassional reviews of restaurants, beach clubs, nightclubs, beaches, cafes, musical events, shops, stores and just about whatever grabs our interests here in the Land of the Maya. Some of the news or reviews will be posted as a window link from the related places of interest. We will at all times try to keep a sense of humor. Dinner at Apasionado Apasionado is a local restaurant/nightclub in Playa del Carmen, on 5th Avenue. It is an upstairs open-air affair that is well designed with a strong use of big logs of natural regional hardwoods throughout and the mandatory thick palapa (thatched) roof. Though there are lots of tables, surrounding a decoratively lit bar with wooden high stools, spacing is excellent and you don’t get a crowded feeling. The atmosphere is indeed very romantic with soft comfortable lighting. A design professional has been at work here and it has paid off. There is a clear and open view of chefs at work in the kitchen, by design. I have always liked the open view kitchen in restaurants as it brings you closer to the food and implies confidence in your product. The open view kitchen is not an uncommon feature of many restaurants in this part of Mexico. I have been in places where the waiter has disappeared down a dark pathway to return with your meal. Ummm, yummy. Open view kitchens are a plus, but the proof is in the tasting. A
friend had advised me that he had eaten here and was very pleased.
He said that there is a live band on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
nights. In fact, the focus of Apasionado seems to be jazz and
food as there is a large photograph of the owner playing a soprano
saxophone to a couple of very appreciative dolphins. No, Flipper
is not on the menu, but there is at least one uncommon dish—more
on that in a minute. As we found a table near the center of the
restaurant excellent jazz, either Sarah Vaughn or Dinah Washington,
wafted over an exceptional sound system. In addition, a trio was
just setting up to play. The evening was lining itself up nicely.
The
trio began playing music about midway through our meal. They played
the first song with few people realizing that a live band was
playing. So there was a lot of talking and clanging going on.
When the trio finished I clapped solo eight very loud times. I
am sure a few people thought I was crazy, but most then realized
that a live band was playing because during the second song most
folks listened and offered applause afterward. Also, the trio
of drums, piano and bass guitar seemed to get a bit more serious
about their music. The piano player was exceptionally strong building
complex chord structures on all of the songs. The drummer was
also very polished and clean. They just need to vary the tempos
a bit more often and not appear to be in a rush. Apasionado's
Grades |
||
|
Home | Places
to Stay | Things to Do | Getting
Around | Places
to Eat | Dive
Shops © 2001-2003 ISLAND
COMMUNICATIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
|
|