openings and closings in Playa

[ryberg]

I stand corrected: the Argentine grill is already open for business and is called La Farola.

Steve

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Heather

Ok, I'll bite. You have a Mexican wife. It's probably a little easier for you to make Mexican friends than it is for some others (?). I do lament the fact that I don't have more Mexican friends, but I have found it a somewhat daunting experience. I certainly won't turn down a friend just because they happen to be gringos like me.

Hey, I'm a gringo like you, but that's not why I like hanging out with you, or any of my ex-pat friends. In fact, most of MY ex-pat friends are not gringos at all. Some of them are Canadian. Swedish, Dutch, British and French. Quite an eclectic group we are.

[ryberg]

I had a fun international experience not long ago when I (American) stopped by the Playa.Info office to see Anna (Swedish) and her daughter Elsa (Swedish & American & Mexican) and James (American & Mexican) and Laura (Italian) from La Tortuga stopped by with her daughter (Italian). Then a few days later I went back with my daughter (American & Mexican) and saw most of those folks again, along with Sonia & her little baby (both Mexican, right?). Indeed, as I sit here writing this, my son (American & Mexican) is playing with his Po-Ke-Mon cards (Japanese) with his friend from school, Tulum (Brazilian & Mexican & Taiwanese who says he's in the process of getting a Canadian passport, as well, given family there, and yes, that's his name ).

It's a nice multi-cultural place, Playa is.

Steve

[Michele]

That's one of reasons we are raising our children here, at least for awhile. Sounds pretty much like an average day here in Playa. I didn't include all of my kids' multi-cultural friends.

[ryberg]

Oh, yeah, kids are a great avenue for that.

For example, they might actually lead to you and me meeting someday!

Steve

[Heather]

Originally Posted by Michele

Hey, I'm a gringo like you, but that's not why I like hanging out with you, or any of my ex-pat friends. In fact, most of MY ex-pat friends are not gringos at all. Some of them are Canadian. Swedish, Dutch, British and French. Quite an eclectic group we are.

That was exactly my point. I'd like you if you were from Mars.

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Heather

That was exactly my point. I'd like you if you were from Mars.

Mars, on my mother´s side.

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by Heather

Ok, I'll bite. You have a Mexican wife. It's probably a little easier for you to make Mexican friends than it is for some others (?). I do lament the fact that I don't have more Mexican friends, but I have found it a somewhat daunting experience. I certainly won't turn down a friend just because they happen to be gringos like me.

Sorry, I didn't phrase that correctly. My point was that I don't see the sense of moving to another country if your plans are to strictly hang out with people exactly like you. I saw this all of the time, when I lived in Cancun. No effort was made to learn the culture, traditions and customs of Mexico. Rather, these folk insulated themselves in a mini-USA, and anything that was outside of that realm was considered "slumming."

Truth is, I have very few "friends." I am not an easy guy to like. Like you, Heather, I am more interested in learning and experiencing. Steve is dead on about Playa. You can learn a whole lot about many different cultures, here. That is one reason why I love living here.

Please accept my apologies. By no means was I aiming that barb at you.

[Heather]

Originally Posted by PlayadelSoul

Sorry, I didn't phrase that correctly. My point was that I don't see the sense of moving to another country if your plans are to strictly hang out with people exactly like you. I saw this all of the time, when I lived in Cancun. No effort was made to learn the culture, traditions and customs of Mexico. Rather, these folk insulated themselves in a mini-USA, and anything that was outside of that realm was considered "slumming."

Truth is, I have very few "friends." I am not an easy guy to like. Like you, Heather, I am more interested in learning and experiencing. Steve is dead on about Playa. You can learn a whole lot about many different cultures, here. That is one reason why I love living here.

Please accept my apologies. By no means was I aiming that barb at you.

No need to apologize, I knew you weren't aiming at me. I guess I'm a little sensitive because I do feel weird about the fact that I only have maybe 8 or so Mexican friends whom I don't see nearly often enough.

Now, maybe that would change if certain friends of mine with Mexican spouses would start inviting me over to their houses to meet their cute kids....:p

[ryberg]

Originally Posted by Heather

No need to apologize, I knew you weren't aiming at me. I guess I'm a little sensitive because I do feel weird about the fact that I only have maybe 8 or so Mexican friends whom I don't see nearly often enough.

Now, maybe that would change if certain friends of mine with Mexican spouses would start inviting me over to their houses to meet their cute kids....:p

And although I'm not the only one that fits that description, I'll bite on this one thusly:

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........

Steve

[SarahB]

Originally Posted by synestere

Quote
Seems like Taberna, the sports bar on 10th at the corner of 4th street, is also closed now, or perhaps operating only as an Internet café or something. (I go by so early that it's hard to tell.) Anyone know about that?

la Taberna was open as per normal last night .

Yep, it seems open as usual. Steve was probably passing by too early. They open kinda late I think.

[ryberg]

Sorry -- my bad, then!


NEVERMIND!

Steve

[ryberg]

Here's another not yet opening but opening to come: a multi-story parking garage/shop complex, being done by the firm Royal Parkin [sic] and which I believe is to be called Vía Tendenzia or something to that effect, currently under construction in the block bounded by 10th & 15th Aves between 14th & 14 bis (so diagonally opposite La Tortuga).

This project received a very negative write-up in a recent issue of the newspaper Quintanarooense, which claimed that it is in flagrant violation of Playa building codes limiting structures to 3 floors / 12 meters in height. The article cited the tendency allegedly admitted by builders and government officials alike to find it easier to apologize later than get permission first ("pedir perdon, no permiso") on such things. And indeed on the walk by it coming into the hotel this morning, it was plain to see from the girders already in place that they are currently constructing a 4th level, and moreover, the huge artist's conception drawing of the finished project posted for all to see along the 10th Ave side also shows 4 levels.

Of course this is not so unusual: I passed at least 2 examples of buildings just between there and Playa Maya -- namely Básico and Ilusión -- which also would appear to be in violation of such restrictions (though to be fair with respect to the former it may be just the top level roof that would be in violation, as I personally have not been up there and don't know if it's just a roof or if there are structures with interiors there, as well -- to the extent that such a point matters).

For what it's worth!

Steve

[Rissask]

and Laura (Italian) from La Tortuga stopped by with her daughter (Italian).

Off topic, sorry - but is this that gorgeous woman who looks like Carrie Ann Moss from The Matrix? My husband has a crush on her, we had to go there three times for breakfast so he could drool over her our last trip.

[james]

nope, Laura is a different beautiful woman.