Archive for August, 2008
Fifth Avenue Stroll - Part Cinco
In my series of 5th Avenue walks, I’ve strolled from Calle 4 up to CTM (aka Calle 46). Today, I head back south to cover Calle 4 south to the ferry dock area. This part of 5th Avenue is loaded with shopping — from the cheap and mass-manufactured to the unique and luxurious.
Ambar carries unique and beautiful amber jewelry pieces. Get a 15% discount with the V.I.P. smart card.
Zocalo de la Playa
The Mexican zócalo is the central town plaza, often the heart of a city. You may find gardens, ornate iron wrought benches, water fountains, sculptures, gazebos. Elderly gentlemen and ladies meet to discuss world news or the latest gossip, or to feed the pigeons. Concerts and special events are held here. On Sundays, locals may gather for music and dancing. Vendors sell balloons and churros and marquesitas. Children play to their heart’s content.
In larger cities, the zócalo is often flanked by the Palacio Municipal (Municipal Palace or City Hall), a cathedral, cafes and restaurants frequented by businesspeople and tourists, and perhaps a museum — all housed in colonial Spanish architecture.
Here in Playa del Carmen, we often refer to the Plaza 28 de Julio (July 28th Plaza) as our zócalo. It’s located in the block between 10th & 15th Avenue and Calle 8 & 10. The Palacio Municipal is just across the street, and many special events are held here.
But the original Playa zócalo is from a time when Playa was just a simple fishing village, and tourists came only to take the ferry across to Cozumel. You’ll find it at the beach just a block from the ferry pier.
First Taste of Playa
For many new visitors to the Riviera Maya, the first glimpse of Playa del Carmen is at the ferry dock and adjacent shopping mall. There are the Cozumel vacationers, mostly staying in all-inclusive resorts, who come over on the ferry for a day trip. There are the cruise ship passengers — many coming from Cozumel for the day, and others arriving in the Calica port, south of Playa, and taking an “excursion” to town. Finally, there are the those staying at all-inclusive resorts up and down the Riviera Maya coast. They are dutifully transported to town and dropped off in the “safe for gringos” area by the shopping mall.
Here is what they see.
Arriving at the ferry terminal from Cozumel. Walk straight up this small hill to the modern Paseo del Carmen mall.
Calle Corazon
Calle Corazon translates into Heart Street, and you might say there’s a lot of heart packed into this short block of Playa del Carmen. It is located just off 5th Avenue, the pedestrian only street, between Calle 12 and 14. See the curved street in red on the map.
