Archive for the 'Downtown' Category
Plaza 28 de Julio
I wrote recently about Playa del Carmen’s original zocalo or main square. Today I visited our more modern zocalo located in the center of the city bordered by Calles 8 & 10 and Avenues 15 & 20.
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.
[singlepic=364,640,480,,center] 2 commentsCalle 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.
[singlepic=330,543,568,,center] No commentsPublic Service Announcement
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 In the tourist zones of Playa del Carmen, these rotulos have largely been replaced by modern digitally produced signage.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.)
[singlepic=309,640,480,,] No commentsFifth Avenue Stroll – Part Cuatro
After a much too long hiatus (or was it a writer’s strike?), Walking About Playa is back baby! When I last left off, I was walking 5th Avenue north and had reached Calle 34. Today, I go further north to an area that many of you have probably not seen yet. This part of 5th Avenue has the same cobblestone paving but is still open to car traffic. With all the new restaurants, condos, hotels & stores opening up, it won’t be long before it too becomes pedestrian only.
A new sushi place, Tsuba, just opened up in the last few weeks.
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Andale Gran Bazar
Andale held their annual Gran Bazar along 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen today. Anyone in the community can rent a table for $50 pesos and sell their wares. As you’ll see, there was quite a variety of products available.
[singlepic=183,640,480,,] No commentsFifth Avenue Stroll – Part Dos
Has it been a week already? Let’s see if I can make it up to you. Last time I gave you just a little taste of 5th Avenue from Calle 4 north to Calle 8. Today, we’ll pick up at Calle 8 and head north to Constituyentes Avenue.
La Parilla is offering 44 different kebab and fajita dishes during their Brochettes (kebabs) & Fajitas Festival May 10-25.
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5th Avenue Stroll
I’m back! Still a bit sick, but I was itching to get out! So, I met up with Biz this morning to hang the new In The Roo banner up at Bad Boys. Biz hung it, I watched.
[singlepic=164,640,480,,] No commentsCondos, Condos, Condos
Had a 20 minute break between clients today, so I thought I’d get some photos of Playa Kaan for Ginger. Looks like Michele beat me to it. Oh well, I still got some other photos that I can share.
Condominios Rinconada del Sol (map)
Construction and Yucky Food
Today’s walk takes us south along 20th Avenue from Calle 38 to Constituyentes.
Camelot … “It is a silly place”.
A few years ago, Camelot was the only new construction around these parts, and looked terribly out of the place. With all the construction going on around it now, that will soon change.
