Welcome to Loco Gringo Mexico, the place where we transform a tourist into a traveler, because you deserve to see more of the world than just what is in a guide book. Each week we talk with amazing locals who know the Riviera Maya and Yucatan like only a local can and get them to share their tips and insights on the local scene, culture and cuisine from a locals’ perspective. So grab a comfy chair, and let’s get the show going.
For this week’s episode, I step out of the office and into the jungle. My guest Michael Maurus has lived in an off-grid treehouse in the deep jungle since the beginning of this year. He even has to start a fire before he can make his morning coffee. Michael is originally from Bavaria, Germany. He made his way to the Riviera Maya by way of Munich, New York, Miami, and finally Cancun. He has lived in Mexico for 20 years, and much of that time was in Puerto Morelos. In an attempt to live the most authentic experience possible, he moved into the jungle, and provides visitors with...
My guest on the podcast today is a diver from Playa del Carmen. In 2000, Vicente Fito came to the Riviera Maya, from Majorca Spain, for a one-year work assignment in a dive shop and has happily lived in Playa del Carmen ever since. In 2004, Vicente opened the Playa Diving Center in Playa del Carmen to assist the booming cave diving market to explore cenotes. He has a wife and 2 kids. Families can take the kids to the cenotes. They learn to swim safely in the fresh water. His dive center offers high-quality, entry-level scuba courses. He says people who aren’t interested in...
My guest on the podcast today is a self-proclaimed citizen of the world. She runs an oasis of the arts, Le Lotus Rouge, in Playa del Carmen. Natasha Alban was born in Germany to parents who didn’t want her to study the arts. In 2010, Natasha became an international teacher trainer of the arts of the five continents. She fell in love with Mexico and searched the Pacific Coast for a place to settle. But since she was already familiar with the Mayan culture of Quintana Roo and she wanted to live by the water, she chose the energetic Playa del Carmen to start her art program. Her...
My guest on the podcast today, Amber Pierce, writes the very popular Puerto Morelos Blog, plus she raises her children and works as a certified real estate agent in the area. When Amber first visited Puerto Morelos she appreciated the “Mexican-ness” of the place, as compared to cities like Cancun. Amber says she accidentally became a property manager, after many snowbirds and friends asked her to take care of monthly bills and to help them find someone to watch over their homes. She knew a lot about the area, and when people started coming to her to see what properties were available...
My guest on the podcast today is originally from Normandy, France. Gilles Denis has been traveling to the Riviera Maya for 20 years, but it wasn’t until 2007 that he made the decision to pick up his family and move to where the sun was, Playa del Carmen. His children now speak Spanish as their first language. Gilles says he loves Playa del Carmen because it still has a village-type ambiance. Everyone seems to know each other. He says if someone were to give him the opportunity, and money, to do it all over again or to live somewhere else, he would still choose Playa in the Riviera...
My guest on the podcast today grew up as a traveler. When she was a young girl, her father told her traveling was the best investment she could make, and her money was best spent on summer excursions. Maria Azanza made the decision to travel from Guadalajara to the Riviera Maya, and has lived here for the past 11 years. She shares with us her favorite places in Mexico, why she stays in the Riviera Maya, and where she goes when she wants to get lost for a few days. Maria and her boyfriend, now husband, heard about the beauty of the Caribbean and Playa del Carmen. They wanted to see it for...
Born and raised in Akumal, my guest, Gerardo Orozco has been working at his family’s diving business for over 12 years. He has seen the growth of the Riviera Maya from the ground up. Gerardo says the area grew so fast, people were not able to make the necessary adjustments to preserve the environment and plan for future development. As the operations manager for the Akumal Dive Center, Gerardo contacted the ecological center in Akumal and works with universities such as University of Texas, UNAM and Politechnico Cancun, to preserve the natural beauty of his hometown. He says many people...
My guest on today’s podcast, Cristobal Tamariz, is the owner of Riviera Maya Food Tours. Cristobal believes the best way to preserve a country's culture is through sharing and experiencing local traditions. And, his way of sharing is through authentic, regional cuisine. Born in Central Mexico, Cristobal grew up surrounded by his grandmother’s and his mother’s flavorful cooking. He thought he might become an engineer and study chemistry, but soon realized he could create chemical reactions through food, so he spent five years studying the culinary arts. Cristobal traveled to different...
Ael Enciso was ‘made’ in Cozumel, and delivered in her grandmother’s living room in Mexico City. For the past 17 years, she has been in Playa del Carmen, working in just about every aspect of the tourism industry. Ael says the Riviera Maya is best seen off the beaten track. When a visitor ‘acts like a local,’ and enjoys the laid-back atmosphere of the area, is when they have the best time. When Ael travels within Mexico she visits the cenotes, rides her bike through trails in the jungle, and visits the colonial inland cities. She wants to travel throughout Mexico and re-visit...
My guest today, Tamara Adame, was born and raised Puerto Morelos, here in the Riviera Maya. After studying in Merida, Tamara spent 10 years in Europe, devoting most of her time to Brussels, Belgium. It was there she rekindled her love of diving and the ocean. When she returned to Mexico, she met up with a friend who also grew up in Puerto Morelos and who, like her, wanted to educate people about environmental protections, sustainability of the reef environment, and take them underwater to experience the unrivaled beauty. So the two friends created the environmentally responsible,...
My guest today puts his heart and soul into everything he does. Ken Brownlee is the Founder and primary videographer of Visualmedia Productions in Playa del Carmen. Today he shares funny stories about shooting wedding videos, tips for brides and his favorite food joints. When Ken was a teenager, his parents would drive from Canada to Florida, to get away from the harsh winters. Ken loved spending a month in the water, and didn’t want to return to the cold. He decided, after college, to become a scuba instructor and travel the world. Ken visited eight countries in four years, but...
My guest today has a history of assisting animals in need. As a little girl growing up in Wales, Laura Raikes would rescue and adopt cats and dogs to bring them to her family’s farm. She first came to Playa del Carmen 14 years ago on a holiday, and loved it so much she ended up staying. Her love for animals has made a big impact in the Riviera Maya community. Laura’s Animal Welfare organization is named after a kitten she named Coco. Coco was hit by a car on the road and much to Laura’s surprise people joked about the travesty. It was then Laura decided she wanted to change the way...
My guest today fondly remembers his hometown of Mazatlan, a Pacific coastal town, for its amazing seafood. Daveed Placencia now lives in the Riviera Maya, where he owns a private chef service and in-home cooking course. His business is so popular, he has hired four other chefs to help him keep up with all the new business. Daveed moved to Puebla in Central Mexico to study biology, but found himself spending all day, every day, in a lab. He quickly tired of being inside, so when a friend invited him to Cancun, he accepted without hesitation. Once in Cancun, Daveed accepted an opportunity to...
Liliana Cruz joins me on today’s podcast. Originally from Mexico City, Liliana moved to the Riviera Maya in 2003. After living and working in Cancun and Tulum, she now calls Playa del Carmen her home. Liliana has a passion for spa and wellness. So much so, that she now runs a mobile spa service, and sponsors an annual Alternative Health Fair. Her background in business administration offered her an opportunity to run a spa in Tulum. She drifted from the business side to the practice of alternative therapies. Liliana studied massage, cosmetology, acupuncture, and yoga, and it has created...
My guest on today’s podcast is a doctor who practices integrative healing in Playa del Carmen. Dr. Luis Suarez describes his health services as a blend of scientific medicine and complementary natural therapies. His holistic approach integrates nutrition, acupuncture, phytotherapy, and more to ensure patients receive total health care during their visits. Originally from Mexico City, Dr. Suarez is a pioneer in neural therapy and regenerative injection therapy, which includes platelet rich plasma and adipose tissue stem cells. Locals and travelers are eager to visit Dr. Suarez’s SANAR...
What does a happy dog look like? My guest, Veterinarian Erika Flores, offers advice to visitors of the Riviera Maya area about the local dog and cat populations. Erika trained in Mexico City, where she worked for the Mexican Government Wildlife Division. The stress of the city was getting to her, and she welcomed the opportunity to move to Quintana Roo with her partner. For the last six years, she has worked for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), focusing on humane management of the dog and cat population in the Riviera Maya. The IFAW partners with local veterinarians and...
Head Chef and Instructor at Los Dos Cooking School, Mario Canul joins me on the podcast to share his favorite places to eat in Mexico, what makes the Yucatan version of pico de gallo so amazing, and information about David Sterling’s new cookbook. I have taken cooking classes at Los Dos Cooking School in Mérida several times. I am always amazed at how wonderful food is, and I love learning traditional Mayan recipes. Mario has roots in the Mayan community. In 2003, when David Sterling conceived the idea for the Los Dos cooking school, he passed all of his knowledge to Mario. In fact, one...
Steve Moen had a stressful job working in Seattle for Microsoft, before coming to the Riviera Maya. After being hospitalized for stress and anxiety, Steve realized he needed a vacation. He had always wanted to visit the Cancun area, but feared the “Spring Break” crowds. It was then a co-worker told him about Playa del Carmen. The first thing Steve did after arriving in the laid back, stunningly beautiful Playa was to throw back a shot of tequila, and jump in the ocean. He started feeling like himself again. It changed Steve’s life. He went back to Seattle, sold all of his...
Originally from Veracruz, Paulina arrived in the Riviera Maya in 2007. She was required to do a college internship with a hotel to complete her tourism certification. Paulina finds that working in tourism gives her an opportunity to meet travelers and to learn different languages. Paulina says the Riviera Maya offers everything to travelers and to people working in tourism. There are beautiful beaches, interesting people, and delicious food. During her time off, she takes short trips to Tulum, Cancun, and Merida, but she always returns to her home in the Riviera Maya. Her home has become a...
Loco Gringo welcomes Craig Zabransky, the writer and photographer behind the Stay Adventurous travel blog. Craig was working as a consultant on Wall Street, back in 2004, when he yearned to see the world. Mexico wasn’t one of the first places he visited on his sabbatical but, after being lured to Mexico City for a consulting gig, his passion for exploring the country began. Mexico City is one of the world’s most populated cities, with over 20 million people living in it. Craig notes that it can be an intimidating place to visit for the first time, but the experience is a must. Craig...
Today’s Loco Gringo guest, Matt Adcock, is an innovative, award-winning photojournalist, who picked up the love of photography from watching his grandfather take photos. American Photo magazine calls him one of the top-10 wedding photographers in the world, and the Huffington Post calls him a trailblazer for his innovations in the trash-the-dress theme. Listening to Matt’s love and enthusiasm for the Riviera Maya is pure gold. It will bring a smile to your heart. Matt came to Mexico from Atlanta, Georgia in 2005, after a friend recommended he visit. He has since co-founded Del Sol...
Today’s guest, Michael Stewart, is a friend of mine from the Akumal yoga community. Michael, who is originally from Chicago, shares his journey as well as his parent’s special journey from the windy North to the sunny Caribbean beaches of the Riviera Maya. Michael has always loved traveling the world but in 2005, while he was in Laos, he realized how long it would take him to respond to his aging parents should they need him. He knew he had to find a place for them that had top-notch medical care as well as an environment which promoted well-being. He resorted to googling yoga +...
My guest on the today’s podcast is a dear friend whom I have known for almost 10 years. Iaax Page grew up in Western Mexico, but his heart is in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Iaax first came to Cancun to visit his father when he was just four-years-old. He says it was mostly jungle at the time. He would take long rides with his father, mesmerized by the lagoon. Something drew him to this area. He says it was like he was under a spell. At 14, he moved to the area, and has been here ever since. After going to college to become a civil engineer, he started working as a receptionist at a...
My guest on the today’s podcast, Pam Acosta, is originally from Chihuahua Mexico. Pam traveled to Arkansas to get her college degree in Journalism, and then returned to her home state. Shortly after returning, she found little work available to her. She made the decision to move to the Riviera Maya, where she could make the most of her excellent English speaking skills. She did find opportunity in Cancun. Her first job was in a call center, which she remembers as being hard work. She certainly didn’t like it as much as she likes her current position working in social media and tourism....
My guest on the today’s podcast is a longtime resident of Cancun, Jim Wehrle. Jim moved from Fort Worth, Texas, 29 years ago, and still enjoys each day here on the Riviera Maya. When he first decided to visit a sunny place for his vacation, a travel agent tried to steer him towards Acapulco. He was young, and she thought he might enjoy the clubs and budding nightlife there, but when Jim heard about laid back, quiet place called Cancun on the Yucatan Peninsula, something just felt right to him. Jim’s history in the area dates back to when the Riviera Maya was called the tourist...
My guest on the podcast today is a writer and local Cancun expert for USA Today’s “10Best,” a salsa dancer who will work for tips and tequila, and a mom of a 7-year-old Cuban boy, who is learning to snorkel. Who is this multi-faceted woman, you ask. Kristin Busse is the voice behind the new parenting blog turned culture and community-based information center, What Am I Still Doing in Cancun. Kristin’s blog started as a verbalization of the things she didn’t like about living in Mexico. After only three posts, she realized there were ONLY three things she didn’t like about it...
I absolutely adore my guest today, Marianne Volkmer. Marianne is originally from Cuidad Victoria, Tamaupilas, but is currently living in the Riviera Maya. She is a self-proclaimed child of the world, who loves packing a bag and moving about the planet. In 2007, Marianne decided she wanted to live on the beach. So, when a co-worker invited her to Akumal, she didn’t hesitate. She has lived there for seven years, because she loves the community. She muses that when she first arrived in Akumal, there were only 30 people living in the area, and now there are over 100. Marianne believes...
A few years back, the team at Loco Gringo published an article about the various community projects active in the Riviera Maya. A subscriber to the newsletters read the article and then created a corporate initiative to help fund a much-needed maintenance project at a local school. The organizer, Gayle Collins, lives in Playa del Carmen, and loves it. Gayle was a Minnesota High School teacher for 36 years. Upon retiring, Gayle knew she didn’t want to face another cold, Minnesota winter. So, she started taking trips south, to find a warm climate that suited her. She searched the southern...
Norma Pancorbo is a dive instructor at the Mahahual Dive Center, who is originally from the North of Spain. She had never been to Mexico before the job of dive instructor was offered to her. But, after researching Costa Maya on the internet, she knew fate was leading her in the right direction. When Norma learned she could dive and work in paradise, she moved from a sizable city in Spain, to the small, isolated town of Mahahual. “The diving is amazing,” she says. “The variety of reef and coral, in a place with so few people, is like no other diving spot in the world.” Mahahual...
My guest on today’s podcast, Lia Evans, has a passport full of stamps, is a self-proclaimed foodie and loves her new home of Tulum. Lia and her husband managed a diving resort in Belize, shortly before arriving in the Riviera Maya in 2015. They found Belize to be expensive, so they decided to travel around a bit. Playa del Carmen wasn’t exactly what they were looking for, so they made their way to Tulum. Lia says, “It immediately felt like home.” So, they rented a cheap room in the center of town, and found a dive shop that needed an experienced diver. Lia’s big plan is to...
My longtime friends, Laura and Perry, are calling in from Iowa to join me as my guests on today’s podcast. They are the couple responsible for Cancun Map and MapChick maps, and travel guides of the Yucatan Peninsula. Perry shares the amusing story of how a waiter friend had won an obstacle course contest for a free trip to a little-known place called Cancun, Mexico. When he returned from the trip he told Laura and Perry, they must visit. This was in the 80’s when hotels were so far apart it was a 2-3 minute plane ride between them. The couple loved the area so much they would visit...
My guest, Yasmin Vera, and I only recently met. We were both at the airport in Houston, Texas, waiting for our flight to Cancun. It turns out she has lived in Playa del Carmen for two years. She owns the luxury fitness based vacation company, Fun Fitness Globetrotters. Yasmin is a licensed attorney, and worked as an in-house security litigator for ten years. Why would an attorney from California found a fitness vacation company in the Riviera Maya? Yasmin says she has a couple of professional athletes in her family, and has always been interested in fitness. When she decided to make it her...
Gerardo and I have been friends for well over a decade. Originally from Argentina near Patagonia, Gerardo arrived in the Riviera Maya to work in the hotel business. The job offer he received was to work at a large hotel in Playa del Carmen. Gerardo says working for big corporations didn’t suit him because he didn’t feel he was able to express himself fully. Then, he met the owners of the local Lol-Ha restaurant. They asked him to join them in changing the face of their establishment. He was finally able to express himself creatively and he loved the town of Akumal. After a walk to the...
How did a baby photographer from Clarkston, Michigan end up running a hotel on a Caribbean island, just offshore from the Sian Ka’an protected biosphere in the Riviera Maya? My friend Niki Allen, the owner of Serenidad Shardon, tells us exactly how she did it. Punta Allen is a World Class destination for saltwater fishing and is sometimes called the Permit Capital of the World. Niki and others on the island created a fishing tournament to provide funding for the families and children who inhabit the area. Niki and her husband bought their property with the intention of having an...
Today I am speaking with my friend Ken Schmidt, who is originally from Florida, where he started his own software company. His one software client in Mexico, Condo Hotels, told him he needed a career change and he was to be their new General Manager and CIO. Ken likes to wow people so he said he would give it a shot. He now lives in Playa del Carmen with his beautiful new wife and travels back and forth to the U.S. for business and vacations. Ken spends most of his days managing 5 upscale hotels, but has now added much more to his personal portfolio. He is a partner in the only 5-star...
Originally from Guadalajara, my guest Angel Carrera came to Playa del Carmen to work in his father’s accounting firm. His passion for the Mayan culture is evident in his side activities. He helps the Mayan communities to sell their art, develop tourism and even gives them financial advice. His community project, Ojos Mayas, connects the tourism community of the northern part of Quintana Roo to the Mayan Zone. His culturally - rich tours of the Mayan Zone include visits to a traditional healer who uses plants as medicine, a trip to the house of the village elder to hear about Mayan...
The area around Cozumel grabbed Kelly's heart during her first visit. Flying over the turquoise waters of the Caribbean left a significant imprint on her heart. She returned to the Riviera Maya to work for a summer and once she went diving in the area’s underwater playgrounds, she was hooked. Later when Hurricane Gilbert smashed into Cozumel, Kelley returned to San Antonio, Texas to finish her Psychology and Business Administration degree, even though she knew it wouldn’t be relevant to her life’s calling. Her passion now revolved around scuba diving. After returning to Cozumel, she...
Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, Ryan headed to the west coast to complete his graduate degree in architecture. He started working with a local sculptor in California, who does art installations, furniture designs and architecture. During Ryan’s initial interview, the sculptor asked him if he would move to Mexico. Ryan ended up in the city of Merida with a team of people. About a year and a half ago, Tulum called to him and Ryan transitioned from life in the city to life on the beach. After giving himself time to settle in, Ryan started working with local building contractors to get a...
My guest today, Sandra Dayton, is a huge supporter of the local Mayan community here in the Riviera Maya, specifically Puerto Morelos. She is an icon who embodies a true pioneer spirit. Sandra became enchanted with Mexico when she was only 7. Her family would take her from Texas to Mexico for shopping trips. Her silky blonde hair got her a lot of attention from the local women who said it reminded them of corn silk. She says the women would give her free ice cream and the mariachis would sing songs about the little market princess. She knew then she would one day live in Mexico. She fell...
Originally from a failing tourist town in Washington State, an offhand comment prompted a friend to tell Margo about a management opportunity in Xamach Dos in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. In just four days after speaking with the owner of the property, she arrived ready to work. She had no electricity and had to take a 2-hour drive just for groceries, and this was in 2006. Margo finds the small town of Punta Allen inspiring due to the multi-generational Mayan families and eccentric expats who visit in the winter months. She says it has six really good restaurants, and the...
Originally from Mexico City, Claudia came to the Riviera Maya in 2000 when she was hired by the tourism board to create a hardcover publication called Destination Riviera Maya for hotels. At that time, the Riviera Maya was known as Playa del Carmen, or just Cancun South. When Claudia’s father passed away she decided to turn her life upside down and start doing what she loved, so she could have more time with her son. She started freelancing for travel writers as a scout and eventually found herself translating for visiting doctors. She then went to the Red Cross to study to become an...
Arielle Thomas Newman moved to Playa del Carmen from Kansas City, Missouri, in 2001. She and her husband knew they wanted to live in a beautiful beach environment, but didn’t want to be more than 2 hours from the US. The Riviera Maya in Mexico was the perfect location. Arielle is a yoga teacher, a writer and a choreographer. A perfect sequence of events gave her the opportunity to cover yoga classes at a local gym, write healthy living articles for the local paper and then choreograph the Jesus Christ Superstar musical, making her life in Playa complete. She has now been teaching yoga...
Today, it is my pleasure to speak with Kendall Inman. Originally from California, she currently lives in Playa del Carmen and in Dallas, Texas. While living in California, she frequently took trips to Mexico with her Grandmother to get lobster tacos along the water. She discovered the Riviera Maya when a friend told her about Akumal, in 1998. She says it was so magical she knew she wanted to build a house and a life there. And even though she was nursing a new baby, if there was a problem with the building process, she would grab her Spanish/English dictionary, get up on the roof and teach...
Today it is my pleasure to speak with Dave Randall of Costa de Cocos Resort. Costa de Cocos is the only full service fly fishing and scuba diving resort in Xcalak, Quintana Roo. Dave, who is originally from Minnesota, has been in the Costa Maya area for 33 years. He started his journey before there was electricity in the area and still doesn’t have cell phone coverage at his home. He remembers using wind and propane generators to build his first few hotel rooms. Hotel rooms which may never have been built if heavy doses of rum had not been involved in a late night chat with friends. Dave...
In today’s episode, I am talking with Paul Sanchez Navarro, a Mexican/American, Cultured, Southern boy who was raised in New Orleans and Texas and now lives in Turtle Town (aka Akumal) and has for the past 12 years. Why Did Paul Come to Akumal & What is He Working On? Paul has worked in Mexico City and Switzerland on environmental policy with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). And, when The Ecological Center in Akumal (CEA) invited him to come and restructure the organization as the Director, he was intrigued because he was interested both in getting out of an...
Today it is my pleasure to speak with the vibrant and beautiful Sol Tamargo. Sol is an artist with a camera and has a passion for nature and color. She also participates in our local Superwomen's Club, a group of women supporting each other in business and in life. Sol spent her younger years in Cancun then moved with her family to Guadalajara. When life got to be a dull gray, Sol decided to move back to the coast to bring some much needed-color into her life. She says moving to Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya, in 2001, made her feel like she was coming home. ...
Today it is my pleasure to interview a wonderful woman who has traveled all over the world and who now proudly calls Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya her home. Years ago, Regina Puentes and I met in a yoga class and have been friends ever since. A Passport Full of Stamps Regina knew from a young age her life’s goal would be to travel the world. She first visited Europe and after living for several years in London she moved to the U.S., where she fell in love with the country. It was in San Francisco that she earned her license in Cosmetology. After...
Today we welcome a longtime friend and fellow cave diver, Steve Gerrard. Steve was the first ever full-time cave diving instructor. He has been cave diving for over 30 years, has been the President of the National Association of Cave Diving (NACD) since 1979, has been featured in magazine articles and television programs, and is the author of five books. The New Frontier Steve started out cave diving in the deep caverns of Florida and eventually moved to the Riviera Maya where he could enjoy the underwater beauty of the area. The very first filming of cave...
Today my guest is Marcia Bales of the Mayan Beach Garden, a boutique inn located south of the Riviera Maya in Costa Maya. It is approximately 4 ½ hours away from the Cancun airport. A New Way of Doing Things Marcia used to work in the software industry in Seattle. She loved her job but she loved traveling more. She and her husband would travel to Mexico whenever the opportunity presented itself. They loved it so much they started planning their next vacation as soon as they would return to the US. Marcia says they preferred the ‘out of the way places’...
In today’s episode, my guest Kat Carroll of Cat Eye Creations tells us why she enjoys living and working in Playa del Carmen. Why the Riviera Maya? After traveling throughout Mexico, Kat decided to stay put in Playa del Carmen and has lived there for the last 11 years. She fell in love with the international mix of people. She says that anywhere she goes she can meet people from all over the world. Does Kat Still Feel the Passion and the Magic She Felt Back in 2004? When Kat first arrived she started teaching Ashtanga yoga at a time when no one was...
In today’s episode, I chat with the dynamic Heather Froeming of Tulum. Heather first visited Akumal in 1998 on a diving trip with a college friend from California. She had plans to explore the world, but after falling in love with the area she let her love of adventure and passion for the environment guide her - so she put down roots. Her first days were spent volunteering for Centro Ecologico Akumal (CEA), a non-profit organization which focuses on sea turtle protection and beach monitoring. She helped CEA to start their local recycling program through collection and education...
How did a Canadian end up in the Riviera Maya and start brewing beer? This week I’m happy to interview local business owner, Jungle John of the Mundo Maya Brewing Company. John moved to Playa del Carmen in 1994. Having run a few small startups he eventually decided to move on. But in time, John combined his long-time hobby, the lack of good craft beer in the region, and the now craft brew craze sweeping North America to fuel his return to Playa del Carmen. Of all the places in Mexico, why did John choose to start brewing beer in Playa del Carmen? There are a...
In today’s episode, I chat with Sara Moen, who is originally from Northern California, moved to Seattle in 1990 for school and met her soon to be husband. Steve and Sara were married in 1993. He worked for Microsoft for ten years and in 2001, they took a vacation to Playa del Carmen, as the story goes “Once you arrive there it’s hard to leave.” Steve and Sara ultimately met their business partner during that getaway; within six months, they sold their home and packed up their pets and moved to Playa. Armed with her Bachelor’s in Science for Cognitive Development in Children,...
In today’s episode, I chat with Sherwood Anders, who was born and lived in Pittsburgh until she was 32 years old. Sherwood lived in San Francisco before she and her husband Bob moved to Akumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico with their three rescue dogs “Beachmutts”. She spends a great chunk of her time volunteering with different organizations in Mexico, helping at spay/neutering clinics, animal welfare and helps find new homes for dogs and cats. Bob and Sherwood retired and sold their home in San Francisco in 2015 and are living in Akumal full-time. Tune in to hear about her volunteer work and...
In today’s episode, I chat with Catriona Brown, who is originally from Australia and now resides in Puerto Morelos. Catroina worked in the film production industry for many years; she met a fellow who was going to be producing the Olympics in Sydney. Catriona worked with him on managing major productions, including Sydney’s New Year’s Celebrations and the Olympics. She visited the Yucatan region in Mexico to explore the archeological ridge. On January 2, 2002, while in Puerto Morelos, Catriona read “Travel Warning! Be careful you may never leave” on a pamphlet. She thought to...
In today’s episode, I chat with Kristin Roehmer, who is originally from Arizona. She and her husband Marcus made a home in Playa del Carmen. Kristin and Marcus went in on a 50/50 investment with their friend Randy to purchase a condo down in Playa; this was back in 2004 when the real estate market was starting to flourish. Kristin and Marcus never planned on starting a family there or living there for more than a year. 11 years later, they still have their place in Arizona and are residing in Playa del Carmen full-time with their beautiful 8-year-old son. Listen to the intriguing story of...
In today’s episode I talk with David Sterling, who was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK. He was always intrigued by art and food even at a young age. David was obsessed with Julia Child. His partner Keith and he moved away from New York City after 9/11. Their place was just 5 blocks from the World Trade Center. David had been to Mexico many times throughout his life and both he and Keith loved it there. They found a place to call home in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. They bought an old ruin complete with trees growing out of the ceiling and floors. It took them 14 months to renovate the...
In today's episode I talk to my friend Matt. He is a big German guy with tattoos and some piercings. He might look like an intimidating guy at first, but he is a big teddy bear. I am flattered he took time to be with us today. His passions are photography, sailing, and motorcycles. Matt loves cave diving and even made a business out of it. He is one of the owners of ProTec Dive Centers in Tulum and Playa del Carmen, offering the highest quality of standards with the most complete cave diving, Sidemount diving, and CCR Rebreather diving services. Does your company train people to...
In today’s installment I talk with Kelly Fitzgerald who shares on how to live sober and still be the life of the party in Mexico. Kelly is a social media manager and a contributor to the Huffington Post Blog. One of her biggest accomplishments and most admirable work is her blog The Sober Seńorita. Kelly wants everyone to know you can lead a fun and adventuresome life while being sober. Kelly grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and graduated college in 2007. She always wanted to party and was known as the “social butterfly”. She learned of her love for Cancun, when she...
In today’s episode I chat with Keith Heitke who shares some tips on real estate in Mexico and secret gems he knows of, from being in the Yucatán for 13 years. Keith and his partner David Sterling moved to the Yucatán in 2003 from Manhattan, NYC. The biggest reason for the move was because of 911. They considered living in Spain, however, the real estate was really expensive and the weather wasn’t what they were expecting. They moved to Mérida with no job and didn’t speak a lick of Spanish. Keith is a senior sales agent for Mexico International Real Estate. He specializes in luxurious...
In today's installment I talk to Captain Quickie. He was born in Southern Florida. His family moved to Mexico in 1982. Quickie went back to Mexico for College, where he graduated with an Economics degree. Quickie thought he needed a degree in that field to make the money he wanted to make to afford the big boats he knew one day he would own. Quickie was a stock broker in New York City for a couple of years. Until finally his love of Mexico and boats drew him back. Him and his wife Amy started their own business called Local Quickies, best tour in Playa Del Carmen Riviera Maya area. You can go...
In today's episode I talk to Kelly McLaughlin. She is a Canadian woman who arrived in Mexico back in 2003 for a two-week vacation, and hasn't left since. She's a writer and social media personality known as Cancun Canuck. Through her blog and social network, she shares her love of Mexico by sharing her unique personal tales. If she is not online she's probably underwater, climbing a pyramid, or getting into some sort of shenanigans with her adventuresome son, Max. Kelly also has five rescue cats, which in no way implies she is single, except she is! What do you find...
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