PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Q. ROO: Sunshine, Zumba, Savory Food, Caribbean Sea, Sculpture, and More!

PORTAL MAYA BRONZE SCULPTURE

PLENTY OF ACTION IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN IN THE MAYAN RIVIERA

     We enjoyed several afternoon and evening trips to Playa del Carmen, about a 15 minute drive from Paamul. The city had recently unveiled a beautiful bronze sculpture, Portal Maya (Mayan Gateway), at the main entrance to the beach near the ferry dock. The monument is stunning, reaching over 50 feet high above the beach with the Caribbean Sea in the background. The Mayan sculpture portrays a man and a woman, being pushed upwards by a spiral of wind and water, and holding hands. The sculpture includes depictions of other Mayan symbols including a jaguar, shells, and two rings from the Mayan ball game.

     Alux  Caverna Restaurant and Bar: Dine in a unique restaurant in a natural cavern. The food was good, the prices high, the ambience was amazing! Candles lit stalactites hanging from the ceiling in every room and stalagmites still growing on the floor from steady water drips above. There was no doubt that this was a natural cave (La Cava). After dinner, we took the

STAIRCASE INTO ALUX RESTAURANT

tour through the many rooms of the cave, each one romantically set to be used for dinner. Of course, we had to have our photograph taken with the “Maya Warrior” in full costume and body paint. We were very glad we had stumbled onto this beautiful, unique restaurant and bar.
     I attended Zumba class with Margarita Garcia Loaiza at the "Z y Son Studio". The interior of the dance/exercise studio was decorated with bright colors and lighting that set the mood of being at a party. When Margarita started the music, turned down the overhead lights and turned on the disco ball light, I could feel that it was time to "Join the Party!" (The Zumba motto is "Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!"). Zumba with Margarita was a fun workout! Read more about Zumba with Margarita in my article dated 3/25/14 at www.ZumbaMexico.blogspot.com.
     We only had enough time in Playa del Carmen to get a taste of the fun activities happening in this Caribbean town in the Mayan Riviera! There is so much more that we didn't have time to explore. Next time....

JON WITH MAYAN WARRIOR AT ALUX

BAR & MAIN DINING AREA IN ALUX CAVERN

MAYAN WARRIOR HOLDS TERRY FOR RANSOM

ROMANTIC DINING IN THE ALUX CAVERN

AFTER ZUMBA CLASS WITH MARGARITA

TERRY WITH ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR, MARGARITA

MORE ABOUT THE MAYAN RIVIERA & PLAYA DEL CARMEN IN MY BOOK DUE  IN DEC. 2014!