Your tax dollars at work

For all of the complaining that happens in, around and about Mexico- the Mexican gov't - and that nothing ever happens and the gov't does nothing....I have some positive things to share.

In the states I remember these signs that would say, "Your tax dollars at work." usually posted in front of some horrible construction site and detour that you were about to deal with. I also remember thinking what a waste it was to have the sign at all. Clearly we can see that something is going on. This was basically the gov't way of saying..." see- see- we are doing something. "

Well, here is the sign for you guys Tulum. Tulum's gov't is working hard to get things in top shape for the busy holiday season. This season promises to bring many new people to the Tulum area - some again and many for the first time. One new development that these guys will see....

A new bike/walking path that goes all the way from the light in Tulum town to the beach and south for about 1/2 a km. This new bike path is great. Bikes are such a wonderful way to get around Tulum. Our flat terrine, easy going people and eco friendly attitude lend to bikes PEFECTLY! This great new path is wide and smooth and an absolutely perfect addition to our little town.

What I love too are the new little palapa bus stations that are up and down the road as well. This is perfect whether you are waiting for the collectivos that run the beach road or you are walking or biking and need to take a shade break.

This new path is great and is almost finished. I will bring more pics when it is done.

There is also being money spent in areas that no tourist will ever be. So it is not all being spent on those that come and leave our shores. In Villas Tulum what was once a waste land of nothing- old broken play equipment and rocks underneath is 3 blocks of wonderful park. The palapa at the entrance to Villas Tulum is being repaired and the floor expanded to hold more people. The 2nd block is now a fully paved basketball court- complete with beautiful planters filled with palms that will shade the park nicly in a few years and 3rd.... the park structures are getting new flooring as well. Rather then large jagged rocks under the swing there will now be a smooth - kid friendly floor. In addition the paths that lead through the kids park are safe for kids to run around and play.

It is so nice that we have decided that we are going to have our daughter's birthday party there. It is open, nice, easy and right next to the park!!!! I am really happy with the improvements that Tulum continues to make.

I cannot speak for the Mexican gov;t in general- or really the gov't of Quintana Roo but I can say that Tulum is doing something. And the something that they are doing is going to have immediate and lasting impressions of visitors and locals alike!

Rotary Club Cloverdale, CA & Rotary Club Tulum help our School Project

The Tulum Living School Project which helps fixes the infrastructure of Tulum's schools while promoting recycling and recycling education received a wonderful donation from the Rotary Club of Cloverdale, CA with the assistance and support of Rotary Club Tulum.

This is a wonderful project that is very dear to our hearts here at Tulum Living.

I want to personally thank Elvia, The Rotary Club of Cloverdale, CA and the Rotary Clubs of Tulum as well as the clubs in Playa and Cancun. Together we can change the world. And your kindness and generosity is felt and appreciated. Thank you for everything.

If you want to know how you can help, please contact us. For more information about our Tulum Living School Project visit us at www.TulumSchools.blogspot.com

Getting ready for Eco Glamour and the Green Expo Tulum!!!

These 2 events in Tulum are going to be amazing.  Eco Glamour is an event that celebrates the amazing talents

The first day, Thursday April 8 is all about Fashion. Blue Tulum is hosting a fashion shop and an after party. I believe that the doors open at 6:00 and the show starts at 7:00 and then there is a party afterwards. There will be some wonderful jewelry and clothing from through the Yucatan. Dutzi Designs and Casa Chiapas will both be there as will many others.




The 2nd day is all about Art! And what a great way to show off the wonderful artists then in several beach hotels. There is the ARTulum Route. You can get specific details at http://www.ecoglamourtulum.com/en/ a nice easy drive up and down the beach road. Great hotels with very nice lounges are the perfect place to grab a drink and a bite to eat and enjoy all of the beautiful artwork.



AHHAHAHA Day 3, this is going to be in full swing I imagine. This is the MUSIC day. Ana y Jose Beach Club will host this event. There is a Fresco ball exhibition at 12:00. I really am not sure what that is but I will be there! Then the rest of the day is filled with amazing music for wonderful Latin artists. This is going to be great.


At the same time there will be the Green Expo down at the Casa de Cultura. This is about 5 blocks towards to the beach directly behind the main plaza on the main Avenue. This expo will highlight many of the wonderful products and services here in the area that work to protect our beautiful Tulum.

Dutzi Event a Success

Well- The holidays are over and oh my god to I have some serious catching up to do. The first thing that I want to say is how wonderful the event for Dutzi Design went. We spent the day at the new In Spirit Store and had a great time bringing awareness to this great project. These bags made by women in the Yucatan are beautiful and it was a real treat spending this day supporting this cause. These bags are being sold at boutiques all over Paris and New York and most recently Mexico and Italy. It is great.


The whole day was spent focusing on the various talents of the women in the area with a highlight on the Dutzi Design project. We had a morning Yoga class, massages available, organic spa treatments available, card readings all the bags on display, authentic Yucatecan food for purchase. It was really great. In the evening we were treated to some wonderful AcroYoga which is truly great.


The whole day could not have been possible with out the wonderful assistance and talents of Jackie and the In Spirit store, Crystal and the card readings, Land and the wonderful food, and of Course Ariane Dutzi for having the inspiration and determination to continue the project.

I would also like to give a very special thanks to the Gerardo Miranda from Yes...I Do! for donating the chairs and tables. They were beautiful and really completed the look for our event. We look forward to working with you again when we do our wedding ceremony next year. To contact Gerardo Miranda for any event needs please contact us and we would be happy to pass the information along.

Another company we would really like to thank is Flors de Tulum. The fruiteria across the side street from HCBC has always been wonderful to me the whole time I have lived here. It is one of my all time favorite place to buy- well- anything they sell really. They were so kind to donate some produce so that we could offer our guests the amazing food and services that we did. Thank you so much.

If you ever need to buy any fruit or veggies in Tulum--- this is the place to do it.


I look forward to doing more work with all of the people that I got to share the day with. Oh yeah.. And thanks to my work... Yaaj- Ximbal to letting me off for the day so that I could do this event. :)

dutzi design - Empowering Women Event.

I am so excited to be organizing an event for dutzi design inc. This wonderful group of Mayan women make the most beautiful bags all by hand and from beautifully recycled burlap and white raffia. They are so beautiful and the proceeds go to keeping this workshop up and running and keeping food on the tables of those in the community.

We are having an event at In Spirit Store. A beautiful store on the south side of the beach road across from Casa Violeta. The event begins at 9:00 am with a roof top yoga class followed by fresh fruit breakfast. Here is the whole schedule:


9:00- yoga class on the roof overlooking the jungle canopy.
10:00-Fresh fruit breakfast and organic coffee
11:00- Special dutzi Presentation- special discounts at in Sprit for those that attend that presentation.
12:00-4:00- Special services from women in the community. Mayan food for sale, card reading, spa treatments and masks, massages, back flowers and a kids area.
4:00- Special dutzi Presentation- special discounts at in Sprit for those that attend that presentation.
5:00- Horderves and Happy Hour
6:30- Aztec Drumming performance
7:00- Fire Show.


This is going to be an amazing event to bring focus to the amazing work of Ariane Dutzi and her work with the women in her community. These women are learning about finanaces and are able to contribute to their communities. The bags that they make are being sold in boutiques in Paris and New York as well as other locations throughout the United States, Mexico and Europe.


In addition to learning about the dutzi design project, visitors can also help the women of the area by using the services that we will be providing during the event.

Please come by and show your support for this wonderful cause.

Tulum Living School Project

I have a new idea that I am really excited about. In all of my talking with people, going back and forth on forums and answering people's emails I have come to notice something. Well, 2 things really.

1) There are so many people that LOVE Tulum. Some people that live here, that have lived here, visited here once or come every year- they just love it. They love the people, they love the culture, they love the beaches, they love the beautiful sea.

and 2) That there is a strong need for improvements in Tulum's schools and simply not enough money going to them.

Just like in the US and everywhere else, the public schools of Tulum never have enough money to get all of the things that they need. Schools are trying hard just to get through the school year with the supplies that they need. There is never enough money to put towards the bigger things that the school needs.

This has come full force to me recently because of my own children. In my sons school there are a few things that are really needed to be a fun and safe place for kids that under 6 years old. Broken, metal play ground equipment, NO shade so NO running outside etc. The same is true at my daughters school. There are almost no totally functioning bathrooms, all need repairs etc. I started to think that there must be a similar case at every school. Sure enough, the moment I started to talk to my friends about the schools their kids were in --- it was clear. TulumLiving.com needs to set up some sort of a donation thing.

I used to work on a lot of fundraising projects with my mom in Portland, OR with Doernbecher Children's Hospital and the Women for Children group. I remember my mom telling me that usually the hardest part of getting anything done is all of the people you have to go though to do it. All it takes is organization and a way to communicate. Well, I am a stage manager in the theater so anality is right up my alley. And as for communication... god bless the Internet.

So here is what I propose... I am going to go to each public school here in Tulum and talk to the head of their parent/teacher association and ask them what their big want it for their school. The one that is too big to ever get done but too small for the gov't to take care of.

I am going to list them all on 1 post with the name of the school/ the name of the director/ the number to the director/ and the want for the school. As people donate I will keep a running log on www.TulumLiving.com under the tab Help Tulum's Schools tab. As the amount is reached we will execute the need and do a post on Tulum Living. When a payment is made - we will mark it off and go to the next school.

I am so excited I can hardly type fast enough. I am expecting that most of these projects will be in the 20000-40000 peso area. That is about $1,470 to $3,000. I am excited. Okay. so.. I will start the page now. I will need a week or so to get the info from the schools and a separate bank account set up for this project!!! Yeah. I am so excited. Please free to contact me if you have any question.

Check in at Help Tulum's Schools to watch our progress and for more information about how to help out.

Help Tulum's Schools

Here will be a running list of larger items that each public school in Tulum needs but is always out of reach. This is a great way to give directly back to the community of Tulum in a way that will have immidate and lasting results. We will keep a running accounting of the money in and out so you guys can watch the progress. I cannot wait to write a post about each and every victory!!! This is so great.

Jardin de Ninos Sac Be: (aka:Hurricanes)
Director:
Phone #:
Want: Large Palapa for courtyard.
Cost: (estimate) 30,000 pesos

Escuela Primaria Ford 198:
Director:
Phone #:
Want:
Cost: