Tourism Outlook Seminar Jamaica... A Success!

Tourism Outlook Seminar...A Success!

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA, February 2010.- The Third Annual Tourism Outlook Seminar, held over two days at the Ritz-Carlton Golf & Spa Resort, Rose Hall, began with the theme of thinking out of the box, actually getting rid of the box, in an effort to stimulate creative thinking in an environment for future survival of tourism in the Caribbean.

Bill Milligan and Yndiana Montes were part of the invited press

Regional and international leaders discussed the present atmosphere, its future and strategies for surviving shrinking dollars in a contracted economy, especially in the US and UK. Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmond Bartlett noted that new markets, investment, and technology were essential to weather this economic storm and prepare for the unknown in the future. Feedback received from the attendees was very positive and the Minister announced that this seminar will be planned again for 2010, and proudly called it “The Davos of Tourism”.

Maloney represented the travel agents (ASTA)

The session “Maintaining the Competitive Edge” was chaired by Hugh Riley, and travel agents were represented by William Maloney, Chief Executive Offices of ASTA. “Dealing with the Changing Travel Distribution Channels” discussed the negative impact on travel agents with the burgeoning Internet market, via Web exchanges for traveling professionals, buyers guides, learning communities, Facebook, blogs, etc. Too much media information according to Maloney is now overtaxing the potential tourist, and this is where travel agents can step in and sort out the multitude of confusing paths, ensuring the tourist a hassle free vacation.

Bill in one of his interventions as a member of the International Press

Among the presenters were John Lynch, Director of the Jamaica Tourism Board, Carlos Vogeler, UNWTO’s Regional Representative for the Americas; Hugh Riley, Secretary General and CEO of Caribbean Tourism Organization, Alec Sanguinetti, CD –Director General & CEO of the Caribbean Hotel Tourism Association, Jim Brody, International sales Manager-Destination marketing of TripAdvisor, Logan Stanton, World Economic Forum’s Head of North America, Williard Phillips, ECLAC’s Economic Affairs Officer, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, Minister of Tourism of The Bahamas, and Chad Meyerson, head of Sales Caribbean and Latin America of JetBlue Airways.

Yndie interviewing Hugh Riley

The deliberations on opening day included a session on Maintaining the Competitive Edge, chaired by Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Hugh Riley and Marketing in a time of rapid fire Changes, the first of two panel discussions to be moderated by David Shields, Deputy Director of Tourism, Marketing at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

Lynch commented on increased charter flights from major Canada cities, but also noted the difficulty for Latin American markets, due to visa hassles coming through Miami. Direct charters from major Latin American cities, possibly new routes coming through Cancun (Mexico) or other Caribbean islands could circumvent these major obstacles. We know that JTB is putting a plan together for exploring the potential of entering Latin America.

Carlos Vogeler, Alec Sanguinetti, Minister Barlett and glamorous Mrs. Flavia Sanguinetti at the opening reception at the Hilton Rose Hall

Alec Sanguinetti, Director General & CEO of CTHA presented an overview of the Strategies for Intra Regional Travel Marketing, noting this is decreasing due to the lack of flights and the high cost of aviation travel as compared with cruise lines. “The reality is that our challenge is not that we do not know what to do, our failure is a lack of implementation of the things that we have agreed to do”, he said referring to the San Juan Accord of 2007. Another topic of financial concern for the hoteliers is the major advantage the cruise ships have, in that they pay minimal fees for port calls, the tourists spend little money for their time in port, and the hospitality industry suffers financially. Cruise ships circumvent visa issues, something the airline industry can’t shake.

JTB Director Noel Lynch, Yndie, Minister Barlett and Carlos Vogeler in one of the cozy coffee breaks

“Innovation Through Technology” was the opening session of the second day, and left more than one delegate with mouths wide open. Social media (Non-traditional Media) and social networking are taking front stage these days. More and more hotels are investing time, tracking, even on a daily basis, what blogs, Facebook etc. are now saying to them. We asked opinions of several presenters, among them Carlos Vogeler, and the response was unanimous: the tourism sector needs to wake up to this burgeoning social networking, lest they be left in the dust.

Hugh Riley and Jorn Gieschen

“Barriers to Growth, Tax and Visa Issues” was delivered by Hugh Riley, Secretary General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization on the second day. He discussed the ongoing progressive increase in departure taxes from London, England, and how it has impacted all Caribbean markets. Giving an example, he said that, “now for a family of four, the cost of a Caribbean vacation is approximately 300 pounds extra, just in departure taxes. With the current British policy this portends a gloomy market for the near future”.

Chad Meyerson, JetBlue

Airlift is as important as water for the tourism industry, and that’s why the Panel Discussion “The Roadmap to Recovery: Effective Airlift” moderated by David Shields, the Marketing Deputy Director of Tourism, received impressive participation from attendees. The “new kid on the block” was Chad Meyerson, Head of Sales Caribbean & Latin America of JetBlue Airways, whose presentation “Perspective from a Superior service Low Fare Carrier” helped minimize the negative image, previously associated with low cost airlines. The panel of experts included Air Jamaica’s President and CEO Bruce Nobles; US Airways’ Manager International Route Planning Brian Council; and British Airways Head of UK & Ireland Sales and Marketing, Richard Tams.

Carlos Vogeler, Carolle Guntley, Yndie and Bill

At the closing cocktail party, Carrole Guntley summed it up in three words: “Nothing but good” from this seminar. She received compliments from Carlos Vogeler (UNWTO): “JTB made excellent choices on the speakers. No session was too long, coffee and snack breaks were superb and I was very impressed with the participation of the delegates, the engagements, the questions..., I think the expectations for the Third Tourism Outlook next year in Jamaica are going to be outstanding ”, he said.

For more information about the Seminar, and to find out more about the presenters, please go to:
http://www.visitjamaica.com/tourismseminar/overview.aspx
Bill and Yndie are thankfull for the invite to JTB and its PR agency in NY, Ruderfinn.

Manatees, a Role Model for Society?? By Bill Milligan

Bill & Yndie with Maricruz and Alejandro at Dolphin Discovery

Just what is it about hopping into the water with a 700 pound manatee, lumbering along, noshing on vegetation, that brings one to realize that our society has a lot to learn from these gentle creatures. These mammals belong to the Sirenia order, believed to have evolved from four-legged land mammals more than 60 million years ago. Their closest living relatives are elephants and hyraxes (jack rabbit like mammals). Their scientific name is Trichechus manatus, meaning three (Tri) and chechus (nails), also known as “tits” amongst the indigenous of the Caribbean.

The Happy Mammals...

MANATEES AT DOLPHIN DISCOVERY
PR Manager Maricruz Alfaro de la Barrera knew so many things about these mammals...: “These docile creatures seek out warm and safe environments, gravitating to shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Amazon basin and West Africa. Dolphin Discovery at Puerto Aventuras had the pleasure of birthing the first manatee in captivity in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. In 2008, as part of the XXXVI Annual Convention of the International Marine Animal Trainers (IMATA), Dolphin Discovery broke old myths about manatee behavior, demonstrating that learning was accomplished much faster than previously known”, she said as we were heading to Isla de Mujeres, about a 30 minute boat ride from Cancun.
Dolphin Discovery began their training program with manatees in 2001 when they received two stranded manatees (Trichechus manatus) at its facility in Puerto Aventuras.
While information on general care of manatees was available, there was little information on their training. Their slow nature and non-aggressiveness led the coaching staff to believe that animals learn much slower than the dolphins, and training would take longer. This preconception guided them to go slow and very methodical in their first attempts at training. "Over time we learned that manatees are smarter than they appear and we adjusted our training techniques with measurable results," said Alejandro Mata, training supervisor at Dolphin Discovery. The arrival of new manatees in 2007 gave the coaching staff an opportunity to apply what they learned and compare the rate of learning among with the original manatees’. Silvia Becerra, trainer of Dolphin Discovery said: "What we learned was that our first manatees were not slow learners, but it was the teachers. Note that Dolphin Discovery is the only place in the world with interactive Swimming with manatees, created not only to entertain guests, but to create awareness for the respect and protection of these beautiful marine mammals.

The manatees main predators are sharks, alligators, crocodiles and orcas, with man being number one, inflicting more morbidity and mortality than all the others combined. The props from outboard motors, both small and large are the main culprits, lacerating their backs, eviscerating them and leading to death. Some manatees’ are now recognized by the distribution and number of scars on their backs. Manatees hear on higher frequencies, and most large boats emit lower frequencies, somehow resulting in a deadly attraction between the two, with mortal consequences inescapable. Interestingly, when faced with higher frequencies, manatees’ immediately head in the other direction, sensing danger. Another man made problem is fishing nets, posing a big drowning hazard and lastly the swallowing of non-organic matter, ie, plastic bottles. Manatee hunting predates Christopher Columbus. Native Americans used the hides for making canoes, shoes and shields and their bones for “special potions”.

Manatees need fresh water sources...

MANATEES AT XEL-HA
Xel-Ha, an all inclusive eco-archeological theme park, located approximately 70 miles south of Cancun was one of our stops on the manatee tour. This ocean inlet and lagoon was an absolute joy to visit and spend the whole day, either in the crystal clear waters, snorkeling, tubing, small cliff diving, or walking along beautifully manicured paths, cut through the jungle, with parrots squawking above and iguanas basking below in the sun. A large open air palapa roofed restaurant served excellent Mexican and Mayan cuisine, along with an assortment of International dishes, all downed with cold Mexican beers, margaritas or other exotic drinks. Makes my mouth water, as I sit here writing this.

The manatee's trainers we met at Xel-Ha were very kind, devoted, and bonded with these gentle mammals and obviously protective and loving toward them. It was a real pleasure to have met these gentle trainers and see their interaction with the manatees’. We will return to Xel-Ha, and enjoy it even more the second time, hopefully in the near future.
So, what do manatees’ have to teach us…Why are they pre-historic survivors? How do they fit in the ecological chain?
“Manatees are the only marine mammals that are herbivores and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and reach more than 3.60 meters, approximately 10 feet in length. They are monogamous and typically breed once every two years, with gestation lasting 12-13 months, and the weaning process taking another 12-18 months. Nursing is accomplished with mammary glands located under their armpits, after which, they leave home and lead a solitary existence. In captivity they consume lettuce heads, up to 200 per day, or approximately 10% of their weight, according to the trainers.

A gentle stroke on the back of this kind mammal...

As we were standing in the salt water holding area, the trainers continued explaining: “Manatees spend half a day sleeping in water, with much of the rest, grazing at shallow depths (3-6 feet), surfacing at regular intervals for air. The adults have only a set of cheek teeth, which continually replace themselves, growing from the back towards the front, and totaling no more than six at one time. Their upper lip is large and flexible, somewhat resembling a very foreshortened trunk of an elephant and used for gathering food and eating, along with social interaction and communication. Having no incisor or canine teeth and thus being unable to aggressively flash them, was perhaps nature’s way of keeping them close to shore, seeking non-threatening shallow waters and avoiding incisor (ripping or tearing) like environments. There’s probably a similar corollary with humans, especially with aging and increasing dental problems”.
One fascinating thing I observed at Xel-Ha, was the trainers technique of putting them in a receptive mood to interact with people. With his hands not touching the skin, he would trace backwards on the head and neck, tracing a meridian known in Chinese medicine, as Triple Burner/Warmer, involved with the fight-flight-freeze reaction. Meridians are documented energy lines that traverse humans and animals and have been used in acupuncture for five thousand years. When one traces a meridian backwards, this has the effect of calming it and its recipient, and in this instance making one more docile, at least temporarily. This maneuver was repeatedly seen as the trainer would initiate either a training session or prepare them for human interaction. This was my first exposure seeing this technique used in the animal world.

The manatee trainers Sergio and Hilda with one of their friends at Xel-Ha

MORE FINDINGS ABOUT MANATEES
Often they will congregate near power plants, enjoying the warmer water and forgetting about the natural migration that occurs with seasonal changes. This has now become a problem when the plants close, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are seeking ways to warm the waters. The manatees, (Trichechus Manatus) of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Ocean, cannot survive in water less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, due to their low metabolic rate. They can move easily within salinity extremes but require fresh water for proper osmoregulation.
The manatees main predators are sharks, alligators, crocodiles, orcas and man, with his outboard motors, inflicting lacerations to its back, sometimes eviscerating them and leading to death. Some manatees’ are now recognized by the distribution and number of scars on their backs. Manatees hear on higher frequencies, and most large boats emit lower frequencies, somehow resulting in the two coming more in contact with each other, to the detriment of the manatee. When faced with higher frequencies, manatees’ immediately head in the other direction, sensing danger. As manatees’ need to surface every 20 minutes, fishing nets pose a big drowning hazard and lastly the swallowing of non-organic matter, ie, plastic bottles. Manatee hunting predates Christopher Columbus. Native Americans used the hides for making canoes, shoes and shields and their bones for “special potions”.
Perhaps manatees could be role models for us, demonstrating that passivity, gentleness and affection are qualities that are consistent with survival. There continued loss is sad, as it upsets the precarious balance of aggression and non-aggression, with the former already far in the lead. The Chinese have understood this balance for more than five thousand years, through the Yin/Yang principle, with a balance between the two consistent with good health and longevity. Obviously, not only in our society but almost all, this balance was lost a long time ago, and does not look destined for a quick return. Hopefully we can maintain the manatee population and their positive attributes. We look forward to the next encounter with our gentle friends when we visit Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Bill & Yndie are very thankfull to Fideicomiso Riviera Maya and OVC Cancun for arranging their visit to Xel-ha and Dolphin Discovery

Maya Encounter - Alltournative tours... (Mayan Riviera)

www.alltournative.com/tours-products/maya-encounter

Here we are in our Mayan limousine, with our authenic Mayan driver. We are in the historic village of Cobá..., but let's start from the beginning!
Welcome to Bill and Yndie's mini-ventures. Today we will be experiencing a Mayan Encounter journey that will bring us to an authentic Mayan village, a self-sufficient Mayan community living next to an integral part of the region's lagoon system. We will walk through the Maya community's forest, learning the mysteries of their local fauna and flora. Our Guide Alejandro was very fluent in English and could answer any question we threw at him. We appreciated his respect shown to the Mayan elders and the local jungle, with which this alone comes our recommendation for this tour. Details and information will be found at the botton of this photo-article.


Alltournative tours picked us up at the hotel, and with no more that 9 people we were off and running in a roomy comfortable van, heading towards an ancient Mayan encounter with Coba. At 10:30 AM we were in the 1,500 year-old historical ancestral city of Cobá, an archaeological site hidden deep inside the rain forest of the south-eastern Yucatan Peninsula. Climbing the Nohoch Muul temple (the tallest pyramid of the state), we admired the pristine beauty and immeasurable vastness of the surrounding sub-tropical rain forest and the historic site itself. Very impressive, walking the hallowed grounds, where ancient cultures thrived more than a thousand years ago.




Here in Cobá we enjoyed a two-hour guided tour, which included a visit to Mayan temples, the legendary ball game area, where the losers were sacrificed, and the Nohoch Muul Temple (the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan).

At noon we departed for the tour of the Mayan Village, where we had the opportunity to see how the Mayas lived on a daily basis, and experienced this haunting lost spiritual world hidden in the vast shrub jungle. Together with the locals, after walking through their forest, learning of the local fauna and flora and many of their medical uses, we met a shaman and experienced a simple ceremony, giving thanks to Mother Nature for her many wonders, the water, the forest, the birds and the cenotes, among many other things.

This was an unforgettable off-track adventure: exciting zip-line flying over an incredibly beautiful Cenote, a refreshing swim, rappelling down into another Cenote, and canoe paddling on a lagoon of enormous beauty. And to end it all, a delicious traditional lunch prepared by the women of this Mayan community. Afterwards we Canoed/kayaked on a crystal clear lagoon and enjoyed a refreshing swim, followed by hanging out in a hammock and pondering the enormity of what it was like to live in this envirnoment fifteen hundred years ago.

If you go to the Mayan Riviera, don't miss the opportunity of this wonderful tour!
www.alltournative.com/tours-products/maya-encounter

CTO announces return of its STC

11th Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism, May 9-12, 2010, Bridgetown, Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (January 8, 2010) – The region’s premiere international gathering on sustainable tourism is back. The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) has announced the return of its Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, otherwise known as the Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC), after a one year absence due to the global economic crisis.

The 11th annual conference (STC-11) will be held from May 9-12, 2010 in Bridgetown, Barbados and is being organised in collaboration with the Barbados Ministry of Tourism.

“We are delighted that we are able to once again bring together a wide range of experts and stakeholders to discuss the region’s sustainability,” said Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the CTO. “We thank the government of Barbados for hosting this very important conference in this difficult global economic climate.”

This year’s conference will examine critical issues relating to sustainability and will explore creative solutions to many of the challenges facing CTO Member Countries, including the effects of climate change.

“STC will continue with the focus on how Member States can design and incorporate sustainable tourism policies and practices into their regional and international initiatives,” said Gail Henry, the CTO’s Sustainable Tourism Product Specialist. “We recognize that the development of the tourism sector in the Caribbean has to continue on a sustainable path. The Caribbean has an opportunity to lead advancements in this area while also creating valuable employment opportunities.”

A comprehensive and dynamic programme is being planned to include the customary study tours – a key feature of this conference.

The annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism Development is part of the information dissemination and regional awareness component of CTO’s Strategy for Sustainable Tourism. It looks at how member states can design and implement sustainable tourism policies and programmes, offering a regional forum for information exchange on the successes and pitfalls of national, regional and international initiatives.

For more information on CTO’s travel industry events in 2010, visit www.OneCaribbean.org.

About the Caribbean Tourism Organization

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), with the headquarters in Barbados and marketing operations in New York, London and Toronto, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency and comprises membership of over 30 governments and a myriad of private sector entities.

The CTO’s mission is to provide to and through its members, the services and information needed for the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of the Caribbean people.

The organization provides specialized support and technical assistance to member countries in the areas of marketing, human resource development, research and statistics, information technology and sustainable tourism development. The CTO disseminates information on behalf of its member governments to consumers and the travel trade.

The CTO’s New York office is located at 80 Broad St., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA: Tel: (212) 635-9530; Fax: (212) 635-9511; E-mail: ctony@caribtourism.com; CTO’s London office is located at The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, England. Tel: 011 44 208 948 0057; Fax: 011 44 208 948 0067; E-mail: ctolondon@caribtourism.com; CTO Canada is located at 2 Bloor Street West, Suite 2601, Toronto, Ont. M4W 3E2, Canada. Tel: (416) 935 0767; Fax: (416) 935-0939; E-mail: ctotoronto@caribtourism.com. CTO Headquarters is located at One Financial Place, Collymore Rock, St, Michael, Barbados; Tel: (246) 427-5242; Fax: (246) 429-3065; E-mail: ctobarbados@caribtourism.com. For more information, please visit www.caribbeantravel.com or www.onecaribbean.org. Get the latest CTO updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ctotourism. Connect with CTO on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTourismOrganization.

Media can also visit www.louhammond.com for latest press releases and images. Follow on Twitter at LouHammondPR.

Media Contact

Terence Gallagher/Michelle Horn

Lou Hammond Associates. Tel.(212) 308-8880
E mails: terryg@lhammond.com / michelleh@lhammond.com

CTO Press Contact: jjohnrose@caribtourism.com

MASS WITH THE MAYANS...SUNDAY IN TICUL

Leaving Merida (Yucatan) on a hot and steamy October day, were driving south out of the city heading to a somewhat remote town of Ticul. Located 82 kilometers from Merida, it’s principally known for it’s locally made shoes, leather goods, a large Ex-Convent, which now serves as a Catholic church and it’s excellent collection of Mayan deities, found dotting the periphery of the church.

People leaving the Church after Sunday Mass

The trip from Merida takes approximately one and a half hours , is an easy drive through flat shrub jungle on good roads, going through small towns and landscapes loaded with Mayan ruins, many still undiscovered. Enroute is the town of Sacaluum, a pueblo with an imposing Church set up on a hill in the middle of town. Noteworthy is the make shift bull ring at the bottom of the hill, built with local trees and branches, looking as though the fencing could barely hold up to a charging dog, let alone a menacing bull.

Old and modern houses are seeing all over Ticul.

This is the main facade of the Church. As mass lets out, a cornucopia of colors floods your senses, the most striking being the Mayan women in their elaborately woven traditional dresses and garb. People of all ages, spring through the open doors and mingle on the lawn, catching up on the latest gossip or recipe. What few men there are, stand around with that timeless expression on their faces of get me outta here, I’m bored and I have better things to be doing.

Now, let's admire some of the Mayan Deities . Ah Puch (Yum Cimil) ,god of death and destruction, brought disease and was associated with war. Chac is the god of rain. Cizin (Kisin) is the god of death, linked with earthquakes .Hun-Hunahpú (Ah Mun) is hte god of maize and vegetation. Hunahpú and Xbalanqúe are the twin sons of Hun-Hunahpú, tricked the lords of the underworld Itzamná, the ruler of heaven, of night and day, and of the other deities. Ixchel, the goddess of fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth was also there, as well as Kinich Ahau, the god of the sun and sometimes considered an aspect of Itzamná.

While we were meeting all these gods, the mass continued. Within thirty minutes, the bicycles, motor bikes, Mayan Limo’s, and what few cars were there, have emptied the majority of the church goers, with the ones remaining hanging in the plaza or indulging in an ice cream, destined to be eaten immediately or worn home on ones Sunday attire.

Sunday is an excellent time to visit, as practically the whole town can be found in and around the Convent. As well as the church (Convent), there’s a large open air square (plaza) with people of all ages mingling around, while men with their three wheel bicycles,(Mayan Limousines’) eagerly await the mass exit from church, knowing that later on their legs will be tired but their pockets full of pesos. Every intersection within a two block radius has a Mayan deity, proudly standing guard, reminding one of their ancient ancestors and to maintain respect for the old. These beautifully made statuesque ceramic replicas of the Mayan gods are a sight to behold, and interestingly they are pretty much scratch free. This town is known for making the deities, using the exact methods employed more than a thousand years ago.

A Sunday in Ticul, observing the intermingling of an advanced ancient Mayan culture with its contemporary Catholicism, opens the eyes to the vast cultural and religious differences that still exist, and also coexist in a peaceful tradeoff with the Gods. Ticul is part of Route Puuc and the Convent Route, found near the caves of Lol Tun, a Mayan city of Uxmal Yaxnic Caves and cenotes Uayalce, among other things. Ticul is also well known for making shoes and leather garments.

Bill Milligan and Yndiana thank SEFOTUR by Ticul transportation from the city of Merida, and the Presidente Intercontinental Hotel and Maison Laffite for their stay.
ENDS

TULUM PART TWO: CHARMING HOTEL & SPA ANA Y JOSE

After Ocho Tulum , leaving that beautiful strip of white sand and sun was difficult, but, we had to move on. Our next stop was Ana y Jose’s Charming Hotel & Spa, just a short distance from each other. Between checking in and out, we had time to take in the glorious sunset at Zebra bar with friends, and indulge in a cold margarita and cervezas. The salsa rhythms floated over the beach front, as patrons swayed to the music and the afternoon sun gently began its daily descent.


Reaching Ana y Jose’s, we were met by a very accommodating and pleasant Argentinean, who showed us the grounds and cabins, along with a brief history of the owners. We immediately felt at home and comfortable in this laid back setting. Kicking off the shoes, we headed for our room, a second floor, ocean facing suite that allowed all of the beauty and warmth of the Mexican Caribbean to engulf us. Initial inspection of the room, revealed a sunning deck with comfortable chairs, sliding glass doors, that opened to a king size bed, small breakfast nook, closets and well appointed shower, with natural soaps, shampoos, and creams. All rooms are provided with an expresso machine, which worked very well, giving a nice, thick crema. All rooms are practically laid out, with a simple but sophisticated design, allowing one to enjoy all of the intrinsic natural wonders. There are twenty-three rooms, all air conditioned, with safety deposit boxes, ceiling fans, mini-bar, and great views, whether near the swimming pool or overlooking the ocean. An open, large palapa restaurant, invites one for a snack, dinner, or drinks, or just smoozing with friends.

The cuisine was regional and very well done, with appropriately attentive service. One always felt ready to head to the restaurant for snacks and beer, and afterwards, a delightful walk on the beach, taking in the cooling ocean breezes and happy feet shuffling through the warm, turquoise waters. After a slow leisurely walk, one can return and indulge in corporal delights with a variety of therapeutic treatments, whether it is Deep tissue, Maya, or Stone massage, Reiki or Tropical Papaya Hydrating sessions. A five day stay at Anna y Jose’s is the antidote for our stressful living, and will ensure warm, nostalgic memories, coaxing the subconscious to keep reminding the consciousness that there is a better place, and a better way…

TULUM PART ONE

TULUM, AN ESCAPE TO TRANQUILITY
By Bill Milligan and Yndiana Montes
Photos: Bill Milligan
www.solocaribe.com

Traveling south out of Cancun, on what is now known as the Rivera Maya, one parallels the beautiful Mexican Caribbean, and one and a half hours later, enters the town of Tulum. This enchanted town, formerly known as Zama (city of dawn) was used by the Mayans as a commercial port for Coba and surrounding areas. Tulum can be divided into the town itself, the archaeological site and the beachfront area, dotted with rustic boutique hotels, with the tourquoise waters as their front door and mangrove swamps and shrub jungle to their rear. Its location is now an easy drive from Cancun on a four lane well maintained highway. Continuing on the main highway (Carretera Federal), heading south, one enters the bioreserve called Sian Ka’an, with its own ruins, beautiful lagoons and jungle.





Sian Ka’an is now dedicated to preserving its inherent beauty and biodiversity, limiting tourist access to minimize environmental impact. Tours are operated daily by different groups, of which we used “Community Tours, Sian Ka’an”, a group of local Mayans, bilingual and historically knowledgeable, especially dedicated to this area. Small boats shuttle tourists across the lagoons into water canals, dug out over a thousand years ago, where one can float with life preservers down these twenty foot wide canals, where Mayan commerce was once was at its height. A gentle current carries you for approximately one hour, along this ancient, warm watered swim back into Mayan history. After the tour everyone returns to shore for a beautifully prepared Mayan lunch, with a most hospitable staff.
Returning to Tulum (20 minute drive), you enter the town proper along the main highway, and a right hand turn leads to the bucolic and bohemian boutique hotels that dot the pristine coast. There are around forty hotels, the majority with solar and wind generated electricity, again limiting environmental impact to this ancient area. The drive along this narrow, two lane road, parallels the Caribbean, with palms and shrub jungle on both sides, as you weave your way down what was once a dirt and pot holed path. Once you step out of your car, the shoes come off, the shirt unbuttons, and your nostrils open to the pure and slightly salty air, that baths your body and sends that pent up energy straight down to the fine white grained sand, where stood an advanced culture more than a thousand years ago. Your first walk along the soft sanded, white beaches, with the turquoise waters lapping at your feet, transports you to another world, inhabited by the gentle sounds of water, vast open skies, warm nurturing sun and a tranquility of mind that one rarely encounters. Your have arrived at a destination designed for calming body, mind and soul.



Continuing our beach walk, we pass one boutique hotel after another, we stop to talk with Ramiro Pacheco, an Argentinian born energy worker who also works in Tulum . He and his wife and three kids have lived in the area for ten years, under austere conditions, utilizing a generator for basic electrical services. Acclimation of the adults was much easier than for the kids, but they are still adjusting to living in the jungle neighborhood. Ramiro is well known locally and in Cancun, for his energy work and massages, with clients driving several hours for an appointment.