Sun, surf and serenity: Vivo Resorts set amid beauty and charm in Mexico

Zenith and Laurie Zazulak bought and built a single-family home at Vivo Resorts in Mexico. CLAIRE YOUNG / POSTMEDIA

http://calgaryherald.com/life/homes/rec-properties/sun-surf-and-serenity-vivo-resorts-set-amid-beauty-and-charm-in-mexico

It’s May and the surf’s up along the Mexican Pipeline at Puerto Escondido.

Surfers bob up and down on the waves before committing to plunging in and riding as far as they can.
The waves at Zicatela beach grow from the start of the rainy season in early May through November, providing one of the world’s top destinations for big waves and international surfing competitions.

Fifteen kilometres northwest, along the pristine white sand beach in front of Vivo Resorts, lines of six to 12 pelicans play follow the leader in the air currents a few feet above those same rollers, diving and recovering like the curling edge of the waves themselves.

In the beach chairs at the water’s edge, there is no competition, just contemplation of the natural beauty. It’s a view that alternates through the year from this pounding rhythm to dead flat water with whales passing by.

Vivo Resorts is an ocean-front development, and exclusive gated community with luxury condos and private villas. Two-time Olympian and World Cup champion downhill skier — and Chestermere resident — Cary Mullen is the developer of this property, choosing this location because of its beauty, potential and good weather.

THE HOMEOWNERS

It’s just after happy hour in the infinity pool at the centre of Vivo Resorts. Laurie and Zenith Zazulak have had a drink while visiting with friends and guests at the pool. They’ve dried off, changed and are sitting enjoying the view from their beach-front patio at their four-bedroom single-family home named “Sun Sand Surf.”

The couple from Edmonton and their two now-grown daughters have been frequent visitors to Mexico. But when they stayed at Vivo Resorts, something really clicked with them.

“We loved it because it’s authentic Mexico, it wasn’t busy like Cancun,” says Laurie. “We’ve done a lot in Cancun and the Mayan. (This) was less busy, more authentic and that’s what we liked.”

They put down a deposit on a condo on their first visit, but once they stayed in a villa on a return trip, they decided a single-family home was the way for them to go.

“It’s nice because you have your own private home, your own private pool. You can stay here in your own private area, but you still have access to the whole complex,” says Laurie, a travel agent who can e-commute from anywhere with internet access.

Zenith, who owns a machine shop, adds, “(Laurie) has a bigger family, and we often get together for vacations with friends. We thought it would be better to have the house than the condo with everybody coming down.”

“It’s your own oasis here, you have your own place, yet you have the complex access. We’ve been down here about 10 times — we’ve come all different times of the year,” says Laurie.

THE RESORT

Back at the central infinity pool, a large conch shell has a permanent home on the counter at the swim-up bar.
“That conch you’ve heard blowing is either a whale, a dolphin, or it’s happy hour,” says Mike McQuaid, who handles real estate sales at Vivo Resorts. “Whenever you hear the conch, it’s something significant, like a turtle release. During the season, when you hear that, everyone goes running out (to the beach) because you’ll see whales jumping, dolphins.”

The first six four-storey condo buildings are sold and built, with one more building almost completed on sales. A small community of single-family villas are complete or under construction to the east of the main setting.

Sales now are underway on the first set of eight new pairs of buildings planned to the west of central area. The Marino residences were released for pre-sale in the spring. These two eight-storey buildings are joined by an elevator. They are slender depth-wise, so units will have both oceans views to the front and mountain views to the back. Each of the eight sets of buildings has its own pool fronting the beach. All buildings also have access to the main resort amenities.

The buildings contain one-, two- and three-bedroom units. One bedrooms are from 933 square feet and $319,900 US, two bedrooms are from 1,073 square feet and $409,900 US, and three bedrooms are 1,852 square feet from $554,900 US. Owners can choose to put their unit in the rental program to make income when they are not using it.

Now under construction and with a planned opening for the Christmas holiday season is the Vivo Resorts Clubhouse. It has a huge palapa (an open-air space on top of a building topped with a woven palm roof), indoor/outdoor spa, restaurant, lounge/sports bar, fitness facility, kids club, library and business centre, and conference and events centre.

THE AREA

This part of Mexico is the focus of government investment to increase tourism, both domestic and international.

“The Mexican government has just donated $10 billion to the state of Oaxaca,” says McQuaid. “The biggest city is Oaxaca, 650,000 people. It’s a six and a half hour drive. Mexicans like to come to the ocean, they like to have weddings at the ocean. Within less than 18 months, that road will be two and a half hours. This will be like Whistler to Vancouver now.”

Also a “game changer” for Vivo Resorts is a new direct flight between Los Angeles and Puerto Escondido to bring in visitors via the West Coast. Air Canada and WestJet have seasonal direct flights from Calgary to Huatulco International Airport, a two-hour drive from Vivo Resorts, while AeroMexico recently added a direct flight from Calgary to Mexico City, with transfers to Puerto Escondido airport, about 15 minutes from the resort.

THE ‘FIVE FS’

Cary Mullen says Vivo Resorts exemplifies the “five Fs” of Oaxaca: family, food, faith, fun, fiesta.

“What Oaxaca and the Oaxacan people have taught me is: family is number one here,” he says, starting to count the five elements off on his fingers. “Food — Oaxaca has incredible cuisine. The ingredients here are incredible — fresh caught that day, fresh-picked that day. Faith — the people here are incredibly faith-based and that seems to draw the community together and give a sense of purpose and humility. Fun — we want to have more fun up north, but we don’t quite put that value high enough in the priorities. Here, everyone is happy and laughing and enjoying.
The fifth brings all the other ones together — fiesta. It’s very magical.”

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

DEVELOPMENT: Vivo Resorts

LOCATION: Oaxaca state, Mexico

INFORMATION:vivoresorts.com

Note: The author’s trip was sponsored by Vivo Resorts. Vivo Resorts did not review editorial content prior to publication
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10 Guaranteed Ways To Stay Safe In Mexico fabiolaofmexico in Mexican Facts 3 March, 2016

https://myheartofmexico.wordpress.com/2016/03/03/10-guaranteed-ways-to-stay-safe-in-mexico/#more-1176

Hola, amigos! I’m often asked about how safe it is to visit Mexico. There are so many horror stories on the news, I’m sure many people think visiting Mexico is like jumping into the zombie apocalypse. That is not true at all, but you do have to follow certain guidelines to stay safe when traveling to Mexico.

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One of the biggest myths about Mexico is that the whole country is a violent death trap. I admit it’s true that many gruesome things are going on, but I also advice you to put things into perspective.

Mexico is one of the largest countries in the world. That means that a dangerous situation does not necessarily affect the entire country. There are also many places in Mexico where everything is perfectly safe, calm, and peaceful.

Mexico is one of the world’s largest countries

Visiting Mexico is like visiting any other country. There are places you should visit and places you should avoid. There are things you can do and things you shouldn’t do.

However, you should play it safe. At the risk of angering the Mexican ministry of Tourism and many of my countrymen, I will be completely honest and share with you a few tips to help you stay safe in Mexico. 

10 Guaranteed Ways To Stay Safe In Mexico

1. Don’t go to these dangerous places

You’ve heard on the news that there are violent and dangerous places in Mexico, and I’m sorry to say that this is very true. Fortunately, you don’t need to go to any of those places because all the tourist attractions and resorts are somewhere else.

This map shows you the states you should avoid (in yellow), according to the U.S. State Department. As you can see, most of the country is safe to visit.

In general, avoid the states that border with the USA, including Sonora, Baja California Norte, and also the state of Sinaloa.

Unfortunately, these states are part of trafficking routes and that’s what makes them so dangerous. Yes, there are things to see there, but it’s better not to risk it.

You also shouldn’t go to the states of Guerrero and Michoacan. Although they are not in this travel advisory section, they have recently been rocked by cartel violence and you should stay away from them.

2. Visit these safe and wonderful places

Most of the states in green (except for Sinaloa, Baja California Norte, Michoacan, and Guerrero), and all of the states in blue are perfectly safe to visit.

All of the most popular tourist attractions are in one of these safe zones. Los Cabos and Todos Santos are in Baja California Sur; Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the Maya Riviera are in Quintana Roo; and Puerto Vallarta is in Jalisco.

There are other very attractive and very safe places to visit in Mexico that are not beach resorts: Oaxaca, San Cristobal de las Casas, Merida, Puebla, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Queretaro, and Mexico City are all beautiful and interesting to see.

The picturesque town of Peña de Bernal

Better yet, these cities also offer other awesome little places only a short ride away. Mexico City has the pyramids of Teotihuacan nearby; the ancient ruins of Monte Alban are close to Oaxaca; from the white city of Merida you can catch a tour to the awesome Chichen Itza; the charming town of San Miguel is close to the city of Guanajuato; the picturesque Peña de Bernal is near Queretaro; and beautiful Cholula is right next to Puebla.

Also on the safe and wonderful side are the states of Hidalgo and Tlaxcala. The attraction there is to visit old towns and haciendas to get a taste of life in old Mexico.

Other places you can’t miss are the beach town of Huatulco in Oaxaca, the tropical city of Villahermosa and the Mayan ruins of Palenque in Tabasco, and Mexico’s rainforest version of the Grand Canyon, El Cañon del Sumidero in Chiapas.

There are plenty of peaceful, gorgeous beaches in Mexico

It’s worth noting that I did not mention even half of all the amazing places you can visit safely in Mexico. Sorry about that, but I couldn’t ever finish this post if I tried!

3. Be careful when you visit these other places

There are other famous places in Mexico that are worth a visit, but with certain precautions.

In Guerrero, you can visit the beach resorts of Acapulco, Ixtapa, and Zihuatanejo, as well as the colonial city of Taxco. In Michoacan, the city of Morelia is so gorgeous, even the Pope didn’t miss it. And in Sinaloa, the beach town of Mazatlan is popular with cruise ships and expats.

Even though these places are inside the forbidden zones, you can go there and be safe as long as you don’t wander away from the tourist areas. Also, it’s better to fly there instead of taking a bus or driving.

4. Travel safely

If you want to travel within Mexico, it’s best to fly, sign up for a tour, or take a first-class bus. Driving around is not a  good idea.

I honestly don’t recommend that you rent a car. First of all, roads can be extremely confusing, and you might get hopelessly lost. Also, secondary highways are not safe. You would be better off taking a toll highway, although those are expensive. Finally, Mexican drivers are a bit reckless, so you don’t want to join them on the road. Trust me.

If you insist on driving, make sure you do so only during daylight. Also, try to travel with a local friend who knows his way around since it’s best not to stop and ask for directions.

The pyramids of Teotihuacan near Mexico City

5. Be safe in the city

The Mexican cities I mentioned above are all perfectly safe. Of course, you should observe certain safety guidelines. There might be pickpockets and thieves in crowded places, so don’t flash your cash in public. Use ATMs only in well-lit malls and stores, and don’t walk through dark, empty streets late at night. Also, don’t get so drunk that you are not aware of what you’re doing. Hailing cabs is not a good idea either. It’s best to call a cab service.

As you can see, this is all very common sense. I feel silly even giving you these obvious tips. Then again, you never know. Right?

6. Meeting new people

Most Mexicans are extremely friendly and courteous with foreigners. You’ll probably find that everyone is willing to lend you a helping hand if you need it.

You should know that English is NOT spoken everywhere, so most of the time you’ll have to get by with whatever bits of Spanish you  know. But don’t worry! Even if your Spanish is awful, Mexicans will try their best to figure out what you’re saying.

As always, use your common sense when socializing. Accepting drinks and rides from complete strangers is never a good idea no matter where you are.

There are many lovely and interesting cities in Mexico

7. On blending in or standing out

Some sites recommend that you try to blend in as much as possible and avoid calling unnecessary attention to yourself. I have to say that’s much easier said than done. Everyone here can spot a foreigner from a mile away, so blending in is not really an option. 

However, I do agree that you shouldn’t flash jewelry, cash, or expensive gadgets. That’s just an invitation to get robbed.

To be honest, Mexico is not the only place where you can get robbed. One of my friends got his camera stolen right out of his hands when he was walking through Paris, so this sort of thing can happen anywhere.

8. Exploring the countryside

Mexico has amazing views and many diverse landscapes, so it’s tempting to go on a hiking adventure. You can do that, and it’s perfectly safe as long as you follow basic hiking safety guidelines, such as not going out by yourself.

I do have to warn you against driving on rural roads. You might get lost and cell phone coverage in those areas is non-existent. It’s better to make sure that the hiking tour includes transportation to and from the hotel.

The mesmerizing landscape in Baja

9. Getting crazy

Lots of people think of Mexico as an ideal place to get crazy, specially during spring break. As you can imagine, this goes against all the common sense safety rules I just mentioned.

Local authorities work hard to take good care of tourists so they can have a good time, but that doesn’t mean you should take part in risky situations. Getting into a drunken fight at a seedy joint is never a good idea, for example.

Also, adult entertainment spots are popular with members of the organized criminal gangs and cartel people, so it’s dangerous to go there. Just don’t do it, people.

10. Kidnapping, carjacking and other nightmares

As a tourist, your risk of getting kidnapped in Mexico is practically zero. Sadly, kidnapping for ransom is a real danger for ordinary Mexicans citizens, but not for tourists. Just use your common sense, avoid risky situations, and use ATMs only in stores and malls.

Carjacking is also a problem on Mexican highways, but that mostly happens to people who drive around late at night on lonely roads. It’s also a matter of common sense not to do that, so carjacking shouldn’t be a problem at all.

Finally, there are the random stories of people disappearing and getting butchered somewhere in Mexico. Quite frankly, that will only happen if you insist on wandering around places you’re not supposed to be, such as dangerous states (see map above), seedy joints, dark alleys, and back roads.

Basalt rock formations in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico

10 Guaranteed Ways To Stay Safe In Mexico

1. Don’t visit places where travel is not advised (see map above).
2. Go to places where travel is deemed safe (see map above).
3. If there is a travel advisory, stay in tourist areas.
4. Avoid driving around by yourself. It’s best to fly or take a bus.
5. Travel by road only during daylight, and avoid secondary and rural roads.
6. Use ATMs only in well-lit stores and malls.
7. Don’t flash cash, jewelry or expensive gadgets.
8. Don’t wander around seedy spots and joints.
9. Don’t accept drinks and rides from complete strangers.
10. Don’t get excessively drunk and crazy.

The Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City

The Bottom Line

Visiting Mexico is quite safe if you follow basic, common sense safety rules like the ones I mentioned above. As a matter of fact, you should follow those common sense safety rules no matter what country you’re visiting.

However, it’s sad for me to admit that there are dangerous places in Mexico that you should never set foot on. Honestly, that is a shame. The entire country should be safe and open for all its citizens and tourists.

It’s true several horrible incidents involving tourists have happened- Adam Coleman and Dean Lucas, Harry Devert and Craig Taylor were all tourists who ended up dead. Actually, they were doing exactly the things I just advised you should never do. Nevertheless, I do not blame them. I believe people should be able to come to Mexico and not be in danger at all. Ever.

The bottom line is, if you want to come to Mexico, don’t be afraid to do so. I just shared some very simple, easy ways that guarantee you’ll stay safe and have fun.

My best piece of advice is to come to Mexico and have the best time of your life. Visit a few of the many amazing places I mentioned, have some good food, and enjoy your time here. I promise you’ll want to return, or perhaps you’ll never want to leave!

Have you ever been to Mexico? Do you have any experiences to share? Comment!

How To Make Delicious Mexican Corn on the Cob fabiolaofmexico in Mexican cuisine 6 October, 2017

How To Make Delicious Mexican Corn on the Cob

fabiolaofmexico in Mexican cuisine 6 October, 2017

https://myheartofmexico.wordpress.com/2017/10/06/how-to-make-delicious-mexican-corn-on-the-cob/

The fall is the perfect season is to enjoy corn on the cob, and if you make it Mexican, it’s even better. Here’s the recipe!

Follow my blog and fall in love with Mexico!

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I love the fall, and one of the things I enjoy most about it the food. There’s so much yummy comfort food to savor!

One of my favorite fall recipes is Mexican corn on the cob. This is also known as Mexican street elotes. Yum!

“Elote” is the Mexican word for corn on the cob. When the evening comes, you can find elotes being sold on almost any street corner.

The vendors will take the elote out of a large, steaming pot, and top with anything you want. It’s a delicious treat!

My kids love elotes, but I prefer to make this at home for them. It’s very easy and quick, and it makes for the perfect evening treat!

How to make delicious Mexican corn on the cob

First, get yourself some nice, fresh, tender corn. I usually go to my local mercado.

To check if the corn is fresh, gently squeeze one of the kernels with your fingernail. If a some white, milky liquid comes out, it means the corn is fresh!

I got this corn from some local agronomy students who had just harvested their own corn. They were selling a dozen for $18 pesos ($1 US dollar). Talk about cheap!

Next, remove the leaves and the cornsilk. I chopped off a bit of both ends and the leaves came off very easily.

Don’t worry if you can’t get every single bit of cornsilk off. It’ll slide off when you cook it.

After that, put the corn in a pot with enough water to cover them. You can cook it in a regular pot, but I like to use my pressure cooker. It’s a lot faster that way.

In a regular pot, it will take about an hour for the corn to cooked once it starts boiling. In a pressure cooker, it takes only about half the time.

I added half a cone of piloncillo to the cooking water. Piloncillo is a Mexican kitchen staple. It’s a kind of brown sugar and it’s used to make most Mexican sweets and desserts.

The piloncillo adds a characteristic sweet-but-not-too-sweet flavor to the corn.

If you don’t have any piloncillo, don’t worry. You can add a couple of tablespoons of sugar and that’s it.

Don’t add any salt to the cooking water or the corn won’t come out soft!

Once the corn is done, let it cool a little and then it’s ready for the toppings!

Toppings for delicious Mexican elotes

First, slather it with mayonnaise all over.

Next, sprinkle grated white cotija cheese on it. Don’t use yellow cheese, it doesn’t work.

Then, top with a bit of chili powder or cayenne pepper. Or lime juice if you’re not into spicy stuff.

That’s it! You’re ready to enjoy a delicious Mexican elote.

I have to warn you that you’ll probably smear mayo and cheese all over your face,but that’s all part of the fun!

Elotes are one of my favorite fall treats. What’s yours?

Chiapas, a Mayan paradise