Loco Gringo Mexico

Today's guests gave up the 9 to 5, rat race, traffic-filled New York City life to discover what makes them joyful. Known socially as the Joy Chasers, Naima and Aaron Petz find living a mindful, minimalist lifestyle better for them and their three children. The adventurous family came to Tulum six months ago based on their daughter's request to see the beauty of the jungle. They share insights into their nomadic philosophies and their thoughts about Mexico and what it is like to travel together as a family.   Aaron and Naima downsized their lives to seek out new cultures and experiences. When the children arrived they saw no reason to discontinue their search. They use world curriculum mixed with homeschool groups and courses to enhance their children's knowledge base and if the children have an environment they wish to see the Petz's can bring life to the wish.   Aaron & Naima's Favorite Things About Tulum:     It's safe — their kids can go biking and exploring by themselves which cre

Today's guest, Kristie Orozco made the decision to travel to an international destination every year of her thirties. During her first trip to Mexico, she landed in Tulum where she found love in the magical forces that envelop the area. She left Atlanta and her career in audiology to follow her creative passion and started her own design business in Tulum.   Living a slower-paced lifestyle was an adjustment for Kristie. She credits the Ladies who Lunch/Chicas who Chat women's group with giving her a sense of community while she was getting her new life and design business off the ground.  The women's group connects monthly for lunch at a locally-owned restaurant. They offer empowerment, support, and sisterhood to each member.   Kristie's House of Athyr Design House creates interior, exterior, and floral arrangements in the Tulum and surrounding areas.   Kristie's Favorite Places and Must Sees:   Tulum Beach — For a magical, healing beach walk. Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve — The flor

Today's guest, Andrea Gallo is originally from New York City. When she needed a break from the high-pressure, fast-moving world of fashion designing, Andrea took her first trip to Tulum. Her visits became more frequent and her stays became longer and longer until she eventually made a permanent move.   Without a plan on what would sustain her, she started teaching yoga at local resorts.  When her creative side begged to be part of her life again, she began creating Malas, or meditation beads and offering them to her yoga clients.  She now facilitates Mala Making Workshops for tourists who want to tap their creative energy while on vacation.   Andrea's workshops help fund her Raza Mestiza Pet Project, a foundation she created to find homes in the U.S. and Canada for dogs in need. If you are visiting the area and want to help a dog start a new life or donate to a good cause, contact Andrea.   Andrea's Favorite Places and Must Sees:   Tulum Beach — For a magical, healing beach wal

Today's guest, Miguel Amar only stopped in Cancun to meet a friend before heading to Cuba fifteen years ago. And, like many people who visit the Riviera Maya, he fell in love with the culture, history, and nature of the area and never left. He currently lives in Tulum and facilitates sustainable tourism activities through the company, Mexico Kan Tours.     He and his business partners have a mission to promote conservation through tourism by allowing visitors to travel with intention. Their specially designed activities enrich, inspire and entertain those who want to experience the natural and archaeological wonders of the area.   Tours include boat trips through the Sian Ka'an Biosphere - A Unesco World Heritage Site, lunch with a local Mayan family to learn about the history and culture of the Mayan people and authentic, flavorful Yucatecan meals.  The organization also has a kitesurfing school, birding tours, and private cenote excursions.   Miguel's 'Picks' — Unique tours visitors

When this week's guest, Tony Schaefer, and his wife bought their home in Puerto Aventuras in the early 2000's, he had never heard of paddleboarding. While sitting on the beach one day, Tony saw what appeared to be someone walking on the water. It was a paddleboarder. He says it was love at first sight. He has been passionate about the sport ever since.   He ordered a couple of paddleboards and quickly found a friend who shared his enthusiasm for the serene, zen-like feeling that came from being on top of the ocean. When his paddle boarding companion, Tony Johnson was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer, Tony was devastated.   In honor of his friend's voracity to find a cure for his illness, Tony is creating a paddleboarding event to help raise $500,000 for cancer research for the Tony Johnson Memorial at University of Calgary. The event is gaining support from paddleboarders from Calgary, the U.S., and the local Riviera Maya paddleboarding community.  If you are interested in comi

The energy of Tulum called out to this week's guest, Kelli Reese.  She had been feeling vibrationally out of alignment in her marriage and 17-year career in Northern California. During a visit to Tulum, Kelli felt the energetic pull of Tulum and the surrounding area. She knew she must take whatever actions necessary to follow her destiny and move to the Riviera Maya.   When Kelli's soul profile in her Akashic Records confirmed her path, she quit her job and followed her heart to Tulum. Kelli currently uses her ability to read a person's soul history Akashic Records to guide others to their destiny in her Life Coach practice and in her new book, The Destiny Road Map: The Little Guidebook to Face Your Fears, Embrace Change and Follow Your Heart. She also offers online readings.   She says she has reconnected to her true self in Tulum and when she needs to find peace away from the frequent construction dust in the area she heads to The Coba Ruins, she visits with a local Shaman for a Mayan cleansi

My guest this week lives in the jungle of Tulum. Suzan Crane has a colorful career and travel history. She ran a famous punk club in New York, she was a PR Executive and toured with well-known musicians. After over 25 years in the business, the universe pushed her in a different direction.   At 47, Suzan sold everything she owned and for 14 years she backpacked to places all over the globe doing whatever was necessary to stay afloat monetarily. She turned her hobby of jewelry making into a source of income and found work as a freelance travel writer. When she felt it was time to put down roots she bought an out of the way place in Tulum.   She created the Ladies who Lunch/Chicas who Chat Sisterhood for women of all ages who live full or part-time in the Riviera Maya. The mission of the group is to make a positive impact in the area.   With photographer Sofia Hernandez she Founded an all-female interactive artisan market. The second annual market will be held on March 11, 2018, at Alumbra on the

My guest this week has lived near the beach in Mexico for most of his life. Alejandro (Alex) Espejo is a recent addition to the Loco Gringo team. His passion for wine and nightlife is what brings him to the podcast today.   Shortly after attending University in Mexico City, Alex and his friends opened the first organic food store in Cancun. When one of his partners wanted to go back to Mexico City, Alex to Akumal. He got a job at a resort hotel and spent most of his time under the water, near Cozumel, diving. His instructor is one of the best-known cavern divers in the world.   In addition to diving, Alex loves gastronomical pleasures. He visits the new restaurants that open in Tulum and Playa.   Restaurants Alex enjoys are:   In Tulum:   Uno — An organic, vegan wonderland of Japanese noodles. Arca  — Voted one of the best new restaurants in Forbes magazine. Beso  —  Great atmosphere and great food. Kitchen Table — Everyone loves the food here.   In Playa del Carme

My guest this week is an artist whose passion for a more tranquil life brought him to Playa del Carmen. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gastón Charó made the decision to move away from the traffic and pollution of the city to languish in the natural places and multicultural environment of the Riviera Maya.   Eighteen years ago, he realized there weren't many places for people to enjoy art. He reached out to local hotels and after a few months of waiting he finally had his first successful exhibit that lasted for sixteen years. He was gaining feedback from people who came from all over the globe. He used this insight as a catalyst to open his own gallery which displays his work as well as the work of other artists he respects. His gallery includes sculptures, lighting, and gardens all designed by artists with the intention of relaxing people who visit.   Gastón is searching to find a balance between his art and his business. He happily admits that his artist side always wins. It's not easy t

My guest this week is a transplant from Scotland. Marieke Brown came to the Riviera Maya to dive the incredible caves and explore the second-largest reef in the world. She planned to continue her travels throughout Central America but something about Akumal drew her in.   In her 13 years in the area, Marieke has seen the coast change quite a bit. The amount of people has increased as well as the diversity of educational options. Her two young boys attend an affordable, international, bilingual school and they are getting a fantastic education.   As a licensed real estate agent and a mom, Marieke appreciates the cultural diversity, the modern healthcare, and all the family-oriented things to do that are close to home. Her expertise in the local real estate scene has even made her a 3- (soon to be 4-) time TV celebrity on HGTV house hunter shows. She enjoys helping people find their dream homes in one of the most beautiful, safest, travel destinations in the world.   Marieke's Best of the Coast T

My guest this week is someone who we, here at Loco Gringo, consider family. Scott Brown has been in the Akumal area since he was seven. He moved with his mother and sisters to be with their grandparents at the Akumal Dive Shop, which they started a few years before.   The Yucatan was a much different place 32 years ago. Scott remembers a childhood filled with snorkeling, diving, and exploring a shipwreck for treasures. His family made weekly trips to Cancun to visit the post office and for groceries.   Even though Scott went back to Texas for high school, Akumal always felt like home to him. He is now raising his own family in the Riviera Maya, a place where he feels a sense of community and feels safe. Through his photography, he has captured the breathtaking beauty of the people and the area.   Scott recommends visiting the less visited Mayan ruins such as Xcalak in Costa Maya and Puuc Route in Merida. Taking a day trip is easy on the fast road from Playa del Carmen to Merida.  And, ju

This weeks throwback favorite from 2017 is.....Episode 056 with Cristobal Tamariz. 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 parts of the world before his love of his culture, his food, and his family, drew him back to Mexico.   Cristobal's Secret Places: ● Puerto Morelos Square — The Best Churros Ever! ● Rincón de Archon — Puerto Morelos — Take a Food Tour. ● Bacalar — The Lagoon Has Seven Different Colors of Blue.   Thank you to Buy Playa for sponsoring this episode. They are buyer's ag

This favourite from the past year was aired on episode 33. 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 over and over even though they didn't have it in their budget. They would sleep on the beach in a tent, and buy a loaf of bread with some butter, and rough it for a couple of weeks.    They knew they had to share the information they were collecting with others. This is when they started their map projects. In the early days, they would pay someone to show

On today's favourite throwback, we take a listen back to episode 060 with Amber Pierce. 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 in Mexico, she decided to become a real estate agent and opened an office. Then in 2006, when a certification became available, Amber became federally certified to sell real estate.   Amber's children are bilingual, and have gone to top-notch private schools which are affordable. She says they wouldn't have had the same opportunities in the U.S., and feels there

As the end of 2017 closes in, we have decided to choose some of our favourite shows from this year. Hope you enjoy!    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 has chosen it as one of his favorite places in the world and calls it the heartbeat of the country. Craig takes an annual trip to his favorite place, with a group tour he facilitates, called Stay AdvenTours Mexico City. He tries to catch the Michoacán Monarch Migration, which he calls the most a

My guest this week is a New Yorker who makes Chicago-style pizza in Playa del Carmen. Russell Granger's story of finding himself in the Riviera Maya isn't as romantic as some of my past guests. After a long-distance attempt to run a tourist hotel and restaurant with partners didn't pan out, Russell decided to give the venture 100% of his attention and moved to Mexico.  Russell's story took a romantic turn only after he fully committed himself to Playa del Carmen. At 50, Russell quit drinking, stumbled upon a new restaurant to open, practices daily meditation, and found a great gal. When he is not taking care of business at his restaurant, Don Chendo's, he helps organize community projects and non-profits. By reaching out to the tourist and expat community, he collected 300,000 low dose aspirin for local children with heart issues using his restaurant as a donation center. Russell's advice for an authentic Mexican experience, take a minute and listen to how gentle people are when they talk to each other,

My guest this week is a New York Times award-winning journalist, former Director of Communications for a presidential candidate, a contributor to the Loco Gringo blog and a complete and utter Foodie. Kerra Bolton left North Carolina after she said goodbye to her lover, her mother and her high-powered career. Does she miss it? No, and yes. Kerra says the Riviera Maya is her home now but visits the U.S. every three months because she just can't seem to quit it.   When Kerra's transition to living in Mexico wasn't all sunsets and rainbows she felt lucky to have a community of expats to lean on when she needed help. Her new circle of friends helped her deal with all the things that were not easy to navigate, especially when they were in Spanish. Another community Kerra has embraced are the creatives at the Akumal International Artist Residency. She had a photography show at the residency and promotes the idea of a more active artist community in the area.   Kerra is a self-proclaimed foodie. Her love of

Ellen de Jonge and her friend needed a break from the hustle and bustle of city life in Amsterdam. They decided they would take a year-long break to Mexico and boarded a plane without knowing exactly where they were going. During the flight, they used a Lonely Planet guide to help them decide where to go. They made it to Isla Mujeres in the Caribbean and enjoyed life so much they decided to stay.   Ellen has lived in Playa del Carmen for the past 17 years. To make ends meet she has tended bar, set up a fitness group, had her own yoga studio and now leads yoga and meditation classes and trains yoga instructors. Her favorite style of yoga is wise progression where beautiful postures are integrated with meditation for healing purposes.   Ellen is a vegetarian. She recommends the following restaurants:   Eazy to Go on Avenida 10 for handmade pasta noodles mixed with fresh veggies. Ah, Cacao for great coffee with great service. Ciao Ciao Cafe for oven- fired pizza.Ellen will be facilitating a Yoga

Before moving to the Riviera Maya, Kai Kirk lived in Texas with his wife. Both were putting in long hours for ungrateful companies. When they decided it was time to have children, they knew their existing lifestyle wouldn't do. Kai says the decision to move to Akumal in the Riviera Maya changed their lives for the better.   Now with two children, Kai says he is surprised by the number of low-cost, high-quality private schools there are near Playa del Carmen and Akumal. There are both Waldorf and Montessori schools who accept all nationalities. The classes are taught 50% in English and 50% in Spanish, which has made his young son completely bilingual.   The move was made easier by the fact that Kai is familiar with the Akumal area. His family owned a condo in Akumal when he was young. His mother was an avid cave diver who appreciated the underground rivers in the cenotes.   Kai and his wife have had very few challenges moving to and living in Mexico. Kai recalls one challenge when obtaining a bi

You may have seen my guest today on cooking shows such as Beat Bobby Flay, The Taste, TLC Discovery or from her online syndicated cooking show, Chef Dimeo. She has also been written up in the New York Times, NY Magazine, the LA Times and more. Chef Diane Dimeo is on the show with me today because she is also the heart and soul behind the Tulum Food, Spirits & Wine Festival which starts November 9th, 2017. Diane came to the Riviera Maya area to visit a friend who was living in Playa del Carmen. After returning to the Big Apple, Diane found herself at a crossroads. She thought "I can sit here in New York and struggle or I can say screw it and live comfortably in Playa del Carmen." She came soul-searching and eventually found herself in the magical town of Tulum. While in Mexico City, Diane saw a different side of Mexico. After experiencing the fresh seafood, handmade salami, and other artisanal delights, she set out to let other people know Mexico was more than the traditional 'spring-break' destination. Sh