Cancun Mexico

CANCUN Fashion Show 2009 – ‘ME-SKYY VODCA 2009’ 24th of February to 1st of March

2009-02-25T07:01:00.000-08:00

Those who are planning to stay in a Mexico Cancun hotels soon,, will have the opportunity to witness "Cancun Fashion Week” 'Skyy VODCA ME-2009' which takes place from February 24 to March 1st 2009 for the fourth consecutive year in this tourist destination, at the prestigious hotel Me Cancun as the hosting hotel and Skyy Vodka as the official sponsor of the event.

The event will include the presence of well known designers from different countries, such as; Pablo Ramirez from Argentina, Jorge Diep and Marisol Henriquez from Dominican Republic, Daniel Thorny from Mexico and Carmen Steffens, the prestigious Brazilian name brand for bags and shoes.

The week will begin with the anniversary of Grill 14 restaurant, and will continue with a fashion show in the ME Cancun "ME Fashion Show 2009", where the designers will present their most recent collections, while Skyy Vodka will be serving exclusive special cocktails to celebrate and enjoy the luxurious event.
That same night, ME Cancun and Skyy Vodka will offer an After Party in ‘Rose Bar’, one of several bars of well known brothers Rande & Scott Gerber considered by many icons of the world fashion.
During this event, Daniel Thorny, a well recognized Mexican jewelry designer, will present his new collection "Mandrake", based on black and golden color shades with a strong Art Deco tendency.

At the same time, Pablo Ramirez, famous for the exclusive use of black, strong lines and absolute elegance, will show his new luxurious swim suit collection, his elegant collection of ‘prêt a porter’, and his glamorous cocktail dresses and gala gowns.

The Dominican designer, Jorge Diep will present his collection of high fashion "Spectacular’’, which is the very same collection he recently presented during the Couture Fashion Week 2009 in New York.

Marisol Henriquez, will show her collection "Entrelezado Magical", and Carmen Steffens will be presenting her winter collection characterized for its very modern look, use of platforms, colorful, black & grey line, animal prints, and her reptile and snake lines.

By: Michael Christodoulou

Creating a modern home that is classic and timeless

2009-02-10T10:49:00.001-08:00

If you casually stroll through most furniture stores these days, you’ll notice a variety of fabrics and styles that are currently in vogue. Manufacturers and retailers are quick to seize upon major design trends in the hope of increasing sales.

Unfortunately, many of these styles quickly end up looking dated. The colors of the fabric may go out of style, overly styled furnishings may not age gracefully and cushions and springs begin to sag from continual wear and tear.

Before you know it, the furniture ends up in a thrift store or second hand shop, waiting for some passerby to take pity on it.

If you’ve ever walked through the aisles of these used furniture shops, you’ll quickly notice that modern furniture can rarely be found. If you happen upon a piece, rest assured you have a rare treasure.

The reason modern furniture is tough to find on the second hand market is because it is both classic and timeless. It never goes out of style. Combined with its superior construction, intelligent design and use of top quality materials, modern furniture transcends fads in fashion.

When selecting modern furniture for your home, you want to adhere to the creed of Modernism: “Form follows function.” In other words, comfort is key in any design. Any piece of modern furniture must be first comfortable, then fashionable.

Comfort is rarely the main focus of other styles of furniture that you’ll find in some furniture stores. If you’ve ever sat in an overstuffed couch, for example, you’ll soon find that you can rarely sit back fully and still have your feet touch the floor. That’s because the look of the sofa is more important than its comfort.

That’s not to say that modern furniture isn’t attractive. Hardly! Some of the most enduring and classic designs in the furniture world were created by the legends of furniture design: Eileen Gray, Charles and Ray Eames, Ludwig Mies Van De Rohe, and Le Corbusier. Many of their visionary works are just as popular today as they were when they were first introduced. A design that came on the scene 70 or even 100 years ago still looks fresh today.

Like great art, modern furniture only increases in value, at least from an aesthetic standpoint. Over the years, it becomes an integral part of the home, a focal point of beauty, harmony and tranquility. But it never becomes boring. Like a classic work of art by Picasso or Monet, you always see something new in your modern furniture. It intrigues the eye and challenges the mind.

Perhaps that’s why modern furniture continues to be so popular. It is a trendsetter without being trendy. It is classic, yet fresh and contemporary. And most of all, it is true to its roots – that form (design) follows function (comfort). It’s a pity that many manufacturers can’t seem to remember this basic tenet of furniture design.

Creating a modern home that is classic and timeless

2009-02-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

Diving in Cozumel: Another Great Surprise

2009-01-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

One more surprise is waiting for the beautiful island of the Mayan Riviera visitors in addition to its clear and blue water: The standing invitation to dive from 30 'to 120' 100 '+ visibility during the day in the warm waters of the amazing Palancar Reef, Santa Rosa and El Cedral. In your Cozumel Tours, diving activities, you will enjoy of the admirables extensions of coral and interact with the multicolor marine life that some time was registered in a documentary filmed by the French naturalist Jacques Cousteau. There are hundreds of species that live in these beautiful waters, mostly protected by Reef National Marine Park which will give you the privilege of finding fascinating scenarios for diving. No matter your level of immersion experience because a professional there will always be willing to give diving guidance, equipment, classes and more. Like Mexico City, Cancun, or Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel also has a big surprise for you.

By Jorge Quintero

COBA ¨Water stirred by wind¨

2009-01-02T07:27:00.000-08:00

Among the long list of the Ancient treasures found in Mexico and especially the peninsula of Yucatan (many of which are quite well known worldwide and visited during a trip to Cancun or the Riviera Maya) there is on in particular that draws a great deal of attention. Deep in the mysteriously quiet jungle and after a few minutes of bicycling and walking a breathtaking ancient city appears. The Mayan ruins at Coba are unique in that they have been barely restored and merely cleared. Only a few of its estimated 6,500 structures have been uncovered, but the ones that have been, are truly graceful and impressive.

On these quiet and peaceful grounds it’s hard to imagine that Coba may have once had the largest population of all the ancient Mayan cities. This vast Mayan archeological site dates from 600-900 A.D. and it is believed there were an estimated 100,000 people living in its domain. It is supposed to have been the heart of a large metropolis composed of many cities within the eastern Yucatan.

Much can be learned about the ancient Maya in the architecture of Coba's pyramids and buildings situated on the shores of several lakes. As many as fifty sacbes (ancient roads) led into this huge Mayan city center, one of them over 62 miles long -- the longest in the Mayan world. Today few people live in Coba, leaving one to wonder how such a great city fell into complete decline.

The steepness of the Nohoc Mul pyramid (the tallest in the Yucatan at over 126 feet) and the building techniques employed here are characteristic of the Petan region of Guatemala. There are stories that indicate a ruling queen here married a priest from Tikal, which has the tallest Mayan pyramid. This may be why the architecture of the two sites is similar.

Climbing the 120 stairs to the top of the Grand Pyramid at Coba is well worth the effort. Standing here one can see over the jungle canopy for miles, unexcavated temple mounds peeking above the trees.

The small temple building which crowns the pyramid has two small carvings that are known as a ¨diving god¨ over the door. There are many theories about the meaning of these curious carvings, which are also found in Tulum. They have also been called ¨the bee god¨ or ¨the god descending¨ and have been associated with the planet Venus.

On an early morning walk through these extensive ruins in the jungle, one can see numerous species of birds, butterflies and animals, even the occasional spider monkey. Large ceiba trees intertwine with ancient stonework. The sounds of the jungle create an entertaining symphony. We definitely recommend that during your next Trip to Cancun and Riviera Maya you make sure to visit and explore this beautiful natural setting of Coba.

There are a few excursions carefully designed that include this mysterious archeological sight bringing you not only the information, but also the unique opportunity to experience cohabit, and have lunch with the descendents of this amazing culture.

Location: State of Quintana Roo,
145 Km (90.3 miles) and approximately 3 hrs from Cancun, 122 Km (76 miles) and approximately 2hr 40 minutes from Playa del Carmen

By: Michael Christodoulou

CHICHEN-ITZÁ "Mouth of the well of the Itzá"

2008-12-30T10:49:00.000-08:00

The sacred city of the Itza, called Chichen-Itza (chee-chehn eet-sah) in Maya, is located 75 miles east of Merida, the Capital of the State of Yucatan, Mexico. This archaeological site is rated among the most important of the Maya culture and covers an area of approximately six square miles where hundreds of buildings once stood. Now most are impressive ruins, but about thirty of them still display the former glory and architecture of the Mayan civilization.

The ruins are divided into two groups. One group belongs to the classic Maya Period and was built between the 7th and 10th centuries A.D., at which time the city became a prominent ceremonial center. The other group corresponds to the Maya-Toltec Period, from the later part of the 10th century to the beginning of the 13th century A.D. This area includes the Sacred Well and most of the outstanding ruins. When Chichen-Itza was first settled it was largely agricultural. Because of the many cenotes in the area, it would have been a good place to settle. During the Central Phase of the Classic Period, referred to as Florescence, (625 -800 A.D.) arts and sciences flourished here. It was at this time that Chichen-Itza became a religious center of increasing importance, evidenced by the buildings erected: the Red House, the House of the Deer, the Nunnery and its Annex, the Church, the Akab Dzib, the Temple of the Three Lintels and the House of Phalli.

Possibly the best known construction on the site is Kukulcan's Pyramid. El Castillo (Kukulkan-Quetzalcoatl), a square-based, stepped pyramid that is approximately 75 feet tall. This pyramid was built for astronomical purposes and during the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 21) at about 3 P.M. the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway. This causes seven isosceles triangles to form imitating the body of a serpent 37 yards long that creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. Mexican researcher Luis El Arochi calls it "the symbolic descent of Kukulcan" (the feathered serpent), and believes it could have been connected with agricultural rituals.

Chichen Itza, is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites and is the second-most visited of Mexico's archaeological sites. The archaeological site draws many visitors from the popular tourist resort of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya en general, who make a day trip on tourist buses.
In 2007, Chichen Itza's El Castillo was named one of the NEW SEVEN WORDERS OF THE WORLD after a worldwide vote. It is definitely one of the tours in Mexico you can not miss during your next trip to Cancun or the Riviera Maya.

Location: State of Yucatan,
217 Km (135 miles) and approximately 2hr 20 minutes from Cancun.
251 Km (156 miles) and approximately 2hr 40 minutes from Playa Del Carmen

By: Michael Christodoulou