Riviera Maya in Times Square

At the beginning of this month the Riviera Maya was in the heart of the Big Apple, New York.

This amazing destination was advertised in the Times Square “Jumbotron”. This giant screen placed on one side of old New York Times building where it's estimated daily traffic of 1.5 million people. As you know, the Times Square Jumbotron is located in the most important intersection in Manhattan and is the most spectacular “spectacular”.

The neon sign displayed on the wall of The New York Times is one of the more representative 'pictures' of the Big Apple. It’s here where thousands of tourists take the classic souvenir photo. The Riviera Maya transmitted 25 spots a day and more than 100 times in a week, on a schedule from 9 am to one o'clock.

Times Square is a space known by its ongoing business and huge digital advertising, which are also common in the Red Square in Moscow, Russia; Trafalgar Square London, England, and the Tiananmen Square in Beijing China.

The Mayan number system

Their base-20 system included a zero, making it possible to carry out long counts and complex calculations.

The first findings or writings about the Mayan number system date back to the fourth century A.D. Evidence shows that the Mayan culture of Yucatan and Central America were extremely advanced not only in mathematics, but were believed to be geniuses when it came to time and calendars, astronomy, architecture, and commerce. It is believed that the Mayan culture was obsessed by time and numbers which studies have concluded based on drawings found on historical monuments. The Mayans were a thousand years in advance to Europe when it came to mathematics.

The Mayans used a vigesimal (base twenty) system of numeration with positional notation instead of the base ten decimal system used in today's standards. The Mayans used a system of dots and bars for counting. A dot (pebble) stood for one and a bar (stick or rod) stood for five. Depending on what level in the column the dots and lines were in would determine how many times it would need to be multiplied by twenty to give the right number. The Mayans wrote their numbers vertically instead of horizontally with the lowest denominations at the bottom, increasing as we move to the top.

The Mayans were the first to conceive a systematic use of a symbol for zero in the place-value system. They used this symbol long before others in different latitudes and more than a millennium before the concept ever arrived in Europe. The Mayan zero symbol was used to indicate the absence of any units of the various orders of the modified base-twenty system. This avoids confusing one place with another. Today we take for granted the existence of a symbol for zero but at the time this was certainly ingenious for the concept of zero to be understood. This concept happened only two or three times in the entire history of humanity!

The great advantage of the positional system is that you need only a limited number of symbols (the Mayans only had two, plus their symbol for zero) and you can represent any whole number, however big.

Mexico Celebrates 200 Years of Independence

It’s the year of the bicentennial and an exciting time to be in Mexico!

In 2010 Mexico celebrates the 200th anniversary of its independence from Spain and the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution.

Mexico has been preparing for the occasion for quite some time now, mapping out tourist routes throughout the interior of the country, improving infrastructure and roadways, hosting a variety of cultural events and exhibitions, renovating Plaza Garibaldi and constructing a new metro line in Mexico City.

With just under few days remaining until the Independence Day holiday, cities and towns across the country are preparing for extravagant celebrations and fiestas to honor the big day. Of course the Riviera Maya won’t be the exception.

Independence Day in Mexico is celebrated each year on September 16th, however many of the events to mark the occasion take place a day earlier on September 15th. This year there a variety of events planned including concerts, performances, aerial choreographies, parades and fireworks displays.

The highlight of the Independence Day celebrations – the delivery of “el grito” or cry of Independence by Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City - takes place on the evening of September 15th at 11:00pm. It’s the culminating moment of the festivities and recreates the moment when Father Hidalgo gathered his followers in Dolores Guanajuato marking the beginning of the Independence War back in 1810.

During the ceremony the crowds join in shouting the names of the heroes of Mexican Independence and ending with emotional cries of Viva Mexico! After the ceremony dramatic fireworks displays light up the sky.

Next day, in Mexico City, the bell placed atop the National Palace – said to be the original bell rung by Hidalgo – is rung and a military parade makes its way through the streets of the historic center.

The celebrations continue throughout the month of September, known across the country as the “Mes de la Patria” (Month of the Nation), and again in mid-November when Mexico celebrates the centennial of its Revolution on November 20th.

Happy 200th anniversary and ¡Viva Mexico!

Why doesn't the sand burn my feet?

The sand in the Mexican Caribbean is made from finely ground particles of coral and cal-careous algae (a type of seaweed). The most common calcareous algae found in our sand are known as Halimeda. There are many varieties of calcareous algae, but Halimeda is easy to recognize.


This small green plant is approximately 8” – 12” long when alive, and is frequently seen floating on the surface or washed up on the shore. There are numerous small bead -like segments con-nected together which sometimes gives the appearance of a necklace. Halimeda was given the common name “Sea Garland” back in 1640 by Parkinson. As the Sea Garland dies and changes colors, the small segments gradually turn white, fragment, and disburse as powder between the grains of sand. In this way, as much as 30% of the sand’s composition becomes a fine white organic powder, compliments of Halimeda.

Over hundreds of thousands of years, the corals and the Halimeda have laid down their lives to gradually build our famous beaches.

The result is the fine white powdered sand that we so much enjoy today. As you walk on the beaches at Sereno, you will notice that the sand never gets hot, even under the midday summer sun. Say thanks to Halimeda, which does not absorb the heat. Have fun on our beaches!

Riviera Maya Activities, September 2010

4th - Jazz Concert - Tulum  Eddie Palmieri & Araya Orta Latin Jazz Quartet

1st. to 12th -Fashion Experience Tour 2010 - Playa del Carmen

Mexican and international designers

 

4th & 5th - Expo Get Married - Cancun

Seeking the perfect beach location for your wedding? Meet with local wedding vendors from Cancun and Riviera Maya. Get guided tours of the most gorgeous hotels and wedding venues. Experience the romance, sand and sun Caribbean Mexico is known for.

5, 12, 19, 26 - John Gray's Family Day -Playa del Carmen

Enjoy your Sunday while your little ones are occupied with stimulating and creative art workshops.

8, 9, 10 - Latin America Food Show -Cancun

This is the largest food and beverage exhibition in Latin America.

16 - Mexico’s Bicentennial Celebration

Mexico is getting ready for an extraordinary celebration in honor of its 200th anniversary of its Independence and 100th anniversary of its Revolution. Everything designed to commemorate these two great dates is linked to the ideal of renewing Mexico’s identity and historic continuity.

20 to 25 - 1st Mexican Wine Festival -Playa del Carmen

Training, tastings and cultural events around the Mexican wine.

22 - Autumn Equinox - Chichen Itza

This afternoon sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the El Castillo pyramid's main stairway causing seven isosceles triangles to form and create a shadow that imitates the body of a serpent.

26 - Golf PARa Todos - Mayakoba, Playa del Carmen

(Golf for everyone) Aims to create a fun-filled, diverse and educational program that teaches about the game of golf and its ideals.

The whole month - Fishing Season

Dorado/Very good (July to September)

Barracuda, Wahoo, Tuna and Reef Fish (all year)

Last 15 days of Whale Shark Season - Holbox Island

(May 15th. to Sep 15th.)