Mundo Maya Classics in Cancun, Mexico

Written by Edwin Ali


Continued from page 1

Straw roofs are not a Mayan invention, as they originated in Africa from where they spread to five continents. In Yucatan, this form of covering was made withrepparttar best native materials. First of these isrepparttar 133636 chicle tree, zapote by its local name. Its latex once served as a base for chewing gum (today, 99 percent of chewing gum comes from petroleum products), and was extracted through deep incisions made in its trunk.

Zapote is a reddish color, amongrepparttar 133637 hardest woods known, impervious to heat or humidity, and flexible. These qualities make it especially useful for adapting to ornate designs. The second element of construction is wild grass, it grows in abundance throughoutrepparttar 133638 peninsula, reaching heights of one meter. Although not widely used, xit palms are another popular roofing material.

Building a palapa is an art, although primitive, and requires much practice and creative ability to masterrepparttar 133639 technique. Palapa builders as generous artisans have revealed many of their secrets. The building process begins withrepparttar 133640 cutting of wood, a significant cosmic act since it is determined by lunar phases. Trees may only be cut on nine of every 28 days, during seven days ofrepparttar 133641 full moon and two more. Theory has it that just like ocean tides,repparttar 133642 sap of trees rises duringrepparttar 133643 full moon and their trunks reach saturation whenrepparttar 133644 cycle is at its fullest. After timbering, whenrepparttar 133645 sap dries, it will provide a natural repellant against boring insects.

Grass must be torn fromrepparttar 133646 ground manually with its roots intact, then left to dry several days inrepparttar 133647 sun. It must be combed just before it becomes brittle. This is done by laying it on a bed of upright nails and gently pulling it through in one horizontal motion. Bundles are then woven together into plaques and laid ontorepparttar 133648 framework.

Inrepparttar 133649 case of xit palms, these are cut then broken where main stem and leaf meet. The remaining fronds are separated into three sections and inserted in a horizontal pole that keeps them together.

Assembling a palapa is a delicate process, full ofrepparttar 133650 unexpected. Onrepparttar 133651 coast they must be built in accordance with prevailing winds. Builders must determinerepparttar 133652 structure's weight, which in turn determinesrepparttar 133653 size of support beams, then they must calculate a sloping angle forrepparttar 133654 roof (generally 45 degrees.).

That angle is crucial. It allows rainwater to quickly drain away before it can penetraterepparttar 133655 roof material and lead to rotting. The steeperrepparttar 133656 slope,repparttar 133657 more durable a roof will be. This formula has one drawback however, as higher means costlier, and as a result there is a compromise onrepparttar 133658 45 degrees.

The Maya used palapas to cover homes and temples built for many purposes. Today's examples include restaurants and many businesses. Cancun is filled with monumental palapas. Almost every hotel has one around its pool areas. They link modern Cancun with a remote past.

Quintana Roo, one ofrepparttar 133659 most recently established states in Mexico, has a population of 880,000. Most ofrepparttar 133660 inhabitants live in Cancun, Chetumal, (the state capital), Playa del Carmen, Isla Mujeres, and San Miguel Cozumel.

One ofrepparttar 133661 most attractive ceremonies still being carried out is the

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/Mexico02/cancun/mayans/mayans.html

Edwi Ali, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com



Edwin Ali, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave Your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.


The Royal Pavilion and Glitter Bay on Barbados’ Platinum Coast

Written by Kriss Hammond


Continued from page 1

Set on eleven acres with a half mile of platinum beach (the area is also calledrepparttar Platinum Coast),repparttar 133635 royal pink façade comforts guests in 72 oceanfront, deluxe rooms, and one three-bedroom private villa.

All Royal Pavilion accommodations come with a king-sized bed. I must say, without management provocation, thatrepparttar 133636 spacious dream zone came with plump body pillows and it wasrepparttar 133637 most comfortable night I ever had. There was an electronic mosquito zapper that I didn't need inrepparttar 133638 dry season;repparttar 133639 pests were non-existant.

The room's private lanai has an overhang to keep out some of that glittering light that can be overpowering, but you won't missrepparttar 133640 Jimmy Buffet moment sunsets asrepparttar 133641 golden orb peels quietly intorepparttar 133642 Caribbean. The shrubs aroundrepparttar 133643 lanai keeprepparttar 133644 room private and intimate. I foundrepparttar 133645 padded beach loungers just a hop over a small wall. Each chair was a library of discarded European magazines, which I read with delight duringrepparttar 133646 lazy days, especiallyrepparttar 133647 James Bond cartoons! Barbados is still very much British influenced, even thoughrepparttar 133648 Fairmont is a Canadian hotel chain. A New York Times Digest was also slipped quietly under my door daily byrepparttar 133649 colonists!

Even thoughrepparttar 133650 Royal Pavilion and The Glitter Bay Fairmont serve some ofrepparttar 133651 best Bajan and international cuisine,repparttar 133652 twice daily maid service keptrepparttar 133653 mini fridge stocked so you could get in more swimming and beach time.

The Glitter Bay Hotel is not set beach front likerepparttar 133654 Royal Pavilion, and I was puzzled that my room has plush and barefoot pleasing carpets, while Glitter Bay has cool terra cotta tiles. The maid must fume when vacuuming outrepparttar 133655 sand. The tropical fabrics, rattan furniture, and cool, coral painted walls gives my hideout a colonial feeling.

The 63 rooms of white stucco and Spanish-tiled Moorish/Andalusian themed Glitter Bay Fairmont was originally built on 19 acres as Cunard's private manse. There is a combination of deluxe rooms, one and two bedroom suites, two and three bedroom penthouses, andrepparttar 133656 five superb oceanfront suites inrepparttar 133657 Beach House.

The Great House was renovated and now housesrepparttar 133658 breezy reception area and concierge. One set of tennis courts is behindrepparttar 133659 mansion and another is nearrepparttar 133660 Royal Pavilion.

Both properties have A/C and 24 hour room service, king beds, with twins and rollaways available on request. Glitter Bay rooms have pool and garden views, so that is why I choserepparttar 133661 Royal Pavilion with beachside rooms. The outdoor pool has a separate kids' plunge, shared by all from both hotels. I come torepparttar 133662 Caribbean to swim inrepparttar 133663 ocean, so againrepparttar 133664 Royal Pavilion receives my vote.

The only real difference betweenrepparttar 133665 two properties is that Glitter Bay has one bedroom suites and penthouses with stoves and refrigerators, complete with crockery and utensils. I don't cook, especially on vacation, sorepparttar 133666 RP is againrepparttar 133667 nominee for a choice beach hangout. Both hotels offer direct dial telephone and voice mail.

The Fairmonts share these facilities: Fitness and massage centre featuring LifeCycle and LifeStep, treadmills, free weights, aerobics, and a personal trainer, tennis pros for instruction on day or night-lighted courts. There are two tennis courts onrepparttar 133668 dual properties. Only a mile away isrepparttar 133669 Robert Trent Jones, Jr. championship Royal Westmoreland 18-hole golf course. There is also access torepparttar 133670 Sandy Lane Golf Course which had it's new section completed in late 2002. The Fairmont shuttle is complimentary to both golf courses. Complimentary watersports include snorkeling, windsurfing, hobie cat, and sunfish sailing.

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/Carib02/barbados/fairmont/fairmont.html

Kriss Hammond , Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com



Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave Your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.


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