Oaxacan Beachfront Living - Summer 2021

OAXACAN B E A C H F R O N T

SUMMER 2021

L I V I N G

Cover photo from the hills overlooking Laguna Manieltepec, Vivo Resorts & the Oaxacan Emerald Coast

CONTENTS Oaxacan Tapestries

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San Pedro Mixtepec 6 - 7 Mexico’s Mezcal

8 - 11

Ocean to Table

12 - 13

Oaxacan Coffee

14 - 15

Vivo Foundation

16 - 19

Road Trip

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VIVO RESORTS

Ave. Vivo Lote #46-B Playa Palmarito 71996 Bajos De Chila, San Pedro Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico Sales: 1 844 777-VIVO (8486) sales@vivoresorts.com Reservations: US / CAN: +1 855 223 3086 MEX: +52 954 582 0271

CONNECT WITH US

Jamee Smith Chief Officer, Marketing and Sales

Hello Friends of Vivo Resorts Welcome to the second edition of Oaxacan Beachfront Living.

The second half of 2021 is well underway and we are witnessing changes in perspectives as people are rethinking the ways to measure and improve the quality of their lives.

Our guests at Vivo are looking for a departure from the large urban areas in which they live, to a place that allows for happier, healthier and more connected lives. Many of these families – perhaps you too - are purchasing real estate where such a lifebalance can happen more often.

As with any major lifestyle and investment consideration, one of the first questions we get is: “is it safe to buy real estate in Mexico?” If that question sounds familiar, we have some good news. It is safe to buy property in Mexico! Foreigners can buy and sell property with ease, there are only a few special rules you need to follow.

Furthermore, and strictly from an investment point of view, Mexican real estate has a great deal of upside potential.

In Mexico, property rules and regulations are a little bit different than they are in Canada or the United States. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to work with an experienced real estate developer, such as Vivo, that is familiar with Mexican law so that you are protected with the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Plenty more to share, and we’d be delighted to visit in person. In the meantime, we wish you the best, wherever you might be, and hope to see you soon on the beautiful Emerald Coastline of Vivo Resorts.

Jamee

OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

OAXACAN TAPESTRIES

Taking Center Stage at the Olympics Bright colors and ornate tapestries may be synonomous with Oaxacan culture to those who have been there but recently they were on full display for the world to appreciate. For the opening ceremonies in Tokyo, Athletes from Mexico were outfitted in suits decorated with colorful hand sewn lapels designed by Oaxacan artisans. Catch a glimpse of the suits in this article from entrepreneur.com

Many of the tapestries you see today can be traced back to the Zapotecs who created vibrant colored textiles using dyes cultivated from their natural surroundings. Whether it be from milking molluscs to get purple, crushing cochineal insects to get reds or extracting shades of blue from indigo flowers, some of these practices continue today.

The abundance and diversity of the fauna are reflected in the front entrance at Vivo and coupled with the rich heritage of textiles have inspired the tapestry you’ll see throughout the resort.

It’s one way Vivo pays tribute to the land, people and culture our residents appreciate and treasure.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

CELEBRATING SAN PEDRO

Brass Bands and Bulls

By Nic Gray

I’ve heard it said that you don’t have to spend very long on the Oaxacan Emerald Coast to find a cultural event or festival. Sure enough, during my last visit at the end of June I was fortunate to join Pat Simpson and Alberto Herrera for an evening of celebration in San Pedro Mixtepec.

This quaint mountain town, home to about 30,000 people and approximately 30 min drive from Puerto Escondido, hosts an annual celebration in honor of the martyrdom of Saint Peter.

The town was named San Pedro Mixtepec in homage to Saint Peter and it’s an obvious reflection of influences that can be traced back to Spanish Colonials who shared their organized religion back in the 1500s.

This multi-day festival is an eclectic mix of new and old traditions highlighted by a rodeo, live music and a marvelous fireworks display like I’ve never seen before.

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Fireworks lit up the night sky and were the unofficial kick-off to celbrations that would continue into the evening and over the next few days.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

MEXICO’S MEZCAL

Rooted in Oaxaca Oaxaca is home to nearly 90% of Mexico’s mezcal production so it’s no wonder one is often associated with the other.

Not all mezcal is the same.

Variations in agave species coupled with different growing conditions and production methods all

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impact the flavor profiles of distilled mezcal.

Unlike tequila that is only a product of the blue agave, mezcal is made with different variations of maguey agave plants. Some of these plants will not be ready to harvest until they are 7 or 8 years old. That’s relatively young compared to alternative species that may take 15 25 years to mature before being harvested for mezcal production.

When it is time to harvest the agave plants the process is all done by hand. Mezcaleros will chop off the spiky leaves to get at the core that will eventually be cooked, crushed and fermented to create Mezcal.

Photos of Vivero “Sueño” Ecologico, located in Nuevo Escondido

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

Sip or Savour Purists argue mezcal is best served solo but mezcal based cocktails are rising in popularity.

Thirsting for a refreshing option?

Ask for one of the mix drinks served up at Mezcalina’s.

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Colores Artisenal Mezcal Colores Artisenal Mezcal is a Oaxacan producer that offers different variations of mezcal you can sample at Vivo Resorts.

Distilling without fermentation enhancers allows them to organically maintain their natural flavours.

Available at Vivo

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

FROM THE OCEAN TO YOUR TABLE

Catch it yourself or get it fresh from the market As close as Vivo Resorts is to the ocean, it’s no surprise seafood is a staple among locals and visitors alike. Between the ocean and nearby Laguna Manialtepec, fishing is more than a past time for many of the locals who rely on selling what they can catch.

Laguna Manialtepec provides a healthy bounty for local fishermen who can sell their catch at the local markets.

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Deep sea fishing is also an option and there are numerous guides for hire.

Visit the activities center at Vivo for help arranging one of the many guides at Playa Marinero (commonly known as Bahia Principal).

With any luck you’ll snag yourself dinner like Jim and Jarman managed to do.

Here’s a little inspiration from Chef Hermann on pairing your catch with farm fresh greens to create a deliciously nutritious meal.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

OAXACAN COFFEE WINS TOP HONOURS IN THE SINGAPORE COFFEE ASSOCIATION COMPETITION

From a diverse field of 59 specialty coffee competitors from countries such as Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Peru, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, the Oaxacan coffee from Pluma Hidalgo obtained the highest grading and won first place in the international competition held earlier this month.

Northwest of Huatulco, Pluma Hidalgo is a very small village surrounded by coffee farms and is known as the capital of coffee country in southern Mexico.

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Oaxaca’s “Cafe Pluma” was recently granted designation of origin protection by the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property and the Ministry of Economy, as it is grown locally in Pluma Hidalgo. “’Pluma’ coffee is characterized by having a pleasant bouquet, exquisite flavor, accentuated acidity, excellent aroma and light body, whose attributes can be enhanced through different processes, including roasting,” say experts.

The competition was in conjunction with the Singapore Coffee Industry Ministerial and Ambassadors Luncheon which was attended by 21 ambassadors and high commissioners as well as senior members and coffee industry business leaders from around the globe. “We were excited to see so much diversity in this year’s selection”, said Mr Steven Tan, SCA executive director.

A quick online search will garner a host of information on the regional coffee. Read more about the unique growing conditions that make Pluma Hidalgo coffee special in this blog article from Vivo Resorts.

For more information on the Singapore Coffee Association, please visit singaporecoffee.org

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

vivo foundation Greetings from the Vivo Foundation Committee.

We trust that this finds you all well and looking forward to a better travel year ahead. With the Covid vaccine rolling out strong, we are hoping to see a more “normal” fall and winter. I know many of us are missing the beauty of Vivo.

With the lack of many folks traveling these past 18 months, many things took a hit, and some things were worse than others.

For the Vivo Foundation, we missed our annual Vivo Foundation Dinner last November. This event is our biggest fund raiser for the year, and the lack of funds donated has been missed. However, thanks to a dedicated and creative group, the Vivo Foundation continues to make a positive impact in the community.

At the time of this picture, 11 year old Darwin was in the midst of being treated for leukemia and received the gift of a weekend away at Vivo Resorts thanks to a caring homeowner.

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100% of the funds raised are donated back to the community through different streams.

This past year, we sat down and decided to focus on these initiatives where we could be most helpful.

1.

Local sports or educational groups for youth.

2.

Special initiatives to promote health and wellness.

3.

Interest free micro loans for business start- ups.

4.

Sea turtle preservation and other environmental initiatives.

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Emergency health-related issues for children.

6.

Initiatives or projects 50% sponsored by a Vivo owner.

Baby Diana who is cared for at the orphanage in Puerto Escondido is seen here visiting a neurologist in Oaxaca City.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

Here are some examples of how funding was applied this past year:

1.

Continuing support for Casa Hogar, the orphanage in Puerto Escondido.

2.

Continuing support for the Kids First School in Chila, founded by fellow Vivo owner Margie Lunder.

3.

The VFB had taken ownership of the remaining funds raised from our generous Go-Fund-Me donors for the Chila Community relief, an initiative started from Vivo owners at the start of the pandemic. The Foundation matched a donation of $50,000 MP to this very worthwhile cause. These funds are being used to provide “free” bi-weekly healthcare clinics for those who do not have access to health care.

4.

Funding for scholarships for three students to the Benjamin Bloom School.

5.

Funding the Sea Turtle preservation program.

6.

Helping fund emergency support for employees and members of our local communities when in need.

The Vivo Foundation and Rotary Club partnered to help construct new bathrooms at Jose Morales school in Puerto Escondido.

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We are all looking forward to being back at Vivo this fall and winter and working on raising funds so we can help our neighbors. We thank you, the Vivo community and friends, for trusting us to be good stewards of the funds entrusted to us.

As always, thank you, from your Vivo Foundation Board;

Mike Oleksiuk-Past Chair Suzanne Demuriak- Marketing Sherryl O’ Conner-Treasurer Jamee Smith-President Diane Hache-Secretary Cary Mullen-Founder

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SUMMER 2021

OAXACAN EMERALD COAST

Road Trip From La Punta in Puerto Escondido to Barra de la Cruz, south of Huatulco, the Oaxacan Emerald Coast exudes character and charm.

Explore the quaint little towns and abundance of beautiful beaches all within a 2 or 3 hour drive of Vivo Resorts.

Surfing at La Punta on the outskirts of Puerto Escondido

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Miles of beach to explore near Mazunte, Zipolite and Puerto Angel.

Full disclosure: Playa Zipolite is a legal public nude beach and bathing suits are optional.

Barra de la Cruz is a lesser known surf area but probably not the place to go if you are still a beginner.

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