Oaxacan Beachfront Living - Spring/Summer 2022

OAXACAN B E A C H F R O N T

SPRING / SUMMER 2022

L I V I N G

Cover photo from the vantage point of the Hammock Hangout at Vivo Resorts

CONTENTS Hooked on Puerto Escondido

4 - 10

Botanica

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Vivo Foundation

12 - 13

Finding Your Wave

14 - 15

Savouring Simplicity BBQ on the Beach

16 - 17 18 - 20

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

Hello Friends of Vivo Resorts, I am privileged to contribute to the compilation of stories and photos that make up Oaxacan Beachfront Living. Our storytellers continue to amaze with their willingness to share experiences and perspectives that bring Vivo Resorts and the surrounding area to life for our readers. None claim to be professional writers yet they have an amazing ability to transport us to the shores of the Oaxacan Emerald Coast. We invite you to gather inspiration from our stories and we hope to see you soon as travel to Puerto Escondido continues to get easier thanks to new flights and the easing of testing requirements.

Recent announcements from the US and Canadian federal governments are easing testing requirements and in some cases eliminating them all together. Of course I recommend you check with your local authorities for the exact rules but it’s certainly another positive step for a tourism industry that’s on the rebound.

We are also excited to see a new direct flight from Tijuana to Puerto Escondido being offered by Volaris starting in July. Crossing to Mexico from the US is made easy by the airport CBX in San Diego that allows you to go through security and be in Tijuana without ever leaving the airport.

Mexico may not be the first place you typically think of for your summer vacation but one of the misconceptions that I often hear is that it is too hot. A fair statement for some areas of Mexico but one of the attractions of Puerto Escondido is the relatively consistent temperatures all year round. Yes, even during the summer months, the high temperatures rarely exceed 30 Celcius (85 Fahrenheit). Let the ocean breezes and our 3 pools keep you cool by booking your summer escape at Vivo Resorts.

Be sure to let our real estate team know if you are planning to pay us a visit and we’d be happy to show you around the Nautico and Botanica residences. These are both nearing completion and have ownership opportunities available - but only a few remain.

Nic Gray Marketing Director, Vivo Resorts

OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

HOOKED ON PUERTO ESCONDIDO BY: JEFFREY PANKEY

A full time resident of Florida and frequent traveler, Jeffrey loves the ocean and never misses an opportunity to go fishing. While the primary purpose of his visit to Vivo Resorts was to discuss marketing strategy, he made sure to schedule an extra day to experience one of Puerto Escondido’s attractions.

What does an “Authentic Fishing Trip” in Puerto Escondido look like?

Fishing has been a part of my life since the young age of three. No matter where I go, I always try to find a local person to recommend some type of fishing, deep sea being my preference. My trip to Vivo was no different, I convinced my buddy Greg to go with me, and Luckily, Vivo Resorts introduced us to Jesus who put us with the right local captain.

For those of you that are fisherman and have travelled to other “fishing spots”, you might be as ignorant as I was.

I was expecting to roll up to the marina and jump on a nice 35-to-45-foot sport fisher, the mate will offer a nice cup of coffee...NOPE. Imagine my surprise when we parked on the beach, walked up to the shoreline, saw about 30 Panga boats anchored, and then Jesus waves one to come over. Ok, very cool I thought, they don’t have marinas, so this panga is going to taxi us out to the real boat, I’m digging this.

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The Panga heads our way and beaches its stern onto the sand. Jesus introduces us to the captain and the mate, and we jump aboard. As we weave through the anchored pangas, we notice that we are headed out to open water, and there is no “mother-ship” ...I am now realizing this is our vessel for the day.

As we headed out, we started making conversation with our crew, which was a hilarious myriad of charades and gestures.

They spoke Spanish and we spoke English, but we could not stop laughing at our antics and attempts to communicate, which by the way, we all did amazing.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

I jumped in the back and started watching the bait setup to see how they do it in Puerto Escondido, and the mate and I “gestured” our way through an amazing conversation.

Shortly thereafter, we scouted some birds circling ahead and dropped 5 lines in the water.

Now, this is not a big deal for the sport fishers, but we are talking about a Panga that has a 6-foot beam, and no extended outriggers. The captain and mate gave a little kiss to the Mermaid doll tied to the T-top and gestured that we should do the same, well of course we did.

It was a very short time before two lines started ripping off the reel and were tight. I was pretty sure we had a small tuna on, but then they said Bonita. I learned real quick that the Bonita in the Pacific waters of Mexico are not the same Bonita that we have in the Atlantic. These looked a lot longer, almost like a Kingfish, and they had teeth that looked like a Spanish Mackerel. We put them in the boat with the plan to keep them and eat them since the guys assured me the meat was white and tasty, not bloody like our Atlantic Bonito.

Aside from the fishing, the boat ride was such an enjoyable experience, even though It has been a long time since I have been on a boat that had minimal “amenities”.

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I found myself gravitating to the bow and just leaning over watching the water pass. It was calming, peaceful, and I felt myself finding a connection with the water like I had in my younger days. About that time of self-realization, a couple of dolphins swam under the boat where we could literally reach out and touch them swimming at the bow.

There is no doubt that our eyes were connecting, and they were waiting to get our attention. As soon as we would smile at them, they would break off to the side and launch 6-10 feet in the air and come down splashing, then come right back to the bow to see if we approved of their show. This went on for about

15-minutes, and it happened about 3 more times throughout our trip. When the dolphins weren’t around, manta rays would also be leaping about and splashing around us...the sea was definitely alive.

After catching about ten Bonita, I made the international sign of a billfish; extending my arm from my nose and acting like I was leaping out of the water. My buddy Greg thought I was nuts, but the captain immediately smiled and said... “Marlin, Yes?”.

My answer was “Si, Por Favor”, and it was on. The mate started baiting some more trolling rigs and I saw them slipping the black, purple, and red skirts on the line; it was about to get real, and my heart started pumping.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

These guys knew what they were doing, they understood what I wanted, and after another round of kisses for the mermaid, the lines were out.

The fishing gods must have been looking down on us, or the mermaid was looking up at us, whichever the case, just 100 yards off our bow we see a huge sailfish free jump into the air and splash back into the sea. The captain made a b-line, the tension was getting heavy, and all eyes were on the lines with anticipation. One rod bends and gets tight, we all jump up only to see it pop back to normal - nothing. Just as we were getting ready to accept the disappointment, the rod next to it bends and starts singing

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that wonderful tune that every fisherman jumps to salute. The mate grabs the rod and ensures a solid hook up, then it’s our turn.

Greg gets the honors of the first hook up and learns very quickly that fishing is hard work. But after a short 30-minute fight, a limp left arm, he lands an impressive 130-pound Pacific Sailfish.

As they placed it in the boat, I realized we were keeping this fish, which is not something I usually do. The mate saw my question mark face and was somehow able to explain to me that this fish will feed many families in the town.

Our day continued with additional hook-ups, landing a nice Mahi-Mahi, and seeing lots of free jumping fish on the ride back to the beach.

I was starting to get a little worried as we drove toward the beach with no sign of turning or slowing down, and the mate was waving for swimmers to move. I thought, “he does know it’s a boat and does not have wheels” ...then I remembered how they picked us up. With expert precision, we ride on top of a wave and make a soft landing, beaching nose first onto the sand.

We started pulling the fish off the boat, and a crowd started to gather. I was surprised at the gasps when we pulled off the Sailfish. Everyone wanted to get next to it and take a photo, which made us feel like celebrities as people were patting us on the back. The captain walked us over to where they were going to clean the fish and made us understand that we were going to eat lunch “over there” and he would bring us fish to take home.

Talk about an all-around authentic experience. We went out on the most modest of boats, had a dolphin show, landed some serious fish, and came back to shore where a local restaurant made us ceviche, fried fish, grilled fish and all the fixings to go with it.

What more could we have asked for? Well, I will give you one more tidbit.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

When Jesus came to pick us up, he said that the locals have a “sharing community”.

So, the fish that we caught today was going to be shared by many locals, and that we had contributed to that community.

On the way home we stopped and dropped off a couple of bags of fish to people that were standing on the road waiting for us to pass by. And we even took some fish back to the resort, where the chef made some amazing tapas for everyone to enjoy while watching live music.

I still to this day don’t know how to explain how I felt on this fishing trip. I always get excited about going fishing, but there was a spiritual connection as I was on the water. There was a genuine friendship and clear communication made between four guys that could barely speak the words. There was a feeling of acceptance and appreciation in a community that we just met.

There was a satisfaction that we did something meaningful while enjoying our fun past time. And in the end, it was an experience that I could only say was “authentic” in every way imaginable.

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For illustrative purposes only and subject to change.

NOW SELLING Secure your place in the Botanica neighbourhood at Vivo Resorts. These low rise residences are the ideal complement of pituresque mountain views within steps of the Pacific Ocean.

The building (A6) is already under construction and expected to be complete in winter 2022/23. With 3 residences in this building currently available for purchase, this is a limited opportunity for quick possession of a new home at Vivo Resorts.

Looking for a different timing of possession? No problem. Inquire about the next building that’s partially sold but not yet under construction. Purchase now before inflation causes prices to go up! www.vivoresorts.com/ownership/waterside-oasis-condominiums/

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

VIVO FOUNDATION BY: SUZANNE DEMURIAK, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE VIVO FOUNDATION

Greetings from the Vivo Foundation Committee.

While the majority of us are not at Vivo year round, the Vivo Foundation Committee continue to meet once a month, via Zoom. Just because we are not physically at Vivo, the needs within our surrounding communities do not stop.

New requests come in, and we maintain the programs we have committed too.

We were able to provide quick aid for the citizens affected by Hurricane Agatha, a somewhat rare occurrence for this part of Mexico.

Recently, the grant for the Chila School Roof was completed, using half the funds earmarked for the project, as a Vivo

owner generously stepped up to completed the work. This was a huge accomplishment that had been in the work for years. The Mayor of Chila hosted an event to earmark this special occasion and thanked the Vivo Foundation and the Vivo community. Thank you to past owners, John and Ellen DeAngeles for the original contributions of materials, and to Steve Nim for all your help with this project, and to the many others who stepped up to help.

We have named a scholarship at the Bloom School, in honor of one of our valued employees.

Walter Guillermo had a niece pass away from cancer at a young age, and a student will receive this in honor of her.

Campamento Palmarito Tortuguero is receiving our continued support for the education and preservation of turtles at Vivo, and also along our neighboring Palmarito beach. The releasing of baby turtles is always a highlight for owners and guests. If you or your guests are lucky enough to partake in the releasing of a baby turtle out into the sea, monetary donations on site are greatly appreciated, either right on the beach with the educator, or inside the “Turtle Box” currently sitting inside Mezcalina’s.

The Dark Nights Environmental Education Program is a proposal from Campamento Tortuguero Palmarito to generate a gradual

The race to the ocean is on for these baby turtles.

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change in the behavior of habitants along Palmarito beach. The aim is to increase knowledge of the preservation of turtles and other sea life along our coasts, to restore darkness, and use lighting alternatives as much as possible. More on this project to follow.

of the teenage girls from the little ones.

Casa Hogar, for those of who you don’t know, is a local orphanage in PE, whom the Foundation sponsors. Sadly, Ami, who runs Casa Hogar, took on three new children after Hurricane Agatha. A set of twin boys and their younger sister. As their needs continue to grow, so will our support.

Currently, we are working on a project to build a girls dorm.

There is a need for separation

We continue to fund Dr. Luisa’s Health Clinics in Chila, every second Saturday, for those who have no health plans and cannot afford to pay.

The above is just a little of what we do as a Vivo Community.

We continue with support for the Kids 1st School in Chila, founded by fellow Vivo owner Margie Lunder.

Sports and kids are always on the list as well.

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 further. We have some good ideas being

reviewed, more of which to come in our next write up. We thank you, the Vivo community and friends, for trusting us to be good stewards of the funds entrusted to The Vivo Foundation. Remember, all 100% of the funds are donated back to the community through different local initiatives. If you would like to join our list of financial contributors to help with any of the above, you can do so four times a year, once a year, or whatever works best for you. Please contact us at vivofoundation@vivoresorts. com We would love to hear from you.

As always, thank you, from your Vivo Foundation Board

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

FINDING YOUR WAVE BY: DEB ARMSTRONG

As the Sales Operations Director for Vivo Resorts, Deb most often finds herself in the thick of coordinating logistics for new homeowners. However, when time allows, you can find her exploring the beaches of the Oaxacan Emerald Coast on the hunt for the perfect wave.

In the surfing world, Puerto Escondido is known as the Mexico Pipeline. The caliber of surfers in the lineup at Zicatela on a large day is absolutely mind blowing. Raw talent and so amazing to watch.

For many surfers, the hunt is not about the largest of large days, but the shoulder to head high days, with no wind and minimal people in the water.

Sometimes that is possible at the local breaks in Puerto, but sometimes the quest takes you a little further from town.

With mucho cerveza frio along the way, and fabulous food options (look for the busy spots) your adventures away from Vivo and Puerto are just as amazing as the fun to be had closer to home.

Traveling to the north (or west) along 200, there are a few secret spots that are fabulous in the right swell direction. Checking google earth will show you the way.

My favorite is a little town on an island that requires both a drive then a boat ride to get to the destination. But oh, so 14

worth it when you arrive! At high tide the waves are crisp and blue and at low tide, the waves turn an amber hue thanks to the lagoon that empties into the ocean. When the swell is just right here, the waves go on forever.

If you are drawn to the interesting topography like you see in the bays of Huatulco but want a place better for surf, stay on the road a bit longer and you won’t be disappointed.

There are numerous points that favor a nice and consistent right point break. Excellent for photo shoots, the beaches and rocky outcroppings are spectacular.

My recommendation... Vivo is a fantastic base camp... enjoy the resort and the beautiful town of Puerto, but do yourself a favor by getting out of your comfort zone and really exploring! With so many options to choose from, you are sure to find your own perfect spot!

Exhausted but satisfied, the beach walk caps a memorable day.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

SAVOURING SIMPLICITY BY: NIC GRAY

Nic is a Marketing Director with Vivo Resorts. He shares his appreciation for Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca and the local people in stories of his adventures. Nic shows that even a novice traveler with a minimal Spanish vocabulary can feel comfortable exploring the Oaxacan Emerald Coast.

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On this Spring day in April I find myself granted an extra minute to enjoy the warmth, texture and taste of my freshly made tortilla. Sure, it’s simple, but it’s really good.

It’s good because I am actually taking the time to taste and savor it. The scene is a stark contrast to most days in my home office rushing through lunch while my mind swirls around the next meeting or impending deadline.

No doubt the taste is augmented by my newfound appreciation for the art form of creating tortillas.

I’m in awe of the precision demonstrated by our chef as she carefully attends to flipping tortillas with her leathered hands that are seeming unaffected by the scalding hot Comal. She’s

obviously done this countless times and it’s second nature to her but to me it is fascinating.

Jesus tells our group about how tortillas have been a staple food in this region thanks to corn, limestone and a nixtamalization process that evolved out of necessity to make corn more digestable and nutritious.

It seems so simple now but centuries ago there must have been a lot of trial and error to figure this process out.

Whether they are soft and warm or toasted into chips, their versatility has made the corn tortilla a staple in the local diet for many generations.

Visit Puerto Escondido and you can be sure that tortillas will

be an option on the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The tortilla experience is the start of a beautiful day at the Laguna and even though I’ve done this tour before, today I’ve made a conscious choice to be more present. The scent of flowers, chirping of the birds and cooling mist of the boat wake on my face are not new to me but they are the details that make the tour special. Details that I might normally gloss over while my mind wanders.

If happiness can be found through gratitude and appreciation this day is a perfect example, While I walk off the boat at the end of the tour, there is no doubt I am happy.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

BBQ ON THE BEACH BY: LEO MAURELLI

With over 25 years in the culinary industry, Leo shares his expertise as a chef with hospitality partners in restaurant and hotels. His guidance provides individual properties with original menus and distinct food pairings of the highest quality.

Finding inspiration at Vivo is not difficult. Simply dip your toes in the sand, admire the majestic ocean, take a deep breath, and let it all wash over you.

I love doing events; creating and delivering unique experiences that stick to your memory like glue. It is what I’ve based my profession on.

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I’m a chef, but my job is about so much more than just food and how it tastes. It’s about immersion and trying to pay respect to the culture, environment, history, local ingredients and most importantly—the people around you.

It started with an idea, a desire to do something fun,

in the PERFECT setting. As I collaborated with the incredible Chef Hermann and the Vivo Resorts Culinary team, the ideas came flooding in.

One day at the artisan markets in Puerto is all I needed to develop inspiration. Seeing, smelling and tasting heirloom ingredients and ancient Oaxacan recipes, the

idea for a beachfront asado with an open-air fire was a no-brainer.

Interacting with the Vivo team, and sharing ideas, resulted in the dynamic of instant support.

“What do you need Chef, and how can we put it together?”, was a statement that echoed throughout the day.

I began by walking the space, the first step I always take when envisioning a new project. The beach ramada, an oceanfront thatch pavilion, was the perfect blank canvas. Seeing what was already built, I started envisioning what it could look like, sound like, feel like, smell like and yes, taste like. I immediately knew we could create something that exemplified excellence without being pretentious.

The incredible Vivo sales team dove right into the creation of maps, assisting with flyers and doing anything they could to help. Rapid-fire questions and team collaboration by visionaries like myself made me feel like I was in my element. I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!

A beachside grill was built. A walkway from the ramada to the bonfire was built. Vision, coming to life before our very eyes, by an eager and amazing team was a sight to behold. As the vision progressed, so did the ideas. We MUST have coco frio, we MUST have Mezcal and chelas, and don’t forget live music! Finally, there was the food. What will we serve? Well, TACOS OF COURSE!!

Let’s roast some meat on the open fire. Let’s roast vegetables and whole pineapples, too. Let’s do a smorgasbord of cool, delicious, authentic Oaxacan salsas and accompaniments… and let’s have a PARTY!!

HEY wait! We can’t have a bonfire and not make “S’mores”!

(Insert curious looks). “What are S’mores, Chef?” With a huge grin on my face, I answered the question with that crazy excitement you don’t even realize you possess in the moment. “You’ve never had a S’more!! Get ready to enjoy a decadent treat my friend!!”

Childlike glee radiated from everyone.

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OAXACAN BEACHFRONT LIVING - SPRING / SUMMER 2022

The evening was a success before it even started. As the sun set, the fire was lit. The slow cooking began. Then, the musical duo began to play.

Without realizing it, I found myself humming along to familiar lyrics in such a different and perfect way. One of my own American favorites, “Wicked Games”, by Chris Isaak, began to creep across the beach with sultry female vocals and soft instruments…THIS IS PARADISE! We stood there watching from the distance as the Liberación de tortugas marinas (release of the sea turtles) unfolded. The crowd was in awe. We tended to the fire and controlled the light and smoke signals like castaways calling into the Great Wide Open (perhaps it was all in my mind, but I don’t think so).

For everyone reading about this incredible Oasis, you should know that this perfect moment in time was set up for everyone.

The people came. We welcomed them, and we cooked for them.

They ate and drank, and shared stories, and sat by an open fire on the beach. They marveled at yet another gorgeous sunset, and we were blessed with the light of April’s Pink Full Moon, the Paschal moon, the first full moon of the spring season.

Flawless, humbling and perfect… words only reserved for another day, another night in paradise-THIS is that place.

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