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Special Edition |
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We thought you might enjoy seeing
and reading about our perspective on Akumal's 50th Anniversary. A party so
successful that plans are in the works to make it an annual event. The
thumbnail images are clickable and you will also find links to various slide
show pages we've created.
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Akumal's 50th
by Lydia Linton Pontius
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Looking through my photos I thought I would share a synopsis of the highlights of Akumal's 50th.
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The activities started with a meeting and dinner hosted by Laura Bush at Lol Ha Restaurant.
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Last minute details were discussed and everyone was ready for the festival to begin.
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Friday afternoon the CEA Center was decorated and the guests started to arrive, each one signed in and was given a name tag with their name and the date when they first started to come to Akumal. Lol Ha Restaurant hosted the wine and cheese reception and the evenings entertainment started off with many multi media presentations of Akumal over the years.
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Opening Ceremony Slide Show
In attendance was the original Akumal Family, Pepe Tun and his family who came in the 30's to work the coconut plantation.
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Also in attendance was the Bush family including, Don Pablo Bush's wife, Elsie, his two daughters, Myrna and Laura and grandchildren, Gynna, Jason and Ryan.
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Don Pablo Bush was the visionary and adventure seeker who acquired Akumal 50 years ago and made it the first tourist destination on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Caribbean Soul performed and shared a newly written song about Akumal by Jorge Palma and Abraham Romero, English version by Laura Bush akumal_the_song.shtml
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The presentations were wonderful. There were slide shows, documentaries, old home movies and more. And in typical Akumal fashion Frankie, Gynna's dog entertained us by sneaking away with a coconut from the decorations.
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At the end we took pictures of the original Akumalians who were recognized as well as some of the regulars who have been coming for several years.
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The partying continued at the Ukana Stage with dancing to Latin Music and Bandikoro.
Friday Party Slide Show
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The food was great, and the atmosphere was festive.
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You would never know that there were not many people in town by the turn out at this party. People came from up and down the coast to join in the fun festivities.
Faces in the Crowd Slide Show
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Saturday was full of fun, beginning with a bazaar, that we hope will become a more regular event. It was full of great buys new and used and the food was wonderful.
Bazaar Slide Show
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This writer went home happy with an exquisite necklace from Isabel Schober who had jewelry and artwork at her booth. Nancy Poors' necklaces were on sale and SPAY sold at least 20 which will go to support their upcoming free clinics. CEA and the Hekab Be Library both had booths. You literally could help a cause, buy great items, eat great food or even buy some real estate, all under the tents in the cancha. Marcy Essy did a great job of heading up the bazaar.
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While the bazaar was going on in the cancha there were a number of performances going on next door at the stage. Bobbie and Monica worked with Mary to put on a fabulous fashion show compliments of Ixchel Boutique. The models were some of the gorgeous faces we have all seen many times around Akumal.
Fashion Show Slide Show
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Following the Fashion Show was the Tulum folk performers and following that was a puppet show.
Folk Dance Slide Show
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All the while there was a dive festival going on that combined the efforts of both Akumal Dive Center and Akumal Dive Shop. Ingrid Datica and Ed Blume did a great job of putting this together.
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Sunday morning the fishermen were out bright and early for the fishing tournament. And all we can say is Wendell Day was the man, he walked away with all three prizes!
Fishing Slide Show
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The children enjoyed a Treasure hunt that took them all around Akumal and ended with prizes for everyone.
Treasure Hunt Slide Show
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Along their way were several fun-loving pirates with squirt guns.
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That afternoon there was a very competitive volleyball tournament... and family sand sculpturing
Volleyball Slide Show
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...and family sand sculpturing.
Sand Sculpting Slide Show
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The festivities wrapped up with margaritas and dancing at La Buena Vida. It truly was a magical, memorable occasion and no one wants to wait 50 years for the next.
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