THE SECOND OLDEST TOURIST IN QUINTANA ROOS: GOYO MOGAN
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Goyo Morgan, the second oldest tourist in Quintana Roos. That's exactly how he introduces himself. The minute you meet this intriguing and rather flamboyant character, you're advised of this, and then asked what brings you to his colourful Palapa office. Once you meet him, I guarantee you won't soon forget him. Fish oil for dogs Puerto Morelos is a sleepy little town located mid way between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, blink and you'll miss it. Like such places all over the world, it has attracted its share of expatriates. Some are fleeing the hustle and bustle of the "modern world." Others are just looking for a quiet place to spend their sunset years as they're so quaintly called. Chief among the diverse expat community in Puerto Morelos is Goyo, fisherman, jungle guide, naturalist, entrepreneur, and all around colourful character. Donald Gregory "Goyo" Morgan left his native Washington State in the Pacific North West twenty-five odd years ago and ended up in Mexico. He's rather coy about what caused him to leave, and drew him here. He's also a little coy about his actual age too. Although these are the only two things, he's coy about. For whatever reason he found himself in the Yucatan Peninsula, just as it was undergoing monumental changes. Fish oil dosage The area was still fairly undeveloped then. Quintana Roos only became a full-fledged state in 1974. The infrastructure was quite primitive along the Caribbean coast, with few good roads, schools and all the other trappings of civilization. Tourism changed all this. The Mexican Government as the country’s new tourist Mecca designated Cancun. It quickly grew bringing vacationers from all over the world to enjoy its beaches and sunny clime. Things began to spread down the coast and the sleepy little town of Playa del Carmen became the latest hot spot of the "Mayan Riviera" as resorts multiplied almost as fast as the tourists. Across the water on the island of Cozumal new resorts and hotels also began to appear drawing visitors in by plane and cruise ships in there hundreds. One of the major draws was the numerous nearby Mayan Ruins, which made this location so different from all the other sunspots on the globe. Like many others Goyo threw himself into the new industries. Over the years he was in turn a sport fisherman, scuba diver instructor, and restaurant owner, among other various pursuits. Eventually he settled in Puerto Morelos and found perhaps what he had been searching for all his life. Goyo developed a deep love for and understanding of the Mayan People. It is a feeling that is reciprocated at all levels. He began to search for ways to help them to profit and better from the new found prosperity without exploiting or compromising their way of life. Puerto Morelos serves as both a home and a base for the myriad business ventures Goyo has established. First and foremost are his famous custom jungle adventures. Day eco trips into the surrounding jungle. These include a chance to swim in clear natural wells and lunch with a Mayan family. Longer trips include the opportunity to visit a small Mayan ruin deep in the jungle without the accompanying crowds of tourists one gets at the larger better-known sites. Each trip also includes some fascinating information on the different flora and fauna of the region, including the medical properties of some plants. Mayan lore and legend are also included in the narrative. Goyo also custom builds larger and longer trips for those who wish. Included in this are healing retreats with holistic medicines to deal with stress and the other ailments of the modern world. He has also acted as an expert guide and local resource for journalists, academics, students, and others exploring the region. These excursions are only part of his projects. Others include a line of natural health and medicinal products for sale in local stores or via his web site. Future plans call for an expansion of this Line. Other projects include a cottage industry to reintroduction of the production of chicle, the natural ingredient in chewing gum that was once the largest industry in the region. The purpose of all these projects is not merely to make a living, although he does support himself through his ventures. Goyo is equally concerned in seeing the Mayans improve their economic standards without giving up any of their culture and independence. Tourism has been an economic boom to the region there is no doubt of that. For the mainly Mayan population this has meant jobs. Working either in the resorts in some manner, and/or in the construction boom that has engulfed the area. Cod liver oil Goyo hopes to help them find an alternative to this. By working with them to develop small cottage industries, many based on their traditional way of life, he hopes to help preserve those traditions rather than sacrifice them to progress. So far he has been successful on a limited basis, and this is all the encouragement he needs to continue. About the Author
Goyo Morgan's personal motto is "leap and the net will appear." It's an appropriate saying for someone with his boundless beliefs, energy, and enthusiasm. Another phrase also aptly describes him, "sometimes you just have to stop talking about it, get off the bar stool, and actually do something." The title second oldest tourist in Quintana Roos does not describe him at all. A tourist is someone who comes and looks around and then goes home again. Whatever Goyo Morgan is, it's definitely not a tourist.
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