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The taxi driver had been circling the unlit streets for over half an hour. It became more and more apparent that the beers and wine we picked up near the airport were going to be the last road map to neon lights and the comforts of western civilization.
“La Casa Blanca?” shouted the cabby again. I may not speak Spanish fluently, but I was thinking the same thing - how hard could it possibly be to find “the white house?” In this moment we were fairly worried, severely lost, and close to giving up off the beaten path in Tulum pueblo.
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The reality of the situation was that it just hadn’t clicked for us yet. We hadn’t figured out how things worked around here. Sure, we’d been to the regular surf tourist spots: Cabo, Puerta Vallarta and mainland Mexico, but this place was different. Shot girls with whistles and over-sized sombreros weren’t chasing you down the streets. Neither were kids selling chicle. What were we to do? Flip the script. Rather than trying harder to get something done, we learned to stop trying, and instead just let it happen.
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Of course Tulum is a different kind of place. Consider its roots, as home to the ancient Maya city, Zama, whose ruins still stand overlooking the Caribbean Sea. While walking the grounds, no one else seemed to find it odd as weird raccoon-cat looking hybrid animals spilt out of the jungle and various sizes of dragon lizards sunbathed on the ancient ruins. It's this sort of a surreal, mystic vibe that surrounds you in the town too.
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A thin street winds along the coast, with dim lit, perfectly designed beach huts and cafes sneaking out of the jungle. More Monaco than Mayan, the street is lined with beautiful palapas and people strolling or biking by in their Caribbean best. The east coast has long favored Tulum, with the fashion crowd particularly taking a fancy to the place. With this rare setting of style and great architecture, Tulum stands out, but one of the best things about the place is you don’t have to.
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We’ve ditched the taxi, opting for the local transportation of scooters as they zip along the main road. It's warm, but the sun isn’t burning hot. It works with the warm Caribbean air to feel more like an embrace.
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A quick left at an old school roundabout and we’re even more isolated. As thick foliage lets loose, we find ourselves on a remote beach, with milky white sand and clear turquoise waters found only in a place this unique. The beach looks like something out of a film. In fact all of Tulum does; it's not just the water, it’s the design, the lighting at night, and as I mentioned already, the people. They are stylish in a way only this warm climate and jungle breeze could allow. When you pass someone on the road you find yourself feeling a familiarity and wondering, do I know them from Venice? Manhattan? San Francisco? Austin?
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I’m traveling with Carly, the designer for Tavik Swimwear. She’s getting inspiration from everywhere and everything, whether the special scents from Coqui Coqui, natively weaved fabric at the local markets, a dim lit dinner at Posada Margherita, the inspirational indoor-outdoor modern design to Mi Amor hotel, or one of the stylishly dressed attendees found at the wedding we’ve flown here to attend.
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As soon as the adventure was over, Carly began designing the next line. The wedding could have served as inspiration enough. Born from a Pinterest board overflowing with modern marvels and classic looks, the wedding lived up to the style of the greats – Mick, Bianca, McQueen, and the lot. It's no wonder, being that the groom is near a legend at Next models and the bride a unique style of her own. Rich Navy suits were paired with the perfect selection of tans and banana yellow accents, finished off perfectly, (to quote the official Pinterest board) with “Italian Steez… How To Wear All White and Espadrilles…”
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The only deviation from this dedication to style was the Mariachi band following the ceremony, who had hired a friend to hold an iPad, from which the lead singer sung aloud the lyrics to “Feel Like Making Love” by Bad Company. You’ll have to trust me that this version was better than the original. In fact, if I had to sum up Tulum by making a mix tape, I would follow a similar path. Less Jimmy Buffet (hello Cancun!. Less Pitbull (Hello Rosarito Spring Break!). I would start with a little Disclosure, tune it up with some Toro Y Moi, sprinkle in a slow, reflective Drake song, bounce back with the first track on Caribou’s latest release, and then ease it out in exactly the same way as the Mariachi cover song. With my soul warmed by exotic beaches, mischievous nights, midnight swims, great friends, style, design, and the best ceviche ever, I feel inspired. Tulum, I feel like making love too.
Enjoy the curated playlist La Casa Blanca from TAVIK Creative Director, Mark Powell
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photo by Nicholas Routzen
