The first time I saw it was when I was 10 years old two fridas, one of artist Frida Kahlo’s most famous paintings. The self-portrait, posted on the wall of her aunt’s house, depicts two people sitting hand in hand, staring at someone as they enter the kitchen. Their hearts were exposed and, in the case of the woman on the left, completely torn apart. I loved it – the anxiety-inducing stormy backdrop, the singular vein that connects the two women.
I often return to this image, especially in moments of my own heartbreak. And the mystique and magic of that painting ignited my lifelong love of Mexican art. That power spans all mediums, from the emotion of Kahlo’s work to director Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar-winning, moving epic. Rome The designs of Mexican architect Frida Escobedo (the first woman to design a wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York), and even the sheer passion that Salma Hayek brings to every role.
I’ve always found it impossible to resist Mexico’s strong appeal as a cultural center and travel destination, so I seized the opportunity to visit the country for a winter vacation of sun, sand, and art.
Dior Cruise Show 2024 in Mexico City
I’m not alone in finding inspiration in this country’s thriving cultural hub. Last year, Maria Grazia Chiuri hosted Dior’s cruise show in the thriving metropolis of Mexico City. Held at Colegio San Ildefonso, artist Frida Kahlo’s former school and where she met her life partner Diego Riviera, the event was a tribute to Kahlo and a celebration of Mexican culture. It served as both a festival. Chiuri collaborated with local artisans and sent her braided models down the runway in long silk skirts and voluminous ruffled dresses reminiscent of the costumes in Kahlo’s self-portrait.
“I’ll never forget that show,” he says. Elle UK Editor-in-Chief, Kenya Hunt. “We were outside in a quadrant in the pouring rain, with a huge mural of Diego Rivera in the background, and it was magical.”
The capital’s museums house works by people who lived there, including Rivera, Kahlo, Laura Álvarez Bravo and Leonora Carrington, and are drawing a whole new generation of creatives to the city. Global brands have followed suit, opening Soho House (the first in Latin America) in the Colonia Juárez district.
Last year also saw the addition of new art gallery spaces, including a space for Marianne Ibrahim, a respected French-Somali dealer who opened a gallery in Cuauhtemoc. Her first show featured Clotilde Jiménez, an interdisciplinary Afro-Latinx artist who explores ideas about race, gender, and masculinity.
The central Roma Norte district is a hotbed of cultural spaces (don’t miss Galleria OMR, home to contemporary artist Pia Camil) and a vibrant nightlife scene. “We spent the days before and after the Dior show exploring Mexico City’s maze of museums, boutiques, and restaurants, and some of my favorite moments were the delicious restaurants and small independent shops. It was a Roman Norte,” Hunt says. “Many of them were hidden in these little leafy hidden streets. It’s a dense city, but surprisingly green.”
Head to Red Tree House, a converted Spanish Revival mansion in the trendy Condesa neighborhood. “It’s mismatched and stylish, painted in sunset hues of red, orange and yellow. The breakfast here is some of the best I’ve ever had,” says chef and food writer Ixta.・Belfrage says.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the capital lies the Yucatan Peninsula. This region, with its rugged coastline, miles of jungle, and ancient Mayan ruins, is the perfect antidote to the magical chaos of Mexico City. Please stop by the newly reopened Maroma. This tranquil hotel has both ocean views and his 200 acres of jungle in the Riviera Maya region.
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Now a living gallery, the 72-room hotel is known for both its unique art and extensive efforts to support local creators.recently commissioned Photographia Maromaa series featuring renowned Mexican photographers Patricia Lagarde, Javier Hinojosa, and Ilan Rubczynski, and up-and-coming artist Margot Carrach.
Further down the coast, in Tulum, I spend a week in search of that most coveted luxury: rest. He was joined by his friend Nelly, with whom he has spent the most holidays in ten years. We have matching holiday goals. I appreciate having a lazy day without my laptop and sharing my reading list over a quick conversation.
Along the Cool Coast: Shannon Mahanty and Nellie in Tulum.
Tulum has been a top destination for influencers and celebrities (Leonardo DiCaprio, Dua Lipa…the list goes on) for years, resulting in people chronically seeking photogenic locations to post on social media. It has become popular among people who are online. Increased tourism has increased pollution and increased pressure on local infrastructure. But now the town is fighting back. And in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift towards sustainability.
We stayed at Olas, a cozy guesthouse right on the beach. The guesthouse is fully solar powered and has a state-of-the-art water disposal system. Meals prepared by Olas’ personal chef Cesar are served around large outdoor tables under a canopy of palm trees. Each day, Cesar’s many rescue dogs and Barney, the leader of the neighborhood cat gang, take turns participating. Ingredients are sourced locally from land and sea. For breakfast, Huevos eats rancheros and his tropical fruit smoothie made with coconuts fallen from trees on the property. Lunch, on the other hand, usually features locally caught fish, including an excellent ceviche.
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The town of Tulum has a thriving food scene, from fine dining to delicious street food. We visited Wild, a leafy restaurant run by Karen Young, an activist and former music industry executive who moved to Tulum in 2010. And as we sipped smoky mezcal and ate delicious sea bass with salsa verde and caramelized fennel puree, a raccoon peered at us. From an overhanging tree. Here, the animals seemed more curious and, dare I say, adorable, than menacing (sightings of raccoons in most major cities would usually send people running).
At the end of the road is Nü, inspired by the Mayan word nuhuku, which represents the restaurant’s ethos of “community, nature, and culinary art.” With more than 30 tequilas on offer, the bespoke cocktails are a great precursor to Nu’s slightly experimental menu, which also uses locally sourced ingredients.
Beach Planner, Tulum’s digital concierge service, became our secret weapon during our vacation. From arranging airport transfers to restaurant reservations and even grocery shopping, Madi Boomsma, who leads the team on-site in Tulum, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the area and an extensive contact book to match. I had.
Tulum has become something of a wellness hub in recent years, and at Boomsma’s urging, we’re talking about Matt Wise, a popular yoga instructor who hosts classes at the nearby Samsara Hotel in a beautiful glass studio overlooking the ocean. I got the information. Another morning, we go to Holy Bodies Pilates, a reformatory Mexican-run, female-run Pilates studio in La Valletta, a short taxi ride from the city center. It’s a deceptively spacious space, with mirrors all over the walls, and is mostly attended by super-chic locals coordinating pastel-colored kits designed by teacher Fernanda and available for purchase at the studio.
On your last night, try a massage with Miguel and Louise at Cielo Místico (Mysterious Sky). The pair are very spiritual and offer all kinds of healing treatments, including: Temascares – A traditional Mayan sweat lodge believed to detoxify the body and reduce stress. Usually found in jungles. They arrived at Olas and set up in our bedroom, burning sweet-smelling incense, playing ambient music so quietly that we could still hear the crashing of the nearby waves, and a gentle full-body massage to completely lull us. It will lead you to relaxation. We leave Mexico with the peace of mind we were looking for.
Mexico offers many destinations for travelers. Although I was excited to experience its rich history and culture and, of course, mezcal, there was something humbling about the quieter moments and the power of being surrounded by wild, soothing landscapes. Ta. Maria Grazia Chiuri says: For her, Mexico is “a collection of emotionally charged places.” I couldn’t agree more.
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