Grupo Habita Hotels: Maison Couturier

Within a tranquil, tropical oasis in the town of San Rafael, Veracruz, is a French colonial fruit plantation turned resort that may not resonate with your typical image of historic Mexico.

Originally a French colony founded in the 1800s, the town of San Rafael is still filled with colonial French architecture and cultural influence, and Maison Couturier resort keeps the spirit of that influence by meshing the existing French architecture of the plantation with contemporary design. Basically, you’ll be sitting in a French armchair on the veranda one moment, and relaxing underneath a banana tree near the pool the next: the perfect modern meets colonial vacation escape!

Maison Couturier is translated as “home designer”, so there’s no surprise that the resort’s nine rooms are beaming with sophisticated minimalism and touches of French design. These suites are filled with natural light and designed with stone flooring, clean, crisp bedding, and planked ceilings to create a relaxing space.

Traces of French antiquity are found all over the resort, in the dining areas, event spaces, and gardens. French furniture and signage do well for Maison Couturier’s vintage atmosphere, and the overall nostalgic feeling of the place.

The gardens of Maison Couturier are part of San Rafael’s typical agricultural landscape and are filled with banana and palm trees and other tropical foliage. After all, the resort was once an agricultural hub–not a bad place to relax!

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De Colores: Mango Ice Cream

What I wouldn't give to be in Todos Santos right now enjoying a scoop of this delicious mango ice cream.  Happy (very hot!) Wednesday!

 

image: Vianca de la Parra 

Grupo Habita Hotels: La Purificadora

If you’re looking for a unique, in vogue summer escape, look into booking one of Grupo Habita’s hotels for a few nights. Located all over Mexico, Grupo Habita hotels blend contemporary design with the colonial architecture found in Mexico. So whether you’re looking for an experience that is purely modern, or a mix of the new and the traditional, Grupo Habita has a hotel that fits.

To give you a better idea of what we’re talking about we’ll be reviewing a different Grupo Habita hotel every week. Grupo Habita isn’t your average Mexican hotel chain, and even if you’re not looking for a cool getaway, these hotels provide some serious architectural eye candy for the design junkie.

La Purificadora Hotel

La Purificadora Hotel is a wonderful example of Grupo Habita design thinking. The façade of La Purificadora blends well with the colonial buildings and cobblestone streets of Puebla because the hotel is located within an actual colonial building. When you walk inside, however, you’ll find a contemporary/traditional mix of texture, color, and remnants of the original building.

Purple is definitely the color of choice at La Purificadora, and you can find it in several parts of the hotel including the courtyard seating areas, drapes, and rooms, juxtaposed against the more rustic, natural textures of the hotel–yet another example of the old mixed with the new. And even if the hotel is a modern paradise, there's still a romantic vibe you get from the fact that you're surrounded by hundreds of years of architectural history everywhere you look!

Speaking of romantic, the bedrooms are equally as enchanting as the rest of the hotel, with hardwood flooring, sleek, wooden furniture, a comfy bed and flat screen tv, and of course, those rustic details that are responsible for the charm of this hotel. But besides the atmosphere and unique design details, you can also enjoy typical leisurely activities like swimming in the hotel's above ground pool, fine dining, and exercising at the gym.


Images: LaPurificadora.com

Mexico Lindo

Tomorrow we are heading out on our 3 week long trip to search for new product for the new store!  I am sooo excited to be going with my dad on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.  My bag is packed, my camera is charged and I am ready for an adventure.  Let's get one thing straight - this is not a luxury vacation.  We are going to be staying in hostels, spending the nights on buses, eating at the markets and living out of a backpack (you heard me, 1 backpack).  So, as much as I would love to look like this girl in the picture above, I probably won't.  :) But that's okay.  If you are interested in following along with us we will be posting as usual and updating our Facebook Page with photos from the trip.  Are you ready?!  Let's go!

Click here to enter our Valentine's Day GIVEAWAY.

Destination: Mexico

This girl is going shopping.  When?  A week from today.  Where to?  Puebla, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende, Chiapas, and Mexico City for a total of 19 days.  Am I excited?  Hell yeah!  Usually my dad goes alone on the shopping trips but this time I will be learning the ropes.  We only have 2 months to open our new store and we need product.  Lots of product.  We will be searching high and low for furniture, mirrors, paintings, textiles, jewelry, tabletop, ceramic - you name it.  I'll be hand-selecting the product, meeting the artists, visiting their studios and homes, riding in buses for 10 hours at time, taking as many pictures as my camera will allow, eating and drinking until my heart's content, visiting markets and having one amazing adventure with my dad.  I've only been to San Miguel de Allende and Mexico City but the other places will be all new to me.  Have you been to any of these places?  Do you have any recommendations?  I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE any and all suggestions!!

{Photos: Bracelets, Painting, Door, Sarapes}

8 Things to See and Do in Cozumel

If your friends have been to Cozumel, the chances are high that it's been while they were on a cruise. The island of Cozumel is a popular cruise stop off the eastern shore of Mexico, close to the Yucatan channel. Famous for its underwater caves, Cozumel has often been proclaimed of the best diving spots in the world. If you're headed there, definitely don't forget to pack your snorkeling gear, but know that there's more to Cozumel than swimming with the fishes! Cozumel, which is a Mayan word for "Island of the Swallows," has many Mayan ruins to explore, spas to visit, and food to enjoy. I've picked out a few things that you should look into for your next visit to Mexico's third largest island!  I have never been but would love to go!  Have you ever been to Cozumel?  What was your favorite attraction on the island?

Things to See

Travel RM

1. Mayan Ruins - On and from Cozumel, you will have the opportunity to see several Mayan Ruins such as Tulum, Xel-Ha, Coba and Chichen Itza. There are flight bus, and ferry excursions to Chichen Itza, which is perhaps the most magnificent. There a huge temple and many other significant Mayan structure await. Coba is equally interesting, as it still being uncovered. Many archeologists believe Coba may eventually be the largest site yet on the Yucatan Peninsula. 

Come to Cozumel

2. Vive Chankanaab Park - A national park and Cozumel's largest monument to nature, Vive Chankanaab offers adventure and tranquility in one location. Built around a small lagoon, Chankanaab is actually a Mayan word that means "small ocean." Now a conservation area, there are plenty of species of both animals and plants that are preserved here. It is also a great snorkel destination, as many sculptures and other treasures exist hidden in the lagoon, possibly by pirates who used this as a space to protect their wares. 

Things to Do

My Cozumel

3. Atlantis Submarine Expedition - Want to explore the underwater scenery but not interested in diving? Try taking the Atlantis Submarine Expedition to Chankanaab's lagoon, which includes a small cruise along the western shore of Cozumel on the way there and back. On the submarine, you will go over 100 feet underwater and have the chance to view some of the 30-foot coral reefs and many marine animals. Be warned however: this can become a day-long excursion with delays and you will miss out on some of the colors of the ocean available only to divers who are willing to see it with their own eyes and not through a glass window.

 World Beach Vacation

4. Swim with the Dolphins - Also taking place in Chankanaab is the opportunity to swim with the dolphins through various excursion programs. Learn how to train dolphins, see their behaviors up close and swim around with them in the warm waters.

Source

5. Mexican Steam Bath or Temazcal - Experience an ancient Mayan traditional with the Mexican Steam Bath or Temazcal. A "relaxing and cleansing" therapy treatment for your body, these steam baths take place in little brick structures and are led by a shaman. Afterwards, cool off by jumping into one of the famed Yucatan cenotes, or sink holes, or take a freshwater shower outdoors. 

Where to Eat

DamianMiranda

6. Casa Mission - Though they claim to be the best Mexican and seafood restaurant in Cozumel, many reviewers believe that the real gem of this restaurant is not necessarily the food as much as it is the location. Reservations during their busy season are highly recommended for this off the beaten path, colonial style restaurant. Enjoy your dinner surrounded by fountains and gardens in this stylish Mexican ranch.

Trip Advisor

7. Wet Wendy's - If you want to let loose after a long day of swimming and snorkeling, Wet Wendy's is apparently the place to do it. With their own house brand of tequila and margaritas "the size of Mt. Everest," Wendy's features an entirely American staff and dancing. Not the best place to dive into Cozumel culture, but for those American tourists who are homesick, Wet Wendy's may be your best bet. 

Where to Stay

 Casa Colonial
 

8. Casa Colonial Villas - If you haven't cruised into Cozumel, this is place to stay. Featured as a prize on The Price is Right and given high reviews by most major travel guides, Casa Colonial Villas has great accommodations. A Cozumel resort with old Mexican colonial style, this hotel offers both the atmosphere and amenities to help you make your trip to Cozumel a memorable one!

Viva la Revolución!

I don't know if you've noticed, but I do love me some color.  So when I saw these photos in one of my daily reads, I instantly fell in love.  In the March 2011 issue of Vogue Australia, photographer Nicole Bentley captivates us with the bold use of colors, patterns and scenery.  I love how the pictures embody the liveliness and splendid colors of Mexican culture.

I love that her skirt looks like a piñata! 

 

To see more from this photo-shoot go here.

Hello from Mexico!

Hola!  Andres here, Elexia's father, business partner and buyer for Casa Artelexia.  Here are some pictures from my travels thus far.  I've been here 2 days and already have met with some really fascinating artisans.   Stay tuned for more pictures and stories from my buying trip when I return next week. - Andres

Sweet Destination

Check out this sweet destination, Hotel Azúcar, set in the fishing village of Costa Esemeralda.

Fodor's Review:

Azúcar, which opened in 2005, is a hotel specializing in barefoot luxury. Thatched-roof bungalows gather invitingly around a sunken pool overlooking waves crashing 20 feet away. Private open-air seating allows you to take in the ocean view from a daybed of plush pillows or a colorful hammock. Outdoor showers, straw hats, and beach volleyballs lend a sense of fun, while flat-screen TVs and pristine white rooms provide a touch of elegance. An optional package for a minimum of four people includes two nights, one dinner, airport transfers, and round-trip travel from Mexico City on a Cessna 206. Note that children under the age of 14 are not allowed.

Can you believe that these bungalows start at $110 a night?!
You gotta love Mexico.

I LOVE this look for a backyard.

Perfect and simple. This room has everything you need for a relaxing vacation.

Take a dip in the pool...

...then a siesta on this hammock. Sounds good to me!

Don Pedro's Fish Market

Check out Azúcar's website HERE. So cute!

Oaxaca City, Mexico: A Mole Tour

Check out this article I found on Bon Appetit.com:

It's said that in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, there are seven moles—rich, complex sauces that can contain dozens of ingredients—considered by some to be the acme of Mexico's celebrated cuisine. But a visit to the region proves that mole actually comes in infinite varieties—from the deep, dark mole negro to the zesty mole verde. Like mole itself, the charming city of Oaxaca is a blend of the ancient and the contemporary, the earthy and the sublime, offering endless gustatory pleasures to the hungry traveler.

Go

Fly to Oaxaca nonstop from Houston on Continental Airlines, or fly to Mexico City and catch one of the frequent hour-long flights on Mexicana or AeroMexico.

Stay

Casa Crespo is an intimate B&B with two rooms that have been decorated with pre-Hispanic art and paintings by the genteel host, Oscar Carrizosa. He also leads tours to the local Sánchez Pascuas food market (including an introduction to myriad dried and fresh chiles) and cooking classes ($60, including the tour), where you can learn to make his mother's mole negro, or more unusual dishes like caldo de piedra, a spicy seafood soup cooked with hot rocks.
Rooms, $110; Crespo 415; 011-52-951-514-1102; casacrespo.com

Picks

1. El Teatro Culinario
   In the private courtyard of the B&B Casa Crespo, chef José Luis Diaz prepares multi-course dinners (reservations required), transforming the humble flavors of the Oaxacan market into brilliant dishes. A request for mole may yield mole de camarón, a vibrant red sauce made with shrimp shells, or seared grouper with almendrado, a mole made with toasted almonds, capers, olives, and garlic.
   Crespo 415; 011-52-951-514-1102; casacrespo.com
2. Central de Abasto
   At this sprawling market, you can find all of the ingredients for a good mole—dried chiles, herbs, fruit, vegetables, and the justly famous Oaxacan chocolate, made with cinnamon and almonds. At the popular Mole Oaxaca stall, moles of every description are ground and mixed on the spot.
   Las Casas and Periférico
3. La Biznaga
   In this restaurant's elegant and airy courtyard, a well-heeled local crowd mixes with tourists over artfully composed plates of contemporary Oaxacan cuisine (they call it cocina mestiza). Here, the moles are fresh and bright—try the tamarind mole with shrimp-stuffed fish, or the guava mole with chicken and plantains.
   García Vigil 512; 011-52-951-516-1800
4. Santo Domingo Cultural Center
   The center's meticulously designed botanical garden, planted on the grounds of a 17th-century convent, hosts an impressive variety of plants endemic to the state of Oaxaca. After taking the tour, grab a mango doused in lime juice and sprinkled with ground chiles from the vendor outside the entrance.
   Enter at the corner of Reforma and Constitución; 011-52-951-516-7915
5. Mercado 20 de Noviembre
   Bring your appetite to this market, where lunch counters called comedores serve rustic delicacies, like fluffy tamales stuffed with chicken and mole negro and wrapped in banana leaves.
   On the block bordered by Aldama, Mina, 20 de Noviembre, and García Vigil
6. Doña Margarita Carmen Empanadas
   Underneath a green tarp on the east side of the street, Doña Margarita Carmen makes exquisite empanadas: delicate, crispy tortillas folded around vibrant, savory fillings: Try the mole amarillo with chicken and hierba santa, a local herb with a complex flavor something like that of tarragon; the vibrant green mole verde with chicken; or zucchini flowers topped with quesillo, the fresh, stringy cheese of Oaxaca.
   Mier y Terán, between Independencia and Hidalgo
7. Mezcalería Los Amantes
   There's plenty of mass-produced mezcal available in Mexico, but at this shoebox-size bar (owned and beautifully decorated by Oaxacan painter Guillermo Olguín), only the finest artisanal mezcals, rarely seen outside the towns where they're produced, are poured, from traditional green glass bottles.
   Allende 107
8. Mercado Benito Juárez
   Walk one block south from the serene, shaded town square (called the Zócalo)—this market has everything you'll need to serve a mole feast back home in true Oaxacan style. Look for the four-legged molcajetes, mortars and pestles (good for grinding dried ingredients) decorated with animal faces.
   On the block bordered by Las Casas, Aldama, 20 de Noviembre, and García Vigil

By St. John Frizell
Photography by Ben Fink and Linden Elstran
Illustrations by Remie Geoffroi

February 2009
Article, pics, illustration via here

I want to be here...

Check out this absolutely fabulous hotel in Puerto Vallarta. Las Alamandas is one of the first hotels in Mexico to be recognized by Conde Nast Johansens' as an Environmentally Friendly Hotel. Oh, what I would do to be there right now...

I'd start the day off with a nice breakfast right outside of our room.

Then, I would work on both my tan and website.


Oh, and don't forget the Piña Colada!

Once the sun was too strong, I would take cover here and enjoy a siesta with my hubby.

Lastly, this is where we would finish up the day with a nice drink, the stars and ocean.

sigh...