dutzi design - Empowering Women Event.

I am so excited to be organizing an event for dutzi design inc. This wonderful group of Mayan women make the most beautiful bags all by hand and from beautifully recycled burlap and white raffia. They are so beautiful and the proceeds go to keeping this workshop up and running and keeping food on the tables of those in the community.

We are having an event at In Spirit Store. A beautiful store on the south side of the beach road across from Casa Violeta. The event begins at 9:00 am with a roof top yoga class followed by fresh fruit breakfast. Here is the whole schedule:


9:00- yoga class on the roof overlooking the jungle canopy.
10:00-Fresh fruit breakfast and organic coffee
11:00- Special dutzi Presentation- special discounts at in Sprit for those that attend that presentation.
12:00-4:00- Special services from women in the community. Mayan food for sale, card reading, spa treatments and masks, massages, back flowers and a kids area.
4:00- Special dutzi Presentation- special discounts at in Sprit for those that attend that presentation.
5:00- Horderves and Happy Hour
6:30- Aztec Drumming performance
7:00- Fire Show.


This is going to be an amazing event to bring focus to the amazing work of Ariane Dutzi and her work with the women in her community. These women are learning about finanaces and are able to contribute to their communities. The bags that they make are being sold in boutiques in Paris and New York as well as other locations throughout the United States, Mexico and Europe.


In addition to learning about the dutzi design project, visitors can also help the women of the area by using the services that we will be providing during the event.

Please come by and show your support for this wonderful cause.

Lighthouse Church in Tulum English Service

I was recently invited to attend the new Lighthouse Church Service on the Coba Road. Having a very open minded view of religion and being married to a Mexican Catholic I was eager to check it out.

This non demoninational Christian church is exactly what my view of religion is. A group of like minded people who have found a certain peace and happiness in their lives and joining together to celebrate that faith and it to share it with anyone else who is interested.

My friends from Tulum.info who inveted me to attend picked up me and my family one Sunday morning. I was not sure what to expect. I have not been to formal church in a very long time and some of my run ins have not left positive memories. But I am so pleased that I had such such a wonderful expereince.

The Church itself is housed in the Salsa Maya Restaurant building not more then a 1/4 mile down the Coba road. The people where as kind and warm as I could have possibly hope to meet. They greeted me and the kids, invited to us enjoy some coffee and get the kids intorduced tot he kids worship area.

Now I have a very different religious belief then most Christians on many of the main principles of the religion. Ranging from reincarnation, to mother earth to we are part of everything else sort of ideas. What I loved was that the message of love, acceptance, being at peace with yourself and your maker- whomever that may be was overwhelming.

The church holds services in English with a table where you can hear the Spanish translation. The worship is at 10:00 a.m. and lasts around an hour. The kids area is really wonderful and Debbie, the pastors wife, leads the kids in various activities and crafts that center around the teachings of the church.

Even as a non catholic and a very loose Christian, I felt so at home and welcome by the people of the Lighthouse Church. Always willing and eager to help in anyway, the people are what make any church in my mind and this one has the best of the best.


Terri Hill and his wife Debbie have been in the Playa del Carmen area for sverak years now and are now moving to our quiet little town to start the first English christian service. The happiness and peace that these 2 people, and several others, have within them is inspirational.

This is the perfect place for Christians, and non christians to come and worship and learn together. I really enjoyed my time at the church and look forward to attending more often. More information can be found at www.lighthousechurchtulum.com


They are a having a Christmas service on the 24th of December at 6:00. All are more then welcome.

Response about Ocho Closing

I received this comment in my post about Ocho Tulum's closing. I know that this is an issue that many people are concerned with and that information is not as easy to come by in English so I wanted to post it here.


Let me be clear. This is not me saying this. This is an anonymous person that left a comment on my post but it did give another side of the story so I wanted to post it. Please feel free to leave comments or to send me an email with specific questions.

I am contacting the hotel to see if they want to add anything to this. But I will say that I do hope that it is true that Ocho is reopening because I think it is a great hotel.

I hope you are all having a great day.

There has been a lot of concern over Ocho Tulum and its seizure two weeks ago. The hotel was seized in a fraudulent effort by the Garza Ponce family of Monterrey alleging that they own the lease to the land on which Ocho Tulum stands.

Ocho Tulum's owner is in communicating with top officials in both the U.S. and Mexico to get this remedied expediently.

It has recently come to our attention that the owners of another Tulum hotel, Ana y Jose, in affiliation with the Garza Ponce family will take over operation of Ocho Tulum. This is illegal! Do not risk your vacation being compromised by staying there.

Ocho Tulum's operators aim to provide the best service they can and are in contact with all of the guests who had reservations for this upcoming winter season. They're referring guests to Blue Tulum and in some cases refunding deposits.

Ocho Tulum will be back. Stay tuned. Feel free to comment.

24 Hour Tortas - Late night eats in Tulum ***

There are not a lot of spots to grab some really good grub after a late night of having a good time with friends. Luckily there is the always tasty- 24 Hour Torta place. There are actually a few. One is at the entrance to town and has a big sign that says “Big Sandwich” I have not eaten there but my husband has and he said that is was very good.

But the one at the end of town – I have eaten here a few times. And let me tell you that it is fantastic. Tortas are a like a taco on a bread roll. They are very good and come in as many combinations at tacos do. They are little more expensive than your regular taco but then again- they will you up a lot more too. I wish I knew the name of this place but all it says anywhere is TORTAS!

There were many options and all were good. We got a few of the pollo (chicken) and a few of the milanesa (a breaded and friend beef.) Both had black beans lettuce, onions, tomato, cheese and loads of meat. They are a great snack for kids and they are the perfect thing to get after a late night of drinking and not eating as much as you needed to!

Cafe Kujaku-*** Great Jappenesse Food and Amazing Coffee ***

We ate at a fantastic little spot the other day. It was right in the middle of town across from Le Nave. I have been watching this building go up over the last few months and it really is a nice looking building. The cafe is called Cafe Kujaku.

It looks as thought there is a jewelry store underneath and I am not sure about the hotel it is attached to. But the cafe was delightful. The spiral stair case could be difficult for some to maneuver but it does add to the charm. There might be additional access from another direction but I am not sure.


Once on the 2nd level you have a very nice few of the main avenue below. I really love restaurants, cafes and bars that are on the 2nd floor and more and more of them are popping up.


My husband got a tea which came beautifully served with all the fixings. My daughters favorite food is sushi so that is what we got. We also got a very nice fried rice. The food is a little pricey compared to other spots in town but the ingredients were very fresh and tasted great.

They have wi-fi which is really nice. I could see this being on of my favorite spots to grab a snack and work on the balcony. The couple that was running it were wonderful and attentive. I cannot wait to go back and try more.

Ocho Tulum Closed

Okay. So everyone who lives in Tulum has heard by now... Ocho Tulum was seized the other day and its doors closed due to a court order earlier this week. All of the guests, 12 in total, were given alternet lodging. As for now the doors remain closed over the land dispute.

Here is one of the articles that was found around town. It has been translated via the auto translator so it is a bit rough.

There is a dispute about the land and who exactly owns it. Ocho is working with the investigation and is hoping to get the whole thing resolved. It is not exactly clear what is going to happen in the upcoming days. I do know that Ocho is working with Blue Tulum and other companies in the Tulum area to ensure that all those who have a reservation - especially over the upcoming holiday season- will still have your amazing vacation in paradise.

Here is a rough translation of the article that can be found here

For agrarian conflict in Tulum
An-gel EUAN



De-sa-lo-ho ho-tel eight Tu-lum
TU-LUM, 30 non-viem-bre.- With a court order was made this morning by the eviction of Ocho Tulum hotel, located in coastal city in Tulum-Boca Paila Road, causing about a dozen tourists and eighty employees remained virtually on the street, after the claim of the rightful owner of such land, in the restive area known as "Punta Piedra.

Around 15:00 hours, by order of a civil judge, the clerk visited Ocho Tulum hotel to reclaim the property belonging to the family Garza Ponce, accompanied by about a dozen police elements who were responsible for evicting tourists and employees.

The conflict over land ownership dating from the 90s, where every day there were moments of tension. This conflict area is better known as "Punta Piedra. Ejido Jose Maria Pino Suarez, knowing that the limits of its territorial reserves not adjoining to the coastal zone, gave proofs of ownership, such as that given to the alleged owner Teresa Jiménez Rodríguez.

However, despite having the document and according to the injunction, the order was throwing the occupants to surrender the property later Ponce Erica Trevino family coopropietaria Garza Ponce, who are airing this problem through both criminal for years.

Altogether 12 tourists were evacuated were staying at the hosting center, as well as 80 employees who work in it, who currently hold a 30 percent occupancy, according to hotel manager.

The alleged owner, Teresa Jiménez Rodríguez, who purchased the property to Joseph Tun Cahuich, in the midst of powerlessness, said she was being violated their individual rights by the authorities, to be released from the estate, a situation that could occur with other occupants of the same strip.

These actions are given a few days of hotel occupancy starts to increase, since according to the president of the Tulum Hotel Owners' Association, hope to achieve in the holiday season about 80 percentage points.

Om Restaurant on Tulum Beach ***

I had a fantastically wonderful time recently having dinner at Om on Tulum beach. This dinner was especially fantastic because I was meeting up with people from Tulum.info. This is a great forum on Tulum and is full of people who really love Tulum. So armed with some great friends we headed down the beach road. Om sits toward the south end of the beach road and is a nice and easy drive.

There are a lot of places on the beach road and some of them really do look a lot alike and have the same sort of ambiance. But Om has really created a very different feel and you can notice it from the very beginning at the entrance from the road. The peaceful ambiance is accented by the large Buddha fountain at the front entrance and the calming bridge and pathways that lead to the rooms and the beach front restaurant.


I have not had the opportunity t o stay or visit friends staying at this hotel but I did see the rooms and they are very well appointed. Going with general theme of the Rivera Maya the rooms are simple and clean-lined with accents of color and local crafts and art. The use of organic materials creates a beautiful harmony with the beach and lush jungle that surround it.


The restaurant is very beautiful. The large open palapa can be closed off in the case of heavy winds and provides fantastic views of the beach and the crashing waves. The large pieces of red fabric that flow above the restaurant create a royal and powerful ambiance that I really liked.


I did enjoy the margaritas which were served in the correctly sized small glass rather then that huge thing that sometimes comes to the table. The owner was there and was, as always, a great entertainment. I really enjoyed sitting with him, my new and my old friends at such a beautiful dinner.

There are a few things that stuck out as far as dishes went. The first was the fish and chips. The fish was in large sections that had a coating to die for. And everyone loves a well done french fry and proper catsup- which can be hard to find sometimes. There were a few great pizzas on the table and that is what this restaurant is known to do well.

One of my friends ordered this beautifully wrapped/stuffed chicken breast. It looked incredible. I am pretty sure it had chaya (a Yucatecan version of spinach) and cheese and I am sure a little more.

There were a few shrimp dishes, one with Thai sweet chili sauce. This was a little too candy tasting for me but that is more me then anything. I cook a lot with Thai chili sauce and do it to my own liking so when it is done by someone else then it is usually too sweet for me. My friend loved her food- in fact- Everyone loved their food.

The highlight- besides the amazing margaritas, decadent food and wonderful friends... was the pizza nutella. This dessert is rich and wonderful. A light and perfectly cooked wood oven pizza crust slathered in rich and yummy nutella and served with some roasted nuts and wonderful tropical fruit preserves.

There is nothing greater (in my opinion) then friends and food. This is a combination that makes me so happy. And this night was full of all of my favorite things. I am so happy that I finally got to put names and faces together and eat such amazing food.


Evangelo is a truly gracious host and a wonderful person and it was so great to spend time with him and the Tulum.info crowd. If you are traveling in Tulum and want to check out www.Tulum.info there is a wealth of information from people who have been to Tulum and want to share the good and bad.

Sushill-Out in Tulum now delivers

I was so excited the other day when I went to my local corner store to pick up my fresh tortillas and saw a little flyer promoting Sushill-Out's new delivery service. As a person from downtown San Francisco, the idea of different types of food that can be delivered to me is just wonderful.

When I first moved here, Sushill-Out was located on one of my favorite little streets in Tulum. On it there was an Italian restaurant (Dolci Sapori) French- Le Bistro - Sushill-Out- clearly sushi- and Elements- a great fresh cafe. Sushill-Out has moved over towards the center of town on the main avenue 1 block before the main plaza. - The location is wonderful.

Their grand opening had some wonderful artwork from a local artist and some great music provided by a local dj. The atmosphere is fun and hip. Luis and Erika have put a lot of care and detail into this new location and I know that it is going to do well.

With 2 kids and no car- getting around sometimes can be hard and although I love the location- the ambiance really gets destroyed by a 5 and 6 year old. Although it is funny because sushi is one of my daughters all time FAVORITE foods. I remember one time we were picking up my mom up at the airport in SF - and my daughter looks up at me and says "I am hungry mommy and I really want some sushi." This provided quite the giggle to the people around given that Lena was barely 5! So there she sat while my mom pulled up trying to master her chopsticks. So see- if you are one of those people who says- eeeeeewwww Sushi- and have not even tried it... try to be more open to it... a 4 year old was.

So Lena could not be more thrilled that we can now order the sushi to come to our house. When we are out of food at the house and I tell the kids we need to go to the store... their response is "we could get sushi at the house."

Yes...Yes we can!!!! Thank you Sushill-Out. I will get their number and post it soon!!!

Festival of Jazz with Fatima and David Gilmore

Starting tomorrow evening the south side beach of Tulum will be resonating with the remarkable talents of International music sensations Fatima and David Gilmore. These 2 incredibly talented performers will be at Ocho Tulum for this upcoming week and visitors are sure to get a great show.

Fatima, a New York based singer and songwriter was originally born in Germany. Born to a German mother and a Sudanese father, Fatima grew up listening to a wide variety of music both in German as well as Arabic. At 17 she received a scholorship to study at the ‘Musikhochschule’ in Berlin. And at 22 she moved to New York.

Since in New York she has worked on many wonderful projects and collaborations with very talented musicians and performers from around the world. And works on music that combine various languages and draws from both European and Arabic- African influences. As a backup singer and dancer, Fatima has worked with many African and Caribbean artists and has performed at venues through out the world.

To hear some of her music you can visit her website

The second part of the duet is David Gilmore. The global beats and amazing jazz that this talented musician round out this exciting performance. Born and raised in Cambridge Massachusetts during the 70s, David was surrounded by various forms of music and began to study with 2 of Bostons well known musicians, John Baboian and Randy Roos. Shortly after he moved to New York where he attended New York University and studied under saxophonist Joe Lovano and pianist Jim McNeely. It was during these years that David grew further as an artist.

Finding himself collaborating with other artists each with different influences and styles, David began to form his style and develop as a composer. Playing as well as composing and producing records, David has had the opportunity to work with some of the music industries most talented members. He has received awards and recognition and continues to wow audiences with his original and captivating music.

For more information on David Gilmore and to hear examples of his music you can visit his website.


Ocho Tulum has once again brought a new and exciting way to spend an evening in Tulum. Head on over to Ocho Tulum, plop down on one of the beach beds - grab a tasty cocktail and one of the killer appetizers by chef Eric Fischer and get ready for a night of amazing jazz with Fatima and David Gilmore.

Ocho Tulum's Yoga Retreat **Ocho is now operating out of Blue Tulum***

I have not been to the new Ocho by Blue Tulum. I have stayed at the Blue Tulum resort and it was very nice. If I do ever have the opportunity to stay at the new hotel I will bring you the report.




The yoga retreats at Ocho Tulum really are an amazing expereince and one that a few lucky people got to expereience this past week on the glistening beaches of Tulum, Mexico. Yoga retreats are renowned the world over as an amazing way to reconnect to your body, mind and spirit while harmonizing with the natural surroundings.

There is no better place to do this the Ocho Tulum. The whole mystic area that is the Rivera Maya envelopes one in a deep sense of history and connection to the Earth. The energy of the people of times long past are still felt in the waters of the cenotes and in the trees that flow calmly in the wind. The whole area of Tulum draws in a mystic and peaceful feeling.

The feeling and energy that this area has lends itself as the ideal place for such relaxing and rejuvinating activities such as the Ocho Tulum Yoga Retreats. Ocho Tulum as a hotel adds its own element with its dedication to the enviroment and haromnizing with the elemnts around them. To read more about the hotel Ocho Tulum, click here.



The Yoga retreats at Ocho Tulum bring focus and connection with mind, body and spirit with many different activities ranging from mantra beach walks, yoga workshops that connect thought and meditation to poses, beach boot camps designed to burn fat and increase your heart rate to day trips to amazing colonial towns like Villdolid to rejuvinating cenotes. An amazing spa on the premisis is the perfect place to pamper your tired feet, enjoy a healing massage or recieve an invigorating facial.

The meals prepared for the guests of the reatreat are prepared with as much love and flare as the rest of the menu the head chef, Eric Fischer, prepares each night. A commitment to vegitarian and vegan dishes is observed year round by this chef but is given special highlight during these beautiful retreats that they host.

The packages include 6 days, 5 nights, 2 yoga classes a day, 3 meals per day, a massage, a spa treatment (including the renowned Mayan Clay treatment) 1 day trip to a Mayan ruins site, and air port transfer. The schedule includes enough time to relax and enjoy the beautiful beach and surrounding jungles and sends guests home with a deeper connection to their bodys as well as their uncounscience, and retored and ready to take on the world that lays outside the Caribbean.

For more information about the amazing yoga retreats at visit the Ocho Tulum website here.

Ochoberfest!!! The best of Germany hits Tulum!

One thing that I really love about Ocho Tulum is that it is constantly hosting events that encompass a different feel then many of the run of the mill happy hour fiestas that you might think of when you think of the Rivera Maya.

After living in Munich, Germany- Tulum is defiantly not the place I would have expected an Oktoberfest invitation to be in my inbox. But there it was. The colors of Bavaria flew high over the beach chairs usually reflecting the red, green and white of the Mexican flag. And even better... the taste and smells of really amazing German beer and sausage filled the wind off the sea.



In speaking to head chef Eric Fischer I could hardly wait for the event to happen. The food sounded so amazing. The same well flavored sausage and potatoes dishes that I was used to eating in Munich were about to be served, by the amazing staff of Ocho Tulum's incredible kitchen, right there on the beaches of Tulum.

The beer in Germany is a special breed. It can be very different then beers here in Mexico. Not better- but very different. I got excited even seeing the bottles on the tables!


This event did not disappoint. The food was absolutely amazing- as I was expecting. And the deep rich beers of Germany kept the guests happy and dancing on the sand well in to the night. Ocho Tulum brought an exciting and worldly flavor to their already exciting and well reviewed restaurant and beach club. I cannot wait to see what event is going to be next.

Calander of Events in Tulum

One difficult thing about Tulum is that it is not easy to find out what is going on around town. Here at Tulum Living we hope to help. For more information about any of these events you can look around our website or check the clients website. If you have any questions or are interested in having your events on Tulum Living, please contact us TulumLiving@yahoo.com.

Tulum Living School Project

I have a new idea that I am really excited about. In all of my talking with people, going back and forth on forums and answering people's emails I have come to notice something. Well, 2 things really.

1) There are so many people that LOVE Tulum. Some people that live here, that have lived here, visited here once or come every year- they just love it. They love the people, they love the culture, they love the beaches, they love the beautiful sea.

and 2) That there is a strong need for improvements in Tulum's schools and simply not enough money going to them.

Just like in the US and everywhere else, the public schools of Tulum never have enough money to get all of the things that they need. Schools are trying hard just to get through the school year with the supplies that they need. There is never enough money to put towards the bigger things that the school needs.

This has come full force to me recently because of my own children. In my sons school there are a few things that are really needed to be a fun and safe place for kids that under 6 years old. Broken, metal play ground equipment, NO shade so NO running outside etc. The same is true at my daughters school. There are almost no totally functioning bathrooms, all need repairs etc. I started to think that there must be a similar case at every school. Sure enough, the moment I started to talk to my friends about the schools their kids were in --- it was clear. TulumLiving.com needs to set up some sort of a donation thing.

I used to work on a lot of fundraising projects with my mom in Portland, OR with Doernbecher Children's Hospital and the Women for Children group. I remember my mom telling me that usually the hardest part of getting anything done is all of the people you have to go though to do it. All it takes is organization and a way to communicate. Well, I am a stage manager in the theater so anality is right up my alley. And as for communication... god bless the Internet.

So here is what I propose... I am going to go to each public school here in Tulum and talk to the head of their parent/teacher association and ask them what their big want it for their school. The one that is too big to ever get done but too small for the gov't to take care of.

I am going to list them all on 1 post with the name of the school/ the name of the director/ the number to the director/ and the want for the school. As people donate I will keep a running log on www.TulumLiving.com under the tab Help Tulum's Schools tab. As the amount is reached we will execute the need and do a post on Tulum Living. When a payment is made - we will mark it off and go to the next school.

I am so excited I can hardly type fast enough. I am expecting that most of these projects will be in the 20000-40000 peso area. That is about $1,470 to $3,000. I am excited. Okay. so.. I will start the page now. I will need a week or so to get the info from the schools and a separate bank account set up for this project!!! Yeah. I am so excited. Please free to contact me if you have any question.

Check in at Help Tulum's Schools to watch our progress and for more information about how to help out.

Russian Gypsy Card Readings from the Princess of the Runes, Crystal

Any one who has had the privilege of receiving clarity and serenity from a well delivered card reading knows that the services provided by these gifted people have the power to change lives. One such gifted spirit, the Princess of the Runes, is among us here in Tulum, Mexico.

Tulum Mexico has for years been a place that has nurtured the rarer talents of the world around. Having a deep history as a very magical place since the time of the ancient Maya, the energy around Tulum has drawn in beautiful people with truly tranquil minds and hearts.

Receiving a card reading from the acclaimed Princess of the Runes is a special treat for any visitor to the area. The Princess of the Runes also knows as Crystal was recently highlighted in an article in the New York Times, “36 hours in Tulum, Mexico.”


Crystal’s journey to find her gift began when she was just a young girl growing up in a loving family who encouraged her to dream, explore and love the world with an open mind. As she grew with a deep love of the universe and the belief that she would always be taking care of by her, Crystal’s destiny as a gifted reader began to root. After the death of a friend when she was a teenager she began to explore the healing power of crystals and began to gain further insight into her life.



After first discovering her gift with reading cards, Crystal began to delve deeper in to the understanding and meaning behind the 25 cards laid out in front of her. The cards, made up of 25 square cards each with 4 one half images. As the cards are placed before the reader the cards are adjusted to reveal any tiles that form 1 image from the 2 halves. As the images are decoded by the Princess of the Runes depending in the position in which they are laid, the cards begin to give insight and clarity to a wide array of questions.

Crystal expanded her skill and trained with the Rune Goddess before moving to Tulum with her husband, Tulum’s premier tattoo artist, and their young children to share her skill with the community here. Surrounded by the nature she loves so much, she lives in the lush jungles around Tulum and enjoys a peaceful and fulfilled life. Her light and gift is a wonderful experience and one that I am so happy I have gotten to experience.

Crystal is available for private readings and for parties and can also do readings over the phone. Her highly sought after skills are a treasure to witness. Ocho Tulum, one of Tulum's best beach hotels, has recently brought her in to do card readings for guests on Friday nights in their beautiful beach front restaurant giving guests the opportunity to get this amazing service for only customary 100-200 peso tip. That is quite the bargain for these rare readings.

In addition to her wonderful talents at a card reader, Crystal also sells the acclaimed Shankari jewelry. Seen all over Hollywood and beautiful boutiques and art galleries all over the world, each of these pieces is a true one of a kind work of art and is as priceless as they are amazing. She is also the authorized seller of the acclaimed Dutzi Design bags. These bags are 100% recycled and support a workshop of Mayan women here in the area. These amazing bags have been featured in several magazines and are being sold in boutiques in New York and Paris.

Dutzi Design Inc.***

Okay… this is a long one but it is worth every line

It is not very often that you hear about something that someone is doing and it just makes you smile from the inside. Well, the project of Dutzi Designs Inc. is one such story. !!!


The project is that of Ariane Dutzi. Ariane lives here in the Yucatan and has started a line, Dutzi Designs Inc., to help the communities of the Yucatan. As a former fashion editor from New York and Paris, she moved to Mexico where she is making an impact in the beautiful community that she is now a part of.


When the Swine Flu scare erupted in Mexico last April it created a mass exodus of tourists in the Yucatan and the communities of the area really suffered. As the “infodemic” spun out of control, a whole bunch of totally healthy people sat in the deserted towns of the Yucatan and then found themselves without people to sell their handiwork to. Ariane has since developed the Dutzi Design Rescue Bag. Complete with a label befitting of the project, a small outlined face of a pig, these bags are as eco-friendly green as they are well made and beautiful.


The whole project really is something special. As a way of helping the Mayan community that lives in the areas around Valladolid, about 70 women as well as some men make each and every bag. The project is not only a means for so many women to help provide for their families, but also helps preserve the beautiful culture of the indigenous Maya. With all of the proceeds from the sales of the bag going directly into the project, this community of women continues to be able to help sustain themselves especially in a time where so many of us here in the Yucatan are feeling the devastating consequences of the hype of the swine flu.


Here is a bit of history about how such a special project came to be. Ariane is an amazingly beautiful woman who after being born in Germany moved to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. After graduation Ariane got a job as a foreign correspondent for a German publication. Due to her location in Paris, fashion was the tallest order. During the reign of top supermodels and skyrocketing talent in the design world, Ariane had the privilege of interviewing and working with some of the most talented designers in the world. Having had studied history Ariane had an interest in fashion’s history and the artisans that made such wonderful pieces.


She told me a beautiful story about one example of stories that she loved to do. It was of the artisans who made the soles for Chanel shoes and Gucci shoes. It was only these very specific artisans that did the soles in a traditional way. The use of chemicals, if any at all, where minimal and the result was sole for a shoe fit for Hera herself. As I am sure anyone who owns a pair of Chanel shoes will attest to. She told me how the stories of these artisans, their craft and the devotion they give such a craft really intoxicated her. It intoxicated me just listening to it. After her move to Mexico, she found a similar passion for the artisans in her new home country. But more on that in a minute, I jump ahead of myself.



Ariane then came to Mexico for a vacation in the beautiful town of Cuernavaca just outside of Mexico City. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its year long perfect weather, it was over… the love obsession had begun.


Ariane took this time in her life to figure out the passions that she wanted to follow. Not quiet sure which way she was going to take herself, she headed to Tulum. Working in the hotel industry, Ariane got to stretch her creativity and interest in design in to decorating and furniture design. She helped design, promote and staff not just one Coqui Coqui hotel… but 3, Tulum, Coba and Valladolid. After investing much energy and love into these projects Ariane once again went to New York for inspiration for her next path.


This next path turned out to be working with an old friend from the fashion industry to open a vintage discovery showroom. Not a store, but more an inspirational space for designers and artists to come and get inspired. Working with wonderful textures and colors and looking at things from the past in a new light is what sparked the fuse that lead the way for Ariane’s next direction. It was hear that she began to learn the skill of noticing 1 small detail or 1 texture and create a whole concept out of it.


Now back in Mexico, she began to make beautiful bags from vintage materials. Being very drawn to burlap, the bags began to take shape organically as she rediscovered the Mexico that she had left. The straps are all hand made by the indigenous Maya who have crafted such belts for generations. More and more Ariane needed help to craft the bags that had become so popular. At one point, Ariane had to make a choice. Was she going to commit 100% and dive fully into her project and trust in the Universe to take care of her or go back? Luckily for us all she chose to invest fully into the project.


As she needed more and more help she befriended and employed more and more Mayan women from her community. What blossomed out of this first year was a workshop in which women in the community began to learn about their finances and how to have some control over them.


The most important thing about the workshop as it developed was that these women were able to remain the women that were before with the duties that they had before. To celebrate all of the things that makes us all such remarkable women. We have the special gift of taking care of our families needs, being there for our families and wanting to be able to enjoy our families and Ariane did not want these women to give any of that up just so they could work as well.



I have not even started to tell you about the amazing bags themselves… these bags, made of vintage burlap or 100% recycled white raffia. They are absolutely beautiful and are not only made by hand with love and care but, probably because of that fact, are incredibly well made.


In addition to the “Rescue Bag” Ariane’s whole line of couture bags are being sold in stores and boutiques all over New York as well as in Paris, Santa Fe, Malibu, CA, Mexico and over the internet. One of the best ways to get your own Rescue Bag is to drive over and see the project for yourself. Valladolid is a beautiful town about an hour from Tulum and wonderfully worth a visit. What a fantastic souvenir of a trip to the Yucatan. Luckily you can also buy one online and have it sent to you. Check out the website with information about how to purchase your very own bag.


These bags are perfect for both men and women. I especially love the bike messenger bag for men. These bags reflect both a consciousness for the earth and an effort to protect and cherish it, but also for the wonderful communities of Mayan women in the Yucatan.


I am so excited to see that the very first couture Dutzi dress has just been made. I cannot wait to see as more and more clothing comes from these guys. The furniture designed by Dutzi Designs is stunning as well. I will be getting more info about the clothing and furniture and will post again. Stay tuned.

So…. Do you want to help… can you help… If yes… here are a few ways that you can…
• If you, or anyone you know, own a shop or a boutique and would like to carry Dutzi Designs in your store, you can get in touch with Ariane (or me if you want)
• You can order a bag online directly from the source.
• If you are vacationing in Mexico, you can arrange to see the project and the beautiful town of Valladolid and pick up the absolutely BEST souvenir in Mexico.
• You can simply donate to the project via their website
• If you are getting married and are looking for the perfect bridesmaid gifts, these stunning bags and clutches are the perfect reminder of a perfect Mexican wedding (and the Karma points!!!)
• If you are looking for the perfect auction item… imagine a beautiful Dutzi Design couture bag filled with stunning crafts, clothing and tokens of the beautiful Mayan culture. I would be happy to help you put something together (I am sure Ariane could help as well.) What a perfect way to help 2 causes at once.
• Tell everyone you know about the project because it is a really special one.