A Magical Place in Tulum
Plus my blissful Friday night, How to Free Hugs, and a special Thank You!
Azulik
When I’m traveling, I go to Google Maps before and during the trip to see what businesses or attractions are nearby to where I’ll be. I then tag them as “Want to go” using Google’s tagging system. It puts a green marker on the map for each place I tag, so I can go back and quickly see what places I thought looked interesting. One of the places I tagged for Tulum was called Azulik Uh May, and the photos intrigued me. This is one of the places I “surprised” Lisa with on the trip.
I navigated while Lisa drove our rental car down a teeny, dirty, holey road in the jungle to get there. The first thing we saw after paying and being directed toward the entrance was a tunnel made of vines. We walked through and onto a path of vines that rose on an incline until we were standing halfway up a large adobe dome.
A woman was there to great us and instructed that we take our shoes off and leave our water bottles at the front door. (We were always frustrated with how little stuff we could bring even on outdoor adventures in Mexico! I’m guessing they didn’t want you leaving food around to attract animals or taking pieces of ruins home with you.) We then found ourselves inside the dome, which was 2-3 stories high and filled with lush plants and with vine and adobe paths. We took a path that headed up toward the top and looked in awe at our magical surroundings, like something out of the movie Avatar.
We came to the top of the path and exited onto an adobe path that wound around the outside of the structure to the very top. All around us was lush jungle and other structures that were of the same design aesthetic as the one we were on.
We then retraced our steps and followed all the paths throughout the dome until we’d seen everything to see. There were pillows strewn in certain areas, but it honestly (and oddly) didn’t feel like there were any truly comfortable places to sit or relax.
Their website calls Azulik Uh May “a creative journey nestled in the deep lush of the Mayan jungle.” And Azulik Uh May is not the only part of Azulik. There is also an otherworldly resort in another part of Tulum that is very pricey and seemingly geared toward couples (as I found many things in Tulum, much to my annoyance). The resort has elevated outdoor seating areas that look like literal bird nests. Looking at the photos, I feel like a giant velociraptor is going to swoop down and grab someone out of one at any moment.
Someone went to an amazing amount of work to build all the infrastructure for the resort, the “museum” we visited, the restaurant, and probably much more that I don’t even know out about. It is all incredible artwork in my opinion. But while I find the aesthetic beautiful, calm and peaceful, it seems like a playground for the rich.
Friday Night Bliss
After work last Friday, I intended to walk 16+ blocks to Studio 620 to hear a friend read poetry. I also intended to meet up with another friend after that at Enigma. But neither of those things happened.
What happened was I started walking in that direction and ran into my friend Austin outside a kava bar. I really wanted to catch up with him, so I sat down and we chatted a bit. He's a video guy, and he offered to help me find the equipment I need for my Sunday Mornings in Bed podcast.
After we chatted a bit, I started walking again and really needed some dinner. I was craving Red Mesa Mercado and had a nice meal there for only $10. (Two crispy ground beef tacos with sides of rice and refried beans. It’s hard to find crispy tacos at restaurants, but these guys make their own flour shells.) As I was eating, I realized the poetry reading was half over, and I was sitting across the street from Enigma. The weather was beautiful so I lingered over my food before walking over. I sat at a picnic table near the entrance and kept looking for my friend, but my energy level was low.
Instead of continuing to wait or reaching out, I decided to start walking the mile back home. I thought, “Maybe tonight just wasn’t meant to be.” On the way, I came upon this new café and speakeasy called Dirty Laundry. The café looks like a laundromat, and I’d heard the speakeasy was behind one of the washers. The last time I'd walked by, there was a long line. There was no line on Friday, and I stood looking in the window as a couple tried to figure out how to get into the speakeasy. I studied the washers and saw a cutout above one of them that was clearly the doorway. I could see that a guy was purposely standing in front of that washer and assumed he worked there. I walked in (after getting a wristband), walked right up to the washer, and pushed it.
Meanwhile the couple were doing what you're supposed to do which is pick up the phone in the laundromat and get some sort of instructions. When they saw me push the door open, they hung up the phone and came over.
Inside the door, there was lively (and live!) Spanish music, and the place had a very Cuban feel. (Scarface was actually playing in the background on a few televisions for effect.) The décor was dark and rich, and there were plants lining high shelves around the perimeter of the room.
I wasn't sure what to do at first because there wasn't much seating, and it was all occupied. The room I entered was a small bar and lounge. As I stood near the bar watching the two musicians play, I realized the guitarist was playing Für Elise (one of Beethoven's most popular piano compositions) on the guitar with a fast-paced Latin vibe. It was clear that no one else in the room realized this or appreciated it, but I was so excited that I told a random woman standing next to me.
I decided to get a drink so I could continue listening to the band play. I took a chance (since this was, after all, a speakeasy) and asked the bartender if he could make a hot toddy. He thought about it for a minute, asked another bartender, and said he could. With hot water fetched from the café portion of the building, I got my hot toddy.
I walked toward the back of the building and into an outdoor lounge to look around. It was full, and you couldn't hear the band, so I went back inside.
During a break between songs, I snuck up and said to the two men, “I have never in my life heard anyone play Für Elise on a guitar!” One of them said, “You're probably the only one in this room who knows that song!”
I settled against a wall near the bar to listen to them and drink my hot toddy, which was especially good. About 5 minutes later, I saw a chair vacate that was directly in front of the band, so I rushed up and planted my ass in it. During the next song, I dropped a twenty in their tip box.
They noticed, thanked me and dedicated the next song to me (which was Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean, all instrumental in Latin fashion). I went up again to chat with them, and Ali (the percussionist) asked my name. He then asked if I was Spanish (a legitimate question since I have dark hair and was wearing a shirt and earrings from my recent trip to Mexico). I said “No.” He said with a smile, “We’re not either! I’m Persian, and he’s from Estonia!” I thought this was brilliant. Three people bonding over Spanish style music and none of us were Spanish.
Hearing these two talented musicians play brought me so much joy that night. (You should look them up: Sebastian Project Band.) After I finished my drink, I made my way to the bar. The place was much more crowded at that point, but I found the bartender who had made my drink and yelled to get his attention. Then I yelled, “That was THE best hot toddy I’ve ever had! You rock!”
I walked home with a huge smile on my face.
How to Free Hugs
I made this fun video ahead of the event I’ll be participating in this month.
How to Give Free Hugs
Make a sign.
Choose a fun/festive location where you’ll encounter a wide variety of people.
Wear modest, casual clothing that won’t offend or intimidate anyone.
If possible, do not wear any scents or fragrances. Be cleanly showered.
Never approach anyone for a hug. Let them come to you.
Use your smile and words as marketing to lightly encourage people.
Historic Kenwood - Artist Studio Tour
I hope all of you within a reasonable driving distance will come visit me on either Saturday, March 19th or Sunday, March 20th during the Artist Studio Tour in my neighborhood. I’ll be set up at 538 28th Street North in St. Petersburg giving FREE HUGS on Saturday from 1-3 pm and on Sunday from 10 am - noon. (If you’re driving, park on 6th Avenue North.)
You can download a map of the event and check out other local artists nearby.
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