I like to keep our Tiny Atlas books on the top of my feed but I needed to see new images! I pulled these shots of books I lugged (and damaged while lugging) to Baja and Patagonia before each one launched (2019 and 2022). They are pretty sturdy on coffee tables I promise, just not so much off-grid on dirt roads. #mytinyatlas
Wanted to keep this on my feed for later. Happy Mother’s Day to all your moms and to all the moms! Virtual hug to those who are grieving today as well. I feel very lucky that I am going to my mom’s for lunch with the fam. 🤍
Baja is always such a good time. Film from a few weeks back in (the touristy but still charming) San Jose del Cabo and (fave) La Paz, which is a total gem of a port town on the Sea of Cortez (with an emerging dining scene). I was able to hop on a boat to see Balandra and the crackling coral reef on protected Isla EspĂritu Santo for the first time too.
What are some your favorite places to wander in Baja?
Renovated and reimagined Miami beach high design on Collins Avenue, two ways, film and digital.
But first film! I had the (very aesthetic) pleasure of stopping for a night both on the way down and back from the Caribbean in Miami Beach (first time to the city in many years, thank you Proper 🤍).
For the photographers and design enthusiasts especially, Proper’s year old opening at @theshelborne is a pastel pink and minty green (layered with cozy textured neutrals) cloud on which to float through. The design details will not stop catching your eye.
While the hotel is energetically centered around a beautiful and relaxing pool scene, the breezy interiors steal the show as they morph throughout the day. A bright coffee shop by the entrance draws attention for pastries and matchas in the morning, glowy shell tones light plates of fresh ceviche and perfect cocktails with live jazz at the bar in the evening. A jewel box store with pool essentials tucks away to make space for a complimentary coffee station early in the morning for those heading out for beach runs or to Pilates in the gym.
The Atlantic and expanse of sand are just through the pool garden gate but it was hard to leave the property!
A very special weekend in Baltimore, and strangely my first time to the city. Happy birthday @urbanfran2 and hi @brysondj - I loved spending time with you and your crew. I also now see where the paper towels are in your kitchen that I couldn’t find the other day!
The closest comparison I came up with for our time on Saba was from fiction. It felt like Gabriel GarcĂa Márquez, but instead of reading magical realism, we were wandering through it.
The entire island is basically a cliff.
There aren’t rivers or lakes. You can’t find fresh water flowing. Yet, everyone drinks filtered rainwater from cisterns and the island is completely green.
The villages (Zion’s Hill, Windwardside) sit on top of the cliffs. There’s reggae and música latina playing. You hear English mixed with Dutch and Spanish from South America. There are many stroopwafels to be eaten.
Easter shuts the whole island down for almost five days. Locals park next to the massive solar array by the airport and head to an engineered rock pool at the edge of a wild bay surrounded by high mountains. They bring beach tents and picnic supplies and chill. The kids are fishing in the pool and the music is loud.
The water is warm and dive sites in a massive marine park circle the island.
The (many) hiking trails are mostly straight up and down. Often stairs built into the mountain. Hiking is a huge draw for visitors.
The airport has the shortest commercial runway in the world. Flights are often late but sometimes early.
The bakery in the main village sits just below the cloud forest. That’s the center of town.
The nurse sharks are friendly. The hummingbirds are loud. Tiny frogs you’d be hard pressed to see chirp softly all night long.
Saba requires patience and curiosity. Maybe hiking sticks and a dive watch (they will lend you the hiking sticks and dive watches though).
I loved being there though the no beaches piece is not quite my style. I think Jake would say the same. Otto was smitten and wanted to change our return and stay longer.
So good to be back in laid back La Paz, this time with @ftlotravel on a scout mission. First time for me out to Balandra and Isla EspĂritu Santo. We saw whales, mantas, blue-footed somebodies, so many cormorants and pelicans, the group of sea lions at San Rafaelito, this turtle, tons of fish and so much happy crackling coral.
Heatwave spring and record shopping weekend with Otto (not pictured here - he is not a social fan). My next travel season (assuming things still happening like that in the world) starts this weekend with non-bay things.
RIP to our tiny cat Omai - she was our sweet companion for 20 years. I rescued/adopted her from the pet supply place near our house one hot early summer day. She was slowing way down these past few months and moving with some arthritic pain, but she was still jumping up onto our bed to purr and was still eating and drinking yesterday. Today she became very sick and couldn’t breathe, so we had to say goodbye suddenly. Omai was loved well and was always so warm and loving (not with everyone but with me and Jake and those she deemed worthy). It is strange and sad to be home and she is not here. I know all who have pets know this loss. Thanks so much for all the sweet dms. I wanted to keep her in my grid because I use it as my own visual journal of sorts.
