N O. 02 | S P R IN G 2015 | T H E - F R O N T D O O R . C O M
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AESTHETIC IDEAS
ANTIGUA GUATEMAL A: C E N T U RIE S OF GR E AT NESS LIVING BY THE VOLC ANOES
Ideas that become experiences THE FRONT DOOR BY LA REVISTA, EL MUNDO DEL BUEN GUSTO
the Editorial Letter No. 02 | Aesthetic ideas | Spring 2015
“Art has the nice habit of spoiling all artistic theories.” —M A R C E L DUC H AM P
In this edition we will act as your concierge to show you all sorts of exceptional places, and bring to you extraordinary characters who will undoubtedly be a pleasure to meet. We begin with a pleasant chat with Gregg Anderson, Global Vice President of The Registry Collection, our partner and ally, who tells us about the perks of the properties he manages and today’s most sought out luxury tourism destinations, as well as the experiences and lifestyle that characterize both The Registry Collection and The Front Door. Liu Bolin is like an invisible man. He is a Chinese artist whose performances and photography surprise us and deceive the eye, seeming to cause the landscape to disappear. World-renowned and sometimes sanctioned by the Chinese government, Liu Bolin portrays urban landscapes in which his figure seems to disappear, alluding to his commentaries that society is unaware of the daily problems it faces. With his great technique, a bit of humor, and an aesthetic vein, Liu Bolin is one of the most important exponents of contemporary Chinese art. Also in the field of art we will take a look at the most iconic covers of The New Yorker magazine, a publication which for decades has humorously expressed the New York lifestyle, and which outstanding illustrators and artists have contributed to. With their covers, these artists have narrated history as occurs. The graphic arts, beyond their aesthetic value, are the voice by which we recognize the symbols of everyday life, whether they be products or political messages. In these pages you can also enjoy
an extraordinary visual tour through the world of graphic design, in an article called “Designing in the Present.” We will travel to Antigua in Guatemala, to discover streets, corners, and impressive colonial monuments that never cease to amaze with their immense beauty. This town, at the feet of enormous volcanoes, is undoubtedly one of the most precious jewels of our continent. Besides its important past, today it is a legacy of cultures, landscapes, and great cuisine. You won’t want to miss it, and of course The Front Door is here to guide you. Returning to Mexico, we enter the Wabi House on the coast of Oaxaca, a place that has become a haven for artists from around the world. To end with a flourish, we offer a tour of several beautiful golf courses. Golf, as you know, is much more than a game; it’s a lifestyle in which your biggest competition is yourself. This is an incomparable experience, according to the faithful and regular golfers who frequent the courses. From the new courses in the Riviera Maya to the ones in Baja California with stunning cliffs, the landscapes in which these courses are immersed are as exciting as the game itself. And so, with the help of The Front Door, we invite you to discover and dive into an exceptional world, with amazing people and sites you will want to return to a thousand times over. It is our mission to be your personal concierge, and in these pages you will find the perfect guide to begin the trip of a lifetime. Enjoy!
Gerardo Rioseco CEO / The Front Door
the Contents No. 02 | Aesthetic ideas | Spring 2015
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FEATURES
22 The Profile: Liu Bolin
30 The Profile: Gregg Anderson
by Andrea Villanueva The Chinese contemporary artist visited Mexico for the first time to present past artworks and create new ones. We spoke to him in his hotel room.
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08 The Editorialist
Contemporary art is everywhere, especially in Mexico City where the love for it keeps growing.
10 The Blog
Bimba & Lola, Bobbi Brown and Shinola are the main actors of the season.
16 From A to Z
Travelling around the world is a huge privilege. Read on for some trivia on people’s favorite hobbie.
by Santiago Oria Probert The Global Vicepresident of The Registry Collection visited Puerto Vallarta to talk about his work for the brand and the hotels they operate.
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Our continent has one of the most beautiful destinations ever known: Antigua, Guatemala.
40 Leisure
Golf is the sport people choose when they want to compite with themselves.
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the Masthead
No. 02 | Aesthetic ideas | Spring 2015
Management Eduardo Sanmiguel General Director Marcela Aguilar y Maya Associate Director
Editorial Santiago Oria Probert Editor in Chief santiago@aeditores.com Andrea Villanueva Exwcutive Editor andrea@aeditores.com
Art Yair Orozco Art Director yair@aeditores.com Fernanda Carrasco Photo Director fernanda@aeditores.com
Gerardo Rioseco Chief Executive Officer Mauricio Carreón Commercial Director Carlos Velázquez Assistant Product Director Hugo Jiménez Brand and Communication Director Ricardo Sánchez Brand and Communication Manager Anne Marie Chorné Brand and Communications Coordinator
Follow us: 01(800) 841 8390 myfrontdoor@posadas.com TheFrontDoorMX @TheFrontDoorMX thefrontdoormx
Contributors Diana Amador | Michel Bellego | Daniel Benítez | Daniela Cuevas Guerrero Ignacio Galar | Julieta García | Carlos Sánchez-Morán | Rodrigo Rivero Lake
Editorial Board Marcela Aguilar y Maya | Anne Marie Chorné | Carmen Cordera | Allan Fis | Julieta García Hugo Jiménez | Bruno Newman | Santiago Oria Probert | Mónica Patiño | Ricardo Salas Ricardo Sánchez | Eduardo Sanmiguel | Gonzalo Tassier The opinions of contributing authors don’t necessarily represent the ideas of the editors or the publishing house. The Front Door by La Revista is a publication of A/EDITORES on lifestyle and trips, specially created for The Front Door. A/ EDITORES, Leibnitz 20, Floor 8-801, Col. Anzures, C.P. 11590, Mexico City, Phone: 5281 1778. The Front Door, Paseo de la Reforma 155, 1st. floor, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, C.P. 11000, Mexico City, Phone: 9138 5700. The Front Door is a registered trademark of Grupo Posadas, S.A.B de C.V., all rights reserved. Quarterly magazine. No. 2, Spring 2015. Editor: Marcela Aguilar y Maya The content of the articles is the responsibility of the authors and publishers. All rights reserved. Total or partial reproduction is forbidden, including any electronic or magnetic media for commercial purposes. The information herein has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable. Internal distribution by: The Front Door. Printed by DocuMaster, Av. Coyoacán #1450 Bis Col. Del Valle C.P. 03220, Mexico City, Phone: 5524 2383. La Revista, the world of good taste: Reservation number to the National Copyright Institute 04-208-092913333400-102. Certificate number of legality of content No. 11997. Certificate number of legality of content No. 14424.
On the cover: Liu Bolin La Revista, the world of good taste, is a lifestyle publication that addresses the best of culture, art, architecture, cuisine, travel, and design, as well as the most prominent trends, with a clean, creative and intelligent approach.
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“Give me the luxury and I can dispense of the necessities.” —Oscar Wilde
Johannes Vogt Gallery, NY
The Editorialist Gabriel de la Mora, Galería OMR, Mexico City
by: Marcela Aguilar y Maya photos: Courtesy
Galería Arróniz, Mexico City
Galería Ethra, Mexico City
Lexing Art Gallery, Miami
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The famous Russian playwright Anton Chekhov said it best: “Works of art are divided into two categories: those that I like and those that I do not like. I do not know other criterion.” And so yes, to each their own; in the field of art, subjectivity prevails. This is especially so in contemporary art, where the vast and “original” amount of work available is greater than the number of critics and collectors. Last February, Mexico City held the most important contemporary art fair in Latin America, ZONA MACO. The fair is an annual event that boasts the participation of more than 72 galleries from 17 countries, including Germany, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey, and Venezuela. For four days, gallery owners spend time with collectors – which many call the “art set” – and curious visitors who come to witness the art concepts that govern the market. Interestingly, a New Concepts section was added this year, which included 23 galleries presenting emerging artists, prioritizing artists living and working in Latin America or whose works address topics related to the region. It is phenomenal to witness the growing amount of art in Mexico City and to attend fairs like this, which place the city on the radar of the global art world. The organizers, Zélika García and Pablo del Val, undoubtedly earned an A+.
Zona MACO
Stavenhagen Collection
Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco
Some of the most prestigious galleries worldwide participated in the fair, such as Caja Negra (Madrid), PEPE COBO (Lima), Victoria Miro (London), Raffaella Cortese (Milan), and Paul Kasmin (NY); David Zwirner (NY) also returned after several years. Also in attendance were Dittrich & Schlechtriem (Berlin), Nils Staerk (Copenhagen), Von Bartha (Basel), Michael Fuchs (Berlin), Andréhn-Schiptjenko (Stockholm) and, of course, the most prominent galleries of Mexico: Kurimanzutto, Hilario Galguera, Labor, Proyectos Monclova, and Galería de Arte Mexicano, among many, many others. But the art exhibits did not end with ZONA MACO; at the beginning of this year, exhibitions and cultural events have been everywhere: in Galería OMR in Colonia Roma (in Plaza Rio de Janeiro) you can find an exhibition with Gabriel de la Mora’s most recent work. He is one of Mexico’s best contemporary artists. The work is titled “Función” and shows the obsessive work of the artist, who, like an archivist, gathers many objects, from used shoe soles and pieces of eggshell to offset printing blanket cylinders and sandpaper from match boxes. Each material presents evidence of human interaction with points of contact, the passage of time, and the wear and tear of life. Refining and decontextualizing the discarded objects, de la Mora creates a visual syntax through which the language behind an everyday object can be understood. Mexico City always holds a surprise and I can’t help but feel excited when I discover places that, despite having lived here all my life, were unknown to me. Such is the case with the Museum of Tlatelolco (tlatelolco.unam.mx), where in addition to concerts, workshops and lectures, there are exhibitions worth visiting. One of them is the “Stavenhagen Collection,” where the pre-Hispanic past is viewed from an artistic perspective through extraordinary archaeological objects by their shape, expressiveness, harmony, and composition. This thematic exhibition allows you to appreciate the diversity, richness, and creativity of Mesoamerican groups; shamanism, rituals, diseases, sexuality, family, life, and death are represented in more than 500 pieces in this collection. And when you leave you can listen to a good jazz concert or classical music every Sunday at noon. Mexico City is an artsy city that never ceases to surprise you...
Galería Luis Adelantado, Mexico City
Dillon Gallery, NY
Centro Cultural Universitario Tlatelolco
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the Blog by: La Redacción photos: Courtesy
page 010 We welcome spring with colorful bags, innovative watches, and a little bit of travel history.
Shinola
Lands in Mexico from Detroit For sale at the Palacio de Hierro | shinola.com |
Lifetime Warranty At Shinola they believe that a product should be created to last and not to be exchanged for the latest model in less than two years. That’s why the brand decided to create watches that will last a lifetime—or more. As of March of this year, all handmade Shinola watches have a lifetime guarantee under their terms and conditions because they fully trust their production process and they believe that what they are offering is truly an exceptional product.
Shinola
When people thought the city of Detroit would never recover from the recession, one brand decided it was the perfect time to set up shop there. In fall of 2011, Shinola, a brand from the Bedrock Manufacturing Co. conglomerate, was created with the belief that any product —a watch, leather articles, or even a bicycle— can be created with quality and integrity. This is the reason they decided that these items would be handmade locally, choosing the city of Detroit as their base of operations. The “Motor City” as it is called for being the center of development of the automotive industry, is a city with an enormous sense of community and a long tradition of manufacturing, so it was the perfect place for Shinola to grow.
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Its first pieces were sold out thanks to a notice in a newspaper (the old-fashioned way). At that time, they had not yet produced watches, but in just a short time the brand has made a name for itself, to the great extent of joining greats like Oscar de la Renta —with whom a special edition was produced— as well as producing one thousand pocket watches in honor of Henry Ford. With the intention of entering into the Latin American market, the company chose Mexico as a starting point and, although so far their products are only sold in the Palacio de Hierro, the intention is to have a store like its flagship in Detroit or the branch in New York, which are more than just points of sale but rather sites looking to foster a sense of community. We can’t wait!
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of Color → AHotJourney Collection by Bobbi Brown Available starting March in Liverpool, Palacio de Hierro and Sak’s Fifth Avenue bobbibrowncosmetics.com
Bobbi Brown, makeup expert and founder of the brand that bears her name, and model Kate Upton joined forces to create a limited edition called Hot Collection. The collection is inspired by Kate’s hometown in Florida, and it combines subtle nude tones with touches of deep color. This color palette represents the warm nude tones of the beach and the bright artificial lights of Miami. The model, considered by many to have a fun and bright personality, carefully selected each tone and product in the collection to reflect her playful, beach-loving lifestyle. The line includes a case of combinable shades that go well with all skin tones; and for lips there are Art-Sticks —which are lipsticks with a long-lasting formula that glides on softly— in three colors (Hot Berry, Hot Pink and Hot Orange) and a version of Sheer Lip Color Shade Extensions in the same tones. With a very natural approach to highlighting the cheeks, there are also Cheek Palettes which include two tones of blush and a pearly illuminator for each; the three options are Calypso, Pink, and Berry. You’ll get the best results by combining well-defined nude eyes with the lips —just think what Kate Upton would do.
Makeup Lesson Bobbi Brown believes that makeup should be personal, simple and accessible, so at all Bobbi Brown Cosmetics counters there are experts available to teach women how to incorporate the new Hot Collection with different looks. Regardless of what each woman selects, her Makeup Lesson concludes with the creation of a Face Chart designed to help recreate the look at home.
Tropical Spring → The Bimba & Lola CC Antara, Ejército Nacional 843, Polanco, México, D.F. | bimbaylola.com
Evoking the great Carmen Miranda, the Spanish brand launches its Tropicana collection for the spring of 2015. Getting its inspiration from Brazil, with its exotic animals, colorful fruits and incomparable landscapes, Bimba & Lola offers its loyal clientele clean silhouettes inspired by modern Brazilian architecture, contrasting with wild prints of toucans and bananas. Swimsuits and spectacular neoprene garments are being added; purses have also evolved and they have left behind the puppy logo to give way to a much more modern one. Brazil is the perfect inspiration for this year, as it has become in some ways the center of the world. Since 2013, all eyes have been on Brazil, both because of the World Cup and the Olympics, as well as the protests that these events have caused. Even so, there is no country more colorful and vibrant than Brazil. It’s perfect for any woman who wants to represent Bimba & Lola. ACME Crocodile Print For the 2015 edition of Salón ACME, from February 5 to 8, Bimba & Lola will be present for the first time in Mexico with a pop-up store
which will also contain a capsule collection, using mosaics from the streets of Brazil as inspiration (highly attuned to the Tropicana collection). Graphic artist Scarlett
Baily will be there creating illustrations for attendees. Through this, the brand is reaffirming its connections to contemporary art.
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Brothers → Brooks 190 years dressing gentlemen Arcos Bosques, Paseo de Tamarindos 900, Bosques de las Lomas, Mexico City BrooksBrothersMexico brooksbrothers.com |
Tom Ford Beauty After he left Gucci, Tom Ford seemed to take a new direction in his career. The designer directed the film A Single Man in 2009 and many thought he would never return to the world of fashion. Instead, his brand has emerged as a lifestyle, and he even designs children’s clothing. His beauty product line has practically become an object of worship. His cosmetics collection offers the most effective skin treatments and most exciting colors for lips and eyes. “Makeup is the most powerful way for a woman to transform herself,” said Ford. His beauty line makes that very clear.
Brooks Brothers has been part of the wardrobe of the modern gentleman for over 190 years, but this season the brand has decided to explore its iconic style; a timeless elegance characterizes the new collection, which includes vests, both under suits and knitted, and as a central piece. The ever luxurious and durable Saxxon wool, exclusive to Brooks Brothers, is offered in every piece, from tailored pieces to sweaters. The color palette is autumnal and ranges from dark green, mustard, and navy blue to pink and dark purple. A rhombus shape, another key detail of this season, is found in fabrics, accessories and shirts. This season, Brooks Brothers also presents its new brand, Red Fleece, with a youthful twist to its classic style in which the classics of the Brooks Brothers family are re-interpreted in a variety of fresh colors mixed with Chinese embroidery, shirts and accessories.
Absolu → Patchouli What’s new from Tom Ford For sale at Palacio de Hierro and Sak’s Fifth Avenue | tomford.com
Tom Ford is the king of luxury, and for his latest fragrance he has resurrected one of his favorite ingredients: patchouli. Ford decided to transform this ingredient into a groundbreaking new fragrance that is sensual (as are all his fragrances), and he calls it Patchouli Absolu. The unisex fragrance is the designer’s personal ode to the most iconic olfactory note of the nineteen seventies, which evokes a sordid sensuality and glamor of the night, as well as the exciting combination of masculine and feminine that defined the era. Patchouli Absolu mixes three different opulent versions of this ingredient: the patchouli oil provides a primary raw texture; the heart of patchouli (the sumptuous extract of the plant) brings an earthy, refined and elusive quality; and an innovative iteration of patchouli called clearwood, which was first used in perfumery. This last ingredient is the purest interpretation of the aroma. The fragrance opens with an invitation of dark, cool and contrasting aromas such as laurel and rosemary combined with moss; the heart houses the trio of patchouli surrounded by provocative woods; finally, the captivating sensuality of tonka beans and amber are mixed with musk and hints of leather to adorn the skin with shameless seduction. There is nothing more Tom Ford than this fragrance.
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About Brooks Brothers Founded in 1818, Brooks Brothers was the first to offer prét-á-porter clothing, and over the years it has created iconic products, including the first prét-á-porter suits, the original button below the collar, the flannel, and the no-iron shirt. Nearly two centuries after it was founded in New York, Brooks Brothers keeps the same values and traditions even now that it is a legendary international brand.
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→ Resaca Hangover; or how to get out of the abyss Oliveira, L.M., Resaca, Literatura Random House, México, 2014 |
@munozoliveira
When we are in free fall it is hard to know when we will hit bottom; it is even harder to know how we will be transformed when at last we manage to get back up. Resaca (Random House, 2014), the latest book by L.M Oliveira, paints a brutal portrait of this reality that we all face in some way. In the story of Dr. Pablo Palacios we are surprised to discover that our comfort zone is much more fragile than we imagine. In the case of this character, the sudden loss of his daughter, his wife, and his cat Romina may seem to be events that would lead anyone to madness, but only when you understand them as a consequence can you discover all their dimensions. The collapse, moreover, is not in the external events, in that which we often cannot control, rather in ourselves —in fear, anger and frustrations that we bottle up until they become demons that one day will awaken from their lethargy. Silencing those voices is not easy, as we will learn through blends of humor and desolation, and alcohol is perhaps the easiest way to forget them.
Adjusting to the dizzying rhythm of the fall, the reader gradually begins to overpower the emotions of the character, because regardless of the ideals of justice that each person has, Dr. Palacios’ fall draws him nearer to us, presenting him as a weaker and weaker, more and more human character, becoming more and more Pablo. The apparent reconciliation of the character with the world is both fascinating and commonplace. Guilt often forces us to compensate, and the mistakes we have made are reflected equally extravagantly in our search for salvation. Thus, the renewed protagonist begins to wander the paths of philosophy and humanism, pleasing himself in order to manage the physical and emotional fatigue of his fall. Finally, as Oliveira points through his characters, “Of course you can enjoy a hangover, it is the highest and most lucid moment of the party.” The book culminates by expressing our most primitive humanity and awakens us from the dream with a bucket of cold water. Perhaps the edge of the cliff. —SOP
The autor Luis Muñóz Oliveira was born in Mexico City and is a philosopher as well as a writer. He has contributed to magazines such as Letras Libres in addition to being a CIALC researcher and professor at the Department of Philosophy and Letters of UNAM. He is the author of the novel Bloody Mary (Mondadori, 2010) and an essay on tolerance called La fragilidad del campamento, among others. During his youth, he wrote and published poetry, but never stories. Oliveira will present his book on February 28 at 7:00 PM in Bernardo Quintana Hall at Palacio de Minería.
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& Mercier → Baume Women’s time @baumeetmercier |
Baume & Mercier’s Design Studio
BaumeEtMercier
Baume & Mercier is one of the most important Swiss watch makers, and this season it presents the feminine collection Promesse. The company seeks to give women a watch that reveals their true personality, a tradition begun by Louis-Victor Baume in 1869 when he gave his daughter Mélina a gold pocket watch. When William Baume and Paul Mercier joined in 1918 to create Baume & Mercier Genève, they decided to continue the tradition of representative female art deco watches. From the nineteen fifties, the golden age of the wristwatch, through the seventies (when the brand won first place in the Golden Rose awards for watches and jewelry for its innovative models), Baume & Mercier has set itself apart by
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giving women the place they deserve and not giving them smaller models than those created for men. The design is present in the fourteen different elegant models that come in both mechanical and automatic, ranging from a simple watch with leather strap in black, to the most luxurious version with white crocodile leather (although this option is also available in black), surrounded by 61 small diamonds. Each of the versions has elegant Roman numerals on a pearly background, appearing to be an extension of the woman wearing it, a reflection of her soul. Whether you choose a simple, classic model or a more luxurious one, Promesse will be a reflection of your personality.
A Baume & Mercier watch is a blend of modernity and tradition, authenticity and creativity. This is why the production department’s secret for success is found in the design studio, managed by Alexandre Peraldi. The process leading to the creation of a watch, or a collection of watches, seeks to fuse a contemporary vision with traditional rules of creating watches. What all the collections have in common is that they are all inspired in some way by historical models of the maison museum, and they are free reinterpretations by the design studio, created with fresh talent to increase the growing Baume & Mercier family.
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Bally and its New Design Director Pablo Coppola —Argentine-born and experienced with designers such as Tom Ford, Alexander McQueen, Dior, Burberry, and Cèline— is Bally’s new Design Director. Coppola was chosen by CEO Frederic de Narp for his understanding of the brand and his ability to channel the energy of a team into a fresh vision for the future of Bally. A graduate of the Institut Francais de la Mode in Paris, before Coppola joined Bally he was Director of Accessories for Tom Ford. Coppola’s approach for Bally includes a renewed focus on innovation and artisanship.
→ Bally The power of skin bally.com |
Bally |
@bally_swiss
Bally opened its first flagship store in Mexico last September as part of its global expansion and renovation. On the mythical street Avenida Masaryk and as part of the growing supply of luxury brands in Mexico, Bally will offer even more products than it offered in department stores. The new CEO of Bally, Fréderic de Narp,
affirmed that Mexico is a big market for the company and that is why it was chosen as a spearhead to enter Latin America. Covering an area of 250 m2, the new store is built to show the brand’s collections for men and women, from their well-known and loved shoes to the line of handbags and suitcases, as well as a renewed line of accessories
and ‘ready to wear’ that complement the new face of the brand. Bally reaffirms its commitment to being a modern brand with high quality construction, of Swiss origin but with a global reputation. The company is ready to meet the needs of Mexican consumers.
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Trips to Remember
Ilustrations: Daniel Benítez
On Luxury and Comfort Vacations are an opportunity to do the things that may seem impossible in your everyday life, such as resting. But vacation is also the time to leave your comfort zone and experience new sights, new paths, and extraordinary food, and to come in contact with the things that seem strange to us. Vacations are much more than getting your passport stamped and changing time zones; they mean diving into an unknown world, not only to learn and explore, but also to understand where we come from and how we got where we are. If there are decisions that mark our present and our future, then travel is certainly one of the choices that leaves a permanent mark on our lives. No matter the budget, our personal tastes, phobias and secret obsessions, there is a destination for everyone and different reasons for undertaking a journey. And in the end, traveling means detaching ourselves from our own world for a little while.
by: Diana Amador
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The concept of comfort has expanded its reign to invade the realm of the ridiculous; it is no longer enough to have a wide, reclining seat on the plane, a screen, and something to eat during the flight. This is no longer enough for those who want to maintain a certain level of comfort, even at an altitude of 30,000 feet. In thinking of those people who always want more (even if it is not necessary), the airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, transformed its A380 airplanes into mini five-star hotels with suites of 125 square meters. These two-level airplanes have the capacity to house three premium bedrooms, called “La Residence,” which are the first class of first class. These include services such as chefs, childcare, a butler, and a concierge. These VIP areas have their own room, master bedroom, and private bathroom with shower. In the “First Apartments,” each suite has a minibar, private bathroom, closet, and TV. The rest of the airplane offers 20% more personal space than any other seat in business class, and seats become fully flat beds of 204 cm. There are also special prayer areas for Muslim passengers, which are equipped with an electronic Qibla locator in real time showing the exact direction of Mecca, based on the geographical position of the airplane. All business class passengers have access to “The Lobby,” a room with services located between the cabins of the two classes, as well as areas to enjoy contemporary art.
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Traveling by Boat Ocean liners carrying passengers go back to the nineteenth century when ships carried mail and cargo. Samuel Cunard, founder of the shipping company that bears his name, had no idea that he was starting a new industry in 1830 when thousands of people lined up to travel from England to the United States. This was not because his ships were spectacular but rather because they were faster. Gradually, ships began to be transformed to meet the needs of (first class) passengers, to the extent of bringing a cow on board to provide fresh milk. Poor immigrants traveling by boat were in third class and were abandoned to their fate. They had to find their own space to sleep in the uncomfortable corners of the ship and had to bring their own food. In 1900, cruise ships had become the epitome of glamor and sophistication. The first luxury cruise ship sailed in April of 1912 and had a pool, a Parisian café, and a steam room. In the days when traveling by sea was synonymous with romance and glamor, the main form of entertainment on the ship was shuffleboard. It was Royal Caribbean who installed the first ice rink in one of their ships, and today cruise ships have everything from roller coasters, to zip lines, to surf simulators, to climbing walls. But the industry has decided to look to the past; in 2010, several cruise lines debuted Art Deco style boats as the great ocean liners, and others offered going away parties before departure and passengers were allowed to invite friends to see the boat off. 1. First class cabins 2. First class dining 3. Third class dining 4. Luggage hold 5. Boilers
Illustration from Nuevo Tesoro de la Juventud, Volume I, Barcelona circa 1946.
The Majestic SS Normandie Known as the “Ship of Light,” the SS Normandie first sailed in 1935. It was the first ship to achieve an average speed of 30 knots, and it won five blue ribbons (for the fastest ship). For a long time it was also the world’s largest ship. After 139 voyages, the French ocean liner came to New York in 1939 and never returned to sea. The Americans wanted to transform it to transport troops, as they did with many other ocean liners during wartimes. During the transformation of the Normandie in 1942, a spark from a welder lit a pile of lifejackets on fire, causing a blaze that destroyed the most spectacular ocean liner of all time. But the boat’s demise was not the fire, but rather the water; they used so much water to extinguish the blaze that the ship keeled and was partially sunken, overturned in the sea. It remained this way for a year and a half until it was moved to a shipyard to transform it into an aircraft carrier, a project that was eventually abandoned. The Normandie was scrapped in 1946.
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Can’t miss it on the belt
Check in with style
Tired of mistaking someone else’s luggage for your own? Misako has an elegant solution. This vintage inspired suitcase is a two-wheeled trolley consisting of a trunk style box with two internal compartments.
Marc Jacobs launched this limited edition passport holder to hold all your documents while traveling and still maintain your style. The case is made of leather and has interior compartments to carry cards and ID.
misako.com/viajes
Memories in a cube
marcjacobs.com
The retro style is here to stay, and Polaroid photos are already more than just a curiosity. With the conquest of new generations, the brand launched Cubo, its new model of HD video camera with a design to suit any look.
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For your memories Next time you take a trip for personal reflection, Smythson Chameleon Collection has a travel journal to accompany you along the way. It has a goatskin cover and ultra-thin pages, so it is very light and easy to carry smythson.com
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The Essentials When traveling, your goal is to carry as few things as possible without giving anything up. We’ve got some suggestions so you can always travel with style.
Travel in your own world
Prepared for disaster
SleepPhones are more than just headphones: they are the key to a deep sleep or a moment of total concentration. This headband ensures that outside noise will be neutralized. The wireless version can be synchronized with any smartphone to hear only what you want to hear.
Losing a suitcase can ruin your vacation. To avoid this you need a Trakdot unit with a GSM chip that can track luggage anywhere in the world from a computer or smartphone.
sleepphones.com
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amazon.com/trakdot
Watching your figure For those who hate being away from the gym while traveling, now you can bring the gym in your suitcase. Fitkit combines resistance bands and tubes, a jump rope, pedometer, and more, all in a package that weighs less than one kilo. fitkit.com
Bathe like at home
For those of us who are convinced that hotel bathroom products are responsible for all our ills, Aesop has created the Jet Set Package with its best products —shampoo, bath gel, conditioner and body lotion— for you to carry on. aesop.com
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Generosity, According to Geography
Everybody who’s somebody is there The myth that Asians will soon dominate the world is no exaggeration; they are the most populous countries, the largest and most buoyant economies, and among travelers, their cities snatch popularity from cities in Europe. The world’s most important tourist center is no longer Paris but rather Hong Kong; it receives 23.7 million tourists per year (according to research from Euromonitor International). The second is Singapore, the third is Bangkok, and the fourth is London, with only 15.4 million visitors per year. The cities of Asia Pacific occupy 32 positions among the 100 most visited cities. Although Germany, USA, UK, China, and Russia are the countries with the most tourists, by 2017 China will be the leader in international departures. The cities that were once must-sees (New York, Paris, Rome) now occupy eighth, tenth, and twelfth place.
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Crossing the Sky Thousands of Times
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In the movies, the characters are always arriving at the airport and in five minutes finding a direct flight to Zurich, for example (paying in cash). The hours usually spent in line before a trip is an overdose of reality, but in some cases the fre-
quency of flights means that anyone can arrive at the counter and have a ticket within minutes, as if they were a movie star. These are the busiest air routes that allow you to travel any day at almost any time:
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Seoul − Jeju, Corea del Sur. 159 flights daily connect these cities in South Korea, made by five different airlines each day.. Rio de Janeiro − Sao Paulo, Brazil. 125 flights daily connect these two major Brazilian cities on three different airlines Tokyo − Sapporo, Japan. There are 119 flights each day on four different airlines that will take you between these two cities. Monte Carlo-Monaco Heliport − Nice, France. There are 117 daily flights on two different helicopter lines. Madrid − Barcelona, Spain. There are 116 daily flights available from four different airlines. Melbourne − Sydney, Australia. You can take any of the 116 daily flights from eight different airlines. Mumbai − Delhi, India. There are 103 daily flights from nine different airlines. Kahului − Honolulu,Hawaii. 98 airplanes connect these cities daily on four airlines. Johannesburg − Cape Town, South Africa. There are 96 daily flights from six airlines. Fukuoka − Tokyo, Japan. There are 92 flights available from three different airlines.
Rather than paying for a service, tipping is the reward for a job well done. This is believed in many countries, but in others, leaving some money on the table is one the most offensive things you can do. Everything is relative and changes along with geography. The Spanish word for “tip” (propina) has its origin in Latin, propinare, which means “to give to drink”. The percentage of this “drink” varies across borders. In the United States, for example, it is very important and can be as much as 22% of the bill. If you leave less, you are likely to be asked several times if there was anything you were dissatisfied with about their service. In countries like Chile, Mexico, and Venezuela, tipping is voluntary, about 10%. It is never included in the bill and if you don’t leave anything it is a rude gesture but there will be no screaming or threats. In Spain and France, leaving less than 20% is disrespectful and the waiter will tell you that he would rather not accept a single Euro. In some cases they play it safe and add it onto the bill as a “table service,” which is roughly 15%. Even then, a few extra euros are expected. By contrast, in Singapore there are signs that clearly prohibit tipping. In China it is not mandatory and no one expects it, but if it is left and they reject it, it’s nothing personal; they are just not accustomed to tipping. In Japan they aren’t even familiar with tips, and it is better not even try to give them gratuity, because they are likely to feel more humiliated and offended than flattered by their work.
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In Search of Origin There are internal trips, others to find oneself, and some others looking for answers. Usually, to find them, you take long journeys and extraordinary walks. These are the three oldest routes, visited by travelers who are also seeking to understand.
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The Mayan Road From the southeastern part of Mexico to the jungle of Honduras, great vestiges of what was one of the most important cultures of Mesoamerica are preserved. You can enter the jungle to discover pyramids and the remains of Mayan palaces. The most complete route includes 100 archaeological sites, and also a brief tour of the key points of this civilization. From the north of Tabasco, the first stop is Comalco, the only urban area that is built from baked bricks. From there, you go to Edzna in Campeche, which has a five-level pyramid and an amazing hydraulic system. Also in Campeche, the route continues through Calakmul, in the center of the biosphere
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reserve that was recently named a World Heritage Site. In Chiapas, the path continues through Palenque, then Tulum in Quintana Roo, Chichen Itza in Mérida, and the fortified city of Uxmal. Further to the south, in Belize, adventurers who want to expand their route should visit the archaeological sites of Altun Ha, Xunantunich, Nim-Li, and Lubaantun. In El Salvador you can visit Joya de Cerén, known as the “Pompeii of the Americas”, El Tazumal, San Andrés, and Casa Blanca. In Guatemala, the route concludes with the sites Tikal, Yaxha, Uaxactun and Quirigua. Finally, in Honduras, the route ends at the ruins of Copan, Las Sepulturas (“the graves”) and the El Puente Archaeological Park.
The Incan Route Many paths lead to Machu Picchu, but there is none like the Inca path. There are 43 kilometers of forest, mist and llamas that thousands of tourists traverse to reach the famous Puerta del Sol and enjoy a spectacular view of the ruins. The tour is almost a rite of initiation for adventure travelers, lasting between two and five days, and it can be done at almost any time of the year — except in February when rains drench the road and it must be closed temporarily. The easiest route is an uphill path from km 104 to Wiñay Wayna, and two more hours of walking through vegetation leads to Machu Picchu. The road through Valle de Lares passes through
Egyptian Christmas Egypt is the scene of one of the most important chapters in the Bible story, and travelers are able to relive it today. According to the Gospel of Matthew, after Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary fled to Egypt to escape Herod the Great, who ordered all children under two years of age to be killed. According to tradition, the family spent four years there, and although their possible routes vary, there are tours to different sites related to the pilgrimage. The city of Tell el Farama, at the northeast of the Nile’s delta, was their first stop. Then, the holy family stopped at Mostorod, north of Cairo, where there is a church that protects the cave where the family took refuge for several days. A few kilometers away in Tell Basta there is a spring
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that, according to the Bible, miraculously sprouted when the child Jesus arrived in the area. In the Matariya district in Cairo, an ancient bent sycamore tree is claimed to have provided shade to Mary; even more curious is the legend that claims that in this neighborhood, bread does not ferment, because this food was denied to the holy family. Under the Church of St. Sergius and St. Baco in Old Cairo, another underground cave is found where the Holy Family lived, visited by thousands and thousands of tourists visit each year. To end your journey, you should visit Maadi, where the family took a boat to the south. Many will doubt the guides’ stories, but the experience is incomparable.
Ollantaytambo with the best landscapes in the Valle Sagrado. But if you want to get to know the core of this civilization, the best option is to go through the jungle road leading from Cuzco to Machu Picchu, passing through Santa Teresa. You can cycle, walk, or raft this route, which allows you, literally, to trod Inca soil as you move through the “camino de hierro” (iron road), the Inca version of a highway. Your constant companion is the river, its vegetation, the llamas that amble the valleys freely, and the cooler air to be breathed. This may not be the origin of the world, but it almost seems to be.
FROM A TO Z
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Opening emergency doors during flight is almost impossible. They are designed so that only the cabin attendants can open them and in many airplanes they can only be opened with a secret button.
Despite safety standards, a girl recently got through security at a Turkey airport with a toy passport that identified her with a photo of a pink unicorn.
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These interesting facts about airplanes, airports, and passports will be of great help on your next trip or simply to satisfy your curiosity.
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Did You Know?
Foil wrappers (such as for candy or hairbands), small bottles of alcohol, inhalers, and gloves can set off the alarms at airports.
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Around the World in 80 Days ... or Less Inspired by the novel by Jules Verne, Nellie Bly, a reporter from New York World, suggested a race around the world in 80 days to her editors. On November 14, 1889, Bly departed from New York and, despite delays and complications, returned 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes later. She used various modes of transportation (trains, ocean liners, carriages, catamarans and pedicabs) at her destinations: London, Calais, Amiens, Brindisi, Suez Canal, Aden, Colombo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canton, Yokohama, San Francisco, Topeka and Chicago. Despite not having a lot of time, she even took the time to visit Jules Verne in France. Read Nellie’s book, Around the World in Seventy-two Days, which relates her historical journey. And if that is not enough, follow her steps and visit some places related to her trips. Newseum (Washington, DC, United States): A 4D film allows you to go undercover with Bly while discovering the horrendous conditions of an insane asylum, a project that made her famous before the trip. ▶
The five countries that do not have airports are all in Europe: Liechtenstein, Andorra, Vatican and San Marino. The reason? Their size.
The most expensive plane ticket in history was for the first flight of the Airbus A380 on Singapore Airlines. Someone paid $50,000 for the ticket at for a charity auction.
The most searched airport on YouTube is the Princess Juliana International Airport on the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean. Airplanes land so close to the beach that people are recommended to stay away from it when a plane takes off because of the hot air that propels it.
Musee Jules Verne (Nantes, France): Get to know the concepts that inspired the great writer of Around the World in 80 Days. ▶
Suez Canal: The Suez Canal opened for navigation only 20 years before Nellie Bly’s trip, so it was very exciting for her to see it ▶
The Days when Travel was Synonymous with Glamor... It was a beautiful time in the middle of the last century, when food on planes was much more elegant, canapés were served, and flight attendants changed their attire to look more attractive during mealtime. Travelers could leave their seats and enjoy the restaurant area, but space and economy meant that the lower classes did not travel for a long time. Hotel lobbies were important social centers. Travelling took too long and the hotels were truly homes away from home. Business men gathered in the lobbies, which were furnished with large leather chairs, suitable for resting and of course smoking.
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FE ATURES
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LIU BOLIN was born in Shandong Province, China in 1973. In 1995, he graduated with a degree in sculpture from the Art Institute of Shandong and in 2001 he earned a master’s degree, also in sculpture.
Liu Bolin Identity, photography, and sculpture
by: Andrea Villanueva photos: Ignacio Galar artwork: Courtesy
One of the most important Chinese artists of our time visited Mexico for the first time. We chatted with Liu Bolin, saw him at work, and even photographed him jumping on a bed. Here is the story. the-frontdoor.com 23
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The presidential suite of the Hotel Presidente Intercontinental is absolute chaos. There are makeup artists and painters, a chef and his assistant, empty Red Bull cans everywhere and three Colombians who can’t stop talking. It is hard to believe that we are on the 42nd floor of one of the most important hotels in Mexico City, because the windows are covered almost completely and you can’t enjoy the view. Everywhere, people are walking around with half-painted blue sweatshirts and faces completely transformed into “catrina”, a Mexican Day of the Dead figure. It is not easy to understand the fuss around me while I wait for Chinese artist Liu Bolin, the cause of all this chaos. It turns out that Ai Weiwei is not the only contemporary Chinese artist who is making waves. One difference between
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them is that Bolin is allowed to leave China, which is surprising since he also creates works that upset his government due to their social criticisms —so much so that his studio in Beijing was closed arbitrarily. Even so, Liu Bolin travels around the world not only presenting his works, but also creating at least one that represents a problem of each place he visits. Upon entering the lobby of the Hotel Presidente, we find some photographs that could be considered part of his most commercial work, the series in which he painted fashion designers (including Jean Paul
Gaultier, Angela Missoni and Alber Elbaz de Lanvin) lost in a characteristic element of their designs. These photographs were published by an editorial called “Lost in Fashion” in the March 2012 edition of the US Magazine Harper’s Bazaar (this, besides giving visibility to his work, solved one of the artist’s problems: his skin began to be affected by his painting and now he needs to use medicinal creams). But the “local” scenes are also set, in which Bolin will lose himself during this visit to Mexico. Perhaps the most characteristic is a background composed of dozens of “luchador” masks, which a few days later were used for the performance witnessed by more than 400 people. When asked if the Chinese artist is around giving interviews, no one even knows who you are talking about. It is only when they see a woman painted as catrina that hotel employees remember that something out of the ordinary is happening.
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LIU BOLIN AS A PERSON
For being a rockstar of art, Bolin is extremely accessible, although like any other celebrity, everyone present is asking for pictures and autographs. He, without hesitation, takes part in selfies and group photos, and he also gives autographs for anyone who asks (groupies, assistants, painters, fans, etc.) —on a shirt, a catalog, or a pair of pants. When asked how it feels to visit Mexico for the first time, he just smiles and says, “good, I think, perfect.” It’s his first time in the country and he says he is impressed. The conversation switches between English, Mandarin, and Spanish – with the help of his representative for Latin America, Colombian Juan Camilo Montaña – and it’s exciting but difficult to follow. In the morning, before the marathon of interviews that will take up all his time, one of the people being painted for the series “Targets” —a well-known lover of Mexican art who prefers to remain anonymous— came with a sculpture by Liu Bolin that he had bought seven years ago in a gallery. He took a photo with the artist and the work, and proceeded to be painted and photographed. The artist relates this peculiar story with a huge smile, even with wonder, as he had no idea that a Mexican was the owner of one of his works, much less one that was created so many years ago.
“ I T I S NOT T H AT I IMMERSE MYSELF IN T H E E N V I R O N M E N T, B U T T H AT T H E E N V IR ON M E N T F U L LY I N VA D E S M E . WHETHER I AM ACTIVE OR PA S SI V E DOE S NOT DEPEND ON ME.” –Liu Bolin
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From this story arises the question that many (including me) will ignorantly formulate, “You make sculpture? But you’re much better known for photography.” Bolin feels some courage upon hearing this comment, which he tends to hear often. He has studied and worked so much with sculpture, that he feels it is really a shame that his work as a sculptor is known so little. I ask why he is not creating more sculpture, and he replies laughing, “I am always making sculpture.” What is certain is that he feels privileged to be an artist. “I always wanted to be an artist,” he says. “But after finishing school [both his BA and MA in sculpture] I had many problems and had to teach to earn money. I had no money, no job. I was not happy.” That was when demolition began on the area where his studio was, and the only way he could express his frustration was through art. It was then, his first work which was a proposal against this situation, wanting to highlight the conflict of demolitions in China, that he stopped being invisible.
SOCIAL CRITICISM
Back in the suite, it is social criticism that currently occupies Liu Bolin’s mind – although he claims not to be a political artist. While he was in Paris, with the trip planned to Mexico, the artist read in Time magazine the story of the 43 normalista students missing in Guerrero and decided that this would be the issue he would use for his work on the series Targets in Mexico. What the many makeup artists and painters are doing now is creating the “characters” that eventually will be the stars in this photo. Knowing that they would come to Mexico to do “Hiding in the City,” they had several months to plan the works that they would create here, including his classic photo of magazines and one with “luchador” masks. Although it is thought to be purely aesthetical, the series began with the idea of showing a social problem of the time in China. According to Liu Bolin, society was unaware of the problems people experienced day to day – they were invisible. It is not that he really wants to be part of his 26 | The Front Door by La Revista
Hiding in the City No. 33 - Promote Democracy, Strictly Follow the Law, 2006.
THE PROFILE: LIU BOLIN
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“MY WORK IS A RE-THINKING OF SOCIETY A N D I T S B E H AV I O R . ” –Liu Bolin
Hiding in Colombia - Magazine Rack, 2013.
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T H E IDE A F OR TA R G E T S C AME FROM COLOMBIA , AND SINCE THEN BOLIN H A S BE E N TRY ING TO REPRESENT A SOCIAL PROBLEM IN E VERY COUNTRY HE VISITS
works, but that he wants to show how in the day to day, you forget about those who suffer; society prefers to think that they are invisible. He has now gone beyond China as his only scene, creating a work (or several) for the series in each country he visits. And then a few years ago in Bogota, the idea for Targets came up, which he also creates in countries that are part of his schedule. Now, it’s no longer just him in his photographs who is invisible, but the people of the country he visits, coming together to criticize something that is not just an invisible conflict. The first time that Liu Bolin visited Colombia, Juan Camilo told him the history of terrorism in the country and he imagined Colombians as “objetivos” or targets, hence the name. But it’s not about portraying people as victims, it is about doing something aesthetic that represents the strength of the country’s inhabitants. When he heard the story of catrinas and Day of the Dead in Mexico, he said he would “love to paint people as catrinas, merging them with a flower that gives life to the work and shows the strength of the Mexican people.” The agave plant was chosen to represent the country, something you would know is from Mexico even if you are in another place. Juan Camilo says that 43 people were invited to represent the missing students, and in this case they were friends of the gallery or hotel (although sometimes they were people who “signed up and showed up,” they are open to anyone who wants to collaborate in the project). 28 | The Front Door by La Revista
Galería Oscar Román Galería Oscar Román opened in 1991 to promote innovative works, with some risks. Its consistency in terms of criteria, quality, plurality and proper advertising have enabled it to create a national and international marketplace that has led to growth in artistic space and critical discourse. It has presented over 400 exhibitions of national and international artists such as Jesus Urbieta, Alejandro Arango, José Luis Bustamante, Rocío Caballero, Jorge Marín, Agustín Castro López, Luis Filcer, and Vladimir Cora, among others. “Camouflage” by Liu Bolin presents a retrospective view of all the works that the Chinese artist has done in New York, Rome, Beijing, Los Angeles, and Paris.
INFO Julio Verne 14, Polanco, Mexico City T. (55) 5280 0436 galeriaoscarroman.mx Hours Monday to Friday: 10:00 to 7:00 Saturday: 11:00 to 2:30 Facebook: Galería Oscar Román
THE PROFILE: LIU BOLIN
The background for this image will be a photo taken by Fernando Marroquín in which several maguey or agave plants appear. It is really surprising that the work of Liu Bolin is considered more pop or commercial than it actually is.
CHINA AND THE WORLD
Liu Bolin says he “travels a lot because it’s part of the job” and that among his favorite cities are New York and Paris, but he would never consider moving to any city other than Beijing (or Peking, as he still calls it).
China, as the artist explains, is undergoing a change that began 30 years ago but in the last ten years has been accelerated. For an artist, it is a country full of inspiration and ideas in trying to understand that territory develops faster than society. Bolin’s focus is Chinese society; it is much more than the government or its policies, but instead the reaction of the Chinese people to these situations. In the late eighties, when it began to open up, for the Chinese there emerged a new way of seeing the world; there are new visions and opinions but there are also those who wish that nothing had ever changed.
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As an artist, he seeks to explain his ideas and opinions about society through characters and images, without disagreeing, but highlighting situations that call his attention. Finally, the Chinese artist says he would have liked a less busy schedule, perhaps not to produce something every day. “I’d like to come back to Mexico, spend more time with people, be more relaxed and learn more about the country.” So ends a strange encounter; Liu Bolin continues to give interviews while instructing the painters who help him, jumping on the bed and asking reporters to take pictures with his phone. the-frontdoor.com 29
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GREGG A NDERS ON is General Vice President of The Registry Collection. His job is to travel to luxurious properties across the world. He studied Communications at Florida State University and later archeology in Florence.
Gregg Anderson by: Santiago Oria Probert photos: Ignacio Galar
In an interview with Gregg H. Anderson, Global Vice President of The Registry Collection, we reviewed the current state of tourism, analyzing the point of view of developers and travelers alike, always taking into account destinations, experiences, and the lifestyle of luxury that characterize both The Registry Collection and The Front Door. 3 0 | The Front Door by La Revista
Beyond the tranquility that set the scene for us —The Front Door’s beautiful property in Marina Vallarta— and Gregg Anderson’s accessible and pleasant personality, our conversation turned out to be key to understanding the hospitality industry. There were many surprises, but the first one in the conversation was finding out that Gregg is an archaeologist, an academic background that seems unrelated to his current profession. However, at a young age it allowed him to travel and to live in places like Japan, Sweden, and Italy, moving throughout the world with his family. “I’ve always been involved in some way in the world of tourism,” he says. Later, after two decades of working in the tourism and hospitality industries, the business is in his blood. “Getting to this position at The Registry Collection is a combination of training, knowledge, and experience. I am a traveler who works with what I like most. I have the best job in the world – I get paid to visit the best destinations and resorts. It’s a good life.”
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Over the last 20 years, as you would guess, he has seen a lot in terms of destinations, lifestyles, luxury, vacation, etc., and he is convinced that “luxury means different things to each person depending on the time of year and their circumstances. If a person does not travel a lot and has the opportunity to go somewhere, even if it is very nearby, and it is a first-class residence, then it becomes the most luxurious vacation that person has ever had. But if someone travels to another part of the world to sleep in a tent, on safari, this is his or her experience of luxury and lifestyle. When I work, I encourage developers to determine what they want from their properties and to build for people who dream of going on such a vacation. It can be totally different in Mexico than in India; they are different experiences. When you talk about development and luxury, you have to get to know scenes and circumstances to offer something that works.”
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Finally, it is all about experiences. “In the last ten or fifteen years, traveling means knowing what I will get from the experience. Will I learn something about the food, the music, the culture? And it has to be comfortable and beautiful. If you have an impressive location but no activities, it is not a good vacation. This is what developments consists of now.” Going further into the conversation, I said I imagined that all developers are looking to offer a unique experience, but also are located in the same environment and have almost identical conditions. Gregg’s response was simple but conclusive: “If I’m going to build ten other properties, I have to find added value in what people will experience there, especially in alternative destinations for skiing, mountain climbing, golf, health and wellness trips, or diving. You have to develop properties according to which people can do the activity.
FOR GREGG ANDERSON, T R AV E L I N G I S ABOUT KNOWING S P E C I F I C A L LY W H AT YO U W IL L GET FROM THE EXPERIENCE: TRYING NE W FOOD, HE ARING NE W MUSIC, GET TING TO K NO W A N E W C U LT U R E .
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It is much easier when you find out what people want and you find a place where they can do it. “ This search for more and more focused experiences is due to a change in the audience: “now, people in their thirties are the ones reaching an economic peak. Before, it was people in their seventies. But for both audiences there are different experiences.” So, from the point of view of the developer, “you can focus on all ages, like they do in Disney, but this rarely happens today. Developers think of a key element of the activities you can do, in the experiences offered at the destination, but you will always have a place to eat, shop, and do other things, which will never change. These days it is very hard to please everyone. It is no longer the best thing to do.” Because of this, every company must be defined within this group, and offer something different to a selected audience and make that decision a part of their work, helping developers to understand new trends, discovering what is happening in other parts of the world and in different generations. “One of the most complicated things, but one that is sure to bring success, is learning how to speak to people outside of your own generation.” Among these business partners and customers, The Front Door stands out as “a world-class developer with a large working group” because through connections like this, which bring together specialists who have become successful, “our joint work adds strengths and values. What people want to know is that we have a lot to offer and they can travel to other places and have equal or better experiences; this is what makes the companies different – The Front Door and The Registry Collection help each other.” Together, the mix they offer to their customers is divided into several levels of luxury and exclusivity. The differences meet with the needs of the customer, as “many require something better, whether it be location, experience, or service. the-frontdoor.com 33
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T T E N T ION TO DE TA IL A N D INCOM PA R A BLE SERVICE ARE OF UTMOST I M P O R T A N C E T O T O D AY ’ S L U X U R Y T R AV E L E R S ; MEXICO OFFERS THIS AND MORE
They want better quality in specific areas; what we do is offer that possibility. As developers, we create differences between products that make our different customers happy. Quality levels are part of the audience and segmentation changes according to each destination, considering what I want while I am there and what I want to experience.” Speaking specifically about Mexico as a destination, Gregg mentions that for many customers it is interesting because of its proximity and low cost, but most important is not its beautiful places, but that the attention to detail be impeccable. Service must become casual at high levels, which is difficult to achieve but in Mexico it is done very well. Finally, in talking about the future of tourism he remarked that “the creativity factor for keeping pace with the world is essential, although the way the hospitality industry operates is very traditional in its form and risks. Innovation is about creating synergies with other companies. It is to find what you do best and what someone else does best, and together to offer something unique and exclusive.” We must add to the situation the touch of responsibility that is already a must for new businesses. In tourism this means supporting the inhabitants of the region, working with artists, farmers, schools, and all kinds of local producers. “The best thing is that 90% of the people we work with are already doing something like that.” Just as the tourism industry depends on personal experiences, the consistency with which Gregg Anderson does his job made our time of conversation in one of The Front Door’s properties a truly authentic experience. 34 | The Front Door by La Revista
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the Journey by: Santiago Oria Probert photos: Courtesy
Antigua Guatemala: A tour through history
Antigua Guatemala is renowned for its cuisine, natural richness, the large cocoa and coffee farms that surround it, its traditions and customs, and extraordinary cultural heritage that is reflected in its streets and buildings with a beauty that can’t go unnoticed.
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page 036 Spring is the ideal season for golfing and discovering unexpected destinations – join us!
ANTIGUA GUATEMAL A : A TOUR THROUGH HISTORY
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Built more than 1,500 meters above sea level in a region prone to earth-
quakes and other natural disasters (which, as we will see, have significantly marked its history), Antigua Guatemala was officially founded in 1524 under the name Santiago de Guatemala, home of the Captaincy-General of the nation. Shortly thereafter, it was completely destroyed by a fire caused by an uprising of indigenous rebels and was reestablished in 1527. Fourteen years later, in 1941 once again it vanished under the power of strong earthquakes, a landslide, and a flood, forcing it to rise from the ashes for a third time. In 1943, once again, the colonial capital of Reino de Guatemala was founded, which included the regions of Chiapas, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, and for 230 years it was the cultural, economic, religious, political, and academic heart of the nation. During these more than two centuries, the inhabitants of the region raised up great temples over an urban road that was modern for the time, paying homage to the grandeur of the city. The temples weathered floods and volcanic eruptions, until Santa Marta earthquakes of 1773, which ended up defeating the unwavering city. Following the disaster, the authorities decided to move the location of the capital to a more stable region, making what is now as Guatemala City and leaving behind, hidden among debris, lava, and water, the remains of its colonial and Renaissance past. The brave people who remained rooted in place began to repopulate and rebuild the city that would from then on be named Antigua Guatemala. More than 200 years after the catastrophe, the integrity and authenticity with which the city is preserved are perhaps its greatest attributes, since its partial abandonment made it so that today the ruins
A Horn-Free City In Antigua, preservation and care of the city, as well as the quality of life of its residents, have reached limits of respect and tranquility rarely seen before. With the intention of reducing noise pollution and to educate people on traffic issues, the use of horns has been prohibited since 2009. This measure has been successful; at first, as you would assume, people would constantly forget and abuse the rule, but over the years it has taken root among antig端e単os, who now enjoy a more polite and silent city.
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ONE OF THE MOST ATTENTION-DRAWING DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROPERTY, THOUGH IT SEEMS MINOR, IS THE HORIZON.
appear to be in their original condition, in the Baroque style they were founded with and with the influence of the aesthetic trends from each of its reconstructions. Plazas, streets, fountains, churches, and homes that are still standing were restored, and new buildings, following well-defined parameters, have been built in a neo-colonial style that some have called “Antigua” style because of its originality. Among the many places that are worth visiting, the Palace of the General Captains is a must. Its construction began in 1549 and was completed nine years later, but after each earthquake or landslide it was partially amended, giving it a variety of styles and periods in a unique blend.
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Another beautiful example is next to Plaza de Armas, where the cathedral opened its doors in 1680 after eleven years of building. It is arranged in a cross shape but also seasoned by nature. Nearby you can find the Fuente de las Sirenas, designed in 1739 by architect Miguel Porras, and the town hall, whose origin dates back to 1743. Both buildings reflect the tradition of the city in every single detail. Another highlight is the Universidad de San Carlos, founded in 1676 but renovated as late as 1832; Las Capuchinas, a 1736 convent that is now partially preserved in ruins; La Merced, with one of the most beautiful facades in the city; as well as multiple mansions and humble homes that were part of the daily life of its residents.
L A R EUNIÓN Ruta Nacional CA 14, Km. 91.5, Alotenango, Sacatepéquez Antigua Guatemala T. (502) 7873 1400 lareunion.com.gt Facebook: LaReunionGolfResort Twitter: @LaReunionGT
ANTIGUA GUATEMAL A : A TOUR THROUGH HISTORY
World Heritage
LA REUNIÓN
In 1979 UNESCO declared it a World Cultural Heritage Site based on its history as a bearer of knowledge from different eras. These are some of the criteria that justify its inclusion in the list: • It is a living memory of the old Spanish culture, thanks to its baroque buildings from the eighteenth century. • Being an export center for handicrafts and religious images, its collection of objects is unique and irreplaceable. • It is one of the most important examples of urban planning in Latin America, retaining its design from 1543,
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which is matched by extraordinary colonial architecture. • Its many convents and monasteries testify to the influence of the Catholic Church in the daily life of the city. • The region developed its own “antigüeño” Baroque style, driven by the reconstruction after each of the natural disasters it suffered.
With the background of the great colonial city and surroundings including four volcanoes that have led both to the ruin and the greatness of the city, we find one of the most beautiful and important coffee plantations in the region: La Reunión. This course is raised with the same “Antigua” aesthetic that characterizes the area, but it has been renovated with exclusive modern luxuries, the most stunning resort and golf course you will ever see. One of the most attention-drawing details about this property, though it seems minor, is the horizon. Whether you are in your room, on one of the many terraces, at the golf course, pools, bars, restaurants, or anywhere else, you will always have a unique and endless view, interrupted only by volcanoes, sunsets, or clouds. With this feature as a standard, the enjoyment of any activity on any trip —whether it be with family or as a couple, or with the intention of playing golf, horseback riding, or mountaineering— begins with an advantage in the perception of visitors. This is an advantage we all hope to discover.
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Leisure
by: Carlos Sánchez-Morán
Driver
Straight to Paradise Golf is more than just a game, it’s a lifestyle in which your biggest competition is yourself. Here is a short guide to the best courses to visit in Mexico.
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From the first time you hit the ball well and make it fly towards the fairway or green, you fall in love with golf. That experience, the feeling
in your stomach when you finally get a birdie or the ball stays still a few feet from the hole. The feeling is repeated every time your spikes trod a new course. In this sport there is an old saying: “You don’t compete against others, you compete against yourself.” The course is where you can display all your decision and risk-taking skills and use them to conquer all 18 flags. You dominate the course. Of course, golf is not just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle; it means being a lady or a gentleman and playing as such on the course and in life. For those who are passionate about the sport, there are options that will lead
DRIVER: STRAIGHT TO PARADISE
IN THE RIVERA MAYA, WATER AND SAND ARE NOT FOR TAKING A DIP OR RESTING; THEY ARE HAZARDS THAT CAN BECOME A REAL NIGHTMARE FOR GOLFERS
you to discover new challenges, and other courses to test you and clear your mind. Mexico has different environments for grabbing your clubs and playing a round with friends, family, or business partners. From the ancient and modern complexes in the State of Mexico to the resorts on the coast, whether they be in the Riviera Maya or the Pacific, or even the Bajío. There will always be a new course where you can return to the clubhouse at six in the evening with the feeling of victory and the 19th hole open for a drink of whiskey.
A GREEN WITH AN OCEAN VIEW
The Riviera Maya is one of the top golf destinations in Mexico, as complexes were made to enjoy the game under the best beach conditions; but don’t be blinded by its beauty. In recent years the crown jewel of golf courses has been El Camaleón.
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Located in Playa del Carmen, the club hosts the OHL Classic, the only PGA tournament in Mexico. There, fans are able to experience a full circuit tournament. Its 7000 yards were designed by Greg Norman, who left no doubt as to why he is called the “Shark”. In addition to bunkers that can turn the Mayan paradise into a nightmare, you will find the peculiarity of the 7th hole, on the coast, which has an additional challenge: a cenote, a natural sinkhole filled with water, dividing the fairway. I warned you that the water and sand weren’t just for kicking back and resting! For around $280 per person, this area is great for playing in a foursome and walking the greens of Bahía. Access is open to the general public. But if your favorite legend of the green is the “Golden Bear,” who is one of the greatest golfers of all time with 18 majors championships, in Cancun you will also find a Jack Nicklaus signature golf club.
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The Moon Spa & Golf Club offers 27 holes, providing an opportunity to play three different sections, each with nine flags to conquer. Jungla, Lago and Dunas are the names of each of the courses that Jack Nicklaus devised to offer exotic sceneries and luxurious facilities. For those searching for an entertaining course, you can play any of these par 36 greens. The view, food, and drinks are an incentive to choose this site for great days of golf and friends. Maybe you’ll even close a good business deal among the sand, lakes, and sea.
ALSO ON THE PACIFIC
If you’re looking for luxury, there is a course in the Mexican Pacific that has everything for a fantasy round: Estrella de Mar in Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
Courses at a glance • Marina Vallarta Puerto Vallarta. 18 holes. Par 71. 6,701 yards. • El Camaleón Golf Club Riviera Maya. 18 holes. Par 72. 7,024 yards. • Jungle, Dunes y Lake Courses at Moon Spa & Golf Club Cancun. 27 holes. 3 par 36 courses. • Grand Coral Playa del Carmen. 18 holes. Par 71. 7,043 yards. • Riviera Maya Golf Club Cancun. 27 holes. 3 par 36 courses. • Estrella de Mar Mazatlán. 18 holes. Par 72. 7,015 yards. • El Cid Mazatlán. 27 holes. 3 par 36 courses.
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From the entrance to the facility, towering palm trees guard the road, giving it a unique image of grandeur. It is a course, like those on the coast, with few slopes, but this should not confuse visitors. The fairways have slopes that must be taken into account, and you will have to follow the advice of your caddy for the broad greens. The last four holes are particularly complicated, and wind can be a real headache for those who attempt the course. One of the great advantages of it is that it is located away from the Golden Zone, near the local airport, and the only sounds heard for miles are the waves and birds. Experiencing Sinaloa’s cuisine is also a good excuse to spend the day at this course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
ON A GOLF COURSE YOU DON’T COMPETE AGAINST OTHERS, BUT AGAINST THE ELEMENTS AND THE COURSE ITSELF… AND, OF COURSE, AGAINST YOURSELF.
DRIVER: STRAIGHT TO PARADISE
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Courses by the Legends in Mexico In Mexico there are several designer courses, starting with the 24 by Jack Nicklaus, six by Robert Trent Jones Sr., five by Greg Norman, four by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and one by Lee Trevino.
This port also is home to the El Cid course. It is in the middle of the hotel zone of MazatlĂĄn, where the professional national tour is played. It has also hosted stages of the Canadian tour. The BerdeguĂŠ family complex has a club designed by Larry Hughes and Lee Trevino consisting of three courses: El Moro, Castilla, and Marina. To fully enjoy the view and the vegetation, the third option is best. It is a very flat course, but it is not be trusted, since trees often complicate play in this beautiful circuit that opened in 1972. It may not be especially modern, but you can enjoy its spacious fairways and facilities for players. Those who do not participate will be
served well with seafood available and a plaza very close by. Just cross the bridge connecting the course and you will wind up right at the Pacific.
NOT MEMBERS ONLY
There are clubs in the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico that are private, but anyone who is passionate about golf should not miss them. One of these is Bosque Real CC. It is a real challenge and is remembered for the great emotions of the LPGA tournaments, which the great Lorena Ochoa attended. Although the Guadalajara native did not manage a win on the course, Annika Sorenstam, Pat Hurst, Louise Friberg and
the surprising Meaghan Francella won championships at this event and showed that playing there is a physical and mental challenge well worth the effort. Its slopes force your mind to stay strong and move on. You can play as a guest or in a business event, and you will have the chance to show that it is not only in business that you can be bold. Tres Marias in Morelia, El Tigre in Nuevo Vallarta, the thirteen courses of Baja California Sur where you can appreciate extraordinary beauty... There will always be a green for you to play against yourself and enjoy, at the same time, the luxury experience that goes along with being a golfer.
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