One thing that struck me while wandering around was, how clean the streets are. Saw this guy doing his business on the palm tree with a can dedicated to chicle – chewing gum. On the tree beside it was a can for cigarette butts.
Author: Mel
I'm a painter, curious student of life and traveler.
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico VIII
There were not as many street dogs around as I would have had expected, but a lot of people actually have dogs. I really miss having a dog. This one was snoozing in front of a paint supply shop.
Observation: It´s too hot to move during the afternoon heat.
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico VII
I haven’t seen this many VW beetles since… I can´t remember. They got rather rare in Germany and if you see them, then you never see them in anything else than perfect condition. Here, they just are. I saw several of them and they are just lovely. What do you think about them?
I´m still trying to figure out where and how much white space to leave when colouring with these watercolours…
Observation: Lots of beetles around here.
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico VI
Plenty of colourful houses around here. What colour is your house or you would like it to be?
Observation: The brighter the better.
Finally finished this one.
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico V
Based on a really bad snapshot I took during my bike tour through the town of Tulum.
Observation: Cables, cables everywhere!
And the before in my sketch book. The other one is still unfinished…
I did like their slogan… Mas por menos.
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico IV
Another truck. I enjoyed watching them while they were throwing boxes and bottles up and down.
Observation: There is so much green around here.
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico III
These big delivery trucks where pretty much everywhere.
The first draft looked like this. I really start to have fun with the water paintbrush that I bought. I think it gives you a completely different watercolour experience than with a normal paintbrush. Also it is less messy.
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico II
Encountered these two on my bike tour around town. It seemed to me that it was the big brother who had to pick up the little one, but big brother was not too excited about walking down the street with little brother.
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico
What struck me most, the first time I visited Mexico, was the diversity of culture, landscapes, nature, people and especially the extreme poverty and wealth, and everything in between, that can be seen at every corner.
On the first windy and cloudy day since arrival, I seized the opportunity and went for a cycle around the town of Tulum. I don´t want this to become a travel blog but rather put down some random impressions that I got along the way. Like this girl who ran after her pug to catch him, after he had escaped from the house.
When you look up Tulum, you get all those beautiful beach photos, the ruins and the expensive beach resorts that will cost you 200$ plus per night.
What most people wont see are the slums in the middle of the forest, where people most likely live of 200$ per month, situated right between those fancy resorts and the town centre.
I usually don´t take a lot of photos, but Tulum had a lot of beautiful street art, even in the poorer parts, that I tried to capture because of the colours.
Tulum, Mexico
So I have been in Mexico for roughly 2 weeks now and I am loving it. I have been here last in 2014 for ca 3 months travelling around the southern parts of the country. I also spent a good amount of time on the beach back then because I had never been to a Caribbean like beach before and it was simply incredible.
So I wanted to start my trip by getting my much needed vitamin D on the beach in Tulum, Quintana Roo, after spending yet another winter in Iceland. I went back to the same hostel my boyfriend and I stayed in 3 years ago because it is a 5 minute bike ride from the beach and it has this beautiful hangout area with a small pool, hammocks and lots of plants.
So here it was that I made my first attempt of sketching with the watercolours and pens I brought with me. I have to admit it partially felt like a struggle as it took me some time, but in pleasant 25 degrees with my morning coffee next to me it was also quite enjoyable.
Visit at the ice cream parlor
The last picture in my series of ice cream dedicated drawings for the moment. I am pretty sure I will revisit them at some point. I think it was a fun theme to practice drawing and those water colours on.
I was bored the other night at a friends place where I tried out a beautiful set of Japanese watercolours. The inspiration was a photo of the Valdís Ice cream parlor in Reykavik. They bake their own waffles in the back so you always have that delicious waffle smell in your nose upon entering. The ice cream is quite delicious too.
I´ll not only take a break from ice cream but also the land of ice – Iceland – as I ´ll be heading to Mexico for 2 months! To do what, I don´t know yet, but my priorities are to learn Spanish and to get some sun! But I also have my drawing stuff packed and I will see what I come up with while on the road.
Until then, enjoy your ice cream!
Sunday brunch with ice cream
Last day of the week and I thought that a nice pancake lunch would be perfect to finish it off. So dig in!
Had a lot of fun doing these 7 day drawing challenge and might do another one soon. I also ended up buying more watercolours last week so lets see what happens.
Relax and enjoy your Saturday ice cream
I love whiskey. Especially the slightly smoky kinds like Talisker and the more well rounded ones like Glenlivet are perfect on a cozy evening.
Vanilla ice cream is the perfect starter for this Saturday night.
Your well deserved after-work-treat
I am really enjoying this themed 7 day challenge. 2 more days to go.
Finally its Friday and what is better than a cold one straight after work I thought?
Extra sugar on Thursday
The week is more than half way over, so you might need a little bit of extra sugar to keep you going until the weekend.
These ones are more of the typical Icelandic style kind of ice creams that you get at most ice cream parlors. Soft ice cream in a box with any kind of topping you can think of – From Mars bars, to Oreos, Smarties, Skittles, coconut bars, biscuits and much much more and everything topped with chocolate and caramel sauce. Don´t forget the cream!
If that doesn´t give you a sugar high then I don´t know.
It´s all going down on Wednesday
During the last couple of months I definitely got into the positive habit of drawing regularly. After not drawing and painting a lot for the last couple of years I now cannot imaging to do it at least several times a week. They say a new habit takes about 21 days to form. It certainly worked for me. Next step is to try to apply it to my language studies… Spanish next and then back to Icelandic…
I love how this one turned out. It was snowing and I love snow. But it is also time to shovel it up.
Have your pick of ice cream on Tuesday
Day 2 of my 7 day challenge. Monday went well so you can have your pick with your Tuesday ice cream. Which one do you want?
Monday ice cream
I thought about joining another one of those drawing challenges as it was a lot of fun doing Inktober, but I couldn´t find anything that interested me. So I decided to do my own 7 day challenge of one drawing a day… dedicated to ice cream of course! I will keep the ice cream theme up for another week or so because after that I will hit the road and am off to explore Mexico! But more about that later.
For now, fight the Monday blues with your ice cream of the day – Voilà!
It´s a dogs life
A spoiled pooch that cannot get enough. When you are torn between a popsicle or scoops of vanilla & walnut ice cream with chocolate sprinkles on top.
What is your favourite flavour?
That´s it? I´m not convinced.
“The girl at the ice cream parlor talked me into getting pistachio. But I am not convinced. Should have picked walnut instead.”
Another watercolour drawing…. my favourite for the colours so far.
Happy weekend! Go and get some ice cream! I am currently in southern Germany were I enjoy 12+ degrees Celsius.
Melanie Franz 