This building definitely left its impression on me as it was so blinding bright… It was hard not to notice it, especially in the bright afternoon sun. It seems to be an apartment hotel. Would you like to stay there?
Tag: sketching
On the streets of Tulum, Mexico IX
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.
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.
Melanie Franz 