There's a magic that lives in the Chihuahuan Desert. Deep in West Texas, 7 hours from the capital of Austin, is the town of Marfa. Many make the long trek to debunk the 'must see to believe' Marfa Lights. Many to discover the oasis of Art that thrives here. But many come to discover this strange and wonderful town for themselves.

El Cosmico is a non traditional hotel that lies on the outskirts of Marfa. It's 21 acres include vintage trailers, safari tents, tepees and even a Mongolian yurt. Liz Lambert, owner, built El Cosmico with the strong belief that "life should be a balance of adventure and do-nothingness." With limited wifi and phone signal, Marfa forces you to look up from your screen and see the beauty around you.

Marfa's population is just shy of 2,000, making it the perfect locale to be alone, both mentally and physically. El Cosmico draws in not just cowboys. It attracts artists, hipsters, and those looking to escape the big city. Oh, and the occasional Queen of Music when she wants a vacation from being recognized.

(Beyonce in her trailer at El Cosmico.)

El Cosmico is just one of Lambert's ingenious creations. Sister hotels include Hotel San Jose and Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin as well as Hotel Havana in San Antonio.

The 1920's: Jazz lingers around every street corner. Flappers are redefining fashion. And Art Deco is reaching it's peak in popularity. Jacques Majorelle, son of a celebrated furniture designer, was accustom to these times. He was a French painter, the ultimate romantic. When Majorelle started having heart problems in his early 20's, he decided to find refuge in the unknown. Marrakech, Morocco.

Morocco is vastly different from Majorelle's homeland of France. He replaced rolling, green hills with palm trees sprinkled on a red backdrop. The cool, crisp mornings are replaced with slow, sun drenched days. Years flew by and in 1923 he bought a palm grove just outside the city center. Nowadays, Majorelle is not know for his pantings, but instead, his greatest work: the garden. A special color of blue, used extensively around the garden, now bears his name - Majorelle Blue.

In 1980, two decades after Majorelle's death, fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent purchased the garden. He visited the gardens for many years saying it gave him the "unlimited source of inspiration". He kept the with the traditional Majorelle Blue and hired a dedicated staff to help the garden flourish.

Right: Portrait of a young Jacques Majorelle // Left: Saint Laurent designing in his office at Majorelle Garden

Scattered among the cactus are tranquil, turquoise ponds. Lotus flowers fragrant the air with sweetness. Small, winding paths lead to secret alcoves. While other paths lead you to the bold, bright blue building that stands firmly in the center of the garden.

With one step inside the garden, the bustling city behind you becomes silent. Fair warning, you might never want to leave this place. The garden where so many artists spent their lives escaping to. The oasis where serenity is prevalent. Welcome to the masterpiece that is the Jardin Majorelle.

How to Age Gracefully.

Remember when I said Taylor’s Step-Dad use to live on a boat as a child, traveling the French Riviera in the 60′s? Well, his live-in teacher / co-captain (who was not much older than him) now lives in a quaint little town called Poilhes. 

Myles and Suzy had not seen each other in nearly 40 years and I was so happy that I could witness their reunion. There was no shyness, no awkward pauses that a few decades might create, nothing but pure magic and laughter. Suzy pulled out old scrapbooks, Myles sang songs and we explored Suzy’s new hometown along with her new beau and all around amazing husband, David. 

Menton, France is small town on the French Riviera and only a stones throw away from Italy. Taylor’s step dad used to live in Menton, on his family’s sailboat in the 60′s. It was so wonderful following Myles around this French town who looks so Italian. It was obvious to see the memories overwhelming him as he would point out all the nooks and crannies him and his siblings would hide and play games. That for me, was the highlight of Menton.

For a town nestled along the ocean, you’ve got to try the seafood, right? Not in our case. One plate of steak tartare was dished up and check mark was added to my bucket list. The French palate is a bit more sophisticated than my lil Texan tongue. Give me my meat charred and grilled. 

Until next time, Riviera. Stay colorful. 

In order to get from Chamonix, France to Monaco, you have to drive through Italy. We weren’t complaining. We made a quick espresso stop in the town of Turin (aka Turino). We wandered the quiet, cobblestone streets, observed people making their way to work, and funny enough had one of the best turkish kabobs of my life.