SUITCASE STORIES: Heidi Smets from Cobo&Co
Through Barts Boekje we may post plenty of (travel) tips and inspiration; we also really enjoy sharing stories and travel tips from other travel-loving women. Hence the launch of SUITCASE STORIES, a platform within a platform in collaboration with SUITSUIT where we tell stories, learnings, inspiration and share more.
We asked Heidi Smets, founder of Cobo&Co, to the places where she likes to drag her suitcase the most. Since her student days she has traveled all over the world, among other things to visit various artists and craftsmen apprenticeships and follow workshops. Nowadays she organizes creative trips to Jaipur and Mexico City herself.
”The idea for Cobo&Co came around the corner in 2018 when I wanted a weekend break from my computer and my busy head. The retreats I saw were all about meditation, yoga or mindfulness. But I wanted to relax by working with my hands, a creative alternative to a yoga weekend. The creative holidays I did find were often a bit stuffy or woolly-socks. Where were the modern design and craft retreats? A light went on: my many years of experience as a tour guide, graphic designer and world traveller is the perfect mix for the yourself organizing contemporary creative getaways. It started with creative retreat weekends in the Netherlands, but for a few years now I also organize art, craft and design trips to Jaipur and Mexico City.”
"At Cobo&Co we love to travel with depth and discover a destination with a focus on one creative theme. The travel program revolves around local art, craft and design. Because you also get to work with local professionals, you experience an original and creative part of the country. This way you learn during the block print trip to India about natural dyes and different printing techniques, and you will print textiles yourself in local studios. During the trip to Mexico City which revolves around Mexican Folk art includes paper mache, among other things and ceramic workshops on the program.”
For those staying at home (close to home), Cobo&Co also organizes creative workshops and weekends throughout the country. You can read more about this on the website.
Mexico City. As a mega fan of all things Latino, and especially all things Mexican, I couldn't be happier here. The city is a huge explosion of creativity: art, music, food, EVERYTHING. All my favorites rolled into one amazing city. During the group tour to Mexico City we visit some favorite places that are a little less known and all too cool for creative to be."
(Not) on a creative group trip yet, but curious about Heidi's tips? Then definitely read on.
De Lagunilla Market on the weekend is Heidi's favorite market: vintage, junk & beautiful, art and lots of food. In the afternoon the covered part changes into a real party scene. Even the small flea market in Jardín Dr. Ignacio Chavez is recommended for vintage, magazines, posters and art. The mercy, a permanent covered market, is the queen of all markets in the world. Corazon Verde is the shop of a fair trade network of female textile artists. at Donde Clara shop your natural craft supplies at Mexican Utility they sell modern versions of Mexican household items and at Love the Plant Do you find funny ceramics?
The largest mural in the world can be found in the Polyforum Siqueiros. The José Vasconcelos Library (aka 'City of Books') is highly recommended, especially for its architecture. The MODO Museo del Objeto del Objeto is a small, quirky museum with nice gift shop and of course it is allowed Museum of Popular Art – the museum of Mexican crafts, not to be missed. What also should not be missed is good catering. Masala and Corn is a hip Mexicanmeets-Indian restaurant. Taverna Prim is a fantastic cocktail bar and restaurant located in a kind of ruin. Also visit Xaman: a small nightclub with a witchcrafty theme and DJs. To take stock of the Green Huerta. An alternative, green place in the city with coffee, markets, a vegetable garden and chickens.
"I think India. Although it is certainly as busy and chaotic as I had expected, I was completely surprised by the calm that prevails there. The peace that hangs over the people and the country, despite the enormous hecticness, is something I had never experienced before. In addition, India shook up a lot of my ideas and habits, because I had never been somewhere where Western logic was zo little applies as in India. While I had already been to about 50 countries before I first visited India.”
“I would take my bike and cycle around the world. Real slow travelling with lots of stops that, of course, have to do with art, craft and design. Without a bike I would go for a whirlwind-around-the-world trip in a futuristic teletransporter along the places with my coolest memories: Semuc Champey in Guatemala, the Hundertwasser spa in Austria, the old center of Panama City, M'hamed in Morocco and Burning Man in the US. But I'm too curious to go back to the same places often. And maybe it's better to leave the beautiful memories alone.”
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