Saturday, November 14, 2009

Nicholas Malleville & Francesca Bonato


Coqui Coqui is a spa created by Nicholas Malleville an Argentinian botanist, landscape architect and model with locations in Valladolid, Coba and Tulum. On my 3rd attempt in a year I found the doors to the Valladolid spa and perfumery closed again. As I was driving off I saw Nicholas walk up to the locked door and scream for Francesca. No one came to the door but he went to the neighbors and climbed over the wall and after adjusting the lights he let me in. I'd gone in search of a fragrance to replace L'eau Trois which was recently discontinued by Dyptique. My friend Kathleen Baird-Murray the world foremost authority on spas (in my acquaintance) and the former beauty editor of Tatler had just passed through Valladolid and brought me a couple of likely contenders from Coqui Coqui. Nicholas was very kind to give us a tour and recommend a nice Italian restaurant on the square Candelaria. Finally Francesca came down from her massage 8 months pregnant. We talked about the virtues of various hospitals in Merida and exchanged emails. The next day I dropped in to say goodbye as I had work to do in Merida and after 4 hours of non-stop talk I got in my car and back on the highway.

I wondered if my life would not have been more like his if I'd gone directly from Paris to Tulum instead of stopping off in NYC waste most of my hard earned modeling money in restaurants and auction houses. We agreed to make a trade. When Francesca gives birth in early December I'll loan them my house and when I have a break I'll be their guest in Coba or Tulum.

Go read the W article and you'll understand why I'd like to trade my life for his. I'm just not sure I could fit in my 5 dogs.