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The development of Curtiss' 240,000-square-foot beachfront property began over 10 years ago but was halted just one year later in 2008 due to the unforeseen global financial crisis. Curtiss managed to complete the project over the course of the next five years, however, he had to scale his initial vision of 50+ residences down to the 24 they have today. "This project was never designed to make money, but it wasn't designed to lose money either," Curtiss explained. "You can't always plan for everything. There's always going to be something haunting you, reminding you what will happen if it all goes wrong. Life is funny that way. You have to dream and take risks and know that sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't." When it came to the construction, Curtiss turned to renowned Mexican architect Gerardo Ulate who, admittedly, was reluctant at first to take on such a huge and non- traditional project. In the end, Ulate was able to create a unique collection of individually-designed private residences that bring an organic and authentic quality to luxury living. From the curved, white, Mediterranean-style buildings that seem to grow straight up from the ground, to the custom air chimneys and shapely Olympic-size pool, this level of detail can be found throughout the entire property. Each residence at Playa de La Paz has a unique floor-plan and ranges anywhere from one to four bedrooms and spans from 2,900 square feet up to 9,000. Handmade marble and granite can be found in every home, along with state-of-the-art Viking appliances, Vantage smart technology and most importantly, unobstructed ocean views no matter what level or room you're in. "To me, Playa de La Paz is best-in-class and I'm not sure anyone else will ever go through the trouble of building anything like it," Curtiss added. "The fact that it was about finding self-worth and creating something beautiful—it was my interpretation of being an artist." While our stay at Playa de La Paz undoubtedly fueled us with some much needed R&R, including afternoons spent in the jacuzzi and indulgent poolside massages, nothing could've prepared us for the adventures we'd encounter. Each morning started on the sea, breaking off from the mainland to explore stops at Balandra Beach, known for its stunning and awe-inspiring views, Isla Espíritu Santo, an island off the Gulf of California famous for its active wildlife and surrounding sea lion colony which you can (and we did) swim with, followed by lunch at the Port of Pichilingue where the locals introduced us to chocolate clams, named for the color of their shells. However, above all, what I can only describe as a terrifyingly exhilarating experience was our opportunity to swim alongside whale sharks—the largest fish on the planet. While we were informed that these sharks specifically were only juveniles, they ranged anywhere from 20 to 30 feet in size and return to La Paz every winter. In all my apprehension I threw myself into the water and although you aren't allowed to touch them, the ability to just exist in their presence was enough for me. I'm not sure whether it was the ocean crashing against the shore or the winds whistling in the night, but I somehow found comfort in my connectedness to nature. The type of quiet that I came to discover on my trip cannot be defined by acts of silence or time spent in solitude but rather by a sense of peace. And the real value, Curtiss will tell you, is finding peace within yourself. " It was about finding self-worth and creating something beautiful—it was my interpretation of being an artist. " J E F F R E Y C U R T I S S V U E N J . C O M 115 VUE ON TRAVEL

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