The Terrifying Police Raid on a Chic Tulum Hotel

Plus, The Mad Rush to Save Pompeii From Another Natural Disaster

Manage newsletters View in browser The entire world in your inbox. Hello all–   I hope February is off to a great start! I just finished what was truly one of the most epic road trips of my life along the Baja Peninsula. It's hard to believe a stretch of such pristine beauty, starling landscapes, and accessible wildlife exists largely untrammeled.    Our lead feature this week takes us to the opposite corner of Mexico–Tulum. Jeremy Kryt reports on the scary, and sketchy, police raid of a chic beachfront hotel. It roused guests from their rooms in the middle of the night and the owners are convinced it was a set up.   Barbie Nadeau takes a fascinating look at the ways scientists are using Pompeii as a case study to learn how climate change affects archeological sites in the hopes to better preserve other spots around the globe. She also fills us in on  the 4,000-acre gated colony in Paraguay that has become an oasis for European conspiracy theorists wanting to escape COVID mandates closer to home.   Speaking of archeology, Candida Moss dives into a discovery that caused quite a stir last month. A ring with a shepherd on it was found in a shipwreck, creating quite a stir for some members of  the archeological community. But Candida isn't so convinced it's what they think it is, and in proving her point, gives a fascinating lesson on early Christian iconography. Enjoy!    —William O'Connor, Travel Editor Armed Raids, Crooked Cops: Wild War Over U.S. Hotel in Tulum Impresarios are at war over one of the most gorgeous beachfront properties in the luxury tourist resort town and celeb hang-out of Tulum. The Mad Rush to Save Pompeii From Another Natural Disaster A multimillion-dollar project will soon turn the ancient ruins of Pompeii into one of the most technologically advanced research sites in the world. Does an Ancient Ring Found in a Shipwreck Depict Jesus Christ? The "Good Shepherd" ring caused a stir when it was unveiled last month, but things may not be so clear-cut. Europeans Escaping COVID Mandates, 5G, Chemtrails Are Flocking Here A conspiracy theorists' commune in one of the world's most poverty-stricken corners is filling up with those running from coronavirus mandates, 5G, and other "threats." "It's a sort of internationalist boutique in its aesthetic—subway tile, soft tones, lots of wood, curated quirkiness like a fire pit in the lobby, and a pop-up shop that all give it personality while still being familiar." – this week we highlight one of Los Angeles's newest hotels, The Shay. OMG I Want to Rent This House!      The Boulders, Beaver, Utah (Vrbo): It seems like almost everywhere in the country is covered in ice and snow and generally atrocious weather right now. Which means you have two options: you can crawl under the covers and refuse to come out until springtime, or you can make a lemon slushy out of these lemon icicles and embrace the elements by planning your next ski trip. While the crowds descend on places like Park City and Aspen and Beaver Creek, keep the spirit of distancing alive by heading somewhere a little off the beaten path. Somewhere like Beaver, Utah.   The weather may be crazy, the world may be unpredictable, but one thing will always stay the same as this photo proves—there is nothing better than a sunset on vacation. Except, maybe, a sunset on vacation with the most delicious cocktail of your life in hand. Cheers!   Book Your Stay: The Boulders, Beaver, Utah: $720/night via Vrbo   Don't miss previous OMG, I Want to Rent This House posts, which spotlight the most spectacular and unique homes that you can actually stay in.  Check out the full archives.  Travel to Turn of the Century Japan with this Book   So much of our travel, from museums to historic neighborhoods to reenactments, are an attempt to travel back into the past. The same goes for coffee table books, whether they be photos of Paris by Marville or the Golden Age of Hollywood. That's why our latest selection for Just Booked, our series on gorgeous travel related coffee table books, is the latest in Taschen's series on various destinations at the turn of the century—Japan 1900.   The extra large book is filled with more than 700 photos from the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th and have been lightly colorized. They capture a Japan as it slowly opens up to the world and becomes a major stop on the steamship routes (so popular that the word globetrotter was created to describe its western visitors).   There are fabulous photos of Osaka, bustling as ever, and the mixed architecture of Yokohama. The artisan shops down narrow alleys is much of what visiting Japan at that time was about, so there are of course shots of that. But the natural beauty is particularly captivating, from nearly empty bays to glorious Mt. Fuji, and of course, plenty of cherry blossoms. BUY ON TASCHEN  >>                Please note that if you buy something featured in one of our posts or newsletters, The Daily Beast may collect a share of sales. @copyright 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC I 555 W. 18th Street, New York NY, 10011   Privacy Policy   If you are on a mobile device or cannot view the images in this message, click here to view this email in your browser. 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