Latest news with #Ditte
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
How A Superyacht Captain Married His Chief Stew And Built A Boutique Hotel In Todos Santos
Federico and Ditte outside of their Casa Hygge in Mexico Casa Hygge On the wild Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, lies Pescadero, a lush green Mexican oasis just five miles from Todos Santos and a short drive from Cabo San Lucas. It's here that a former superyacht Captain and his Chief Stew have traded high seas for desert living, opening Casa Hygge, a 13-bungalow residential retreat blending Nordic minimalism with the raw beauty of Baja. Their story reads like a Hallmark romance. Ditte Perschke, the youngest of three sisters from a small town in Denmark, studied Service & Hotel Management in Copenhagen before swapping hotels for the elite world of luxury yachts, working as a chief stewardess catering to the demands of high-profile owners. Federico Martinez Archdale, born in Acapulco and raised by the sea, became a captain after years working his way up from watersports instructor to managing superyachts. Poolside at Casa Hygge Casa Hygge The couple first met on the French Riviera when Federico was working as a bosun on a superyacht stuck in St. Tropez by stormy weather. Ditte was aboard a neighboring yacht anchored at Pampelonne Beach. A ride on a tender, freezing winds, and a warm smile later, a series of 'accidental' encounters between the two followed. The Riviera became home for both, until they set sail together on a superyacht traveling to the Mediterranean, where their bond deepened, eventually inspiring them to leave behind decades at sea and pursue new opportunities on land. By 2021, they were ready to retire from yachting—'pretty much the day France lifted all the Covid restrictions,' Ditte recalls—and chase a dream they had long talked about: creating a cozy seaside escape where comfort was defined not by opulence, but by thoughtfulness. Fred and Ditte at work on the superyacht. Casa Hygge Finding the right location was a journey in itself. Baja was love at first sight for Ditte—the oasis-like greenery of El Pescadero with its dramatic surf and sunsets. 'Driving through all that desert and then suddenly seeing this lush, green patch… it took my breath away,' she says. After four winters of 'test living' there, they bought a farm plot, with no neighbors in sight. When their first construction budget came through, it was a shock for the couple, at around $1,400,000 US, including the land. 'That's a big jump for two ex-yachties working with limited savings and budget,' says Ditte. 'In the end, we spent close to $1,700,000,' she adds. 'We didn't fully account for landscaping, which was way more expensive than on the mainland, or the level of custom, high-quality decoration and finishes we wanted to achieve. Despite the unexpected costs and obstacles, we adapted and learned a lot along the way.' Interior bungalow at Casa Hygge Casa Hygge But building in Mexico tested their resilience. They fought off dishonest contractors, survived lawsuits, learned the art of negotiating 'gringo prices,' and built much of the property while running on generators for over a year. 'When the power finally came on, we sat on the terrace, drank Scotch, and cried,' says Federico. 'It wasn't just electricity—it was the moment we knew we'd made it through the worst.' Casa Hygge's design is exactly what its name promises: warm, intimate, unfussy. Locally sourced woods, handpicked stone, hammocks on private terraces, and open-air spaces that blur the line between indoors and out. There's no restaurant, but a communal lounge and pool surrounded by gardens invite conversations. 'Guests often don't know if it's a hotel or a private home,' Ditte laughs. 'That's the sweet spot.' Communal spaces for fireside chats at Casa Hygge Casa Hygge In the world of superyachts, 'service goes far beyond five stars,' says Federico. 'If they think of it, fancy it, or want it—they'll get it one way or another.' That culture of anticipating every need shaped Casa Hygge's DNA. Yet here, they've swapped bottomless budgets for resourcefulness, trading gold-plated perfectionism for handmade imperfection that feels warmer and more human. While they are still involved in the hospitality business, the experience is different. 'Even though we both mostly worked for incredibly generous and respectful bosses on reputable yachts, it's not an easy industry,' says Federico. 'In both yachting and hospitality, you've got to predict your guests' next steps, their next request, their next need. But on a superyacht, service goes far beyond five stars. The sky's the limit for any kind of unique, unexpected, or extravagant request. The expectations are incredibly high, but their budgets mean pretty much anything can be done.' Living area in bungalow at Casa Hygge Semko Balcerski 'We learned from the best, trained to deliver safety, experiences, and service at the very highest end of hospitality,' he adds. 'It doesn't get more luxurious than superyachting, where luxury is always front and center. Because of this background, creating a functional property with genuine comfort for our guests today is, in many ways, easier.' Rates at Casa Hygge run around $120–$180 per night, with the option to rent out the entire property for weddings or reunions. Most guests arrive via San José del Cabo International Airport, an easy 90-minute drive, and are welcomed with the kind of personal touch that once won over oligarchs and movie stars on the high seas. Rooftop sunset view patios at Casa Hygge Casa Hygge 'When someone walks into Casa Hygge, I want them to instantly feel like we've been expecting them,' says Ditte. 'That's the superyacht training talking—you don't wait for needs to be voiced, you anticipate them.' When they designed the property, they focused on the residential condominium concept, and selling each property to friendly, like-minded people at a reasonable price. They included a full property and rental management program, owners get a return on investment, and they keep the monthly income from managing the properties. Aerial view of bungalows at Casa Hygge Casa Hygge Though they could split their time, Ditte and Federico live year-round in El Pescadero. Their integration into the local community—learning Spanish, hiring locally, supporting artisans—has earned them deep respect. 'It's more than just business,' says Ditte. 'It's about belonging.' 'The locals have been incredible,' adds Federico. 'They saw us show up every day, sweating and working alongside the crew. That mattered.' As for the future, their next project, Casa Hygge Villas, will expand the concept with larger homes, organic farmland, and staff housing to support their growing team. Yet the heart of it will remain the same: a place where simplicity feels luxurious, where guests slow down, exhale, and feel—if only for a week—entirely at home. 'We've always believed good people attract good people,' Ditte says. 'That's why Casa Hygge works.' MORE FROM FORBES Forbes How This Young Couple Converted A 12th-Century Monastery Into A Boutique Hotel In Umbria superyacht captain
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Woman tries to ‘save her nails' while opening a can but the outcome is SO much worse than a chipped mani
Some reckon she'll have to fork out more than £4,000 to fix the mess SAY CHEESE! Woman tries to 'save her nails' while opening a can but the outcome is SO much worse than a chipped mani Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WE all know how difficult it can be to open a can - especially if you've just got your nails done. This is exactly why one beauty buff recently tried to resort to a different method - which unfortunately ended up costing her more than her fresh manicure. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 One woman was left mortified after opening a can with her gnashers went horribly wrong Credit: tiktok/dittesoegaardsimonsen 3 The 26-year-old Dane wanted to protect her fresh mani and resorted to using her pearly whites instead Credit: tiktok/dittesoegaardsimonsen Ditte Soegaard Simonsen, who hails from Denmark, left people with their jaws on the floor after opening a fizzy drink with her pearly whites went horribly wrong. The young brunette beauty explained that she didn't want to ruin her gorgeous nails - and decided to crack the can open with her gnashers. Sat outside, the Dane could be seen using her teeth to pull the tab - but just seconds later, she was left mortified. After taking a brief look at the top of the can, Ditte spotted what appeared to be a large chunk of her front tooth, as she grabbed the phone in total disbelief. In a state of shock, the 26-year-old TikToker opened her mouth wide and was aghast at the damage. Showing fellow social media users her gappy grin, Ditte posed with one of her front teeth significantly shorter than the other. Sharing the horrific fail on social media - where it's since racked up an astronomical 15milion views - she wrote in the caption: ''When you prioritise good nails over good teeth.'' The now-viral clip, posted under the username @dittesoegaardsimonsen, has taken the internet by storm, amassing over 860k likes and 43k shares. More than 12,000 people flooded to comments in total disbelief, with many saying it'll cost her more to fix the smile instead of a chipped nail. ''Nails - 10€, teeth - 5000€,'' commented one person. UK Mum's Dental Nightmare: Turkey Teeth Leave Her in Debt and Pain Another wrote: ''That's an expensive mistake.'' Someone else chimed in: ''I would cry until I throw up and faint from all the crying then wake up and cry again.'' After seeing the viral footage, others said they'd learnt from her mistake and won't be resorting to this method ever again. ''i will stop doing this now thank you,'' a viewer said. A fellow beauty buff added: ''I never use my nails? I just glide my finger under.'' More outfit fails I had the worst work outfit fail that left me exposed, my jeans literally fell apart 'I just spat my coffee out' people joke over woman's outfit fail as stranger says she looks like an HSBC bank card I thought I'd fixed my outfit after going to the bathroom – then I got home and made an embarrassing discovery People tear into sister of the bride for 'spilling out of her dress' in 'epic outfit fail' I thought I looked so chic for work until I saw myself from the side – I'd had an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction Epic hair blunder This comes just a day after Good Morning Britain viewers were left in hysterics after a woman appeared to have an epic hair fail during an interview on the TV show. The news programme was running a piece about parking fines from private companies when they interviewed people in a Derby car park. While some of them admitted they were struggling to get on the app to pay for their parking, a woman then popped up who said that even when she's on the app, she doesn't know if the fee has been processed. However, viewers were less interested in what the lady was saying, and more enthralled by her hair. As she appeared to have completely forgotten that she had a pink claw clip secured to the front of her hair. It looked as though she had clipped back the hair that usually falls over her face while finishing off her make-up. But then she made an unfortunate blunder by getting on with her day without taking the clip out. And after the programme aired, hundreds of people took to TikTok to share a clip of the woman's interview. Casey was one of them, as she wrote over the top of her video: "Do you think she's completely forgotten she's left this in?" She added that she'd been left "crying" with laughter after watching the show. While Dan giggled: "She looks a right state! "What the heck is going on? She's got a bl**dy clip on her head!"
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Woman tries to ‘save her nails' while opening a can but the outcome is SO much worse than a chipped mani
WE all know how difficult it can be to open a can - especially if you've just got your nails done. This is exactly why one beauty buff recently tried to resort to a different method - which unfortunately ended up costing her more than her 3 One woman was left mortified after opening a can with her gnashers went horribly wrong Credit: tiktok/dittesoegaardsimonsen 3 The 26-year-old Dane wanted to protect her fresh mani and resorted to using her pearly whites instead Credit: tiktok/dittesoegaardsimonsen Ditte Soegaard Simonsen, who hails from Denmark, left people with their jaws on the floor after opening a The young brunette beauty explained that she didn't want to ruin her Sat outside, the Dane could be seen using her teeth to pull the tab - but just seconds later, she was left mortified. After taking a brief look at the top of the can, Ditte spotted what appeared to be a large chunk of her front tooth, as she grabbed the phone in total disbelief. READ MORE ON BEAUTY In a state of shock, the 26-year-old TikToker opened her mouth wide and was aghast at the damage. Showing fellow social media users her Sharing the horrific fail on social media - where it's since racked up an astronomical 15milion views - she wrote in the caption: ''When you prioritise good nails over Most read in Fabulous More than 12,000 people flooded to comments in total disbelief, with many saying it'll cost her more to fix the smile instead of a chipped nail. ''Nails - 10€, teeth - 5000€,'' commented one person. UK Mum's Dental Nightmare: Turkey Teeth Leave Her in Debt and Pain Another wrote: ''That's an expensive mistake.'' Someone else chimed in: ''I would cry until I throw up and faint from all the crying then wake up and cry again.'' After seeing the viral footage, others said they'd learnt from her mistake and won't be resorting to this method ever again. ''i will stop doing this now thank you,'' a viewer said. A fellow beauty buff added: ''I never use my nails? I just glide my finger under.'' More outfit fails 'I just spat my coffee out' people joke over woman's outfit fail as stranger says she looks like an HSBC bank card I thought I'd fixed my outfit after going to the bathroom – then I got home and made an embarrassing discovery I thought I looked so chic for work until I saw myself from the side – I'd had an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction Epic hair blunder This comes just a day after Good Morning Britain viewers were left in hysterics after a woman appeared to have The news programme was running a piece about parking fines from private companies when they interviewed people in a Derby car park. While some of them admitted they were struggling to get on the app to pay for their parking, a woman then popped up who said that even when she's on the app, she doesn't know if the fee has been processed. However, viewers were less interested in what the lady was saying, and more enthralled by her hair. As she appeared to have completely forgotten that she had a pink claw clip secured to the front of her hair. It looked as though she had clipped back the hair that usually falls over her face while finishing off her make-up. But then she made an unfortunate blunder by getting on with her day without taking the clip out. And after the programme aired, hundreds of people took to TikTok to share a clip of the woman's interview. Casey was one of them, as she wrote over the top of She added that she'd been left "crying" with laughter after watching the show. While "What the heck is going on? She's got a bl**dy clip on her head!" 3 Good Morning Britain viewers were left in hysterics when they saw this woman being interviewed Credit: ITV
