When the creative director of Diesel, Dutchman Wilbert Das, first discovered Trancoso in 2004, he knew he wanted to settle in Bahia's bohemian paradise. Initially the idea was to renovate one of the 15th-century fishermen's cottages into a private retreat. But creativity will out and the design ambitions just grew. Now Das has helped preserve the historic heart of Trancoso by transforming  four houses in the town square and several others scattered around town to create the casas of UXUA (pronounced ooosh-uw-a) using recycled materials and vintage Brazilian furniture. All up there are now eleven ultra-cool casas perfect for celebrities seeking seclusion or those looking to write the Great Novel.  TLTB particularly likes the Casa da Arvore fantasy tree house and the original two-bedroom Gulab Mahal house that started it all.