2023: The Good, the Sad and the Beautiful

Reflecting on the state of the world in general and my life in particular (as one is often inclined to do this time of the year) I have to say that 2023 has been a year of extremes — extremely joyful and extremely sad.

I’m still grieving the loss of my mother, whom I lost in January. I feel heartbroken for the inordinate suffering by those I love. I cry tears of sadness when I see people on the streets without a home, without privacy or dignity or even heat to keep them warm. I feel distraught over the many innocent children, women and men around the world who suffer because of the actions of terrible people who make war and commit unspeakable crimes against others. I feel terrible for people killed and those affected by the devastation of the natural disasters that occurred this year around the world. I worry about the planet that our younger generations will inherit after all the damage we continue to do. It’s been sad to witness the many negative changes in the world and in our humanity since Covid.

There are endless things to feel sad and worry about. But there are also endless reasons to celebrate life and culture and the beauty we can find all around the world.

I feel profoundly grateful and beyond lucky that Mike and I get to live an adventurous and meaningful life doing our favorite things. My heart rejoices deeply for all the magical travel adventures and the enormous privilege of doing work that doesn't feel like work and the infinite joy of loving and being loved unconditionally by my favorite people. And I’m endlessly grateful that all the joy I get to experience nourishes my heart and soul so profoundly that, in spite of the sadness I carry with me, I continue to feel hopeful for a brighter future.

And with another year about to end, I’m reminded that our time on this planet is not only finite but brief. The present moment is the only time that truly counts. It’s the reason I try to enjoy the experience of living each and every day as if it were my last.

I know that I cannot let the troubles of the world consume my life. And I know that I cannot fix them personally. But I believe that we can make a difference by each doing our part as individuals within our families, our communities and wherever in the world we find ourselves.

And with this last Gastronomad Journal of 2023, Mike and I would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for joining us on this journey — whether you’ve done it in person or vicariously by following us through our writings and photos. We appreciate your support and trust more than words can say.

Sending you and yours our heartfelt wishes for joy, love, health, prosperity and peace on Earth in the new year.

Joy and adventure,

Amira

Merry Everything!

Mike and I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your trust and support this year. We are grateful to have you as part of our gastronomad family of friends. Thank you!

For those of you who joined us this year: Our shared travel adventures and culinary gatherings, along with the memories we've created together, have made this past year a very happy one for us.

May this Christmas and holiday season fill your home with light, peace, love, laughter, delicious food, joy and cherished moments.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season, and looking forward to new culinary adventures in the new year.

Love,

Amira and Mike

Death reminds us to live

Death. An inevitability we dread and a subject we avoid. But death should not be scary to face or talk about.

We never miss Mexico’s Day of the Dead. It’s such a healthy and endearing tradition. Instead of confronting death only at funerals then never speaking of it again, everybody in Mexico thinks about, and talks about death, and lost loved ones, for a few days every year. Instead of feeling sadness over those lost, they invite the dead to epic celebrations and parties with beautiful ofrendas created to honor their dead. These ofrendas are lovingly and beautifully arranged altars paying tribute to their deceased loved ones with flowers, candles, fruit and all their favorite foods and drinks, as well as pictures of the departed. During Day of the Dead, the dead are celebrated for the life they once had. And with this tradition, they’re kept alive in the hearts and memories of their loved ones in the world of the living.

I was reminded of all this recently because my mom died last week. And as heartbreaking as her death has been, she died peacefully with grace and dignity. As my mom would have wanted it, instead of a wake to mourn her death, we had a gathering at her home with family and friends to celebrate her life. We ate lots of food and played her favorite music as we shared stories with each other about my mom and her endless acts of kindness and unconditional way of loving everyone in her life. She was loved, and even revered, as the remarkable woman she was.

My mom was passionate about good food. She was an amazing cook. She loved gatherings and dancing and was always the life of the party. Growing up, my life was a perpetual celebration, with fun parties and joyful family gatherings every week for special occasions or no reason at all. And we always had music and lots and lots of delicious food. I have such fond memories of it all.

She loved life. But she never traveled. Not really.

Outside the United States, as an adult, my mom visited only her native country of El Salvador, and her partner's native country of Mexico. She traveled only to visit with family. She never saw Paris. Never experienced the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. Never rode a camel. Never set foot in the Sahara Desert. Never saw Petra or the Great Pyramids. Never witnessed the sun set over a Greek island. Never enjoyed the food of Oaxaca. Never got lost in Venice.

On a recent trip to Mexico City with Mike, plus my brother and an old friend, my brother and I cried together, saying how much our mother would have loved an adventure in Mexico City like the one we were experiencing at the time.

My mom always wanted to, intended to, planned to. But Alzheimer's got hold of her before she could do it.

The real tragedy is that my mother's situation is nearly universal. Most would-be world travelers wait far too long to see the world and to experience the long list of places and things we'd like to see and do in our lives. Some wait for retirement before traveling. Some wait beyond that. And many, like my mom, die never having experienced the joy of travel and other cultures.

Death is a reminder to look life in the face, and ask ourselves: What is the meaning of our lives? What are we living for? Death reminds us that the best way to cope with death is to live. Not just biologically, but culturally, socially and spiritually live — not in 10 years, but today.

And so as I mourn the loss of my mother so profoundly — and lament the life she could have had, but didn't — I just want to remind everyone: Don't wait to travel. Don't wait to be the person you really are. Don't wait to live your life and truly enjoy the experience of living.

Here’s to making 2023 the year of enlightenment filled with renewed perspective with healthy doses of gratitude, compassion, generosity, forgiveness, kindness and joy! Oh, and some epic travel adventures and celebrations!

With love, Amira

Seasons feelings: What is the meaning of our lives?

‘Tis the season for reflecting on the year we leave behind, when we aspire to do better and live a more deliberate life in the new year to come.

We ask ourselves: What is the meaning of our lives?

The answer is different for each of us, if we can find an answer. A better question might be: How do we find more meaning in life? Or, better still: What do we live for?

The beauty of a new year is that it represents a new beginning. It gives us hope. It might be a delusion. But it also might be true that our normal expectation that life will grind on as usual is the delusion.

I’m profoundly grateful for the happiness in my life. On the internet, it may seem that I have a perfect life full of joy and adventure, roaming the world and exploring different cultures.

While I feel fortunate to live the life I enjoy — it's true that my life is often filled with joy and adventure — it's far from perfect. My heart aches every single day for people I love deeply and who suffer beyond hope. And I know that most of us carry heavy burdens and sadness in our hearts and souls.

As human beings, we have to endure all sorts of pain, suffering and broken hearts. This is one reason why Gastronomad Experiences exist. They were created to provide a place for joy and wonder beyond what most people can even imagine. During experiences, quotidian existence vanishes, replaced by constant beauty, unmitigated fun and abundant delicious food and drink, magnificent landscapes and endless laughter, joy and wonder. Time stops. And history is all around us.

Traveling is wonderful and, I believe, essential for our overall wellbeing. Travel done right takes not only to a different place, but a different time, which we can experience as a different self. This is why we crave stories — to live another life, if only for a moment.

The Gastronomad Experiences are designed to make you feel truly alive, the way nothing else can.

Each Gastronomad Experience is unique. Even those in the same location are never the same, which is why we’ve been having guests signing up to repeat the same locations.

The Gastronomad Experience was created to celebrate food, life, human connection and sustainability through joyful gatherings with locals. It is a slow travel culinary experience in the most beautiful spots on Earth with some of the most wonderful artisans in the world. But it's really about looking at life from a beautiful new perspective that changes your view about the whole world.

Mike and I strive to explore and learn from other cultures and the different ways others live around the world. With The Gastronomad Experiences, we do this through hosting immersive and meaningful culinary travel explorations that celebrate life, honor our common humanity and help us cherish the threads that connect us all.

We find that the more we enjoy fun and celebration with other like minded people around the world, the more productive and creative we become, which in essence is part of the art of cultivating joy and living life fully.

Our mission is for our guests to rediscover the beauty, joy and love within each of us — and the incredible depth of traditional human cultures.

Gastronomad Experiences are the food that sustains us in all aspects of our lives so that we can enjoy the experience of living. In other words, it's what we live for.

Wishing you all a joyful season with magical gatherings and the happiest of new years! May you find more meaning and joy near and far.

From the bottom of my heart, much love to you all.

Big hugs and kisses,

Amira

Oh What Fun It Is to Do The Mexico City Experience!

What a rewarding year 2018 was! And it was so fun to end the year with a wonderful New Year’s Eve celebration with awesome friends and a rooftop party overlooking Mexico City’s Zocalo Square during The Mexico City Experience.

It was a privilege ringing in the new year with such beautiful human beings.

Bringing together our Gastronomad friends with our dear friends around the world is something that fills me with deep joy every time.

The Mexico City Experience was more than we ever dreamed of. We learned some Mexican culinary skills, we cooked and tasted the most traditional and delicious Mexican dishes, we gathered joyfully around magical dinner tables with our wonderful Mexican friends, and we drank delightful wine and drinks.

We meandered through the most idyllic cobblestone streets, we visited the most enchanting places, we picnicked in the most dreamy of places in Mexico City. We shared meaningful and joyous moments, we laughed, we sang, we danced, we embraced and became fast friends.

I loved seeing the magic of friendships blossoming as we gathered to learn about Mexican food and traditional drinks, Mexican traditions as well as Mexican gastronomy, history and heritage.

Immersed in authentic Mexican culture, the heartfelt joy we all shared and the friendships we formed will forever live in my heart.

I’m deeply grateful to see our gastronomad family of friends grow with every Experience in all these beautiful places around the world.

Our time together can best be described as joyful and magical. We learned, we explored and ate so much — surely the most delicious Mexican food in all of Mexico! The magic that happened this week is simply unforgettable.

We’re blessed to have a wonderful community of amazing people we’re so lucky to call friends.

Join us for more Mexican Magic when the scent of spring flowers infuse the air during The Mexico City Experience this spring!

Space is limited, so grab your spot today and immerse yourself in the magic of a gastronomad experience. - Amira