How do you resolve the idea of little human contact when providing hospitality? Hotels, cruise lines and tour operators are searching for answers to this question. The question is analogous to the yearning of wanting to hug a friend but having to hold back…so NOT natural! To distance ourselves we’ve relied on technology. Just … Read more
Take your elbows off the table. When chewing keep your mouth closed. Pull yourself together out of respect for yourself and for others (they have to look at you!). My parents extolled these manners growing up and, similarly, my kids have heard the same reminders for years. Manners represent “ways of behaving with reference to … Read more
The amount of stuff mattered. On this ten-day hiking adventure we’d carry a forty liter backpack with “needed” whatever. Not known for ever packing light, choosing what to bring would be arduous. Practicality over indulgence must “reign the day”: that special hair conditioner…forget about it; the cute evening dress…not necessary. Our things … Read more
A lone traveler on a bike, examining his wrinkled, printed maps, unsure about the route to Fort Collins, traveling with time on his hands. A German-speaking Italian from the Dolomites, Heinz started in Mexico City, met a companion then biked until reaching Colorado. Other than visiting a Hutterite community in North Dakota and Chicago, his … Read more
Watching a bird gently gliding way above you, noticing crimson and purple in an evening sky, bringing your partner a fresh cup of coffee, sharing a smile with a fellow human being…everyone wants to feel connected to something bigger. Yet, when we encounter unfamiliar cultures or walk into a meeting fraught with tension, uncertainty … Read more
A few weeks ago I found myself alone at 5:30 pm on a Friday at the beautiful sleek The Jacquard Hotel & Rooftop, recently opened in the Cherry Creek North shopping district in Denver. After a tour of the property I sat near the bar in Narrative, the hotel’s new restaurant. My laptop was deliberately … Read more
Handing out food and warm clothes and then enjoying dinner at a cozy restaurant, two different neighborhoods within a span of four hours, a breadth of experience endearing us to Denver and the people who live here. Both activities engendered care and comfort, kindness and friendliness, neighbors helping neighbors, Mr. Roger’s ethos in action: … Read more
To “Live As A Traveler” means fully appreciating wherever you are. This translates to enjoying your “hometown” and neighborhood, not taking nearby for granted. There are interesting and kind people right next door, across the street, around the corner. No need for traveling far to discover new experiences and relationships. Just keep it local! … Read more
There’s nothing like being picked up at the airport. Knowing a friend or family member will welcome you safely back home is a lovely, affirming experience. You’re home! No sign is required. A friend knows what you look like. No schlepping luggage on and off the parking garage bus. What a relief! “People watching” at … Read more
Leaving home feels so different than returning. Both have challenges and rewards. There’s nothing normal about the day right before leaving or conversely the last day of a trip. Our minds begin to anticipate the change. Sleep is restless. Emotions are mixed. Caught unawares, we’re readying ourselves for a transition. Life is about to be … Read more