If Travel Has Taught Me Anything

Racism is a state of mind. I have met people of all colors during my travels and all have enriched my life immeasurably. It is time America. It’s beyond time. We must stop making our prejudice and biases about skin color a factor in our judgement and decision-making. The pandemic certainly highlighted inequality throughout the world and the last two weeks of protests have certainly compounded the realities of deep injustice in our communities.

Travel is a way of learning, you are out of your comfort zone, you meet people of different cultures, colors and religions. We all want to believe we are unique. And in a way we are. There’s no one who loves taking photographs of every new experience or has an aversion to spiders and a passion for exploring. I’m unique. But when it comes to what really matters, we are all so much alike.

We want to be accepted, we want to succeed, we want to matter. It may look different to a riad owner in Marrakech or a fisherman in the Marquesas, than it looks to a hoodie wearing techie or the button-down corporate type, but we all want to succeed..

We all want to feel loved. Everyone wants people to understand them, wants a community that they belong to, everyone wants acceptance. These needs can live in mansions, apartments and in small village huts in a jungle. These needs don’t discriminate based on skin color religion, language, or nationality or orientation.

You see the world in a new way, when you see that people are more similar than they are different. When they rejoice, you rejoice. And when they hurt, you hurt. Why is this such a challenging concept? Each individual success is a collective success in every community. We grieve for the families who have suffered the injustices of racism.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad / Roughing It

Egypt wall art
Bangkok, Thailand

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.. Albert Einstein.

Sayulita, Mexico. wall art by local village children “hug someone maybe it’s what you need”
Tree Art Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford

“America belongs to all who live here and call her home; of every color and background; that is central to what makes America great. those who believe otherwise are (in my opinion) other then American…” Leland Lewis, Random Molecular Mirroring

Native American gathering, Stanford University
Cairo, Egypt

Inspired by the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “With patient and firm determination we will press on until every valley of despair is exalted to new peaks of hope, until every mountain of pride and irrationality is made low by the leveling process of humility and compassion; until the rough places of injustice are transformed into a smooth plane of equality of opportunity; and until the crooked places of prejudice are transformed by the straightening process of bright-eyed wisdom.”

Tahiti
Bhutan Farmers market

“You cannot claim you treat everyone equally If you are judging others by their ethnicity.”  Charles E Hudson

Rajasthan, India

“I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories.We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust…We must dissent because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.”  Thurgood Marshall

Amman, Jordan

“Discrimination does not ‘make America great.’ It makes America weak.” DaShanne Stokes

The Great Rift Valley, Kenya
Sayulita, Mexico – Wall Art by local village children

What makes us different? Well, besides our skin color and our nationality and maybe our religion, nothing. We all want the same thing, we all want to have success in America. Herm Edwards

Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort at Costa Palmas

Cabo San Lucas is a quick flight down the coast to sunny Baja, many of our clients love Cabo and we can now share an inside peek at the Four Seasons Hottest Luxe Resort. Located in undiscovered and undeveloped Costa Palmas. A hidden gem awaits at the East Cape in a spectacular desert landscape.

Sunset Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort at Costa Palmas

Just a bit over an hour drive from the airport, through a desolate desert, passing a few small villages, but mostly appreciate striking stands of stately cactus! In a quick map-quest, I located a small town enroute and asked my driver to make a brief detour through Santiago – an authentic sleepy village on a side road. This area feels like ancient México, pass through the blocks, the town consists of a small mission style church, a colorful library and a Zoo! I didn’t feel compelled to stroll, it was satisfying enough to pass through a quiet village.

Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort at Costa Palmas Casa de Brasa

The arrival is subtle, the meandering property is accessed by a sandy road noted by the iconic Four Seasons image on a rust colored sign, an enormous spread of cactus and tall trees are dotted thought the meandering dusty road to the resort. The edges of the 18-hole Robert Trent Jones II designed golf course appear before you reach the soaring roofline of the arrival pavilion. Reflecting pools of still and trickling water, broad expanses of shadowed walkways, the arrival foyer sets the stage with an extended view toward the sea over small pools and exquisite manicured cactus gardens. The landscaping is even more captivating at night as the buildings are terraced with architectural plantings and are brilliantly lit. It’s secluded and remote, it may not be for everyone, until the local community is built up, however I felt like I was on the edge of the world.

Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort, Suite Dreams

From my beach lounger under a massive white umbrella, the view of the Sea of Cortez was enhanced by the enveloping backdrop of the Sierra de la Laguna mountain range and a few small islands off in the distance. In the winter, a breeze blows most days, keeping you cool and creating a few waves in the sea. Spring and summer, the breeze dissipates, which might make the days feel a bit warmer. It was the perfect combination for endless days of chaise reading. I missed the Four Seasons Maldives beach butler buttons, but the beach butlers hustled to the chaise with menus, ice water, and of course the personal cabana guy who randomly passed by with sunscreen, chilled cocktails and baby corn on a stick! Notable interruptions to my hours of reading! Four pools, including an expansive kiddy pool, Jacuzzi pools, a lap pool behind the state of the art gym, tennis courts with pro, basketball court, kids club and golf! Small kiddy fountain is just outside the Kids Club.

Activities: water sports are 15-20 mins away where it is safer to loft in the wind away from the hotel buildings. The expansive desert will entertain with ATV adventures, biking and horseback riding, hiking to waterfalls, and dipping in hot springs – all within minutes of the resort.
The numbers: rooms, all 141 guest rooms, including 23 suites, all have views of the Sea of Cortez and private terraces, many ground floor rooms have plunge pools. The basic starter rooms are enormous with massive open bathrooms, a walk-through dressing room and a separate half bath. The spacious rooms provide a sense of place, a cool combination of light and shade, shelves dotted with books, and comfy furniture.

Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort at Costa Palmas

My plunge pool terrace also included an outdoor sitting area with a relaxing sofa and beach chair – which replicates the terraces on the second and third floor rooms. The third-floor rooms have views of the sea. Arranged in several horseshoe zones, the resort doesn’t feel huge. My personal fave rooms weren’t open yet, but I took a tour with the GM. Opening soon, the ocean front rooms on the jetty end of the resort, sit precisely where the dawn sun rises from the sea with a technicolor display of pinks and mauve hued clouds. These larger suites feel more secluded and just a few steps away, a small pool and a protected space of loungers and palm trees seem like a private enclave. Plus, you have unobstructed views of the sea and the arm of the rocky jetty extending into the horizon. On the exact opposite side of the resort sits the three-bedroom Presidential Suite – also with unobstructed ocean views, it was under construction, but we tiptoed through it. An L shaped plunge pool is off the master bedroom, living room windows encase a small cactus garden, a full kitchen and dining area make this a suite not to be left at all!

Señora, would you like a baby corn on a stick!? Si si! Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort at Costa Palmas

The Sea of Cortez is one of the richest and most diverse on the planet. The deep, protected marina, once fully constructed will accommodate sleek yachts up to 250 feet, and a promised marina village with cafes and boutiques. A UNESCO Marine World Heritage site, the nearby Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park is home to 695 species of aquatic plants and 891 species of fish. Jacques Cousteau called it “The Aquarium of the World.” Plan a boat trip from the marina for unforgettable diving and snorkeling. Take a short hike and go for swim beneath a waterfall pouring off granite cliffs. Or head to El Triunfo, a 19th-century mining town where several old buildings have been restored and converted to restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and a museum. Try your hand at Organic Gardening remarkably lush and green, the vast Costa Palmas community includes 18 acres of organic farms and orchards – providing truly locally sourced ingredients for the Four Seasons restaurants. Meet the farmers and get hands-on to learn the latest techniques in sustainable organic growing

Five dining options including world-renowned Estiatorio Milos on the beach. Recognized as one of the finest Mediterranean seafood restaurants in the world, Estiatorio Milos was founded by acclaimed chef Costas Spiliadis who has made it an unparalleled culinary destination in Montreal, New York, Athens, Las Vegas, Miami and London. International flair meets local ingredients at this chic beachside restaurant and bar.

Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort at Costa Palmas Casa de Brasa

Keep it casual at Casa de Brasa, the poolside Baja brasserie, serving fresh favorites such as grilled shrimp tacos, chopped salads and guacamole made to order. Choose from craft beers, classic margaritas and frozen cocktails. Lounge dining is delivered fresh from Casa de Brasa.

Ceviche Bar – Taste the freshest local ceviches, tossed with your choice of chili vinegars and herbs from our garden. Or try the tostadas, topped with sailfish, jicama and jalapeño.

Head to sea and cast a rod for the Catch Your Own Dinner program at Casa De Brasa. Board a fishing boat at the private marina and venture out onto the Sea of Cortez to catch your own sailfish, snapper or marlin. The chef will then custom-prepare your meal with your choice of our signature sauces and sides. Among the options is Pescado Sarandeado from Mexico’s Nayarit region, featuring snapper marinated in a spicy paste of ancho and guajillo chilis.

We are keeping an eye on soon to open Villas and beachside suites! Aren’t you feeling the urge to escape?

Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort at Costa Palmas
Four Seasons Los Cabo Resort at Costa Palmas