Photo: Peggy Markel

Dear Friend,

Namasté from India! We're kicking off 2020, sharing the treasures of this country with a wonderful group of 16.

Riding rickshaws in Chandni Chowk to the spice market in Old Delhi is something I look forward to every year. I search the secret corner stairway to the second floor, where I can look down on the bustling trade below and watch the huge sacks of whole chili, turmeric and cumin seeds waiting to be thrown on the backs of the delivery boys and taken away. This is where I want to be, standing in the heart of a 17th-century marketplace, surrounded by burlap sacks stuffed full of various shades of red, orange and yellow. It's rare to set foot in such a timeless place with so much history. Nothing has changed it seems, not even the clothing. It's sort of like time travel...

This is what we want. We want to feel the beauty and textures of life... and let life touch us. We want to engage and appreciate what feels real. Tap into the heart of a place and feel ours open and relax in response.

Whether we are in India, Spain, Morocco, or Italy, this is what we keep our eyes on, this is what motivates us to curate a spot-on itinerary. We know what we are looking for and want to share our incredible discoveries with you. 

Make 2020 your year to be inspired. Do you have a taste for the exotic and want to find yourself walking the souks of Marrakech? Or do you want to feel the warmth of fireside stories and a glass of sherry at a grand hacienda nestled in the hills of southern Spain? Our programs offer authenticity that is difficult to find these days. You will dine on beauty, aroma, and cultural splendor.  

You may ask, how will this inspire me?

Simple: It opens your heart. 

Our beloved programs are listed with very few spots left to offer this year... So be sure to act on that intention for the new year and accept our invitation to be inspired.

Love,
Peggy

SPAIN: The Heart of Andalucia
SEVILLE, CAZALA DE LA SIERRA, HUELVA, AND JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA

April 18-25, 2020

Join us on a journey to the Heart of Andalucia. What is the heart of a place? It's the center. The center of life, love, deep connection, and conviction. We have spent years coming to this region, cultivating lasting friendships that feel like family. 

We will join talented Chef Gioconda Scott in her home, Trasierra, a restored 16th-century villa outside of Seville, full of her extended family. Gioconda spent several years in Uruguay cooking with firemaster Francis Mallman and has her own TV show called Paradise Kitchen. After savoring the flavors of the local countryside during our meals at the Hacienda, Chef Isabel welcomes us to her kitchen, sharing her delectable secrets that we have been pining for since our first tastes.

We will venture to Jerez to visit the famed sherry bodegas and enjoy a private visit to Bodegas Lustau, one of the oldest and most prestigious bodegas in Spain. Just to make sure you find your favorite sherry, we will then visit another sherry bodega — this time an artisanal small-production one. There we will be accompanied by the owner, who will share his special blends and hidden treasures.

Feel at home in the Spanish countryside, living the hacienda life for a few days. Basking in the sunshine and kindness of the locals, including our incomparable host Anthony Reid Mora Figueroa. Courtyards draped in bougainvillea are the backdrop for the delectable flavors of figs and jamón. Fall in love with 3,000 years of history and an eclectic mix of landscapes: undulating sierras, mountains, dunes and riverside coastline and explore the terrain on horseback through wildflowers. Breathe the fresh air. It’s all designed for you to drop in as a guest, and be welcomed as a friend.

Join us April 18 - 25 in Spain: The Heart of Andalucia. Feel the heart of southern Spain and, perhaps, a bit more of the depths of yours.