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Where anything goes – as long as it's good
"The elements in Iceland will kill you. But everyone, at least once in their life, has to take off into the wilderness." – Xárene Eskander

Once upon a time (ten years ago), four strangers were brought together in a café in Buenos Aires by an American con man, lured by the promise of a publishing deal. Together they sussed the scammer out, and became amigos. Three turned into accomplished authors, one the Hollywood screenwriter for Oliver Stone, another a World Scrabble Champion. The fourth is, erm, me. 

Today's newsletter is a
twisted travel special, featuring pieces written (probably on Malbec) by the trio I met that fateful day, and more brilliant peeps I've met along the way. They've all perfected the art of travelling differently.

A sommelier and decanter of good words meets the world’s
top female chef in Lima, a history writer gets over his fear of waking up with his organs removed to hit up Tijuana's best dive bars, an ethical storyteller meets the people within Tintin's favourite flea market in Brussels, and an off-road rally car driver gets philosophical while stuck in Iceland's black lava. Plus, award-winning 'Willy Wonka of Design' Nelly Ben Hayoun shares a short and sweet reflection on silence with a legendary polar explorer.

Until next time, keep exploring with cosmic tentacles – and travel like you mean it.

Lisa 'Trip Advisor' Goldapple
Editor-in-chief

PS. Fancy writing for TOPIA? Read to the end.
EXCLUSIVE! Joint interview

MEET PERU'S SUPERCHEF POWER COUPLE


Sorrel Moseley-Williams meets the top chefs behind the best restaurant in Latin America – in Virgilio Martínez and Pía León's first ever interview together. 
 
EXCLUSIVE! Photo essay

DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF THE NORDIC SUN


Xárene Eskander goes where few have been. The pioneering photographer and off-road rally car driver documents her journey through remote Iceland as she gets stranded alone in black lava... for days.

Cosmic Chat

ERLING KAGGE WANTS US TO SHUT UP!


 Nelly Ben Hayoun explores the power of silence with the first person in history to reach the Earth’s three poles by foot. (Yes, there are three.)

Tijuana

THE REAL SONS OF ANARCHY

 
Gangsters. Tacos. Mipsters. (Mexican hipsters). Matt Graham hunts for the real Tijuana via a look back at its frontier history – and dive bars. With its outlaw past, the misunderstood city represents the last of the West Coast’s ‘Wild West’.
 
The Iberá wetlands

WET & (RE)WILD IN ARGENTINA


What's not to love about a heart-warming rewilding story of swamps and lagoons, anteaters and jaguars, and surf-and turf in the furry and feathered heart of Argentina? This gets really wild.

Brussels, Belgium

A GAME OF BALLS


Brussels-based David Labi heads downtown to meet the people within one of Europe’s oldest daily flea markets, and goes shopping the old school way.

Guest Post

PLAY NICE

 
When British author Daniel Tunnard started playing a few Scrabble games in 2015, little did he know he would end up representing Argentina – in a foolhardy attempt to become Scrabble World Champion... in Spanish.
 
Interview

DISPATCHES FROM AN OUTSIDER


Oliver Stone history screenwriter Matt Graham discusses "America's weird" with his hero, Richard Grant – the bestselling adventure author behind some of the most wild and inventive travel writing.
 
Java Island

THE THINGS YOU SPOT WHEN YOU WALK HAPPY


What do you do if your city is overrun with motorbikes? We can all learn from this women-led collective who started a mindful walking revolution in Indonesia.

Have you got unusually good stories you want to broadcast to the world? We are officially now taking pitches for the next season of TOPIA.
 
Click on the RABBIT HOLE randomiser below as many times as you like for a different feature each time.

Thanks for reading. TOPIA is a new culture and positive impact magazine for a world in metamorphosis. Join the conversation.
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