Barcelona
From the depths of my dreams, the insistent chime of my iPhone alarm signaled that it was way too early to function. A quick look at my messages suggested that it would be easy to deviate from my the mission.
“I don’t know if we’ll make it before then. Should we just go another day?” the proposition tempted.
The stories I enjoy sharing on The Curious Passport are narrative, colorful snippets and oftentimes humorous (at least to me) slices of the places, faces and circumstances I’ve encountered on the road. If you are stirred to any type of emotion except boredom when you read my writing, I call that a win for me. If you are then inspired beyond that, or at least curious to learn more, that’s a win for everyone.
Curiosity keeps you sharp. To possess it means that you are engaged in the space around you. It demonstrates an openness to different ideas, and ideas (for yourself, for others) drive our purpose and help us understand ourselves, each other.
Looking for ideas? Maybe one of my favorite stories from the year might help:
Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ll stick around for more stories next year.
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2017
In the New Year, my hope is to hone in on exploring experiences that connect ideas from the worlds of travel, food and wellness and its role in illuminating the human condition and its role in helping us live a meaningful life.
I intend to keep those themes in mind as I head back to Europe in the spring. Currently, the plan is to begin in Stockholm and end up in Portugal as a base country by way of Spain.
If you have any recommendations for co-working spaces, creative communities, a good pilates class or coffee shop throughout Europe (because plans can change and my plans are flexible!), please send them to me here: thecuriouspassport at gmail dot com.
I am also interested in collaborating with like-minded individuals, companies, collectives who value storytelling over content, the connection over the bucket list, authenticity over trends. These partnerships can manifest itself in different ways, so if you like what I’m doing over here let’s chat!
That was long, now I’m hungry
Me too. Good news; these featured recipes from Haaps & Barley will fill you up with the good stuff. Whole, nourishing foods, comforting flavor profiles and easy-to-follow preparation means you can eat well without spending hours in the kitchen.
Photo: Haaps & Barley
Want more recipes? See them all here.
ICYMI
Sometimes I write about travel for other parts of the internet. See them all here.
Are you finished yet
As soon as I plug my social media sites! Find me on Instagram here, because sometimes the plugin on this website refuses to work. I tweet on occasion here.
It’s 7:30 a.m. as wisps of fog hover above the trees that blanket Hermann Park. The orange glow from the street lights peek out from beneath them. I sip coffee from the umpteenth floor of the decadent Hotel Zaza, willing the caffeine to work its magic and motivate me to pack up strewn clothes and swag acquired from a whirlwind three days in Houston*.
I had been to Houston a few times several years ago and can still remember devouring coastal Mexican seafood dishes at Chef Aquiles Chavez’s La Fisheria and sipping refreshing Kentucky Mules at Okra Charity Saloon. Little did I know that my initial taste of Houston was just the tip of globally-inspired menus reflective of one of the most ethnically diverse metropolitan cities in the country.
“Whatever you want, you can find it here,” enthused one Uber driver on the way to Cypress Trails, where I would mount a horse for the first time since some friend’s single-digit birthday. It was a humbling experience to brace myself upright for two hours while Cytron, a mellow Arabian horse ambled through the peaceful trail.
the curious passport 