Drenched in late-day sunlight, in a valley between the Andean peaks of Chile’s Araucanía
region, the shimmering waters of a glacial lake stretched before me. I gazed out from the shaded
tea room overlook, nestled in the sprawling natural terrain of Lake Villarrica at Hotel Antumalal
in remote Pucón.
Gliding up to the peak of Sky Road along its rolling hills, coastal overlook nooks, and grazing herds was a revelation in itself. The dramatic vastness of the ocean opened up before me and I barely came to a full stop before hopping off my bike to get to the edge. I was completely enthralled. Imagine living in one of those houses along the inlet down there, I thought. The peace and quiet, the commanding beauty. My God, it was stunning.
There is no denying that the brats & brews of Milwaukee, Wisconsin are pillars of local comfort culture. For generations, these have been lifeblood. Let there be no doubt that the gooey cheese curds, those lively old pubs, and whisky drive-thrus ooze with revered Midwest Americana flavor. We have industrious German, Polish, and Irish descendants – and a boisterous college crowd – to thank for it. But things also evolve.
Everywhere the eye could see was a photo, a picture worthy of its inspiring awe, and still it felt impossible to ever capture it. In the peripherals, on those compact roads beneath arched boughs, I could sense the coast with its enchanting landscapes, atmospheric and remote. Indeed, it’s the makings of fairy tales. High and low beyond, moors and mountains of cascading patchwork plains…
“I woke along the fields outside of Casablanca with its grazing herds and silvery olive trees. The rising sun lit the swooping valleys and carved crops in shades of nude and burnt tangerine as I made my way south. From this long stretch of highway, farmers and shepherds shielded by their brimmed palm leaf hats were visible, immersed in this agriculturally rich, but barely industrialized Northern African region.
In a food mecca like New York City where there might as well be as many Italian restaurants as there are opinions about them, how do you choose which is good as opposed to what they just tell you is good? Is there a best or is more complicated than that?
(Featured in Wander Magazine) There was a compelling essence of tranquility. I had every intention of doing my daily meditation up here. But close my eyes to this magnificence? No chance. That day, the journey was the mediation.
With my mind set on a bit of spa-time wellness, some local culture, and a side of tequila…
A couple of friends and I went to capture the light on Lake Saint Mary by the entrance of Glacier National Park, Montana before sunset. We heard the morning hike there was just gorgeous when one of us went rogue after checking into West Glacier Cabins, which I highly recommend.
I often daydream about my time there in its great cozy lodges, finding rejuvenation in the region’s plentiful outdoor Nordic spas and expansive snow trails immersed in their winter culture. It was an invigorating winter wellness adventure infused with adrenaline thrills and thermal immersion. They do winter in Quebec with a healthy exuberance.
