Master Mixologists

There’s no shortage of unique spots to enjoy a cocktail when you’re staying with Four Seasons: a Prohibition-style speakeasy, elegant rooftop retreats, a one-of-a-kind beverage trailer for sipping al fresco. But what makes these bars, lounges and terraces so special are the Four Seasons people – mixologists who are passionate about their craft and dedicated to sharing a taste of place through their innovative creations, concocting libations that highlight local ingredients and history. The result of their efforts: a full menu of Masterdish cocktails worth travelling for.


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A Taste of History

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL ONE DALTON STREET, BOSTON
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FOOD & BEVERAGE JULIA CASALE, TRIFECTA
THE MASTERDISH: BACKDOOR PROGRESSION

Boston might not be the first city to come to mind when thinking of American jazz – most associate it with New Orleans, Chicago or New York – but Beantown has long had a strong scene. Over the years, some of the biggest names in jazz have played its stages, from Duke Ellington, Harry Carney and Johnny Hodges to Jamie Cullum, Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis. From your first sip of the Backdoor Progression, you’ll be transported to a dark, moody jazz club. Mezcal, amaro and falernum are smoked under a cloche using cherry wood chips, and then combined tableside in a chilled double rocks glass with ice. Don’t be surprised if you feel your toes tapping to a jazz beat after just one sip.

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A Celestially Inspired Drink

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE
BARTENDER BRIGIN JOSE, LUNA DUBAI
THE MASTERDISH: AQUARIUS

In the zodiac, Aquarius represents the water bearer, the mystical healer who bestows water – or life – upon the land. Those born under this sign, astrologers say, are free-spirited and creative. So it makes sense that the Aquarius cocktail ­– part of the Zodiac Menu at Luna Dubai, itself a nod to the spectacular views visible from the rooftop terrace – would be an inventive combination of aloe vera juice, fresh honey, gin and lemon. The drink’s milky blue hue is a reflection of the colours of the swirling cosmos – the universe served up in a fun, delicious cocktail. You’ll feel the planets align as you savour every sip.


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A Cocktail Made With Love

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MACAO COTAI STRIP
DIRECTOR OF RESTAURANTS GUSTAVO GONCALVES, XIAO TING
THE MASTERDISH: ULTRAVIOLET

The colour purple is associated with light-hearted romance, unconditional love and compassion, while origami cranes symbolize happiness and hope. Director of Restaurants Gustavo Goncalves turned to the two to spread his message of love and compassion through cocktails: The sweet, deep-purple Ultraviolet is made of butterfly pea tea–infused gin, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, vanilla and egg whites, served in a cocktail glass and garnished with a purple paper crane.


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A Tribute to Local Flavours

BEVERLY WILSHIRE, A FOUR SEASONS HOTEL
LEAD BARTENDER DENNIS SHEEHE, THEBLVD LOUNGE
THE MASTERDISH: FORBIDDEN FRUIT

Apple pears have been grown in California since the gold rush days, when Chinese miners planted them in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Their round shape and white flesh give them the texture and appearance of an apple, while the refreshing, juicy flavour is all pear. Take a big, juicy bite with THEBlvd Lounge’s Forbidden Fruit, inspired by the region’s bountiful fresh produce and the Garden of Eden and featuring vodka, elderflower liqueur, pear juice, apple juice and lime. The fruit focus doesn’t end with the taste: The cocktail is served in a crystal glass shaped like an apple, with a sugared rim.

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A Sustainable Sip

FOUR SEASONS RESORT BALI AT JIMBARAN BAY
HEAD BARTENDER SUFIAN MAHMOUD, SUNDARA
THE MASTERDISH: MADE’S MARGARITA

With views of white-sand beaches and emerald waters, Sundara certainly has earned its name ­­– in Sanskrit, it means “beautiful.” To protect this beauty, Head Bartender Sufian Mahmoud and his team have embraced a “minimal waste, maximum flavour” approach to their craft, focusing on fresh local ingredients and sustainability. Telu, the Resort’s new herb and cocktail garden, provides many of the aromatics Mahmoud uses in his libations – and is the setting for his popular zero-waste bar workshops for guests. Fresh from the garden is his Made’s Margarita. Featuring the classic tequila and lime, the cocktail also uses every part of a locally grown Kintamani orange – Mahmoud makes his own tangerine liqueur from some of the peel, and marmalade from the rest of the fruit – plus andaliman pepper and lime. Add a rim of smoked salt and a dusting of edible flower and rosella dust for garnish, and you’ve got a cocktail that’s good for your taste buds and for the planet.

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A Healthy, Colourful Latte

FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP GOLDEN TRIANGLE
RESTAURANT SUPERVISOR KATHARIN KUNTIEN, NONG YAO
THE MASTERDISH: ICED BLUE LATTE

Butterfly pea flower tea has been brewed for centuries in Thailand and Vietnam for its refreshing taste and antioxidants – it’s believed the tea can help boost brain power, fight inflammation and improve skin and hair health. Another beautiful benefit? The tea’s stunning pastel blue color, which ranges from a light grey to dark violet depending on what it’s mixed with. At Nong Yao, Restaurant Supervisor Katharin Kuntien’s Iced Blue Latte is an eye-catching pastel blue thanks to the addition of milk and vanilla syrup – a caffeine-free work of art that’s almost too pretty to sip. Coffee lovers, rejoice: A shot of espresso can be added for a little extra energy.


The Pearl Dynasty Cocktail

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A Creative Tipple in Budapest

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL GRESHAM PALACE BUDAPEST
HEAD BARTENDER ÁDÁM RÉDLI, MÚZSA
THE MASTERDISH: MAKVIRAG COCKTAIL

The word múzsa means muse in Hungarian, and it’s clear that the new lobby bar at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest took its inspiration from the surrounding city – known for its artistic flair, Old World charm and awe-inspiring mystique. That imaginative spirit is on display at Múzsa: In addition to its expansive bar, the lounge also includes a private meeting room and a tasting room –  Múzsa is home to the largest publicly available vintage tokaji aszú collections, selected by Head Sommelier Gabor Becker – as well as an intimate concierge library and Treasure, where a bottle of Royal Tokaji Eszencia, the most expensive wine in the world, is on display and available for sale. Our favourite inspired cocktail on the menu? The Makvirag Cocktail: rum, coconut water and pineapple, plus navy gin, fresh lime and sugar syrup – all expected in a typical tiki-style drink. The creative twist? Poppy seed, a traditional Hungarian ingredient; beetroot powder, to give the cocktail its striking pink colour; and Sichuan pepper, for a little bite.

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YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Driven by taste: Where will you find your next Masterdish?

City by river

An Intimate ‘I Do’

When it comes to the perfect wedding, many brides are discovering that less is more. Whether you’re planning to elope or want to limit the guest list to your most cherished family and friends, a microwedding is an increasingly popular option.

A micro-celebration can maintain your favourite, time-honoured traditions on a smaller scale, while the limited guest list leaves you free to focus on what matters most: your love for each other. As for those near and far, livestreaming options ensure that loved ones at home can still be part of your special day. Say your vows overlooking iconic Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles with 10 friends, or pop a bottle of bubbly on the beach with 40 guests: With Four Seasons wedding experts on hand to manage all the details, every moment will be just as you’ve always imagined.

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A legendary location in Los Angeles

Few destinations are as glamorous as Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, with its world-class shops and boutiques. Your wedding at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel is just as stylish. “When you’re thinking about the biggest day of your love story, no matter the size of your party, your wedding venue should be just as legendary,” says Four Seasons wedding specialist Mark Anderson. “Our Rodeo Terrace offers exclusive views of Rodeo Drive, and this venue is simply magical – toast your love with the sparkling lights of the city twinkling in the distance.”

The Hotel’s Love Story wedding package is perfect for a party of 10 – including the bride and groom – and includes an intimate ceremony followed by a reception with a three- or four-course dinner with wine pairings and cocktails, a Champagne toast and a custom mini wedding cake. The Hotel can also arrange to livestream your ceremony, so your virtual guest list is limitless.

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Beach Magic in Langkawi

As you plan your special day, it’s important to remember that small doesn’t have to mean simple. “Intimate ceremonies can be as lavish or as laid-back as you like,” says Ellie Low, wedding specialist at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi. The island hideaway’s Perfect Paradise and Royal Seclusion wedding packages can accommodate as few as 10 guests and as many as 80, and both packages are completely customizable, whether you want to dance down a sandy “aisle” barefoot to tropical tunes or say “I do” in a more traditional, formal ceremony.

Low and her team coordinate every aspect of the day – flower arrangements, hair and makeup for the bride, the cake, and photography. Dreamy backdrops include the Moroccan-inspired Rhu Bar and the lotus blossom–shaded Teratai Pavilion – select your own private oasis and let the party begin. The celebration continues for you and your love the next day as you enjoy a romantic Champagne breakfast for two and a couple’s massage.

Plan your Four Seasons wedding

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Creative touches in Austin

Big galas can be beautiful, but they can also be overwhelming, according to the wedding experts at Four Seasons Hotel Austin. At celebrations with long guest lists, brides may find themselves too busy making the rounds to really enjoy the day. A smaller ceremony and reception facilitate a more relaxing and meaningful reception, carefully tailored to the couple. “No matter the size of a wedding, we take great pride in making it feel intimate and personalized to the couple and their guests,” says Director of Catering Kelly Smutny. “Our beautiful setting overlooking Lady Bird Lake, combined with the warm, gracious service of our staff, ensure every wedding is memorable in its own way.”

The Hotel’s Micro-Wedding package includes everything you need for a small, private ceremony and reception for you and a handful of your closest friends and family, while the Elite Elopement package whittles the gathering size down to two: you and your spouse-to-be. And while these celebrations might be small, they’re big on personal touches tailored to you and your guests. At one recent micro-wedding, Smutny says, the bride and groom ordered each guest’s favourite dessert and had it served to them with the wedding cake. At another, the smaller guest size made it possible for the Four Seasons team to craft a complex, Instagram-worthy signature cocktail – producing special moments that can be hard to pull off with larger crowds.

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A romantic night in Baltimore

Tables draped in floor-length ivory linens, teak chairs topped with ivory cushions, stars sparkling overhead: The Splash Terrace at Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore is a beautiful setting for the romantic wedding of your dreams. You and up to 50 guests can enjoy views of the harbour during a four-course dinner – the intimate gathering’s size makes it possible to include customizations like menu pairings featuring the bride and groom’s favourite wines, says Melinda Redling, the Hotel’s director of catering and conference services.

You’ll want to pair the perfect wedding with the perfect proposal – and the Hotel can help with that too. As part of the Perfect Proposal package, your dedicated proposal specialist will help create a magical evening for you and your beloved. Step out onto a candlelit terrace overlooking the Inner Harbor, pop the question as the sun sets, and then celebrate your future happiness with a rooftop Champagne toast.

 

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A personal connection in Orlando

A small guest list doesn’t limit your reach: At Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort, experts are on hand to set up a livestream with a customized viewing link, so you can invite as many virtual attendees as you’d like. “Many couples are making their celebrations very private,” says Sascha Voss, the Resort’s catering sales manager and intimate wedding specialist. “The new Bespoke Wedding package includes some wonderful perks for the couple to enjoy at the Resort, and the option of adding special, fun components that enable invited attendees to take part virtually.”

Even at a distance, your friends and family can experience your special day. “Wish You Were Here” boxes are customized by you and your partner and sent to your virtually attending guests, offering samples of your destination to please the senses: virtual reality glasses for a fully immersive ceremony; a locally crafted candle with a custom citrus scent, signature to the Resort; sumptuous cookies made by a Resort pastry chef. These magical touches, with decorative confetti to toss and custom coasters with your names and wedding dates, make all your guests feel like part of the festivities.

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Musical moments in Kyoto

Weddings are about two people coming together as a family, and family is front and centre at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto during your wedding. The family package included in the Hotel’s Cherished Connections package offers all the special touches to make your day unique without taking attention away from what really matters.

Gather for the ceremony with your closest loved ones in the Hotel’s 800-year-old Shakusui-en pond garden, surrounded by fragrant cherry blossoms. Custom fresh floral centrepieces carefully selected to match your wedding colours; musicians, including a choir, harp and violin; technical support to stream the ceremony; and seamless Four Seasons service turn your celebration into the magical day you’ve dreamed about.

 

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Where will you celebrate your romance?

Beverly Wilshire hotel

A New Season in Napa: Fall Fashion
Inspired by Wine Country

California’s Napa Valley is ideally suited for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes: The region offers a sunny, warm climate; good drainage; and volcanic soils that add an earthy, rich complexity to its wines. At the new Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley, where the vineyard is protected by the Palisades mountains and oak-covered hills, world-class winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and his team at the on-site Elusa Winery have carefully designed and planted it to intensify the grapes’ flavour. Take part in the winemaking process, from harvesting grapes to blending and ageing the wine, or learn about Calistoga’s unique terroir during a tasting session – the Resort provides the most complete grape-to-glass experience in Napa.

“The moment guests step foot on the property, they are welcomed into an extraordinary wine country oasis,” says General Manager Mehdi Eftekari. “Awe-inspiring views of the vineyards and Palisades Mountains are an idyllic backdrop to enriching experiences at TRUSS Restaurant + Bar and Elusa Winery. In guests’ suites, the vines are mere inches from their terraces and balconies.”


The dramatic scenery of North America’s wine capital – and the Resort, set to open later this year – also provide an idyllic background for the season’s most stylish new fashions. The looks pair perfectly with the Resort’s natural colour palette, rich textures and easy elegance.

Explore Napa Valley with Four Seasons

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The Resort spreads across 22.5 acres (9 hectares), offering dramatic scenery and viticultural discovery at every turn. It’s a natural hideaway for relaxation and indulgence, framed by picturesque forests and majestic mountains.

Left to right: On Julia: Genny top and skirt; Alexander McQueen boots. On Miki: Reem Acra dress. On Breanna: Valentino gown, Sethi Couture earrings.

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Make the most of Napa’s idyllic setting with a swim in the Resort’s two outdoor pools – the adults-only pool overlooks the vineyard, while the Resort Pool features shallow splashing areas that are perfect for families. Or celebrate the sunshine with elevated Napa cuisine at the modern TRUSS Restaurant + Bar or Cal-Mexican favourites at open-air Campo Poolside.

Left image, left to right: On Julia: Stella McCartney dress and boots; JYE ring (index finger); Sethi Couture ring (middle finger); Guess bag. On Miki: Gucci cardigan, jumpsuit and sandals; Wolford undergarments; Alexander McQueen clutch; Fabergé necklace and rings. On Breanna: Alyson Eastman dress; Chelsea Paris shoes; Tiffany & Co. necklace; Grace Lee ring (index finger); Katkim rings (ring fingers); Vhernier pink gold and jade bracelet; Sethi Couture bangles (near hand); JYE bangle (near sleeve). Right image: On Breanna: Reem Acra dress; JYE earrings.

Taste the Flavours of Napa

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Elusa winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown is celebrated for his non-interventionalist approach, letting the vineyard’s character shine. It’s a style that has paid off: Renowned wine critic Robert Parker Jr. has awarded him 23 perfect 100-point scores for his Cabernet Sauvignon projects over the past decade.

Left to right: On Breanna: Chloé coat, skirt, top and boots; Adeam earrings and ring. On Miki: Chloé poncho; Partow dress; Michael Kors Collection skirt; JYE ring (right hand); Vhernier ring (left hand). On Julia: Chloé jumper and skirt; Brunello Cucinelli boots; Sethi Couture necklaces, rings and earrings.

Savour Napa Valley wines

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Spa Talisa celebrates Napa’s rich vineyard heritage with treatments incorporating grape seeds – long recognized for their potent antioxidants and skin-pleasing polyphenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins. Try an exfoliating scrub of sugar and grape seeds to give your skin a soft, luminous glow. “Spa Talisa is rooted in Calistoga’s 150-year history as a wellness destination,” says Eftekari. “Guests can enjoy holistic treatments and private patios, or head to the steam decks for a locally-inspired steam experience.”

On Breanna: Gucci jacket, vest and trousers; Tory Burch ring.

Relax at Spa Talisa

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Century-old olive trees dot the Resort, adding character to the rustic yet elegant ambience indoors and out. Acres of vineyards, farmhouse-chic villas and romantic private terraces: It’s California wine country at its finest.

Left image: On Breanna: Brunello Cucinelli dress and cardigan; Katkim earring; Sethi Couture band (left hand) and stacked rings (right hand); Tiffany & Co. ring (middle finger). Right image, left to right: On Breanna: Dolce & Gabbana jacket, skirt and earrings; Akris top; Dior sunglasses. On Julia: Prada dress, top and stole; Tory Burch necklace; Katkim earring and rings (index and middle fingers); Grace Lee ring (index finger); Aaron Basha ring (right hand) and beaded bracelet; Vhernier gold and carnelian bracelet; Dior pearl necklace worn as bracelet; Stella McCartney sunglasses. On Miki: Altuzarra dress; Tory Burch top; Dior scarf; Max Mara head scarf; Dolce & Gabbana earrings; Alexander McQueen sunglasses.

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The Resort’s Vineyard Barn – with lofty beamed ceilings and prime views of the vines – is a coveted venue for weddings and events. Say “I do” in the vineyard, or gather with friends and family for a dinner party in The Cork Room, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the winery.

Left image: On Miki: Chanel coat, boots and earrings; Grace Lee ring (index finger); Sethi Couture rings (middle finger). Right image: On Julia: Harry Winston earrings, necklace, brooch, ring and cuff; Marina Moscone pajama shirt.

Photographer: Eric Ray Davidson

Stylist: Julie Matos

Assistant Stylists: Alyson Eastman and Johanna Houska

Makeup: Karina Moore

Hair: James Harris Jr.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Where will you explore next?

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Reconnect With the World:
How Travel Can Transform Your Outlook

Human brains are hard-wired to connect. It’s how we learn about the world around us and how we learn about ourselves. And in the series of moments that make up our lives, it’s moments of genuine personal connection that shine the brightest. This is never more true than when we travel.

For Jessica Nabongo, writer, entrepreneur and the first Black woman to visit every country in the world, making those connections is one of the most important and cherished parts of her journey not only throughout the globe, but through life.

“One question I ask people a lot is, what makes you happy?” Nabongo says. “Whether I’m talking to royalty or if I’m talking to someone who has nearly nothing living in a village, the messages remain very, very similar. It’s all about our personal relationships.”

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The daughter of Ugandan immigrants, Nabongo has been travelling internationally since she was 4 years old. In 2008, she left her corporate job and moved to Japan to teach English. She ended up living abroad for seven years, with stints in London, Benin and Rome, before returning to her hometown of Detroit, Michigan. But in 2017, with 60 countries already under her belt, Nabongo decided that she would set out to visit every single country in the world and share it all on Instagram under the handle @jessicanabongo. Two years and 136 countries later, she accomplished her record-breaking feat.

 


Recently, she connected with Florence, one of Italy’s most beautiful cities and centre of the art and culture of the Italian Renaissance, during a visit with Alicia Miller Corbett – editor of Four Seasons Magazine – to record a podcast sharing more about her personal journey and perspective on connection.

At Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, centuries of history lie within reach in the Hotel’s expansive private garden – the largest in the city. Originally planted in the 15th century and filled with statues, fountains and a small Ionic temple, the garden retains its ancient beauty and charm. After a stroll under centuries-old trees and a Michelin-starred dinner garnished with views of iconic landmarks like the Duomo, Nabongo could maintain the Renaissance mood in her guest room, where frescoes and original architecture bridge the gap between their time and ours.

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Explore With Your Heart

Deep in the Tuscan countryside, Giotto, a curly-haired Lagotto Romagnolo, goes sniffing through the woods in search of the elusive truffle. His owner, Luca, is close by. About an hour’s drive from Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, this truffle-hunting expedition offers Nabongo a rare glimpse into the rural heart of the region, both through the bucolic scenery and, later, through the cuisine. “To learn so much about the history of truffles, and to learn about it through [Luca’s] clear passion for it, it was such an amazing experience,” she says.

Explore Florence with Four Seasons

Extending an exploration beyond the major cities is one of the best ways to get know a new country. And for Nabongo, experiencing a destination is much more than a change in geography. “I think even beyond going outside the main cities, it’s about how you explore any place you visit,” she says. “My passport into a country – my entry point – is always the people.”

What happens if you don’t speak the language? No problem, says Nabongo. Her philosophy? “I speak with my heart and not with my mind.”

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Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Whether you’re worried about travelling alone, visiting certain countries or even sampling the street food, Nabongo always encourages people to leave their fears at home. “I would say that my travel philosophy is to travel without fear. And to travel with positive energy,” she says. “I always say positive energy coats my stomach, because I’ve never had food poisoning!”

It’s true that one of the easiest ways to connect with a new culture – and with new people – is to sit down for a meal. In Florence, it could be a four-course gourmet meal designed by the Hotel’s Michelin-starred chef and served on the famed Ponte Vecchio – an experience available exclusively to Hotel guests – or standing in line with the locals for an order of trippa or lampredotto at one of the city’s ubiquitous food stands. Either way, being open to new foods and new people doesn’t just satisfy your body, it satisfies your soul.

Explore the World with Four Seasons

“I’m constantly living outside of my comfort zone. I think my comfort zone is discomfort,” Nabongo says, laughing. “Even beyond travel, my life philosophy is to live fearlessly – and live a life without limits.” By documenting and writing about her travels, she hopes that her journey and everything she shares can help inspire people to move past their limits, whatever they may be. “Because for me, I feel like I’ve created the life that I want to live,” she says. “And I feel that the reason I was able to do that is because I realized everything that I need is already inside of me.”

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Redefine Your Idea of Home

Connections, expected or unexpected, can help inform how we interact with the world. And that can ripple out beyond us. A friendly encounter at a restaurant may inspire you to recommend it to a friend who’s visiting the same city. A conversation with a tour guide or fellow traveller might change your itinerary for the better. Or a new dish or drink is shared with you and you in turn share it with your family back home.

Nabongo can think of many of these moments that have impacted her throughout her travels, particularly when it comes to hospitality. “I think that hospitality comes from the experiences that I’ve had because so many strangers around the world have welcomed me into their home and cooked me meals,” she says. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve made sure to sort of perfect how I’m welcoming people in my home. And honestly, it’s also redefined my definition of home. For me, now, home is in people. Yes, I physically live in Detroit, but I have homes in London, Accra, Dakar, Bangkok, Rome – I can think of so many places that I have homes because my people are there.”

To feel at home in the world. What more could a traveller – or a human, for that matter – ask?

RECONNECT THROUGH LIFE-CHANGING TRAVEL

Your journey begins here

Ponte Santa Trinita

Reconnect With the World: How
to Travel With Intention

A stay in Costa Rica is a feast for the senses: sounds of ocean waves rolling in and out and animals rustling through the tropical dry forest, cool water hitting your skin as you swim beneath a thundering waterfall, the scent of the salty breeze. Tucked between two unspoiled beaches on the verdant north Pacific coast, Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica is surrounded by rugged yet tranquil natural beauty that eases into your psyche, connecting you to this lush paradise. Our senses feed our brain information about the world around us, but if we let them, they can tell us much more.

“Your body is always speaking to you,” says Georgina Miranda, social entrepreneur, coach, activist and mountaineer athlete. “The question is, are you going to listen to it?” She recently explored this question during a visit to Costa Rica with Patrick Janelle – the creative director and world traveller behind A Guy Named Patrick – to record a podcast on personal experiences and perspective on exploring the world through our senses.

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For Miranda, who is also an energy practitioner and yogi, tapping into her senses and using them to keep her attention on the present moment is a big part of her mindfulness practice and of the way she moves through the world. In 2008, she set out to accomplish the Explorer’s Grand Slam – climbing the highest peak on each continent and skiing the last degree to the North and South poles – to raise funds for two non-profits combating gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Only 15 women in the world have ever completed the challenge, and Miranda is well on her way to adding her name to that list.

She has six of the Grand Slam summits done, including Mount Everest, and 10-plus years of far-flung adventures under her belt. And as she meets the challenges one by one, she’s seeing the world – and her place in it – in a new light. “There’s a moment when travelling that you realize you will never be the same because of what you’ve experienced,” Miranda says. “You have felt, touched, tasted and been immersed in a new reality, and so now your own reality is different. I felt this when I reached the top of Everest, and I felt it eating my first gelato when I was 21 years old and in Rome.”


Feeling is Believing

As she forges deeper connections to the destinations she visits and the people she meets, Miranda has a new-found appreciation for the life-changing benefits of travel. “It’s been in the recent years that [I realized] my travelling has changed so much. I no longer want to see the world – I want to feel the world,” she says. “And that really shapes how I travel.”

Explore Costa Rica with Four Seasons

For most of us, the seeing part of travel is easy enough. But how does one actually go about feeling the world? “It’s utilizing all of your senses, but then also the energy of a space,” Miranda says.

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It’s one thing to read about the biodiversity that exists on an island like Costa Rica and research the birds you’ll see, the animals you’ll encounter or even the average size of the swells you’ll surf. But it’s not until you’re walking among the towering trees on the Trail of Giants, looking up to see monkeys jump from branch to branch, or you’re sitting beneath a twinkling canopy of stars and sipping a Cabernet Sauvignon aged with a real meteor, that your recognition of the experience transforms it into something you understand not just with your mind and your senses, but with your entire being.

“My travels have helped me feel more connected and in touch with humanity and the earth,” Miranda says. “Time with pristine nature – no matter where I am in the world – and learning about new people is a gift. It offers a sense of renewal in my soul unlike anything else. It’s like coming home to a part of myself that was forgotten.”

The Power of the Present

Even if you don’t practice mindfulness, tapping into the feel and energy of the destination you’re in is something every traveller typically aims for. “I think one thing [you can do] is to just be fully present,” says Miranda, who is an energy practitioner and yogi. “If you’re travelling long distances, you get to a place and you might be so caught up in the excitement of the list of things you want to go see and do that you don’t give yourself the opportunity to actually just arrive and really be there.”

She suggests giving yourself 20 to 30 minutes upon arrival to be present in the moment. Don’t have anywhere to go or anything to do except observe. “It’s this art of being versus doing,” Miranda says. “And I think Western culture really encourages us to constantly be doing, but you miss out on so much magic.”

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If you are having a hard time switching gears and tapping into the present, head to the Resort’s Spa. A yoga session, spa treatment or meditation class can help you find balance and set your intention for your stay. The Resort’s Wellness Concierge is on hand to design a custom plan with you to help your best self emerge – centring your breath, body and mind for balance in your life.

Explore the world with Four Seasons

Stepping out into nature, even for a few moments, can also do wonders: Float in the clear blue waters surrounding the Resort, dive under the waves on a snorkelling adventure, or set off with the Resort’s in-house adventure outfitter, Papagayo Explorers, for a guided trek to help you discover the peninsula through experiences with purpose.

“If you’re open enough, you can let a lot of wonderful things come into your life when you travel,” says Miranda. “It snaps you out of autopilot and it gives you the opportunity to wake up to yourself again.”

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Stepping Into the Flow

When we can live with intention and travel with intention, it’s all the easier to experience that magic that Miranda talks about. We can choose a purpose for a trip – to get a break from work, recharge or strengthen bonds with loved ones – but she cautions travellers not to get too caught up in ticking boxes and checking off items on to-do lists.

“I think every experience can be abundant. And somehow, you’re limiting that abundance with a list,” she says. She knows first-hand the feeling of disappointment that comes with not being able to do every single thing she had planned for a trip, and how it can get in the way of focusing on the beautiful things she did do and the people she connected with along the way.

The unofficial motto you’ll hear almost everywhere you go in Costa Rica is “pura vida.” The literal translation into English is “pure life,” but in reality it’s much more than that. It’s an attitude, a way to approach life that says “it’s all good,” both when things are going your way and when they’re not – especially then. It’s an outlook that perfectly lends itself to staying present and being open to new connections and discoveries – and the benefits that life has to offer right here, right now.

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Having travelled so much over the years, Miranda has a motto, too. “It came to me around 25, I think, and it’s really shaped everything,” she says. “The extraordinary is always possible. Never limit yourself or life’s potential.” And the extraordinary, she notes, is not someone else’s extraordinary. It’s yours. It’s whatever that means to you.

Whether you’re climbing real mountains or figurative ones, the world is filled with endless possibilities for connection. Stay present and you’ll feel it.

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