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I'm currently writing this from Istanbul Airport, on my way to Mongolia to finalize details for our September trip. If you're interested in a behind-the-scenes look at how the "sausage is made" (so to speak) for a travel company, you can follow along here. I will be posting dispatches from the field.
Speaking of what's ahead — the results from our 2027 destination survey have been fascinating to watch come in. So far, 175 of you have weighed in, and here's what we're seeing from the community — Senegal, Oaxaca, Georgia, and Mongolia are the most popular destinations. October is the most popular month for travel. And a majority of you want a photographer on your trip. The new destinations on your El Camino wishlist will be kept a secret for now...
If you haven't made your voice heard yet, what are you waiting for! There are 11 days left. We will do a very limited number of trips next year so help us decide where we should focus.
In the meantime — here's what's been inspiring my work and life lately, and the creative rabbit holes I've been going down.
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Not sure where to go in 2026? That's what we're here for. Tuscany, Vietnam, Jaipur, Japan, and Brazil are all open. Apply here |
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MARIANA VELÁSQUEZ'S KITCHEN IN CARTAGENA AND HER NEW BOOK REVEL: A MAXIMALIST'S GUIDE TO HAVING PEOPLE OVER
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Cartagena has been on my mind — I've been helping a few travel journalists with recommendations before they board a new cruise down the Magdalena River. Right on cue, Saveur featured Mariana Velásquez's kitchen there. Checkered floors, cane-front cabinets, open shelving stacked with cookbooks and whatever came from the market that morning. This is what tropical interior dreams are made of. Mariana doesn't separate the disciplines — food, art, design, hosting — they're one practice for her, and her new book Revel: A Maximalist Guide to Having People Over is that ethos in print. It's organized by time of day, each section with a full menu and setup plan, and it's the kind of book that makes you think more thoughtfully about the joy of hosting. |
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This scouting trip is a multi-country tour — right after Mongolia, I'm heading to Tōhoku, Japan — so everything in my suitcase needs to earn its place. A piece like this Mango satin set is exactly what I look for on the road: won't take up too much room, doesn't wrinkle, and goes from daytime to dinner without a second thought. |
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LAURA GONZALEZ MADRAS MAKRAMÉ ARMCHAIR
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A limited-edition chair from French interior architect Laura Gonzalez, inspired by Punjabi wedding thrones — the frame wrapped entirely in macramé, the cushion in deep wave-patterned indigo, only two ever made. Filed under chairs I will one day own for Casa Violeta or my house in D.C. |
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NICKEY KEHOE NIGHT BLOOM TABLECLOTH IN AZURE
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A hand-blocked cotton tablecloth made in India, inspired by a turn-of-the-century textile sample book found in the south of France — in the kind of deep, saturated Yves Klein blue I keep being pulled toward this season. You'll notice a theme. |
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"THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU" RADIO
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I've been waking up to this playlist every single morning for the past month — Lester Young, John Coltrane Quartet, Oscar Peterson Trio, Miles Davis Quintet — and it has been the calmest way to start the day. It keeps me from hitting that reflex where I start checking my work email before I've even had my first sip of coffee, which is a HORRIBLE habit I am working very hard to break. |
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Reading something, wearing something, or waking up to something worth sharing? Reply and tell me. I am always looking for more inspiration when it comes to El Camino. |
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