#like Archives - Four Columns of a Balanced Life

Real-Life Lessons Learned From Challenges

admin — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 15:34:33 +0000

Covid-19 has changed our lives forever. I will never forget September 11, 2001. As I entered the office, I had all kinds of plans and goals. I was getting married in 11 days. I wanted to make a few stock and currency trades. Stockbrokers around me were joking that some drunken person had driven his Cessna plane into the twin towers. I was surrounded by computer screens showing me all the trades that had happened overnight. I then looked at the television and saw the second plane hit the tower. It was the defining moment of my generation that changed our lives. The market crash of 2008, left its harsh marks forever. In my short life, I have seen the fall of the Berlin Wall and Apartheid. Both have made the world a better place. I have seen SARS, Ebola, and Bird Flu.

I was looking forward to 2020. My daughter was turning 16 and I wanted to surprise her with a trip to Eastern Europe. We have been traveling since she was young and had seen the whole of North America, Central America, Caribbean and Western Europe. I was also interviewing for a dream job.

The news about Covid-19 hit the news around the same time that Kobe Bryant died. A lot of us dismissed the virus. Even at Canadian airports, just a basic check was being done on travelers coming in.

In January, my wife got diagnosed with cancer. In February she had a mastectomy. The quarantine hit in March. All my plans got squashed.

The first thing I am learning is that I am not in control. I cannot control the disease that is ravaging my wife, I cannot control my daughter, I cannot control the economy.

The second thing I am learning is to appreciate life. I had taken life for granted. I had taken my wife’s health for granted. I am learning to appreciate my family.

A lot of people have asked me how am I doing. I am focusing on being grateful. It is that gratitude that keeps me going.

Finally, I am slowing down. I am taking it one hour, one day at a time.

I have asked bloggers from around the world to share what they have learned through the Covid-19 crisis.

Name: Sharon

Blog: Dailydream360

I thought I had this self-isolation thing down before the COVID-19 crisis started. I thought I already work from home and live alone, so how hard can a COVID-19 lockdown be? Here is what I discovered about myself and my business during the lockdown.

Discipline and Schedule: One of the most important things for me was maintaining my productivity and daily schedule. Even when I had no client work or with website traffic at an all-time low, I made sure that I set aside time to sit in front of the computer and get some job done. I made sure that my schedule also included time for Yoga, a workout, or even a walk around my condo to get to 5,000 steps a day.

Change of Scenery: I can’t complain about my condo size, I live in an 1100 sq. ft. However, I found early into the lockdown that sitting in my office too long made me go a bit stir crazy. Being self-employed, I used to go to a workspace, coffee shop, or even the library to change my location. During the lockdown, I created a standing desk at my Kitchen island and moved between the office and kitchen to do different work tasks. When the weather warmed up, I created a beautiful outdoor work area on my balcony to take out my laptop and sit and do some writing or other administrative tasks.

Getting Out of My Head: The curse of the self-employed person is the dialogue in your head all day. I didn’t want to spend all the time working and worrying about what was going to happen. With no clients and the doom and gloom online, I had to distract myself from the news. I made sure to find activities I can do to entertain myself. I bought puzzles to work on over the weekends, read many books and participated in several cocktail hours over zoom with friends.

Name: Liz

Blog: Mindingmythirties

COVID-19 taught me the importance of slowing down. I didn’t realize how much I needed to catch my breath and decompress. I was constantly rushing from one thing to the next and this forced quarantine really taught me to redirect my energy in a more sustainable way. It also served as a good reminder of what’s truly important – the things we cannot replace – like our health and mental well-being. The markets crashed and most people lost some money, myself included, but I’m beyond thankful for my health. And no matter what happens in the economy – I need to put that first and foremost. Because without it all the money in the world is useless.

Name: Lyosha

Blog: lyoshathegirl

The biggest lesson I have learned is to slow down. I live in a megapolis with 12 million people and everyone is rushing. The pandemic resulted in everything getting canceled and my schedule was empty. I like to rush, I like being busy and want my calendar filled. I watched the fashion week on a laptop with my puppy. For the first time in 5 years, I was not working on my birthday. It was fresh. But at the same time, this lesson of keeping it still, canceling the crazy life around you is not a lesson I truly want to share.

We need to take advantage of the time and opportunities we have. We think ‘I’ll go on vacation when I finish this project’, ‘I don’t want to go anywhere to see my family because I am tired from work’, ‘I can’t find time for the gym yet’, ‘I’ll have it done next week’, ‘I’ll wait for better offer’ — familiar, right? I didn’t go to visit my grandmother because I wanted to have some rest. I didn’t cut my hair because I thought I had plenty of time. The pandemic closed our borders. My grandmother’s condition got worse and she does not recognize me anymore. I have stopped waiting for a better moment to do stuff. Life is unpredictable, the future is unknown, the only time you actually have is now.

Name: Kimmy

Blog: StoryTale

2020, the world was looking forward to this new decade with space travels for the commoners when the pandemic hit unexpectedly. Not once in my lifetime nor in my mum’s lifetime did we witness a global economic halt on such a scale. People were rampaging through supermarkets to fight for the last roll of toilet paper. Insanity couldn’t even begin to describe it.

The bitter moments in life only make the sweet ones even sweeter. Throughout this storm of madness, I witnessed the best in people around me. Friends that were willing to share their last box of face masks, strangers that stood in the streets to distribute toilet paper rolls…All these are hilarious, yet heartwarming.

Who’d have known a year ago that one roll of toilet paper can let you see through a person so well? Not only was this a chance to learn about people around me, but it was also a chance for me to get to know myself. Am I willing to share in such desperate times, not knowing if I will have enough for myself?

What I have learned from COVID-19 is to give, even when times are tough. We live in a collective society. By helping others to contain it, you are helping yourself. I think that’s a lesson many countries learned the hard way.

Name: Stephanie

Blog: Mama Shark.

When they first announced we were going to be under a stay-at-home order for 2 weeks, I immediately felt anxiety creeping in- what was I going to do at home with my kids for 2 weeks???

Now we’re nearly 4 months into being at home, and while I am very excited for some sense of normal to eventually return, I’ve learned some things I didn’t expect:

My kids don’t need to be given things to do all the time. Sure, it’s nice to have a plan for something fun, but a routine that includes time for them to be creative is ok! They actually enjoy it, and we’ve ended up with some fun daily activities- like dance parties!

It’s really nice to not have to rush as much in the mornings. My kids are morning people, so we’re still up early, but not having to push them to get ready quickly has been nice.

It’s okay to not pay full attention to my kids every time I’m in their presence. Now, I’m not saying it’s okay to ignore my kids, but I’ve realized that the pressure I felt to always engage every moment is not necessary.

Name: Matt

Blog: Digital Sages

Overall, I’ve generally discovered that less really can be more- though I’m still very ready to get out of the house eventually!

One glaring issue that the COVID-19 crisis has shown is the absence of discipline and personal responsibility evident throughout our country. The lack of self-control is staggering, and perhaps a testament to how our society teaches us to constantly defer responsibility and indulge in emotionalism rather than calmly address situations with logic and mindfulness.

We could all do with a bit more awareness. Of the words we speak, of the actions, we take, of what we are thinking at any given moment. It’s clear that there is a lack of understanding in regards to how our thoughts and actions affect other people, and this has never been more evident than in the last couple of months. Runs on stores, people fighting over toilet paper, people losing their minds in supermarkets just because they get called out for not wearing a mask.

It’s not difficult to wear a mask. It’s not difficult to be considerate of other people. COVID-19 has shown that many of us need to take a step back and simply re-focus on the moment and practice a bit more self-control. Higher awareness leads to a happier life.

Name: Jaishree Nenwani

Blog: GetSetHappy.

We can lead a better life when we are not participating in the rat race:

Prior to the pandemic, in the so-called normal life, we all are busy with rushing to work, spending long hours there, and always under pressure to meet the targets. COVID-19 sidelined all those “targets”, locked down the whole world inside the home, where you got to stay with those people who were mostly ignored while you were busy making money.

We really don’t need too much to live a happy and healthy life.

We have lived through a lockdown. The Shelter, food, water, communication, medicines and education and entertainment were all we had. And we lived quite well with this much. This lockdown has forced us to realize, what we actually need to live our lives reasonably well.

Lastly, I would say Life never stops, it keeps moving. We need to do the same before life slips out of our hands. Live well, enjoy the time with your family, and stay connected with your loved ones. Life is precisely and worth living every moment.

Live. Love. Laugh and this pandemic too shall pass.

Name: Tiffany

Blog: SavingTalents.

One thing I’ve learned during COVID-19 is how to redefine how I measure myself as a mother. I homeschool my kids, and we always had at least one extracurricular activity out of the home every single day. We were very busy, but I felt satisfaction at the end of each day because I was coordinating learning and fun for my kids.

I didn’t realize how little I engaged with my children outside of school and activities, however. Now that we are home all day, every day (as well as with a new baby born in May), I can no longer feel satisfaction in how good of a job I’m doing with my previous measuring tools. I now have to be proactive and deliberate in my relationship and interactions with my children.

I’m learning that my love languages are definitely not my children’s love languages. I am seeing a lot of ways where I fall short on a daily basis because I no longer have outside activities that force me to engage with my kids. By nature, I’m not the most nurturing person – it’s always been a struggle for me. I love my children, but I could go all day without having to do things with them. I didn’t realize how much I hid behind our extracurriculars. This process has been extremely humbling, and it requires a great deal of effort and going outside of my comfort zone.

Name: Vanesh

Blog: TechnoVans

Learned to help more Indian Startups to promote their online business – I helped some businesses to increase their online visibility through my blog Technovans. Many China made apps got banned in India, hence I have spread the awareness of developing our own apps and helped Indian founders, software professionals to promote their apps.

Learned to make more connections to some awesome bloggers – I used the time I save from traveling for my blog. I read a lot in this period and learned how to use social media to increase the traffic to our blog or website. I connected with some awesome bloggers. I got some more guest posts from Twitter-connections to get published on my blog. I have focused more on Twitter to increase the traffic to my blog.

Name: Brenda

Blog: MyAngelsVoice.

COVID-19…I Am So Over It

We all woke up on January 1st 2020….with high hopes of what the brand-new year would bring…vacations we would take…people we would meet. The world was our oyster…but wait a minute…”Stop the Press!” Our world as we knew it was no longer within reach…and frankly getting farther and farther away from our grasp.

Working for surgeons…this is what I do everyday…. well…. our world stopped because elective cases were at a standstill…it was eight long weeks before surgeries slowly began again…finally a small bit of normalcy.

For me personally…what I’ve learned from this pandemic is that COVID-19 has only amplified the need for people to pull together…to realize how fragile life really is and how easily can be taken away. That material things…well are just material things. I have a love-hate relationship with the face masks that I wear every day but will continue to wear until it is safe not too…because it’s not just about me…I’m wearing it for you.

Name: Nadia Malik

Blog: SpeakingOfCents.

Most of us have been adapting to the new normal as a result of Covid-19 and if I am completely honest it hasn’t been easy. Being a mom and an online business owner, I have struggled with several things but here are some things I have learned during this time. Being organized with my personal life and my work is super important in order to create harmony and balance. Being productive with the small pockets of time in my hectic routine has brought positive effects. I have become better at switching quickly between my mom’s duties and work commitments. I have made my peace with the fact that there are certain things in my business that cannot continue at this moment and I have to pivot and find new ways to grow my business. I have learned many new skills that I would have never tried if it was not for this pandemic. Learning to adapt is my biggest lesson during Covid-19.

Name: Jessie

Blog: Bright-Eyed & Ginger-Haired

I think I speak for a lot of people by saying that this whole year has kind of been a blur. I can’t believe that it’s already July honestly. Just four months ago I was living over 10,000 miles away in West Java, Indonesia teaching English with the Peace Corps and now I’m sitting in my childhood home waiting for this whole thing out so that I can hopefully return someday. I guess the main thing that I’ve learned throughout this entire experience is that nothing is permanent. No matter how set you may think your plans are, things can always change. I’ve also learned a lot about patience and acceptance. Even though this year has been completely different from how I pictured it would be, accepting that this is my life in this moment and in this season has been incredibly beneficial on my mental health and overall productivity throughout quarantine. It has also been reassuring to discover that just like my time in Indonesia, this crazy period in our lives too will pass. It may be a long time before things are “back to normal,” but it will pass and we will enter another season.

Name: Hope

Blog: UndertheMedian

Like most families with a houseful of kids, over the years our schedule had become overburdened with activities. Although each of them seemed to be adding to our lives in at least in some meaningful way, when taken as a whole, we often found ourselves running daily from one commitment to the next. We were six people, existing in the same space, yet not connecting in any meaningful way.

Suddenly, the clubs, choirs, and classes were gone. Even church morphed into a socially-distanced, on-line event. Overnight, we had T-I-M-E for each other. We went for walks and bike rides, played board games, and imparted faith and encouragement to one another in a way we hadn’t for many years.

COVID-19 taught us that in order to connect as a family, we need to carefully consider the events which fill our days and nights. Today, we have prioritized, paring back our schedule, leaving breathing space and downtime. We are more balanced, more aware, and more intentional. We are a better family because of the lessons we learned during COVID-19.

Name: Scott DeNicola

Blog: www.dadontheedge.com

COVID-19 has not been easy on anyone but it has taught us a valuable lesson on the importance of family and slowing down to enjoy each other’s company. We all lead a very busy life and my house is no exception. I work a full-time job, run a web site, and in the evenings work a personal shopping and delivery service in my surrounding area. My wife works full time and my oldest daughter attends college and works part-time and teaches dance. My youngest daughter is in high school, on the varsity kickline team and dances 4 nights a week. Needless to say, we are rarely all together in the house at one time for anything other than sleep. COVID-19 has forced us all to remain together for several months and we’ve enjoyed having dinners together and going for walks and bike rides around the neighborhood. It has taught us that in the end, the most important part of your life is right inside your four walls and under your roof. That is and always will be your immediate family.

Name: Ronita

Blog: Erraticrantings

I wonder if anyone can use the words “lockdown” or “viral” anymore without shuddering. People already have and are continuing to pay a huge price for the coronavirus. Migrant workers have been forced out of cities, hospital doors have been closed to the less fortunate, people have died on the streets. We may never know their stories.

Our minds are longing for a return to normalcy. But the biggest lesson of all is that nothing can be worse than returning to normalcy. That’s because the pre-coronavirus “normal” with its capitalism and casteism, its religious fundamentalism, its indifference to suffering, its prejudices, and ignorance is what led to the inability of coping with the crisis. We have built this doomsday for ourselves.

It is time to realize that our pre-pandemic ways of living do not measure up to the situation of the world anymore. There are costs associated with the choices that affect people around us, knowingly or unknowingly.

I have realized the importance of trading some of my freedom for the greater good of the public. I have learned that there is never only one answer to a problem and that there are more alternatives than we allow ourselves to see. Covid-19 is an eye-opener. It has offered me the chance to reassess my actions of the past and put in the effort, in my capacity, to help build a better society, a new normal.

Name: Sonia

Blog: Lifewithsonia

I have learned a lot from Covid-19 and the chaos that came with it. I never really understood what it meant when people say ‘Sonia, count your blessings’, until now.

We live in a world where everybody is comfortable with complaining and getting angry about things that don’t matter. To point where we forget to appreciate every moment of the beauty of having to breathe the fresh air of life itself.

I count my blessings based on the fact that even with a medical condition, I am alive, healthy and strong. It was a bit confusing because I did not think the Royal family, Presidents, Politicians, were untouchable. COVID-19 has made me realize it doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, taking care of your health is vital to achieving anything in life.

It has been the wakeup call that I needed to stop complaining about the things I want but can’t have. And start appreciating the little things basic things that I need and have more. Such as making my health a priority as well as protecting people around me, spending time with family and close friends. Doing what I love more and maintaining a positive mindset.

Name: Amanda Griesbaum

Blog: Followingisidore

COVID-19 has been an interesting time. While its impacts haven’t seemed as great in our rural community, it has made a few things very clear: I love living in the county with a big yard and space to let my kids run and play (people in apartments/small spaces/no yard, how did you survive?!), I really don’t need to run everywhere and, I don’t care for virtual learning as a teacher-I thought keeping kids engaged in a classroom was hard!

The biggest take-away for me, however, is that I really did enjoy working from home and being available for my family. I always saw myself as needing to work outside of the home. I love to work, solve problems, and feel that excited push toward a goal. Now, I realize there are other options that will allow me to keep those feelings and still have an income as I prioritize my family and our farm. This knowledge is an incredibly exciting/terrifying shift in what I thought I needed.

That realization has motivated me to start an online-based business. That way I can DO what I love and take care of WHO I love how I want to.

Name: Lina

Blog: thecaffeinatedintrovert

Prior to COVID, our world has been a constant go go go. But then COVID-19 happened to force us all to stay home and practice social distancing. With the sudden shutdown, we HAD to slow down. While it is very scary not to know what we don’t know, it has been a great reminder to me to slow down. We do not need all the material things we once thought we needed, we don’t need to eat out every week or even every day and we don’t need to feel the need to do that next big thing.

I am a nurse and it did not slow down for me at work. As with most of the world, we had to shift gear and develop protocols in a constantly
changing environment. And continue to learn every day.

The biggest thing I learned about myself during this time is I needed to slow down and take care of myself. As a mom, nurse, and self-proclaimed workaholic, I am so focused on others’ wellbeing. I have been making self-care a priority for me and it has definitely helped me get through those tough days.

Name: Jayshree

Blog: literarygitane

I am getting to know my family more intimately. I enjoy having personal and philosophical conversations with my husband and children instead of mainly discussing their work or course selections and sports schedules. We go on hikes, we bake bread and pull weeds together from the garden beds. We are discovering joy in the mundane moments and we have become more contemplative and introspective.

On my daily walks, I am discovering the beauty of my neighborhood that I had taken for granted. I stop to appreciate the papery scroll-like texture of the bark of birch or to observe a bunny hopping across the length of a lawn. I don’t have to travel far away to see a spectacular sight in nature. Beauty and love are not elusive ideals but can be found in the most unremarkable moments.

I now understand that we cannot control everything in life and that our days on the planet could be shorter than we might realize. I have learned to embrace uncertainty. When normalcy returns, I hope I will never return to that frenzied pace of living but take time to smell the roses. Covid-19 has changed my outlook and made me realize that what matters most is a connection with my near and dear ones and with nature.

Name: Cindy

Blog: Cindygoesbeyond

This is what COVID19 taught me. Nothing, not even a worldwide pandemic, can cage me or stop me from living the life I am creating.

Yes, it changed my travel plans. I adapted by coming up with new ways to explore my world, from creating a backyard paradise to establishing monthly road trips to places I’ve not been to, within 150 miles from home.

And I’ve enjoyed spending time with my grandchildren after stay-at-home orders lifted. It’s a confusing time for children as well, with the school year ending early and an uncertain fall reopening. We’ve had deep and meaningful conversations around all that is happening in the world and I treasure those talks.

COVID19 helped me clarify my desires and intentions. It’s helped me to define what I do and don’t want in my life. It’s shown me the importance of maintaining my health and boosting my immune system. And it’s revealed the strength and resiliency of people around the world.

I’ll certainly remember this year as one of the most unique in my lifetime. We can learn and grow through any situation and circumstance.

The post Real-Life Lessons Learned From Challenges appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Maintain the Romance in Your Relationship With These 23 Tips

admin — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 14:01:15 +0000

I hate Valentine’s Day. The pressure to buy roses, chocolates, a card, go out for dinner, or cook a romantic meal, with wine, sensual music, and rose petals scattered all over the home to get into the mood…. Ok, wake up reality is here. Busy lives, busy careers, kids’ events, aging parents, and the stress of life is a romance killer.

A new relationship is frantic, enchanting, and electrifying. You do all these amazing romantic gestures towards one another, giddy with excitement, thrilled to know you have found an amazing person that loves you unconditionally and makes you feel special and alive.

However, as time passes by, everything becomes routine and boring. You are in the comfortable stage of a relationship. Therefore, you have to put an effort to keep the excitement going. You do not want to pull away from one another but rather be close. Here are some tips to keep the romance alive in your relationship.

Romance needs gratitude to thrive

In a relationship, taking each other for granted is the poison. Gratitude is the antidote. Gratitude helps you to hold on to your partner and be more romantic. Be grateful you have a partner in your life.

Patience does wonders for romance

We are a generation that was raised on fast food, drive-throughs, upgrading our cell phone and changing a car every few years. Sometimes we bring that same mentality into our relationship. Things are not working; I am too busy and on and on we go. Relax be patient and see how romance can bloom.

Gentleness means you need to practice humility

Try to be kind to your partner. Consider him better. Maybe you do not have to be right all the time, just to win an argument. Be kind and love unconditionally.

Romance loves a sense of humor

Have a funny name for one another. Crack a joke. The use of positive humor is good for intimacy.

Romance thrives on surprises

Do something different this week. If your spouse does the grocery shopping, you do it this week. Do chores around the home as your partner will appreciate it and romance will thrive.

Do things separately for romance to flourish

It is important to do things together. It is critical that you pursue hobbies and interests individually. This will give you topics to talk about.

Focus on the positive in your partner

Is your partner good at something? Tell him. If she is excelling at her job, let her know that. As you focus on the positive qualities of your partner, it will remind you of why you fell in love in the first place. You have the chance daily from morning until night to offer words of admiration, tribute, and affirmation that is valuable.

Buy gifts for one another

Put some thought into this and buy something personal. If your partner likes art and to paint, go and buy him some brushes and paint. This shows you have been thinking about him.

Romance adores compliments and appreciation

After a while, we can take our partner for granted. If she looks beautiful. Tell her. Run your hand through her hair. Kiss her and give her a compliment. We humans need to stay connected and love praise and positive feedback.

Send this post to them

This will send a message that this is what you want them to know and who knows you will get more love than you ever got.

Leave notes in a sticky

Leave a love note on the fridge, in the bedroom, a card or a voice mail. Let your partner know you love them, you care for them, they are awesome and you will be there for them no matter what. Or just send a nice romantic text to them.

Spend time together

Life is fast-paced and everyone wants our attention. Never make your relationship a low priority. You have to feed it, nourish it for it to grow. The only way to do it is to spend quality time together.

Plan romantic getaways

Once in a while go for a massage together, spend the weekend at a bed and breakfast or just go out for a lovely meal. It allows you to get away and focus on each other and your needs.

Talk daily

You connect when you talk. Talk about your day, what is going on, what is bothering you and what you want from each other for this relationship to grow.

Forgive often

The number one killer of romance is resentment and lack of forgiveness. It builds a wall. Forgive daily. We hurt the people that we love the most. As a couple, it is natural that you will hurt each other daily and very often.

Binge on the weekend

Pick a weekend and plan to do nothing except watch romantic movies on TV. You will feel refreshed, revitalized and closer.

Touch often and be intimate

Intimacy and touch are vital for a long term healthy relationship. Intimacy is nurturing, connecting, being vulnerable, real and communicating your deep desires and issues.

Be positive

Your partner is not perfect. Every human has annoying habits that drive their partner nuts. Never be quick to criticize. Always try to understand where the other person is coming from. Look at every situation from a positive perspective.

Stop pursuing perfection

The number one destroyer of relationships is perfection. Nothing is perfect. Accept the imperfections in life and in your partner.

Let go of unrealistic expectations

Take all your unrealistic expectations that you brought into the relationship and put it in a box. Never ever open it again. He will never complete you. No one ever lives happily ever after. Life happens.

The secret of romance is to give

The people who give the most are the happiest. The secret to living, where romance is thriving is giving. Give it to your partner and make her your number one priority. Go out of your way to make sure she feels secure, loved and wanted.

Kiss passionately

Forget the peck. Forget the short smooch. Make every kiss count with love and passion.

Be naughty

Go for a walk in your neighborhood. Look for spots where you can have a passionate kiss.

The post Maintain the Romance in Your Relationship With These 23 Tips appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

San Sebastian del Oeste

admin — Sat, 21 Dec 2019 21:55:21 +0000

Importance of a Cultural Tour

Discovering the history, language, culture, and ultimately, the people of a country can be rewarding. A cultural tour outlasts the suntan and lets you dip your toes into a country where you end up with an exotic blend of experiences that you can relate to the locals. This is even more important when staying at an all-inclusive.

Tours From Palladium Vallarta

The aquatic excursions from Palladium Vallarta are Pirate Ship Canadian Night, Ocean Mania, Yalapa & Majahuitas, Las Caletas Beach Hideaway, Whale Watching, Marietas Island Snorkeling, Luxury Sailing, and Sea Safari.

The entertainment and adventure tours include Rhythms of the Night, Extreme Adventure, Outdoor Adventure, Offroad, Pirate Land Day Tour, and Zip.

I recommend the cultural tour to San Sebastian del Oeste. The tour is run by Vallarta Adventures. In Puerto Vallarta, tour buses are not allowed to pick you up from the hotel. You have to take a taxi from the hotel to the head office of Vallarta Adventures.

The tour does include an amazing breakfast buffet and drinks. After breakfast, we head out to San Sebastian. The tour guides are amazing. They ask each person to share a little about themselves and what do they plan on getting from this trip.

Bakery

The first stop is at a panaderia (bakery). A great place to relax and have a drink.

The baked goods are some of the best I have ever tasted.

The owner and his wife have been using these recipes for decades.

Don Lalin Distillery

After the stopover at the bakery, we head out to Hacienda Don Lalin distillery making Raicilla.

Raicilla is a mezcal, which is Puerto Vallarta’s best-kept secret.

I find it sweeter and more aromatic than tequila. Raicilla comes from the Chico Aguiar variety of wild agave that is grown for about eight years, fire-roasted, fermented and then distilled.

John Huston

On our way to San Sebastian just before lunch, we stop at John Huston’s hacienda.

The hacienda was a gold and silver refinery and one can see the kilns and various equipment.

American film director John Huston single-handedly changed Puerto Vallarta from a fishing village to an international tourist destination. Huston hit a magic formula with The African Queen and The Treasure of Sierra Madre. Huston cast famous Hollywood stars in gorgeous, far-flung settings and made the locations the theme of the movie.

In 1962, Huston shot Night of the Iguana, in Mismaloya in a village south of Puerto Vallarta. Richard Burton was the lead along with Sue Lyon, Deborah Kerr and Ava Gardener. Elizabeth Taylor joined so that she could be close to Burton. Burton and Liz were in love after Cleopatra which sizzled the world. The photographers swarmed them and the Italian word for insects ‘paparazzi’ entered the English lexicon. The rest is history or ‘erotic vagrancy’ as the Vatican called it.

The press from all over the world flocked to Puerto Vallarta and when not focusing on Liz and Dick started focusing on what Puerto Vallarta had to offer. This location was pure bliss, utopia, the Promised Land with great beaches, haciendas, homes with tiles, palm trees and birds everywhere.

We stop at a restaurant for lunch.

San Sebastian

After a long drive on a scenic route along the winding road, we arrive at San Sebastian. My first impression is that it is locked away in time, surrounded by mountains carpeted in dense tropical vegetation. It is Mexico’s most well-preserved towns.

San Sebastian is ensconced deep in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains. It is off the beaten path and one of Mexico’s last remaining secrets. A town and a municipality that is not far from Puerto Vallarta but far from the tourist haunts. San Sebastian was founded in 1605 and consists of unique antique haciendas and homes. At its peak in 1830, its population was in excess of 20,000, working in mines, gold and silver refineries. The Mexican Revolution in 1910 brought production to a halt and the last mine shut down in 1921.

As you enter the town it reminds you of peace and tranquility. It is clean and tidy. The cobbled roads lead to a beautiful museum.

The church is beautiful from inside.

The inn has been around for a long long time.

There are lots of stores, shops and restaurants that are unique.

The organic coffee store has been run by the same family for 150 years.

A trip to San Sebastian really reminds you of how simple life was. It gets you in touch with nature, organic food and the simplicity of life. It was an amazing cultural tour that I will remember for a long time.

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