From the Editor-In-Chief

Whew. Where do I even begin?

First of all, THANK YOU to our advertising partners for continuing to believe in the power of print. We simply would not exist without you.

And THANK YOU, dear reader, for your loyal support. The scores of hopeful and heartfelt messages I've received inquiring about Sophisticated Living have certainly fortified my spirits.

Although it now seems like a lifetime ago, in early March right at dawn's first light, I set out for a run on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Even at this early hour, the humidity was already oppressive. I welcomed the mental distraction offered by side paths that took me to curious pink-tinged lagoons, lava tubes, and stretches where I literally had to hurdle Galápagos giant tortoises as they noshed on little green "poisoned" apples to continue on. At the halfway point, I stopped to study one tortoise, who indicated he was equally as curious by making a great effort to stretch out his neck to get a better look at me. It was just the two of us, with the ocean waves, the rustle of leaves, and birdcalls serving as the soundtrack for our silent study. Had I known this serene scene would stand in such stark contrast to the chaos of what has since transpired, I would have lingered a little longer in this state of self-imposed solitude.

Tour guide Atli (seated right) with our Classic Journeys Iceland tour group in March, 2019.

As a company, we wrestled with what to put in the issue. It was essential that we not be tone-deaf to the heartbreak all around, but to also serve as a beacon of hope that things will get better. Respecting calls for social distancing, in lieu of a local home feature, we opted to partner with Boco de Lobo to bring you a fabulous apartment in Moscow's city center. Back in the Bluegrass, we take a peek inside the new Champagne Studio at Bittners, designed by Douglas Riddle. We feel it is an apropos feature as we're all looking forward to the day when we can come together to pop some corks and raise a glass to making it through the pandemic.

Perhaps the hardest story for me to write was the travel article about the Park Hyatt St. Kitts. Having been basically homebound for weeks, the notion of ocean breezes and sand between my toes seemed an almost impossible dream. I kept putting it off for as long as I could. But once I set my mind to it and started to type, the comfort of engaging in the familiar exercise of storytelling felt like slipping into a warm bath.

During a 2014 visit to El Boquerón National Park in El Salvador, our guide Eduardo Siliezar offered us a taste of atol, a sweet hot drink made from corn, milk, sugar and cinnamon.

As Americans, our travel dollars are the lifeblood of so many economies. It's estimated that ten percent of the world's population works in tourism. On St. Kitts, tourism accounted for 62.4% of their GDP in 2018. From the airport attendant to the chef de cuisine at the resort, catering to our curiosity and wanderlust supports their families and improves the island's overall quality of life.

With Moroccan guide Saida during a 2011 trip

So, as we rally around restaurateurs, their employees, and other small business so recently ravaged, please remember those in the travel industry who also depend on us. People like Atli in Iceland, Sebastian in Ecuador, Saida in Morocco, Eugene on Curaçao, and Eduardo in El Salvador, a few of the many special guides I've had the pleasure of meeting while bouncing around the globe. These people have devoted their lives to working long hours and often long stretches away from their families in order to share what they love most about their country with travelers. We hope this issue, like every issue of Sophisticated Living, inspires you to continue to explore near and far (once it's safe to do so).

Bridget Williams , Editor-In-Chief: bridget@slmag.net