Dorothy of Wizard of Oz fame tells us there is no place like home. Dorothy has many wise words, but on this one, I’ll have to respectfully disagree.
During my travels over the years, I’ve stayed at wonderful hotels, not so wonderful hotels, encountered a mosaic of interesting individuals and captured stories that will remain with me forever. But very few places have felt like “home” – the place where you can kick off your shoes, hang out with a few books and chill.
I arrived for the second time at Hacienda San Agustin de Callo on Thursday (I came for a day visit in July during my first trip to Ecuador). Inside the hacienda’s majestic historic walls, there’s a special room – what’s known among the visitors and staff as ‘the living room’ – where numerous new and old books, plush sofas, an ever-roaring fire and pictures of the hacienda’s past bring the room alive. Give it character.
The room is just one of many of the unique aspects of Hacienda San Agustin – but likely my favorite.
Last night, like every night there, the guests gathered in the living room for pre-dinner cocktails. We were quite the mixed and matched crowd – a few visitors from Italy on a long holiday trip, one couple stopping by just for dinner and some friends of the owner, Mignon Plaza. We all spoke different languages, but translated for each other along the way, managing to cover a range of topics – from the health care situation in the U.S. and to Ecuadorian President Correa’s political view to ra
ising children and favorite artists.
Each night at the hacienda features different faces and conversations. For me, bands of energetic people and animated chats easily remind me of home – with four siblings, we grew up with friends coming in and out, music always playing and food always at the reads. My parents kept the door open for everyone – something my sister, brothers, close friends and I remember fondly to this day.
Perhaps that’s my personal connection – the familiarity of the way of life – even if in design, the hacienda is geographically away from where I live. Those feelings of connection have followed me to Florence, where I lived for a summer, Buenos Aires, where I worked for two months and Chicago, where I lived happily for three years. There are many others, but these stand out to me the most.
But, despite Dorothy’s popular mantra, perhaps we are meant to have more than just one place that feels like home.
Are there places – near or far – that are your home away from home? Share in the comments and be sure to tell us where and why.
*The picture above is my own and is a snapshot of the hacienda living room coffee table books. Right next to the fireplace. Awesome.
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That place sounds amazing and yes, I agree with you that you can have more than one place that feels like home. Home is not the structure of the building, it’s the feeling a place gives you–one of comfort, familiarity and happiness. When James and I were travelling through Italy a few years ago, we stayed in an agritourismo called Le Magnoli. We were instantly welcomed by the owners and some other guests and felt as though we knew them all for ages. We all had dinner together and after dinner some played the piano and guitar while we all sang along, laughed and talked late into the night.
PS. Home can also be anywhere they immediately offer you chips and soda…=-)
Dani – yes! chips and soda always make the home :) I think the people are what do it – the environment can help, but how we connect makes all the difference! Love your Italy story!
Ah… I know this feeling. For me, it’s Hawaii. It’s a combination of the family memories made there while growing up and the Hawaiian culture that everyone is family makes it a peaceful place. I look forward to going back in the near future.
Karli! Thanks for your comment – I loved Hawaii – and that’s I agree that the philosophy that everyone is “family” was similar to what I experienced there. I hope you get to go back soon – and let us know all about it :)
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