Letter from the Publisher
Great Expectations
Welcome to our annual travel issue, my favorite issue of the year. I am thrilled to announce our feature covering one of my favorite places on earth: Cuba.
Cuba is a gorgeous wreck of an island. Your smartphone will not work, and there is very limited Internet connectivity. The best part about this lack of technology is that it forces you to be in the moment.
Part of the magic of Cuba is that it feels like stepping back into the 1950s. It harks back to the glory days of travel, when trips abroad were exceptional experiences and people dressed up to fly, socialized with fellow passengers and celebrated the journey.
Another standout story in this issue is “Up in the Air” by Alyssa Ford, a remarkable tale about how a couple of talented swindlers created a fake flight company, shaking down some prominent people and shocking Northern sensibilities.
And don’t miss the first-person account of hiking Peru’s Inca Trail from former Minnesota first lady Mary Pawlenty. She and her family embarked on their first camping adventure in the Andes, of all places.
These days, I travel both high and low. On airplanes, I upgrade to first class whenever I can swing it. On the other end of the spectrum, I sometimes take Greyhound regionally so I can be productive. On the first-class side of the equation, I am embarrassed to admit that I get irritated when the service is subpar. When traveling on the low end, however, I am easily pleased by a spotless hotel room, a comfortable bed and a good cup of coffee in the morning.
It just shows how our expectations about travel can affect both our emotions and our experiences. One thing I know for sure: I feel privileged and thankful to go on any trip.
Cheers,
Frank Roffers
Publisher + Editor-In-Chief
Correction
In the article “Up in the Air” in the Winter 2016 issue, a quote was mistakenly attributed to John Lundquist. We regret the error and have corrected it in this digital version of the magazine.
