Recipe to the Road

By: Recipe to the Road
  • Summary

  • Recipe to the Road is a collection of travel stories and information from people all over the world with different backgrounds, different budgets and different life experiences. The idea of the podcast is to literally share the recipe to the road and make travel accessible to everyone through information. Each week host Maria, with the help of her amazing guests, will shed some light on different aspects of travel. Contact the show: recipetotheroad@gmail.com or @recipetotheroad Apply to be a guest: https://forms.gle/MbPYGzHxKQvCUfdt8 Podcast production: www.creativelycontenting.com

    Recipe to the Road
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Episodes
  • 26. Hasta luego- some final reflections with Tom
    Jul 12 2023

    In this episode of the Recipe to the Road podcast I reflect on the last 14 months in Mexico and Central America. My partner Tom joins me as we unpack our highs and lows of the last year. We talk about preconceptions versus reality, an honest reflection on budget, what we’ve learned, the male and female experience, hitchhiking and our biggest lessons from the road. 

    This is the last episode of season 1. Thank you all for listening and for being so lovely and encouraging.  

    Latin America - preconceptions versus reality 

    • Tom says it is way safer than what you hear. 

    • On TV shows it seems very different to real life 

    • Way more indigenous people and different culture than I’d have thought from what you see on TV and hear 

    • Loads of dancing in Mexico but not so much in Central America- more marching bands 

    Budget reflections: 

    • Supermarkets are extortionate in CA, worse than Mexico which was also pricey, more than Ireland for some items

    • You need more money than you might think travelling here 

    • Tom notes that we were quite specific on where we stayed for wifi so that could have added to accommodation being expensive 

    • We also note that because I ate vegan and sometimes we wanted to eat healthy that was more expensive too.

    • Street food is the cheapest option if you don’t mind about diet. 

    Biggest things we’ve realised  

    • Maria: privilege is more than money. Growing up with opportunities and education is a huge privilege. 

    • White privilege is a big thing- such as being treated differently at checkpoints and borders  

    • Tom: People are generally really nice and decent. 

    Experience as a woman versus a man 

    • In some countries I experienced sexism and being treated differently to Tom. 

    • People would address Tom and not me in conversations. 

    • When I was alone men would shout “Hey baby” or whistle or make other sounds if they are with other men

    • In Belize men would often approach me but it felt a lot more respectful. They were usually alone and it felt more like they put women on a pedestal rather than seeing us as something less than. 

    • Male experience: nothing ever happened. Tom also notes that because he has a beard he is perceived as a bit rough or messy in Latin American countries. 

    Hitchhiking

    • Not something we planned but just sort of did it when it was convenient 

    • It seemed really safe and the people were lovely. 

    • It was a great way to practise Spanish because people who pick up hitchhikers are interested in chatting to you

    Challenges we faced travelling that led to growth 

    • For me: fear and germs 

    • For Tom: Getting used to being unsettled. 

    • As a couple: being together all the time and working together in the same small spaces 

    Maria does quick fire round:

    • Fav country - El Salvador

    • Fav accom- Zephyr lodge in Lanquin, Guatemala

    • Fav food - Mango y Chile Tacos in Bacalar 

    • Fav memory - Valladolid pride 

    Links and info

    Tom and my other episodes together: Ep 12 & Ep 13

    My fav accommodations: Zephyr Lodge, Yuri’s place & Co.404

    The best taco: Mango y Chile

    Contact the show: recipetotheroad@gmail.com or @recipetotheroad on Instagram and Tiktok.

    Apply to be a guest: https://forms.gle/MbPYGzHxKQvCUfdt8
    Podcast production: www.creativelycontenting.com

    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recipetotheroad/message
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    46 mins
  • 25. Denny in Belize
    Jul 5 2023

    In this episode of Recipe to the Road, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dennis Morrisseau, an 80-year-old man from Vermont in the US who is temporarily living in a hostel in Hopkins, Belize. Dennis has led a fascinating life, and I was excited to hear his stories, including his experiences protesting the Vietnam War and his travels throughout the Caribbean, Europe and hitchhiking to San Francisco. 

    We also talked about his interest in aesthetics and design and how it influenced his restaurant in Vermont. Dennis expressed his love for colourful and artistic environments, preferring them over sterile ones.

    Permaculture and sustainable agriculture in Belize 

    Dennis shared his involvement in a project in Belize where he will be practising permaculture on 80 acres of land. Permaculture is a method of agriculture that involves planting a variety of plants together to support each other and enrich the soil, eliminating the need for fertilisers and pesticides. Dennis emphasised the importance of moving away from monoculture and towards a more natural ecosystem in agriculture.

    Opposition to the Vietnam war as an army officer 

    Dennis recounted his decision to speak out against the Vietnam War as an army officer in uniform. He described escalating his demonstrations, including speaking at a rally and standing in front of the White House with a sign. Dennis was eventually arrested and spent a night in jail before being processed out for Vietnam (spoiler alert: he didn’t end up going). 

    Corruption and money in American politics 

    During our conversation, Dennis told me about his experience running for congress three times. Despite facing opposition, he gained significant voter support but lacked financial resources. Dennis criticised the lack of transparency in political spending laws, stating that everyone cheats and breaks the law. He refused to file a financial report to shed light on the issue, firmly believing that big money controls politics in America.

    Contact the show: recipetotheroad@gmail.com or @recipetotheroad on Instagram and Tiktok.

    Apply to be a guest: https://forms.gle/MbPYGzHxKQvCUfdt8

    Podcast production: www.creativelycontenting.com


    --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recipetotheroad/message
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    39 mins
  • 24. Teaching English abroad with Ebony
    Jun 28 2023
    In this episode of Recipe to the Road, I chat to Ebony, a teacher and creator. Ebony shares her experiences as the first person in her family to embark on international adventures. We discuss her solo trip to Bali which she says changed her life, teaching English in South Korea and Somaliland and her unexpected stay in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Being the first in her family to travel Ebony takes us back to her roots, with her family hailing from New Jersey and New York for generations. She shares how she is the first in her family. For this reason her family don’t fully understand her lifestyle and often worry about her. But she thinks they are probably proud too.  Finding pure joy in Bali Ebony reminisces about her first solo trip to Bali, Indonesia, while still working as a social worker in the US. She was able to take 2 weeks off work but says that was enough to change her life. She describes the overwhelming happiness she experienced in Bali, attributing it to the energy of pure joy, love, and gratitude that permeated the island. Teaching English in South Korea In Bali Ebony met a South African woman who was teaching English in South Korea and Ebony decided to do the same.  She explains the process she went through to move to South Korea and start teaching English. She completed a TEFL (teach English as a foreign language) course online, specifically a 120-hour course with ITTT. Additionally, Ebony had to fulfil certain requirements specific to the South Korean program. She highlights the benefits of the South Korea EPIK (English Programme in Korea) programme, which covers housing, flights, pension, severance, and provides tax-free income for US citizens for two years.  Ebony encourages aspiring teachers to research and find a teaching English programme in the country they wish to explore. Backpacking in Africa and Europe After a year of teaching in South Korea, Ebony embarked on a backpacking adventure. She began her journey in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ebony spent about a year backpacking in Africa before travelling through Europe and eventually returning to the United States. Teaching in Somaliland  Following her time in South Africa, Ebony applied for a teaching job in Somaliland, an independent country formerly part of Somalia. Ebony shares the cultural differences she encountered in Somaliland, such as the reliance on camel milk as a source of hydration due to limited water in the desert region. She also highlights the challenges faced by women in the region, such as being married off by their parents from the ages of 7 or 8 in exchange for “stock” which could be camels or money. She says female genital mutilation is also a big part of the culture there. Education is a ticket out of the life set out for women by society.  Ebony adapted to a different way of life, including encounters with camel spiders in her room and bathing with rainwater. She returned to the US briefly and experienced a culture shock, realising the stark contrast between the capitalist society and the simplicity she had grown accustomed to while abroad. Embracing the journey and sharing stories Currently, Ebony travels as a storyteller, exploring Mexico and Central America. She loves connecting with local and indigenous people, sharing their stories through her YouTube channel. Ebony has also authored a book called "Computer Love" available on Amazon. Her biggest tip for travellers is to embrace the journey and remain open to new experiences. Ebony’s details:  YouTube: Eb's Migrations Blog: https://ebonysmigrations.wordpress.com/  Instagram: @ebs_migrations TikTok: @ebs_migrations Book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Creativ-E-Press/author/B0BSNYGM1B?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true  Contact the show: recipetotheroad@gmail.com or @recipetotheroad on Instagram and Tiktok. Apply to be a guest: https://forms.gle/MbPYGzHxKQvCUfdt8 Podcast production: www.creativelycontenting.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/recipetotheroad/message
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    49 mins

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