I have a notebook.
In that notebook, I jot down blog post ideas as they occur to me. I have a growing list of subjects I want to talk about. On that list was Anthony Bourdain.
As this blog gained momentum, and built up material I hoped to eventually write a post about Anthony Bourdain and the importance of what he does. I wanted to write how inspiring his show has been to me as someone who values the meaning of travel, and exactly why learning about the world is crucial.
I was hoping by then that I would have gained experience in this whole “blog thing”. That I would have grown and developed in my writing skills, so that I could more eloquently express what I wanted to say.
I didn’t intend that day to be today, June 8, 2018.
And So, Friday Starts
This morning’s news of Bourdain’s death left me shocked and stunned.
Most of my friends know I don’t subscribe to cable. I just don’t watch TV.
But the one exception was Anthony Bourdain and Parts Unknown (and before that, No Reservations). Through iTunes, I was able to subscribe to both shows and faithfully watched them. I would write down the episodes to the upcoming season and check them off as I watched them.
I know I’m certainly not alone when I say that I’ve learned so much more than I could have ever hoped for about the world. How many countries did we assume we knew about until he showed us otherwise?
Anthony’s fans knew he always took the path less traveled, and showed us cities we may never have known about if it hadn’t been for him.
Anthony Bourdain Became an Ambassador
Anthony had his beginnings as the noted bad-boy Chef, yet matured gracefully into the ambassador that he was now (without losing his sense of humor).
He ventured into places, some dangerous, some beautiful and some barren, to show us how other people live through their customs and their food.
Anthony once said that we probably wouldn’t achieve world peace by sharing a meal, but it was a good start. How very true. Everyone has to eat. Isn’t that as good of a starting place as anywhere? I know some of the best conversations I’ve ever had were held over a meal.
I truly enjoyed the last few years seeing how he came to really appreciate his position, how gracious he was in every home to which he was invited. I admired how cordial he was whether he was at a three-star Michelin restaurant, or sitting on a plastic chair in Southeast Asia. And how he genuinely enjoyed listening to the personal stories that his hosts shared.
In today’s world, this is just so very important.
How can we possibly hope to understand each other if we can’t meet eye to eye? Anthony did that for us, by giving a voice to neighbors we’ve never met. Both here in the U.S. and abroad. Most of us can’t hope to visit all the places that he went, but because of him maybe we’re able to start understanding; to start listening.
And my best hope, feel compassion.
These are beliefs that are very dear to me, and to thousands of others.
So, Where Do We Go From Here?
Selfishly, I was hoping one day soon that Anthony Bourdain would make it to Costa Rica. Of course, Costa Rica has been called the Switzerland of Central America, and we all know how he felt about Switzerland. Still, I was hoping.
Most fans, myself included, will say they could identify very well with Anthony. And it’s true, because he was so real. Unabashedly genuine.
So, where do we go from here? How can we continue his legacy?
For myself, I will travel as much and as long as I am able. I will strive to learn about the people and places I visit.
And I will tell other people what I learn.
This may be a small contribution, but I think it’s worth it.
If you get the chance to travel, take it. And take the road less traveled. In one of his No Reservations episodes, Anthony recommends “leaving the travel book at the hotel and letting your senses guide you.”
Taking this advice will always be a good decision.
Rest in peace, Anthony. You will be missed.
Do you have a story about how Anthony Bourdain influenced you to travel, or a favorite episode? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
Beautifully written. What a wonderful tribute to a great man!
He’ll be terribly missed by so many. The best thing we can do is to keep traveling, to keep exploring and to keep learning.
Still am so sad of his passing, our daughters got their love of travel from his shows especially the pancake man on the boat somewhere in Asia….left a lasting impression. He was influential way beyond what he knew….
You certainly have a lot of company in that sadness, especially today on Bourdain Day. I’m happy to hear that your daughters have a love of travel, and maybe you do, too! I am of the belief that it’s one of the most important things we can do. What better way to learn about the world and the people we share it with? I really miss his show. Each week that it was on I was excited because I knew I’d be learning something new. And it didn’t even have to be far away! It’s such a loss, but hopefully we can carry on some of the legacy of traveling, sharing a meal, learning and then telling other people about what we’ve discovered.