͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Happy spring!

We just returned from Curaçao and I’m excited to share what stood out most, plus a few fresh ideas from Guatemala and Mexico.

If you’re planning a spring gathering or simply craving brighter flavours, here are a few seasonal favourites:

🧀 Crispy Dobladas – Guatemalan appetizers perfect for sharing.
🥬 Beef Salpicón – Shredded beef tossed with fresh veggies and citrusy vinaigrette. Enjoy in lettuce cups or tacos for Cinco de Mayo!

And if mango season is calling your name, check out our 👉 Mango Recipe Collection.

We're also sharing tips and news, including this 10% discount on the exciting April in Paris Gourmet Tour.

Let's dive in!

Michele of A Taste for Travel

Travel Tips and Planning

Curaçao Without a Car

Many people think you need a rental car in Curaçao but we found otherwise on our recent stay!

With the right base, you can easily walk to restaurants, waterfront beach clubs, and rely on bus, taxis or tours for the rest.

Check out our guide

Timely Travel

Guatemala City: A Food Scene Worth Watching

Guatemala City has been quietly gaining attention for its emerging food scene, with restaurants like Mercado 24, Sublime and other creative eateries earning spots on Latin America’s 50Best lists.

From traditional markets to modern dining, it’s a destination that rewards curious travellers.

And choosing the right neighbourhood makes all the difference.

Best Hotels in Guatemala City

Mercado 24 is located in the hip neighbourhood of Cuatro Grados Norte. (Credit: Javier Sanchez)

Tropical Table

Salpicon de Res (Shredded Beef Salad)

Light, fresh and perfect for Cinco de Mayo, these salpicón de res lettuce cups deliver satisfying flavour without the carbs.

Ideal for easy, crowd-pleasing entertaining.

Get the Recipe

Beach & Foodie Buzz

Notable news, updates, and happenings

We're excited about the launch of Niagara Wine + Food a cookbook featuring signature Niagara Wineries + recipes.
Tucked in a quiet spot of Zicatela (where I first fell in love with Puerto Escondido decades ago) Mantra Hotel Boutique offers minimalist design without the high price tag.
New seasonal flights to Puerto Escondido (PXM) from Vancouver (YVR) begin on Dec. 7th on Air Canada.
Dreaming about lobster season? Check out our Atlantic Canada guides and use this handy lobster map to time your visit perfectly.
For summer travel, our updated Budget Caribbean Travel Tip Series will help you save money.

Got a minute? We'd love to hear what you're most interested in!

🇲🇽 Mexico Travel

🏖️ Caribbean Island Travel

🥑 Authentic Recipes from Guatemala and Mexico

🌎 Money-saving travel tips

P.S. Don’t forget to check out our Subscriber Benefits page for exclusive deals and free ebooks—perfect for planning and sharing!

Disclosure: Links in this newsletter may be affiliate in nature. Get more details on our Disclosure page.

For the latest news, follow A Taste for Travel on social media!

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The Violent Will Always Find Another Reason to Live by the Sword

Americans are led by people who use violence to solve problems, but Jesus warned us that violence only generates more problems.

Ed Cyzewski

Apr 18

READ IN APP

a sword laying on the ground on a wooden floor — Photo by Cassiano K. Wehr on Unsplash

There are a lot of different ways to live your life as a person and to exist as a society. For better or worse, in America, we tend to “live” by the economy and market.

There are a lot of ways we can “live” as individuals and as a nation. We can “live” by prayer, community, individualism, alliances, education, innovation, and, most famously, we can live by violenece—living by the sword.

Jesus said that those who live by the sword will die by the sword, and that makes me think that there is a type of person who embraces violence as a way of life. The sword is a zero-sum approach to life that only stops when it’s overcome by someone stronger.

The violent don’t easily stop and reflect on their ways without someone else intervening.

If you live by the sword, you rely on the sword and you believe that violence can solve problems and get what you want.

If something doesn’t work out, you didn’t use enough violence or the right kind of violence. Commitment to violence as a way to live doesn’t invite reflection and consideration.

The solution is violence no matter what the problem may be.

It can be hard to argue against violence at times because it’s now removed from the faces of people who are killed. The target is acquired on a screen like a computer game and then neutralized by a drone, missile, or shell.

We can always be convinced that they deserved it and somehow wronged us first. This violent action is supposed to resolve the chain reaction of conflict the other side started.

“If we can just get this missile strike to take out the bad guys, we can finally be safe and free!” The weapons change, but the lies of violence reamin the same.

We should know that we are only perpetuating more violent responses that can be used to justify more violence.

The violent prove themselves as untrustworthy and make it nearly impossible to negotiate peace or to build safety. Who can live at peace with someone who lives by the sword?

Ironically, the violent create their own self-justifying cycle to continue using the sword over and over again. As they create fear, hate, and a thirst for revenge among their enemies, living by the sword appears to be the only “sane” way to live in this insane cycle of violence.

The death and Resurrection of Jesus looms large over our current situation right now where God showed us the way to respond to violence and hate. It appears weak, even if it requires strength beyond what I can imagine.

God’s way challenges us to stop thinking of all the reasons why we could strike back at our enemies and to start thinking of all the ways we could demonstrate God’s radical love.

That’s not the kind of message that wins elections, but it is the sort of thing that could save our souls.

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