I Took My Grandfather Back to Mexico. Here's What Happened.

*🎙️Carrie On!* What if, instead of mourning the people we've lost, we threw them a party? In this special episode of **Carrie On!**, I'm taking you to Oaxaca, Mexico, where I experienced the magic of Día de los Muertos with **Two Peacocks Travel**. Think marigolds, music, incredible food, colorful traditions, and yes, lots of mezcal. Because we're over 40, not dead! But this wasn't just another fabulous girls' getaway. I brought a photograph of my Mexican grandfather, Popo, back to his home country and placed it on an altar surrounded by candles and flowers. **What started as a trip became a deeply emotional homecoming.** A chance to reconnect with my roots, celebrate his life, and remember that the people we love never truly leave us. **In this episode, we're exploring:** - The beautiful meaning behind Día de los Muertos and why it's a celebration, not a funeral. - How families in Oaxaca honor their ancestors through ofrendas, marigolds, candles, food, and storytelling. - My emotional experience placing my grandfather's photograph on a sacred altar. - The incredible women, artisans, food, mezcal, and traditions that make Oaxaca unforgettable. - What it's really like to experience Día de los Muertos, from colorful parades to candlelit cemeteries. - Why travel after 40 can be about so much more than sightseeing. - How remembering the people we've lost helps us carry their stories forward. Plus, you'll see me attempt to make tortillas, admire beautifully painted alebrijes, stumble into an incredible wedding parade, and do a little damage shopping. Naturally. **⏱️ CHAPTERS** 00:00 – Mezcal, Memories & Welcome to Oaxaca 00:48 – What If We Celebrated Death Instead of Fearing It? 01:40 – Traveling to Oaxaca with Two Peacocks Travel 02:30 – Marigolds, Music & the Magic of Día de los Muertos 03:20 – Meeting Local Artisans & Discovering Oaxacan Traditions 04:42 – The Sacred Side: Candlelit Cemeteries & Honoring Ancestors 05:45 – My Attempt at Making Traditional Tortillas 07:31 – Shopping in Oaxaca: Alebrijes, Textiles & Local Art 08:40 – Understanding Ofrendas & the Meaning of Remembrance 09:52 – Bringing My Grandfather Home: A Personal Tribute to Popo 12:07 – Weddings, Parades & Celebrating with Our Ancestors 13:25 – Oaxaca's Incredible Food, Mezcal & Travel Tips 14:30 – Why Oaxaca Deserves a Spot on Your Travel Bucket List 15:55 – Carrie On Homework: Keep Their Memory Alive 16:47 – Until Next Time, Carry On! **💜 YOUR CARRIE ON HOMEWORK** Find a photograph of someone you've lost. Put it somewhere you can see it. Say their name. Tell someone a story about them. Because remembering someone is its own kind of celebration. **And sometimes the most beautiful way to carry on is to carry them with you.** I'd love for you to share the name of someone you've lost and loved in the comments. Let's create our own little digital ofrenda and keep their memories alive. **🌎 EXPLORE & CONNECT** 🦚 Two Peacocks Travel – Curated travel experiences for women over 40 🌺 Zapotec Travel – Local cultural experiences in Oaxaca 🎧 Listen to Carrie On! on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 📺 Subscribe to Carrie On! for conversations about reinvention, empowerment, travel, community, and navigating life before, during, and after midlife.