Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

My husband and I started traveling in our early sixties. We planned to travel twice in a year: within the country (preferably a National Park) and to a foreign country. We also decided against “seeing everything” at any place because that amounts to experiencing nothing. However, walking in any new destination always added to the adventure.

As our feet moved with slow pace; our senses got engaged. Pacing reminds me of the mosaic sidewalks in Lisbon, Portugal, streamside sauntering in Kyoto, Japan, and making space through the throngs of people on the sidewalks of New Delhi, India. 

Entering little mom-and-pop shops, eating at hole-in-the-wall restaurants, or talking to street vendors gave us an opportunity to communicate with local people and get a flavor of how they think and live.

Venice is a labyrinth of winding pedestrian pathways and waterways. A walker’s dream comes true there. The exquisite shop windows, vibrant plazas, and ancient buildings are tucked throughout the city. We spent a few days in this paradisical city wandering on foot and discovering places and things that weren’t mentioned in our travel guides. The smell of the sea surrounded us, and the narrow streets and gray stone plazas shimmered after a rain shower. As if that was not enough, mouthwatering aromas of delicious foods wafted from restaurants. Exploring a city by walking adds small adventures to any travel.