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NEVER TRAVEL WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED

Contributed by: Deborah Erickson on 7/10/2007

What an absurd thought! Of course you've never traveled with your eyes closed, except perhaps during that endless trip across Nebraska last summer. If your eyes had been closed, how would you have ever seen the Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum in Rome, the Grand Canyon and all those other vacation high-points? Certainly you've seen all the sights and your friends and relatives have the picture postcards to prove it. Furthermore, each and every one of those cards has "Wish you were here!" dutifully scrawled in the little space on the back.

However, on your next journey, how about sending a postcard perhaps showing the easily recognizable picture of Big Ben, but this time, the message reads: "Enjoying London today. Had a fantastic conversation with a nice English gent I met while sitting on a bench in Hyde Park. Just started talking to him and he told me the most amazing stories." Sounds a lot more memorable, doesn't it?

A trip to England several years ago made me keenly aware of what travel
could be--and definitely should be--if I was to gain lasting memories from the considerable time and money invested in my journeys. I allowed myself to look beyond the well-known landmarks to venture across the well-marked streets into the arms of the people and the culture that waited for me around every corner.

I've now learned to travel with my eyes, not with just my guidebook. My mind's scrapbook now bulges with a diverse collection of sights, sounds, people and places that I hadn't noticed or thought about on previous trips. Here are some eye-opening hints that made this vacation--and every journey I will embark on in the future--truly worth writing home about.

Take a Walk--Walking has the noteworthy benefit of allowing you to travel slowly enough to gain the full measure of the place you are visiting. Only walking allows you to savor every person, place and thing along the way. You can walk past eateries and inhale the aromas; you can walk down a backstreet and admire the local architecture; you can stroll a hidden lane and explore the forgotten.

One of my most memorable days in England's Stratford-upon-Avon was spent walking from the town center down a wooded pathway to Anne Hathaway's cottage, stopping for a picnic in a park, and then taking great pleasure in a leisurely stroll back to town. The cottage was certainly on my list of things to see, but the walk is what is etched permanently in my mind's eye. Walking allowed me to travel at my own pace and collect visions that soon became cherished memories.

A taxi is usually quicker, but faster is not always better! Plan time in each day's itinerary where walking is a priority. Remember, this is a vacation, not a timed endurance test. Sometimes that tightly planned schedule should be tossed right out the hotel window.

Get Lost--Misplacing your usually reliable sense of direction can be an amazing--but rarely intentionally used--benefit of walking. Allow yourself to turn left when your instinct directs you to turn right. Who knows what undiscovered adventure will be waiting for you just around the corner?

An afternoon stroll out of Moreton-in-Marsh in the English countryside known as the Cotswolds was hopefully going to lead to another small town where I could relax with a cup of tea. Instead, after apparently missing a turn someplace, I ended up trekking across a pasture inhabited by a friendly herd of cattle. My walk took me to a small gathering of typical Cotswold houses, where, unfortunately there was neither tearoom nor pub. However, this afternoon's adventure proved to be well worth being thirsty for a bit.

Seek Out the Unexpected--Guidebooks describe things most tourists want to see. What they forget to tell you about, however, are those things that are easily missed. Intriguing doorways, instructive and sometimes humorous signs, and lovely gardens all tell stories about the culture, beyond the well-known landmarks. Take the time to look for the little things--wherever you travel--and take pictures to preserve the memories.

Sit on an Already Occupied Park Bench--You can simply smile and ask about the weather, for everyone has an opinion on that topic. Other time-honored conversation starters are "Are you from around here?" or "Can you give me directions to so-and-so museum? It won't be long before this verbal exchange will open your eyes to what you would have, more than likely, just marched right on by.

When I boldly sat down on a bench occupied by a dapper-looking Englishman and began to chat, I ended up being mesmerized by his stories. His tales will certainly never appear in any guidebook, like the one about his neighbor lady who gardens while wearing only her "knickers."

Smile and Say "Hello"--You may not always speak the language of the country you are visiting, but a friendly face and a pleasant greeting will frequently open doors and lead to unexpected encounters.

When I wandered into in small Stratford-upon-Avon shop, the shopkeepers eagerly postponed closing for the evening and took time to fill me in on all the latest news of their town and country, just because I came in with a smile and a friendly greeting. I would have certainly missed this chat had I just looked at the store's goods and quickly left.

Eat Where the Locals Eat--Head away from the town center and look for that small restaurant not listed in any guidebook. Usually, the prices will be lower, the crowds smaller and the experience quite unforgettable. To find a good place to eat, ask the locals--like that fellow sitting on the park bench--where they eat or you might have a go at the suggestions noted above, namely walk and get lost. Your wanderings might possibly lead you to an unexpectedly delightful and non-touristy local eatery.

Keep Your Wallet in Your Pocket--Everything described above can be done for free or for very little cost. Remember, an elevated price tag does not always equal a fabulous travel experience. Budget travel doesn't mean only getting a discount on your admission to a museum or a great deal on a hotel room. By looking in the direction of the people and their culture, you can slip some of your travel dollars back into your pocket while adding mightily to your storehouse of recollections from the journey.

Travel is all about memories. I'm now firmly convinced that these
memories--if they are to be more than just picture postcards stuck on the refrigerator with souvenir magnets--must be nurtured by looking beyond what is in the guidebooks. We can easily see the sights, but if we are to have a scrapbook overflowing with memories, we must travel with our eyes wide open.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Deborah Erickson

Thornton , CO

Deborah Erickson has posted 5 stories and 0 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. Deborah Erickson 's average story rating is 5.
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