In 2011 I left on my first major "walkabout". I traveled to Rome where I studied Italian at the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Language school. Here I met people from all around the world. We dined together, toured and practiced our Italian. (Read more about Rome here). I discovered my fascination with small vehicles and took many photos for my nephews.I then went to Florence, Italy and found adventures walking in the hills outside of the tourist areas.
One day, the day after Christmas, while out on a jog/walk (yes, I still did that in those days...) I came upon a man and his dog who were walking along the same path. He spoke almost no English and I fumbled along with the Italian I learned from the Scuola Leonardo da Vinci . Turns out, I had learned enough to communicate and to carry on a conversation that led to me joining his walk during which I learned about the area, the birds and wildlife, the flowers and plants he used for cooking or medicine and, sadly, that he was out walking for the first time since his wife passed just before Christmas. He told me about her and about his family and how nature brings him back to his center. Nature was a common language for us that day. It was magical. (Read more about my time in Florence here.)
Bologna was next. I visiterd a cheese maker and a Balsamic artisan. Where I was introduced to aged balsamic ov er french vanilla ice cream! Sienna and a few other areas of the region drew me in and meals and sightseeing were fruitful and delightful.
Cheese making- Bologna
Sienna and parts near
I then went to a cooking school in Soverato, Calabria, Italy, visited Venice in the winter.
I decided to go to India and needed a visa so I flew to Bangkok, Thailand to apply for the visa. As I awaited the visa, I visited many sites in the city and visited many of the key cultural and tourist places as well as took a cooking class where we made the most delicious, from scratch, green curry I have ever tasted. I gorged on mango and sweet rice and got overwhelmed by the scents at the market (dried fish), I even squeezed in time to have a medical health and wellness check up in one of the programs at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. I then, made my trek to India, the Osho Meditation resort in Pune India, here I went deep into a few different programs and met amazingly interesting people. One of the best parts of traveling is the people you meet along the way! After my time in Pune, I decided to go to Paris, even tho my original itinerary was to go through Indonesia and into Australia, then New Zealand. I had a rather large birthday coming up and I was feeling the love after my deep meditations in India so I decided to go to the city of love Paris! I walked everywhere, determined to feel every part of the city. I rented the most lovely place ate myself around town and met up with a pal from the language school in Rome. I took a class and learned how to make Macaron (my favorite!)
I then rented a car and "did France slowly". I started with a drive to Giverney then headed to the coast Normandy, Brittany across the Dordogne, including Tremolat, down to Nice and Cannes (just in time for the film festival!) spent time in Vance and many small towns along the way (see my France post here) I ended up back In Paris where I attended a writers retreat for a week then to Provence for another one! Super inspiring. Writing in cafes and hanging out with fellow writers it was a dream. I took the train to southwestern France and visited Sete and other areas such as the Camargue. Then to Barcelona, Spain hopped on a ship and cruised for almost two weeks in the Mediterranean with dear friends and their awesome kids. We met locals and did tours it was hoot!
After this I flew to Scotland to hang out in Edinburgh. All of this time I did a great deal of writing and walking, The city was brimming with activities as it was the time of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This is a must do event for those who are fans of the arts. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is also on at this time full of events around the Edinburgh Castle, pipers from all over and my favorite part of attending the festival on the grounds is to hear the lone piper as hey plays atop the castle walls. It is hauntingly beautiful. I so enjoyed this walk about but the time came where it had to end and back to the states I went. It was an amazing journey and this short synopsis coves the very tip of the iceberg (which I will talk about in another post about the Arctic!)
I was revitalized by this trip into the world. It was by far one of the best tings I have ever done in my life. I am actively preparing for another "walkabout" I am deciding the itinerary and time frame of this one which I imagine will involve a shorter run but one never knows in my life.
Travel on,
Pam
