Finding the Little Moments During Your Travels
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Finding the Little Moments During Your Travels

There’s something truly remarkable about taking a step back from a main street in a capital city, or busy tourist spot that you’re visiting, and being welcomed with something undeniably spectacular. It gives you the feeling that you’re the only one that’s discovered this hidden street, or secret garden, and gives you a feeling like no other. It really adds another dimension and appreciation to your travels.
It’s a real treat, and something everyone should aspire to do every once in a while. Put the map aside for the rest of the day, or be a little nosy and walk down a more residential street, see how some people live their lives in these countries. I honestly do it more than any normal person should!
But I truly love it. I get a thrill when I try and imagine who settles in these homes, what they would be decorated like inside, what local food they would be cooking, how they would speak to each other, or where they work. I do this in London quite a bit, but would hate to think how much the rent would cost!
Seeing where people live and what day-to-day life is like in another country is one of those rewarding things about travelling. You get to take a peak into someone else’s existence, and maybe even imagine yourself in their shoes for a minute.
It’s way too easy to get caught up in the main attractions and tourist traps when you’ve got a long list of things to see in a place, you just move along with the crowd and become any old tourist. So just take a step back and immerse yourself in the real vibe of a city or town. You never know what you’ll find.
This could lead you to eating at a local, family run restaurant, serving the freshest, most local cuisine you could ever dream of. Or it could allow you to speak to the locals, learn more about them and even try and speak a touch of their language. It may sound boring to some, but it’s one of those experiences that you’ll always remember. A local experience.
A moment I’ll never forget is one that took place in Tuscany, Italy. We were walking through the local village we were staying in, and found a viewpoint towards the edge of the town. After we were done taking photos, we began walking back to our hotel, but an old man stopped us in our tracks, and whilst speaking no English whatsoever, invited us into his home and took us through to his garden, which had an even better view. The awkward exchange between him and us was so sweet and so genuine that I nearly had a little cry afterwards. I’ll always cherish that moment.
So, do yourself a favour and treat yourself to these little moments. The quiet streets, the grand houses, the lives.
Written by Katherine Reynolds
www.katthewanderer.com / facebook/katthewanderer / @katthewanderer