Travel Writing - Travelling With Your Eyes Open

Posted by Cathy Smith Oct 27, 2007

If you are setting out on a trip to a country you are not familiar with you will probably have a plan re what you are going to do and see. Some items will be a must but what about those bits that you are only going to see because you are in the area and are filling some gaps. Let me give you some advice...allow yourself to change your mind

Below are just a couple of examples. For example, on a trip to Cilento, in Italy’s Campania region, I planned to see as many of the historic sites as possible: Paestum, Velia, Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius. Too much planning, too much regulation.

I needed a rest after a couple of days and took some time off. I explored the village of Castellabate, near where I was staying. The church has a 16th century painting of the archangel Michael killing the devil - who is a woman. It is the only painting in Italy where the devil is depicted as a woman. What a find!

Wandering around the local shops I saw the most luscious mozzarella. I asked where it was made and was directed to the only organic buffalo farm in Italy. The cows are milked at 4:30 am and it is ready for sale by noon. You’ll never want to buy supermarket mozzarella again! When travelling to new places build in some time for just poking around and exploring. Remember, eyes open, antennae up.

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