Flashback to where it all began . . . .

Late last night, a very special thought occurred to me and I felt compelled to write about it this morning. It's a little touchy feely but all so true. I have written many times about how Slow Travel and the style of Slow Travel has changed my life. It really had me thinking about how I actually arrived here.

In my life prior to Slow Travel, I was an active member of a Travel Board called "Trafalgar." Influenced by having just watched "Under the Tuscan Sun", my friend and I decided that we wanted to extend our trip and spend 10 additional days in Italy after our group tour ended in Rome. But how should I plan this part of the trip? When I asked for advice, a member told me to check out a site called Slow Travel and I did.

I lurked for about a month before posting my first question HERE! Nearly 5 years and 3 solo independent trips later, I find it interesting to read my question again and all the wonderful responses that I recieved. Looking back at that question now, I think that I would've given "me" the same advice that I recieved back then from people like blogging pal Girasoli and there are other names I recognize like Doru, KHB, Jim, Sally, Philip, Jonathan, Robert and Pauline the wonderful founder of Slow Travel (who BTW wrote these great travel notes on hiking the Cinque Terre which we used exclusively).

I have made it no secret that I absolutely love this Website. I am always inspired by the wonderful experiences and beautiful photos of others, I admire and learn so much from all the travelers (new and experienced) and I have also come to care about this wonderful community as a group, especially my blogging friends.

Some ask the question, is travel about the journey or the destination? My answer . . . I think it is definitely both. The destination is just a photo but the journey is the heart and soul behind the photo. It's the history, the music, the art, the traditions/culture, religions, the food/wine, the architecture, the people, it's the embarrassing moments, it's missing your train connection because you were enjoying yourself so much, it's even about being given a lecture by a local for drinking a cup of Starbucks coffee rather than their delicious Spanish Coffee! Slow Traveling and staying in one place long enough gives you the time to have these special experiences.

Although I have (I admit) browsed at other travel sites I always return to Slow Travel because it is the best resource on the net and most especially because it really is a community of people who really want people to have the best travel experience that they possibly can. Finding my way here has definitely changed my life and the way I travel for the better! I've definitely come a long way since that first question I posted in 2004!

And now on my next entry, I will describe in just one word and one photo why I love to Slow Travel and in a sense why I also love this site! So stay tuned ...