MTM: People Watching in Athens

This MTM is coming to you a day late this week because I was all fired up talking about millennials marching. That's a lot of "m" words flying about... Anyway today I want to talk about the art of travel people watching. It's a different kind of breed of people watching than the people watching you could be doing in your own hometown from the local coffee shop while catching bits of gossip and banter. This kind, obviously, has a broader spectrum with different locations, languages, and much more detail than when you're location locked at home. Technically, you could live in a very diverse area and this may not particularly pertain to you as much as others, but nevertheless when you're traveling about country to country there are bound to be differences. 

Sonder is a huge player when you're traveling and that's so blatantly one of my favorite things abut it. Here, pictured above, are two siblings that I ran into up on the Acropolis of Athens. They were talking in a language I did not know, but were being very sweet to each other and seemed engaged in not only the surrounding architecture but little things they were finding that were overlooked by others. Picking up tiny rocks and pointing out other sites and views set them apart from others. As travelers we can always learn from the youth because their imaginations can be quite different from our own. Seeing what they notice or recognize, watching their expressions when they see architecture they've only looked at through books, and listening to their exclamations about historical events can be very intriguing. 

I'm not saying that you have to have baby fever to appreciate what little kids are talking about and I'm certainly not saying that you have to interact with children either. Simply see if you notice anything when you're people watching about the youth and take a moment to take data from it, so to speak. 

You may be inspired or lose faith in parenting skills, who's to say. 

-CS

Traveling soon? Here are some things you may need and a place or two to do bookings. Safe travels and if you ever want to share something you found you know where to find me.

Re-Establish a Bond

"...I'm getting a flight and coming out there."

Losing friends and becoming distant from those you once held close are some of the hardest parts of life. Fleeting moments that are gone too soon are sometimes the only constant we have. However, if we're lucky our journeys tangle with others for awhile and things are less lonely. This woman here, Andrea Behling, is a perfect example of someone who I have been very lucky to keep in my life. From playing volleyball together in college, to roaming about Colorado and talking about our next adventures I am beyond grateful for the times we've had. 

It had been years since we'd seen each other, but we picked up like we had just hung out the previous weekend. These connections and moments can be so refreshing. The times where you and another individual talk consistently until you part ways. The times where you laugh so hard that it makes your stomach hurt. The times when things seem easier, even if only for a little while. 

I wanted to share some photos that Andrea and I took throughout her time visiting. We went to a couple of locations and she made my job a breeze. If this made you think of someone who you haven't seen in awhile I urge you to contact them. Reaching out for a friend or loved one can never be a bad thing. 

After all, don't you want to laugh until you cry?

-CS