Feet planted firmly on new ground, you walk. Guided by a natural curiosity to unearth the distinct mysteries of the landscape that surrounds you. Life is absorbed, moment by moment in contrast and juxtaposition -- grand, sweeping views, short bursts of conversation and small bites of juicy, local fruit.
You walk sanded pathways, cobblestone streets and roads unpaved. You speak kindly in fragments of language to locals and take in the rhythm of the dialects which surround you. Food, it grounds you and tantalizes your once comfortable taste buds. Light coats the rooftops here at a different angle and saturates the electric colors of doors and walls.
Each moment you pass through, you feel the air start to shift. As you cover the ground in your footsteps, you leave behind an imprint of your presence. The land begins to open itself to you, and you, in turn, must embrace it. A comfort sets in, a sense of knowing. It’s a dynamic relationship between you and the land, its people, history, culture and practices. A sense of place.