By Melissa Lowry
While my mom and most of Istanbul slept, I rose with the sun (not with an alarm clock) and black coffee. Sunrise isn’t complete without a cup of joe – on the rooftop terrace of a Sultanahmet hotel taking in the picturesque Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Next and not so glamourous was a peek inside the fitness center. No trip is complete without some exertion. Besides, my mom and I would be participating in a Turkish cooking class, indulging in a seven-course meal and savoring every ounce of Turkish wine and baklava.
But after discovering a dark, dingy corner downstairs masquerading as a gym, I turned to the cobblestone streets of the Old City. My excursion was reminiscent of my first adult trip abroad to Europe when visiting my birthplace at Heidelberg, Germany where I first learned to crawl and where I completed the circle by standing on my own two feet and running along the Neckar River.
Since then, I have pounded promenades in Nice and Paris; climbed the steps mounting Lycabettus Hill in Athens on the hottest day in the summer while prodding my family and friends along; and hiked through Petra ascending the 800 steep steps to the High Place of Sacrifice. I even turned down a motorcycle ride from the handsome Turkish owner of the cave hotel in Cappadocia to continue hiking the fairy chimneys.
Some of my most memorable experiences traveling have been on foot – walking, hiking, running and ultimately, getting lost; which I have found, is the key to discovery. Walking forces you to get out of your routine and despite language barriers when traveling internationally. It’s something each and every one of us shares; it’s the human condition. So, while you are on holiday during winter break, consider the following quote: “a little step may be the beginning of a great journey.”
Now, I could give you a routine to complete in your hotel room. But when in doubt, walk. Getting lost may help you find your way around the city. And, a change in weather and scenery is a surefire way to boost your mood. Walking also strengthens the legs and core and it strengthens the bones better than biking, swimming, or elliptical training.
Remember, “many of the most accomplished and creative people throughout history have also found walking to be an integral part of their daily routines and key to their success as artists, creators, writers, musicians, thinkers, and human beings, ” says Mark Sisson, bestselling author of “The Primal Blueprint.” Think Aristotle, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Dickens, and Beethoven. They were all avid walkers. Think and explore with or without your travel companions or while they’re still asleep and surprise them with your increased energy and hidden gems.
