We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. – Hilaire Belloc
Egyptian passageway
Doorways, windows, and gates always feel like a call to adventure. This proves especially true while taking in the view in Peloponnesian Greece while pivoting
Bronze age bath
around in Agamemnon’s ruined bath chamber. Experience delicious shivers when you remember that this is the scene of ancient crime. Upon Agamemnon’s return from the Trojan Wars, his wife Clytemnestra killed him to be with her lover Aegisthus. Then Orestes, her and Agamemnon’s son, murdered his mother in revenge before going mad with guilt.
History’s rampant with rape, murder, incest, and treachery—the substance of legend, myth, and story. Discoveries arise when you take a much needed break on
Anatolian burial site
an Anatolian burial platform outside Pemukkale, Turkey. Or as you stand outside one of Malaysia’s ornate gates, where invented stories feed into your creativity about who lives behind them.
In Northern Africa I learned the phrase, “Your mother would be ashamed,” after inescapable brushes with roving gangs of
Valley of the Kings
menacing boys. For those interested, it’s سيسبب عملك هذا الخزي لأمك! Sadly the pronunciation has moved beyond recall. My rendition usually garnered laughter while temporarily redirecting hooligans from tormenting innocent animals. Useful, huh?
Travel feeds spirit, imagination, and stretches your world view. You bump up against cultures and languages that expand your horizon exponentially. You gain language skills, especially polite ones, although I confess to a joy in adding foreign invectives to my vocabulary, too.
Portal to ancient Egypt
Welcome to another view of travels with moi. Enjoy and allow me to wish you joy in your journeys, too.
How have language skills expanded your travel? What do you wish you knew then that you know now?
Beautiful door & man
Doorways
Cattail gate
More beautiful doors – Morocco
Red gate Kuala Lumpur
Egyptian passageways
Janine Donoho 