LAJFSTAJL LIFESTYLE
UP FOR SOME SLOW TRAVEL? Slow down, enjoy yourself, relax The new ‘slow travel’ concept or philosophy places an emphasis on connecting with our destination’s local residents, culture, food and music.
FOTO TFILM ISTOCK
Y ou must see this and that; it’s obligatory to visit this and that place, and make sure you don’t miss out on this and that. How many times have you headed on your holidays with such ideas and that famous list of ‘must-sees’? Yes, you natu- rally need to prepare for a journey, to study where you’re going and de- vise a plan. But in our desire not to miss out on something deserving of our attention, relaxing breaks most often turn into tiring tours. We doggedly follow our "must see" lists and end up missing out on that which is most important, unique and unrepeatable, and that’s the at- mosphere of the place we’re visit- ing. Emotion. Experience. at feel- ing that even the body remembers, so when you close your eyes a few months after your journey and pic- ture the scenes in your mind, it all comes rushing back to you in waves... at’s why, on your next jour- ney, you should switch from obliga- tion to relaxation. Turn away from the well-trodden tourist trails and explore lesser-known local parts of the place you’re visiting. Feel free to allow yourself to get slightly lost – you never know what wonderful cor- ners or people you’ll encounter, and a little adrenaline never hurt.
e slow travel concept is based on the notion that travel is an educa- tional and emotive experience. e idea is to establish connections with the local population and thus expe- rience a place in the way it is seen through their eyes. If you pluck up the courage to turn away from the main streets, you’ll see how people actually live and witness local cus- toms and traditions; you’ll experi- ence the diversity that is slowly be- ing lost in this digital world, where information is shared in real time while everything is becoming uni- form. We know everything, we’ve already seen everything, but we are left deprived of authentic expe- rience and the wealth that should be brought by travelling. New knowl- edge, experiences, different perspec- tives, diversity. You don't have to go on every single excursion and take your pic- ture in front of every attraction. Sim- ply seek out attractions that are “un- der the radar”, allow yourself the time to linger in places you like, dine at a local restaurant, drink coffee on steps where locals gather, stroll through the market, rise in the early morning and wander beside the sea... Watch, soak it all up and relax. I only fell in love with Venice when, after forcing my way through the crowds and elbowing myself in-
to position to take pictures on the Rialto Bridge, I wandered aimless- ly into small, half-deserted streets. Passing small bridges, squares and canals, I spent a long time sitting on the steps observing the reflec- tions of houses in the water. And then there was the Arsenal... I ob- served the mighty walls of the old complex of former shipyards whilst sitting on a bridge, swinging my legs above the canal. I really read Piran and forever remembered it from its walls dating back to the 7 th century, only one of which remains. at’s a scene I will never forget, as well as the fact that, although Prešeren Square was packed, up there on the walls there were only four of us... I toured Perugia without a map, got lost, went round in circles... I swam in the lake with an islet where boat rides go, I don't recall the name, but I remember the beach to this day... e queue in front of Florence’s Uffizi Gallery prevented me from vis- iting it, but fortunately led me to the magnificent Boboli Gardens that are located behind the Gallery and filled with sculptures, fountains and art- works... At the time I did that spon- taneously, when I got tired of tick- ing off the list, and today I know that’s called slow travel. I still have a list when I go on my travels, but I no longer tick off the items listed.
Koncept sporog putovanja oslanja se na ideju da je putovanje obrazovanje i emotivni utisak The slow travel concept is based on the notion that travel is an educational and emotive experience
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