Travel Wisdom: Save Time for Serendipity

In the 1969 movie, “If It’s Tuesday, Then It Must Be Belgium,” a group of mismatched American tourists dash around Europe in a whirlwind tour for 18 days determined to see it all and do it all. Today, travel is even more hectic. The World Wide Web overwhelms us with must-see and must-do options, near and far. In an effort to say “been-there-done-that,” travelers frantically check off guidebook lists of historic and hip new hotspots. Museums, monuments, memorials and meals become a blur. Castles and cathedrals begin to look alike. Back home comes the familiar refrain, “We need a vacation to get over our vacation.”

No matter where in the world you are, there are 1,440 minutes in a day. It pays to use these minutes wisely. Hit the pause button. Hop off the tour bus. Get out from behind the wheel. I am not suggesting skipping a walk on the Great Wall in China, not soaring to the top of the Eiffel Tower or passing on the Pyramids. Timeless treasures naturally top travel lists. However, between must-sees, save time for serendipity – unexpected moments and unsought treasures that linger in the heart and soul.

Search out serendipity. Adopt the “slow travel and slow food” philosophy. Here are a few of our favorite ways to seek and savor serendipity.

· Research destination calendar of events and attend a festival, lecture, play or concert featuring local talent.

· Shop local markets and stock up on tempting and unfamiliar treats. In Paris, we purchased picnic treats at specialty markets and bakeries on tiny side streets near our hotel. We spread our feast and popped a bottle of champagne in Parc du Champ de Mars at the base of the Eiffel Tower for an afternoon. What a perfect day!

· Learn a new skill. Take a class at a local university or a cooking class at a local restaurant. Each time I prepare a recipe acquired during travel, it brings back memories.

· Stay at a bed and breakfast that offers opportunities to interact with the owner and other guests at breakfast or during an afternoon wine and cheese get-together.

· Hire a local guide and see their world from their perspective. We hired a private guide in Chile to kill 12 hours between disembarkation from a cruise in Valparaiso and our flight out of Santiago. Tours by Hector far exceeded our expectations and we still keep in touch with owner, Hector Medina.

· Walk whenever possible. Check safe areas and neighborhoods to avoid with the hotel staff or tourism bureau. Ever walked across the Brooklyn Bridge? It’s one of the best ways to soak in city views and learn about the history of this remarkable landmark. Another Big Apple treat: A walking and tasting tour in Greenwich Village by Foods of New York.

· Eat where the locals do and strike up a conversation. On a cruise around the Mediterranean several years ago, we docked in Kusadasi after several months of travel warnings had prevented port calls. Our plan was a full-day excursion to nearby Ephesus, but after successive ports we were ready for a break from crowded bus tours. We made a spontaneous decision to spend a leisurely morning meandering the cobblestoned streets of Kusadasi and exploring its tiny shops and markets. Lunch at a local restaurant on the harbor front was a serendipity pleasure. Over incredibly prepared seafood fresh from a tableside tank and a bottle of local no-name “jug wine,” time stood still. We spent several hours sharing experiences of our distinctively different worlds with the restaurant owner and his family. We “connected” with our destination. It was one of the most memorable and meaningful moments of our voyage.