Saturday, May 24, 2008
Walk About
When we were residing in Portugal nine years ago, gasoline was $4/gallon. Most people took public transit or walked, no one drove SUVs. Our elderly landlord took his daily morning walk to the market, where he got what he needed for the day--an amount he could easily carry home.
We, too, avoided the expense of petrol by riding trains and buses and walking, which incidentally provided us the opportunity to meet interesting people and learn about local history, as well as find places to enjoy local cuisine at non-touristic prices.
Watching my American neighbors drive by in their SUVs to the market or to their health club for a workout, passing me and my dog on our way to the park, always amuses me; they could get so much more for so much less by just walking out their door.
We, too, avoided the expense of petrol by riding trains and buses and walking, which incidentally provided us the opportunity to meet interesting people and learn about local history, as well as find places to enjoy local cuisine at non-touristic prices.
Watching my American neighbors drive by in their SUVs to the market or to their health club for a workout, passing me and my dog on our way to the park, always amuses me; they could get so much more for so much less by just walking out their door.
