Wherever I end up living, it needs to be walkable. Walking is definitely my favorite way to get around. And I don’t mind long walks because it just means there’s more to see along the way.
I loved walking in Sydney. It felt smaller and less overwhelming after the first week of exploring on foot. I realized it was only 15 minutes from my house to the mall on Broadway. Fifteen from there to Darling Harbour. Another 15 to Hyde Park, and by the end of an hour I could be at the Opera House or Botanical Gardens.
I walked to all the places people said were too far to walk to. A few miles to Paddington? No sweat. The walk back from Centennial Park? Got it.
I used public transportation enough, but I’m a bit impatient for all the stop and go. I’d rather keep walking, crossing on red and diagonalling through parks.
So walk I did. I can’t even imagine how much. I had to lay my denim Chucks to rest. I had those Converse high-tops since senior year of high school. I rotate through a few pairs of shoes, but these were the best for times when I knew I’d be walking a lot in the city. Even after the red soles were worn down and the backs had torn, I wore those shoes a few more times.
As much as I wish I didn’t have to, I left the ragged pair in Sydney. I think they would have wanted it that way.
1 comment:
Go for Europe. I walked, or biked, everywhere there. Everything's on such a smaller scale than what we're used to. If you found Sydney walkable, any of the European capitals would be a piece of cake.
Adelaide's not the same as SYD, but one of the things I don't like about it is that it's built on the American (e.g. you must have a car) model. I still walk further than most people think sensible!
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