History came to life the first time I set foot upon the walled city of Chester, UK. I was ten, and my father had brought the whole family to the place of his upbringing. I knew from my schooling all about walled cities, and quickly rambled off facts, my mind exploding as the revelations unfolded.
Years later, I would visit a cousin in Bristol. Walking the streets, I marvelled at the architecture, and the miracle that I should be in this place experiencing life from a new perspective. And then, we turned a corner and entered the area known as Clifton, and I felt as if I’d been transported into a fairytale – the quaintness of the buildings lending a surreal air.
“Why travel, when I have everything I need here?” a friend once said to me. “I’m content with life as it is.”
I understand the comfort of what is known – and the danger. Only by venturing into the unknown do we reach new depths, and touch the magical.
I have been fortunate to travel widely, experiencing many “pinch me” moments. I have been surprised by how much more I’ve discovered about myself in the process.
(Post inspired by Willow Poetry’s challenge: What Do You See? Photo supplied as prompt.)
One Woman's Quest II 
So agree, resonates so much
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Glad you can relate.
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Interesting write from you V.J. You are fortunate to be physically capable of travelling and to broaden your knowledge from these experiences. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.
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I am very fortunate, Hélène!
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Traveling indeed broadens our horizon and widens our understanding of the diversity of culture thus making us more productive individuals.
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For sure. I think it can be dangerous to think that our little pocket of the world is the totality of reality.
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Walled cities? Lol now i am very curious! Very interresting.
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Cities were walled to provide protection during Medieval times. Some of them still exist, although the walls only serve as historical monuments nowadays, of course.
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