A Journey for the Sole

There were times that Chris and I agreed that we should have worn a pedometer to keep track of the miles (kilometers) that we walked during the sabbatical and vacation travels. We know how many frequent flier miles we earned, but the "foot" distance will remain a guess-timate - and like good fishermen - will grow with every re-telling!

Let the photo be the story-teller in this regard. These were new Skechers when I started, chosen for the soft underfooting and the "nubbies" on the sole to absorb the pounding of trail and cobblestones. Other than a comfortable pair of casual dress shoes that were worn with khakis when we went out for dinner, these were the only shoes I wore for six weeks of exploration. As you can see those important "nubbies" have been completely worn down on the outside of each sole. Each step - the 187 steps up the tower of Grosmunster Church in Zurich for a panoramic view of the city, the 4 kilometers down and up from our hotel to Lake Como, the romantic Spanish Steps in Rome, or the steep steps on the Great Wall in China - shaved a little off of the soles of my shoes, but added something new to my own soul.

Since returning home, the two questions I am continually asked are: "Did you have a good trip?" and "What was the best part?" The answer to the first is "Absolutely fabulous" and the second is always, "I could never pick a single person, place, experience or lesson." In fact, this was such a varied trip that it would be like asking me, "Which of your children or grandchildren, do you like the most?"

Each location had its particular attraction, some more mesmerizing than others. Some experiences enjoyed for what they represented more than what I saw. I truly believe that I was destined to visit Switzerland, and felt completely at home there. There was a unity that I felt with the land and the people. And I enjoyed the experience of northern Italy, and want to return someday to visit Milan, Florence, the Piedmont, and Venice. We fell in love with Tuscany, its hilltowns, history, people and their sense of community - and the food and wine! We long to return there. Rome is really the Eternal City and it grabs the eye and the heart at each turn.

China surprised us. The people were more open, more animated, more engaging than either of us expected. The country is big, and diverse, the cities are enormous (32 cities with population of more than 10 milion souls). The economy is massive, the poverty is apparent, the change is inevitable, the future is unpredictable. The history impresses, the traffic oppresses, the difference between the needy and the wealthy depresses. But I am so glad that we experienced the touristy things as well as caught a glimpse of real Chinese life as we visited cities, towns and villages.

My soul is alive because of our travels, even though the poor soles of my shoes may be relegated to the back reaches of my closet, never again to enjoy the Cinque Terre trail, or the steep streeets of Montepulciano! As the hymn says, "It is well with my soul!"