Being a Tourist at Home

Today was a spontaneous day of being touristy in our own city. After picking my eldest daughter up after finishing class we had time to walk through the local botanic gardens which we have visited a lot over the years but not for some time. We then chose to go and visit the complex of buildings nearby that was our city's original university back in the 19th century - old by New Zealand's colonial standards.

It has been an arts centre for many years but was badly damaged in the earthquakes we had 10 years ago. The city has decided to restore it and the parts that are finished are looking fantastic!

We browsed in shops and visited a little museum we had never been to and just enjoyed being together among some beautiful architecture.

After travelling overseas many years ago and visiting tourist places but noticing the people going about their daily lives in these cities we were exclaiming over I realised even then that it is easy to forget to stop and notice what is around you everyday. I have never forgotten being in Rome and watching people driving past the Colosseum and not even turning their heads. Did they not notice this amazing piece of ancient history just quietly sitting there? Were they not in awe of the fact it was built thousands of years ago by a people long dead? They would have but they would have also been numbed to what was around them everyday. We however had travelled far and spent money to see this place and many others that they just took for granted.

 I encourage you to go and be a tourist in your home town for a day. Imagine you have someone from out of town visiting - what would you take to show them? An old building, a museum or gallery, a feature of natural beauty, a walk through the streets?

Being a tourist in your own town can open your eyes to what is around you and give you a new appreciation for things. It also provides some great entertainment and if you do it right can cost little or no money. For us we got a great afternoon's entertainment for no cost on a day that almost felt spring-like and I was almost able to imagine I had travelled to another place!