Walking through a city is a transformative act. Contemplation, movement, and observation come together in a wonderful whole, so that walking in a city proves to be a transcendent experience. During this pursuit, we seek greater insight into events in our lives and our minds. We can simultaneously be alone but connected to the multitude of humanity surrounding us, which puts us in tune with a larger consciousness. In this way, walking the city can be one of the most contemplative state in which we find ourselves.
Successfully walking through a city will bestow a great sense of confidence on the traveler. I’ve walked the distances of entire cities, like Rome or Istanbul, and at the end of my journey, I felt as if I’d climbed a mountain or swam the length of a sea. I remember with great fondness walking through different parts of Rome, like Vatican City or Trastevere. In Istanbul, I stood in front of Hagia Sophia just like Roman emperor Justinian did after he built it centuries ago.
You have to explore cities like the aforementioned to understand the illumination to which I am referring. Walk through a world city to experience the wonderful sounds, sights, art, and architecture. Do it for the conversations you’ll have with others also on their own journey. Go with a friend or go alone. Either way, you will not be the same person you were when you started your voyage.
Ayesha F. Hamid is a poet and creative nonfiction writer published in Blue Bonnet Review, Philly Flash Inferno, Sheepshead Review, and Rathalla Review. Her full-length memoir The Borderland Between Worlds is available through Auctus Publishers at Barnes and Nobles and Amazon. Ayesha also has a full-length poetry collection called Waiting for Resurrection. She is a Poetry Editor at Ran Off With the Star Bassoon and an Assistant Poetry Editor for The Night Heron Barks. She is the Editor-in-Chief at The City Key.
Ayesha holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and A Bachelors of Science in Sociology from Chestnut Hill College, M.F.A. in Creative Writing and an M.A. in Publishing from Rosemont College. She also holds an M.A. in Sociology from Brooklyn College. Aside from writing, Ayesha also loves film, travel, and photography. You can find Ayesha on twitter @ahamidwriter
Ayesha is a lover of cities, big and small.
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