Lovely meditative article Laura. I remember during Covid when we were restricted to 5km travel and how I explored my local environment more closely and was surprised by what I found. Solnit is such a fabulous observer of environment and people. I have a few of her books. Picked up Wanderlust: A History of Walking in a Paris bookshop last autumn. Its a deep dive, as is her style.
Wow, so much to respond to. The act of noticing something familiar as if it’s brand new is a great practice for all of us to consider. Assumptions are the travel writers’ arch nemesis.
There are so many wonderful insights and quotes here but I’ll choose this one:
“Solnit’s wanderings, often undertaken close to home, reveal that geography is less important than attention.”
This is very much attuned to what I’ve also been observing in my travels and what I reflect on a lot in my upcoming book, An Anthropology of Wandering, of which I leaned on the writing of Solnit, especially her book Wanderlust.
Reminds me of some of my favorite quotes by Proust, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes” and Thoreau, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
This is fantastic, thanks Laura. Such brilliant writing — I particularly loved the paragraph about discomfort with stasis driving travel.
I’ll need to save this article to re-read once I’m back in my daily routine to remind me that travelling largely takes place in that small space between one’s ears!
“Without the scaffolding of newness to wrap around the story we’re constructing, the writer must manufacture the sense of wonder through language itself.” Wow!
Just wonderful, thank you. I am returning to Venice for the fourth time tomorrow and hope to be very still once I get there, observing, note taking and thinking. Your article has come at the perfect time. Will look up your recommended reads too.
We’re very touched by the mention, thank you, Laura.
I hope you’ll forgive the cardinal sin of sharing my own nonsense on the end of your excellent words. But I was reminded of this 100-word flash fiction on the theme:
This essay feels like a manifesto for the kind of travel writing I’ve been trying to practice — the journey as an act of devotion, the familiar as infinite terrain.
“Attention as movement” might be the most liberating phrase I’ve read all week. Thank you for articulating what so many of us sense but rarely name.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to travel much lately, so I'm living vicariously through others, because travel writing from home is...difficult lol
Thank you Laura - dropping sparkling gems 💎 and dazzling gold 🌟as per usual:
“travel is not a privilege of the mobile, but a practice of seeing the overlooked.”
“the genre of writing built on motion has always sought stillness.“
I’ve saved this essay to return to again and again. It speaks to something I feel deeply but could never have articulated so beautifully. 💕✨
So glad it resonated for you. Appreciate the kind words ✨
Lovely meditative article Laura. I remember during Covid when we were restricted to 5km travel and how I explored my local environment more closely and was surprised by what I found. Solnit is such a fabulous observer of environment and people. I have a few of her books. Picked up Wanderlust: A History of Walking in a Paris bookshop last autumn. Its a deep dive, as is her style.
Thanks Lucy. Yes, super on the close-up observation. Always enjoy her writing too.
Wow, so much to respond to. The act of noticing something familiar as if it’s brand new is a great practice for all of us to consider. Assumptions are the travel writers’ arch nemesis.
Agree Elias, 100%.
There are so many wonderful insights and quotes here but I’ll choose this one:
“Solnit’s wanderings, often undertaken close to home, reveal that geography is less important than attention.”
This is very much attuned to what I’ve also been observing in my travels and what I reflect on a lot in my upcoming book, An Anthropology of Wandering, of which I leaned on the writing of Solnit, especially her book Wanderlust.
Reminds me of some of my favorite quotes by Proust, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes” and Thoreau, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
This is fantastic, thanks Laura. Such brilliant writing — I particularly loved the paragraph about discomfort with stasis driving travel.
I’ll need to save this article to re-read once I’m back in my daily routine to remind me that travelling largely takes place in that small space between one’s ears!
Thanks Andrew, much appreciated. Endlessly curious about why we write and what drives us towards story. All a journey!
Laura, wow thank you so so much for your words 😭🩷
Pleasure Stina! And looking forward to reading about wherever you travel to next - whether closer to home or further afield.
“Without the scaffolding of newness to wrap around the story we’re constructing, the writer must manufacture the sense of wonder through language itself.” Wow!
Thanks Jill, glad it resonated for you.
Just wonderful, thank you. I am returning to Venice for the fourth time tomorrow and hope to be very still once I get there, observing, note taking and thinking. Your article has come at the perfect time. Will look up your recommended reads too.
Love Venice so much (out of high season). Likewise, it draws me back over and over. Wonderful place for writing. Enjoy!
Thank you 🙏
We’re very touched by the mention, thank you, Laura.
I hope you’ll forgive the cardinal sin of sharing my own nonsense on the end of your excellent words. But I was reminded of this 100-word flash fiction on the theme:
https://justwriteright.substack.com/p/world-view
This essay feels like a manifesto for the kind of travel writing I’ve been trying to practice — the journey as an act of devotion, the familiar as infinite terrain.
“Attention as movement” might be the most liberating phrase I’ve read all week. Thank you for articulating what so many of us sense but rarely name.
So pleased it resonated for you Dave, and appreciate the kind comment and the restack. Thank you!
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to travel much lately, so I'm living vicariously through others, because travel writing from home is...difficult lol