I shun the on-and-off tour buses in new cities I visit because I believe the best way to know a city and get a feel for its people is to walk through different parts of the city. For example, Paris is best seen as you saunter along the long avenues over the Seine. You witness the art, the restaurants filled with milling guests, and souvenir sellers. You note the “love locks” on bridges. As you meander, you come to appreciate the architecture and learn whether its people are amenable to your smiles and hellos.
You feel the rhythm of the city as you walk down a district’s many streets, admiring the street art. You comprehend the whimsical nature of the people. You also distinguish between the social classes of each district. You learn which restaurants are admired by the number of people loitering at their tables.
You can’t get the same feel for the energy of a city by simply taking a taxi or Uber everywhere you want to go. The people inhabit the streets of their cities, and that is where you encounter them and learn if it is a friendly place or if friendliness is discouraged. Walking makes it possible to pretend you already belong here or that you don’t belong. You get to see people in their natural element, and that’s when their true nature shows.
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