The Poetry of Freedom

Leslie H ColeMarch 19, 2021Comment

Trespassing

Leslie H ColeMarch 5, 2021Comment

Tell me a story…

I am decidedly anti-collector, but not when it comes to other people’s collections.

FoodLeslie H ColeFebruary 26, 2021Shrewsbury, Teatime, Slow TravelComment

To More Slow Roads

I look forward to more long empty streets in small towns, whenever that happens.

CaminoLeslie H ColeFebruary 19, 2021Camino frances, Slow Travel, PilgrimageComment

A Walk Postponed

If I’m not making my walk this year, what am I writing about? Does this blog have another purpose?

Leslie H ColeFebruary 12, 2021Camino frances, Albuerge, Pilgrimage, Friendship Comment

Time to Evolve

I didn’t want to see anyone hang from a telephone pole, but I am the daughter of a history professor, and I also know that revolutions don’t come cheap.

Shrewsbury to RomeLeslie H ColeFebruary 9, 2021Evolve, Love, Seattle, SoDo, Pivot, PilgrimageComment

In Between, We Breathe

When I moved to Spain after a long walk across a hot country, no one, least of all myself, named what I was doing as putting on my own oxygen mask first.

SpainLeslie H ColeFebruary 5, 2021Madrid, Camino, Swimming Pool, Breath, Pilgrimate Comments

Taking a Breath

The perfect breath is 5.5 breaths per minute, 5.5 litres of air, 5.5-second inhales and 5.5-second exhales.

SpainLeslie H ColeFebruary 2, 2021Madrid, Breath, Slow Travel, Camino, PilgrimageComment

Alternative Footpaths in COVID Times

Though the well is capped, we can still sip the waters of freedom. Small journeys on foot, starting and ending at home, remain legal and plausible.

Shrewsbury to RomeLeslie H ColeJanuary 29, 2021Via Francigena, Slow Travel, England, COVID, Pilgrimage, The Old WayComment

Routes to a New Pilgrimage

Spanish Camino routes are closed to tourists until at least fall this year , but there’s no reason to stop visualizing our next pilgrimage.

Shrewsbury to RomeLeslie H ColeJanuary 26, 2021Pilgrimage, Shrewsbury, CanterburyComment

10 Signs You’re a Slow Traveler

You spent most of the last decade planning and now it’s time to plan less. You’re ready for a weekly itinerary instead of a daily schedule, and your guidebook is only a guide, not a manual.

Leslie H ColeJanuary 22, 2021 Comments

Wanderlust This and Wanderlust That

The svelte chihuahua in a skimpy bikini and sunglasses caught my attention, and I stopped clicking through long enough to listen to her rap.

Leslie H ColeJanuary 19, 2021Via Francigena, Slow Travel, Pilgrimage, GuidebooksComment

Camp Coffee or Cafe con Leche?

One constant that defined my two Camino thru-hikes, and what I looked forward to every single day was a café con leche shared with fellow pilgrims who walked with the same goal to reach Santiago de Compostela.

Shrewsbury to RomeLeslie H ColeJanuary 15, 2021Camino de Santiago, Through Hike, Slow Travel, Via Francigena, Cafe Cullture, Espresso, PackingComment

Pilgrimage or Thru-hike on the Camino

In anticipation of another long walk, I’m beginning to explore what the Via Francigena has in store for me. I don’t think there are backpack services, but is it a thru-hike?

CaminoLeslie H ColeJanuary 12, 2021Camino, Pilgrimage, Cafe, Spain, Trough Hike, Via Francigena, Camino FrancesComment

5 Guides to the Camino de Santiago

Curious about what makes a good guidebook, I decided to explore some guidebooks for a pilgrimage and route that I know rather well.

CaminoLeslie H ColeJanuary 8, 2021Camino de Santiago, Guidebooks, Slow Travel, Camino Ingles, Camino Primitivo, Camino francesComment

Where is Your Next Road?

The world went on hold in the year that shall not be named, and so did I. I couldn’t even begin to think about the possibility of a walk through England, France, Switzerland, and Italy.

Camino, Shrewsbury to RomeLeslie H ColeJanuary 5, 2021Camino de Santiago, Pilgrimage, Community, Slow Travel, Via FrancigenaComment

What's on the Other Side?

Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, 2020.

CaminoLeslie H ColeDecember 29, 2020Door, Slow Walk, PilgrimageComment

A Camino Symbol of Community

On a medieval Camino, a pilgrim carried a scallop shell back from the ocean to show they’d reached the end of their intended journey.

CaminoLeslie H ColeDecember 22, 2020Camino de Santiago, Pilgrimage, Community, Slow TravelComment

5 Books by Women Who Walk

This list of favorites came from an autumn spent reading memoirs by women authors who walk and have published books about their experiences.

CaminoLeslie H ColeDecember 18, 2020Camino, Slow Travel, Women, Reading, BooksComment

Authors on the Shelf

Dark winter days motivated me to knock some walking books off my long reading list. I’ll share several titles by women who walk in my Friday post this week.

Slow lifeLeslie H ColeDecember 15, 2020Porto, Portugal, Bookstore, Reading, Writing, Travel, Slow TravelComment