This week in a NYT travel article I learned the word Flâneur. Here's some of my fav quotes:
A flâneur is an idle stroller who wanders aimlessly and lets 'accident' be their guide: one of the best ways to explore a destination is not with goals or itineraries but by following your senses
To walk a city led by your senses rather than a destination is to awaken to the city and, possibly, to yourself.
It’s an opportunity to expand your capacity for wonder, to discover and delight in things you might have missed had you been aiming to get somewhere.
A Flâneur's aimless strolling is conducive to savoring, to finding joy in the moment, a practice that some social scientists have found can be cultivated and may help lead to a more fulfilling life.
Flâneurs open themselves more to the unexpected, to the little surprises that sometimes turn out to be the best part of a day, or an entire vacation.
In addition to savoring the moment, strolling can be a way to begin to understand the cities we visit.
A certain romance, an air of freedom and a desire to pursue a slower, looser way of experiencing a city — if only for an afternoon. Eventually, you return to your hotel. You’ve strolled unfamiliar streets and tried new things. If you’re lucky, you’ve seen something beautiful or tasted something superb. Maybe you’re feeling grateful, or you’ve rekindled some joie de vivre.
Have you ever been a Flâneur and a great vacation memory happened?!
I wanted to start a discussion so everyone can share their own Flâneur moments (I will kick it off below)! BONUS POINTS if you encourage flâneurism with your guests!
A flâneur is an idle stroller who wanders aimlessly and lets 'accident' be their guide: one of the best ways to explore a destination is not with goals or itineraries but by following your senses
To walk a city led by your senses rather than a destination is to awaken to the city and, possibly, to yourself.
It’s an opportunity to expand your capacity for wonder, to discover and delight in things you might have missed had you been aiming to get somewhere.
A Flâneur's aimless strolling is conducive to savoring, to finding joy in the moment, a practice that some social scientists have found can be cultivated and may help lead to a more fulfilling life.
Flâneurs open themselves more to the unexpected, to the little surprises that sometimes turn out to be the best part of a day, or an entire vacation.
In addition to savoring the moment, strolling can be a way to begin to understand the cities we visit.
A certain romance, an air of freedom and a desire to pursue a slower, looser way of experiencing a city — if only for an afternoon. Eventually, you return to your hotel. You’ve strolled unfamiliar streets and tried new things. If you’re lucky, you’ve seen something beautiful or tasted something superb. Maybe you’re feeling grateful, or you’ve rekindled some joie de vivre.
Have you ever been a Flâneur and a great vacation memory happened?!
I wanted to start a discussion so everyone can share their own Flâneur moments (I will kick it off below)! BONUS POINTS if you encourage flâneurism with your guests!