Sometimes you need to pretend you don't live there to see your home town in a new light.
On Monday or Friday afternoon I head downtown to play tourist. I live in an old city with more history in its downtown core than I could write about in a dozen lifetimes, but I still love discovering new things.
Since I live downtown, it’s a short walk to the oldest part of town and, even though I often take the same walking route, I usually see something that I didn’t notice before. Whether it’s a wall mural advertising a long-ago brand of tea, or a quirky little gallery whose owner opens his doors when he’s inclined, I don’t get far in my journey before I’m marveling over something new (at least to me).
When I go into shops – as I inevitably do, especially in December – I like to talk to the oldest clerk. Sometimes the oldest clerk is the only clerk and isn’t a clerk at all but the shop owner. This is even better.
People here like to talk, even to strangers. As a writer, and a generally curious person, I like to talk, too.
It’s through playing tourist and talking to people that I found what has become my favourite bookstore. I’ve also found a new collecting passion, costume jewellery from the 1960s, and on one outing I found a signed edition of a recent Seamus Heaney book of poetry. I was practically floating home after that purchase.
Playing tourist has also garnered me a few dozen ideas for articles, but most of all, these few hours give me a new perspective on my city. When I get home I feel refreshed, and return to my desk eager to start writing again.
Do you play tourist in your home town? I’d love to hear your stories.
