Last year time slowed down to a standstill. Most people hovered in an existential realm, somewhere between hope and despair. We are just now beginning to find our footing again, thanks to biomedical scientists, doctors, nurses, and essential workers. There is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. The return of international travel has already begun with many countries taking small steps forward. This compulsory pause has given us the gift of time to consider how we can travel more intentionally, wherever we choose to go.

Slow travel consecrates time, the most precious commodity we have. The slow traveler dips into another culture, out of ordinary time, and into extraordinary time, a time that does not break the day into rushed hours, fast food lunch breaks, or the last tour bus back to the hotel.. When you travel slowly you pass into another dimension where time is neither saved nor wasted, but spent mindfully.

The enjoyment of slow travel is the wellspring of all that makes life livable, reminding us about what’s truly important. Though it’s a cliché, when we slow down to smell the roses, we are happier and appreciate more fully, the good things in life.

I’ve learned that whether we travel across the world or walk from one side of the street to the other, we all seek refreshment and connection. My slow travel philosophy is simple: do less, experience more. When you take the time to experience the local history, culture and cuisine of a country, you discover more than just the sights – you discover that travel can be enriching and transformative in subtle and unimagined ways.

Bienvenue à French Country Adventures

Sue Aran lives in the Gers department of southwest France. She is the owner of French Country Adventures, which provides private, personally-guided, small-group, slow travel tours into Gascony, the Pays Basque, Provence and beyond. She writes a monthly blog about her life in France and is a contributor to Bonjour Paris and France Today magazines. Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France, England and other European countries.