Whenever she spends time in countries like Italy, France and Spain, Girlawhirl's always amazed at how many people – all ages and from all walks of life – she sees enjoying what appears to be an evening stroll. Sometimes the streets are so crowded she feels as if she has to plow through the crowd to get back to her hotel or make it to where she's going. And all the while she's trying to figure out just where everyone's going…
Finally she figured it out, they're not really going anywhere! It's just part of their day, like a ritual, they head outside, usually en famille – with the rest of their family – to take a walk together. The children may run ahead, finding their friends along the way and get an ice cream, while the older folks are happy just to say hello to their contemporaries.
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In Italy it's called a passeggiata, in France a promenade and in Spain, a paseo. In most kinds of weather, even when there's quite a chill in the air, somehow, everyone finds a little time for a stroll at the end of the day.
It's something Girlawhirl's decided to try – in her own way – at home. Instead of rushing off to a spinning or step class after work, she'll ditch her gym bag and keep her load light. Maybe she'll get off the bus a few stops from her apartment, somewhere near a park or a pretty street and stroll the rest of the way home.