Looking Forward
On a weekend stay this spring — the first in nearly 18 months — our grandson Ollie accompanied my husband and me to the garden center to pick out hosta varieties to plant by our stone wall. That afternoon we walked my flowerbeds and herb gardens, running our hands through rosemary and sage and lavender to take in the delicious scents. The next morning as we wandered the stalls at the outdoor farmers market, ripe with nature’s offerings and crowded with people eager to be out, Ollie, who had just returned to in-person school, said, “Meema, it’s like the whole world is waking up.”
Indeed, the world is awakening, country by country, beginning to bloom as surely as a rose unfurls its petals one by one to greet the generous springtime sun.
And so it seems especially fitting that, in this moment as destinations reopen, we can present to you the 2021 Global City Guidebook, chock-full of ideas and information to inspire you to return to travel. This has long been one of my favorite GT issues, providing a snapshot of each destination and its people. It always reminds me of just how much of the world I have not explored.
When you are ready to roam and you’re faced with the dilemma of deciding where to go next, start here, with the Global City Guidebook. Our team assembled a collection of destinations near and far, rich in diverse culture, fascinating history, great cuisine and attractions for all ages. Maybe you’ll start closer to home, discovering iconic American cities like Seattle, New York and Chicago or coastal cities like Charleston and Santa Monica. Or will you seek a new perspective farther afield? Get a true change of scenery as you look out from Mount Entoto, the highest point in Addis Ababa, or from Kingdom Centre Skybridge in Riyadh.
Perhaps, like me, you simply yearn for island time. I have yet to encounter the unique cultures of the U.S. Virgin Islands or Barbados, and I dream of someday enjoying the tropical treasures of the Cook Islands.
Wherever we decide to go, as we return to discovering the wonders of the wider world, I hope we travel mindfully. Travel can inspire our curiosity, uplift our spirits and spark our empathy. As we emerge from the dormancy of a long, lonely pandemic, most things will not be the same. Better days lie ahead.
In the meantime, let’s travel with gratitude and handle the Earth — and each other — with care.