Exploring a city or village without a map is my favourite way to get to know a place; it allows for a more intimate experience. There are no expectations, no schedule, no agenda. I take my time, wandering down roads and paths that poke at my curiosity, taking in the little details like graffiti messages of love painted on the walls. Then for whatever reason, my internal compass leads me to turn a corner, and moments later something pleasantly unexpected happens….
In Florence, during one of my many wandering days, I came across this little shop, Roberto Ugolini Firenze, where artisans were sitting on stools handcrafting the most sharp-looking men’s shoes I’ve ever seen. I poked my head in the doorway in awe, with three men working on shoes, and asked if I could take photo. After a brief pause, one of the young men responded, “yes, you can, for 10 euros,” while he continued working on the shoes. That certainly was an unexpected response, and I didn’t really need this photo that much. I then went on to ask if he was serious, because I couldn’t tell from the tone of his voice, and after a few moments, I realized he was just having some fun with me.
I began chatting with a couple of the artisans, and they asked where I was from… Let me first say that you are an above-average citizen of the world if you have any idea about where the Northwest Territories, Canada is. For this reason, I usually start off with my standard explanation that I live in the Canadian arctic on the very top of the map of North America, near the north pole, east of Alaska (everyone seems to know where Alaska is!)…even though this isn’t exactly where Yellowknife is.
Then I proceed to draw a map with my finger in the air starting off at the top left with Alaska, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, with all of the provinces underneath the territories. Most people I meet during my travels who are from far-away countries are aware of three or four cities in Canada: Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal…and sometimes Calgary. Needless to say, when asked the question “where in Canada do you come from?” I usually end up giving a bit of a geography lesson.
Back to the shoe artisans….once I mentioned the Alaska part, one of the shoemakers (Sebastian from Argentina) said that his brother rode his motorbike to Alaska and he’d probably know where in Canada I came from. Wow! What an adventure that must have been!
Federico (Sebastian’s brother) came in from the back room and joined in on the conversation. I continued to describe where I am from, and Federico was able to finish describing the map and guessed that I lived in the Yukon or the Northwest Territories, and then he even asked if I am from Yellowknife! I was flabbergasted! “How on earth do you know about Yellowknife?” I exclaimed!
“I rode my motorcycle to the Mackenzie Delta (to Inuvik); I’ve driven it all over the world.” All the way to Inuvik?? Inuvik is 200km north of the Arctic Circle, 100km away from the Arctic Ocean! (My home city Yellowknife is 400km south of the Arctic Circle). This guy is definitely not your average citizen of the world! Very, very impressive.
To get an idea of where Inuvik is, take a visit to my post “Build It and They Will Come Up the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway,” this might light a spark for your next adventure!
Federico brought me outside of the shop to meet his bike….labeled with stickers from all over the world (he is missing one from the NWT, so I will have to remedy that!) He pulled out a laminated map of the world that was rolled up and stored in a pipe along the side of the bike; it showed in black marker his routing around the world! What adventures he must have had! And what a small world this is!
Federico and his brother are from Argentina; his family moved to Italy and he is now an apprentice at this very specialized shoe shop, Roberto Ugolini, where the starting price of one pair of handcrafted shoes is €1700 euros, or $2400CAD!
For a very thorough blog post on Roberto Ugolini and these very fine shoes, click here.
When you are traveling to a new place, I highly recommend ditching the map, or at least giving yourself a day here and there without the use of a map. Just explore, wander, let your internal GPS guide you to hidden gems and new connections with people around the world. You never what or who you will find around the corner! You know that they say about the road less traveled…it makes all the difference! (Robert Frost)
PS. I’m having the time of my life; just about to finish the 2nd week of my 5-week long fabulous 40th birthday holiday to Tuscany and Bali. As usual, I have an overwhelming inventory of new photographs and experiences, which I will slowly share with you. In the meantime, you can follow along my more frequent posts on my Facebook page and Instagram. And as always, I welcome you to leave a comment below:) I’d love to hear from you.
Ciao for now!
Travelin’ Tawna
What an interesting article! I had never thought of exploring a new place without a map, in case I miss something. But, then I would likely find, like you, many other interesting places nobody has noticed. I will definitely try this when we are in Budapest and Amsterdam. There has indeed been many visitors to Yellowknife from many parts of the world, you will no doubt meet many more.
Thanks Pops! I’m quite pleased with myself that I managed to write after being away for 2 weeks! Progress! I wouldn’t recommend trying this out when you have the boat to return to on that same day… could be risky! But during the days that you have your own time to explore… yes! Do it! Have fun, be safe and can’t wait to hear about your adventures! XOXO
Thank you, Tawna! I love this story…what an adventure you’re on!!! Good for you! We have seen the most interesting places when we have been “lost”. Thank you!!!!
Grazie Linda! I am glad you enjoyed reading this story. You know what Robert Frost says…. “the road less traveled, made all the difference”
How exciting for you was that and it is a real small world! Exploring without a map is what your Pops and I did in Italy but we didn’t really go down any side streets much to find unique shops like you did! Given time we’ll do that on our cruise stops in Europe, however, could be risky ’cause if I find a shop that I can “shop” in, I could potentially miss the cruise departure! Keep enjoying your adventures and sharing with us, they light up my day! Like you said, maybe one day we can all explore Italy together! Hugs…..
Thanks Mom! Yes, when you have somewhere you need to be, and a schedule to follow, I do not recommend doing this (exploring without a map)….that could be risky for sure! I want to share this very much with you and Pops, and I hope that “one day” comes very soon. Keep safe and make sure you back up your photos everyday. XO
Lost is my favorite place to be 🙂 Wonderful experience, wonderful photos, wonderful way to share! Thank you
Thank you Deb! Isn’t it fun? (Only when you don’t have somewhere else you need to be!) I am often driven by wanderlust:)
Tawna, I am living through you right now. Love seeing your post and how much fun you are having as you always do. Love your free spirit! Safe travels, looking forward to your next post.
Those shoes make me blush! And to meet someone familiar with this little part of the world. Fun.
Yes, the shoes are gorgeous. It was pretty neat to meet someone like Federico, a fellow world-traveler, who makes these super special shoes AND has been to Inuvik with his motorbike!
I had the pleasure of meeting Federico and that same bike in Valdez Alaska on a very rainy day.
What a small world!! That’s pretty cool:)
I can’t remember the last time I wandered around somewhere WITH a map!!! I start somewhere and then always keep track of where that somewhere is in general relation to where I am, and go from there. Admittedly, I don’t tend to stop and chat with locals all that much …I’m more of a “fully experience the sights, sounds, and smells” kind of person, somewhat insular when I travel… so I will make a point of doing that next time I find myself wandering a new place! Thank you for broadening my travel horizons in this regard!!
I very much dislike maps myself. I much rather prefer figuring it out on my own…. I do hope you try out connecting with locals on your next foreign travels… it will likely surprise you in a very good way! You might end up meeting some of the most special and genuine new friends that you will keep connected with over the years to come! By doing this, you end up expanding your social network around the world, and it makes you much more comfortable and confident when you travel, because you know you have friends everywhere!
Yes, I have met a few people on my travels whose friendship I cherish deeply.. I actually just connected back up with a woman I met the first time I went to Cayo Coco, Cuba 4 years ago (we reconnected on a resort’s FB group after Hurricane Irma made a direct hit on Cayo Coco,) …she’s from Canada, so not a local, but she had been to the resort numerous times, and it was my first time there (I was by myself for a couple of days until my sister and her friend arrived) and Elaine really took me under her wing, showed me around, introduced me to people (mostly staff who were, and still are, like family to her, a couple of whom now feel like family to me now too)..and I’ve never forgotten her for it. Also have wonderful friends in Costa Rica and Curacao, amongst other places, who I met on my (solo) travels! I’m just not a social butterfly when I travel (particularly when I travel solo), you know?
Amazing story! This gives a new meaning to “it’s a small world”.