Nature awakens the senses and reveals its beauty at every turn.

The city’s woodland parks all seem to look the same, yet each one has its own charm. Perhaps they all look alike because they share the same kind of flora and fauna, and I think it’s because all the ones I’ve visited are in the eastern part of the city, so they share certain characteristics. But I always see what’s special about each one, and the best way to see that is by going for a walk, and if it’s on my own, so much the better.

I always talk about the importance of paying attention to detail, and this applies both to what we see around us and to our own inner selves, to the details of that voice that speaks to us from within. That voice becomes much louder when you’re out in nature and on your own.

They say that the warrior’s path is a solitary one, and I believe the reason for this is that only by looking within can one conquer oneself and change one’s own world.

My walks are always reflective; I’ve always found that whilst I walk, I think, but I think more clearly, as if every step made a difference. Furthermore, nature distracts the mind from problems and provides a clearer focus for identifying the solutions we need; it also helps us concentrate on finding those messages, which are everywhere, but which our physical eyes often fail to see. Nothing escapes the eyes of the soul.

Walks in parks like this offer spectacular views, both before I enter the park and once I’m inside. And that approach is one of the things that sets them apart, because every neighbourhood in the city is different.

As I enter, I like to admire the contrasts that the path reveals with every step I take: the shadows of the trees cast downwards, drawing shapes on the ground, or strange patterns in the distance as I look down the path. I also look at the shades and colours of the earth, which are often reddish.

There are always differences: the tree trunks are never the same, nor are their crowns, nor the way they interact. All the parks may look similar, but they are not the same, and the key lies in the details, those details that can only be seen with focus and attention, as is the case with everything in life. Nature teaches us that too.

Every path is different; each has its own contours, its trees, its light and its shadows, and the beauty of it all lies in enjoying each one. Every time I explore a new place, I’m filled with anticipation, and unlike what can happen with people, nature never lets me down; rather, it offers an endless array of wonders.

I love to look in every nook and cranny, even at the crooked trees, to hear the sound of a new bird’s song I’ve never heard before, a waterfall I can’t see but can hear, the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees, and to see the glint of every ray of sunshine that reaches me. No two places are ever the same; each has its own charm, but you have to know how to look and listen.

Reaching a new viewpoint is always a cause for joy because they offer a unique view of some part of the city or the Mediterranean Sea, and that always delights me.

The terrain is quite uneven, so I’m always very careful whether I’m going up or down; there are pits, caves, ravines, and steps that are poorly formed or unstable. But what’s always surprising is that nature thrives in the strangest of places, even in those where the sun barely reaches.

When I look up, the tops of the pine trees are always breathtaking and beautiful. Another thing I love is taking photos amongst the trees, that is, standing behind them and watching the sunlight filter through, as if asking for permission.

I love going on these walks where every new spot I choose is special; no two are the same because nature is constantly renewing itself.

Thank you very much for joining me today on this Wednesday walk; I send you my warmest regards. See you soon.
Amonet.

All photographs are my own.