Just outside the city is another world. Yesterday I felt a little bit like Alice except that instead of falling down a rabbit hole (Are rabbit holes ever that big, I wonder?) I found myself climbing strategically placed logs and rocks up a steep mountainside. Though she never complained, I am sure my hiking companion was sick and tired of hearing me rant about the wonder of it all. For some reason, I forget that mere miles outside of our urban lot exists forests and lakes and gigantic trees. GIGANTIC trees. I pretended to be all science-y by pronouncing the ages of the surrounding trees, even though I was just throwing large numbers out there because it sounded plausible given their daunting size. But I bet you that they are pretty darned old.
And waterfalls!! Despite the lack of recent rainfall, you could still hear them roaring around the bend. They sound just as awesome as they look.
Just outside the city is a different kind of culture, a different point of view, and a different landscape. It's easy to forget, but so great when we remember to open ourselves to new experiences and surroundings.