When I arrive at a new destination, especially if I’m in a different time zone, there is nothing better than getting outside for a…silent morning walk. I love to explore…especially before the sounds of awakening commerce, before most people have had their first cup of coffee, and before the sounds of children on the way to school. There is something special about the quiet morning. In the photo above I’m out and about very early by the beautiful Anchialine ponds in the Waikoloa area of the Big Island.

A little exploration of a beautiful lane near the Alhambra, up in hills above Granada, Spain.

With our daughter Stacy on her early morning sojourn near Anaeho’Omalu Beach on the Big Island. Most locals just call it “A Bay”.

Istanbul never ceases to enchant inveterate explorers. Sultanahmet Square, or the Hippodrome of Constantinople, fascinated me on an early morning walk.

Steep steps never deter me on morning walks. This is in the old town of Dubrovnik, Croatia.

I love exploring Le Suquet in the old town of Cannes. Not a soul was about!

I climbed these beautiful steps up to the Basilica of Saint Michael Archangel in Menton, France before the town awakend.

The old town of Menton has a warren of little lanes calling to be explored.

I was awake very early on my first trip to Seville. The narrow twisting lanes outside my hotel beckoned me so I went out before breakfast. My hotel was in the Santa Cruz district which was once the old Jewish quarter.

I should have slept in longer but I was excited to be in a new city!

A quiet walk on the Enchanted Mesa trail up in Boulder’s Chautauqua park. The “Flatirons” loom in the distance.

Montepulciano is such an enchanting town in Tuscany. There are eight districts, called “Contrade”, with distinct flags.

A steep passageway in Montepulciano.

We took a morning boat from Venice over to the island of Murano. We were on the hunt for interesting glassware.

The quietude of an ancient alleyway in Corona.

I flew to Italy a few days early to adjust to the time change prior to going on a bike tour. Getting up at the crack had me out of the hotel early to check out the town of Torgiano in Umbria.

If you enjoy morning explorations there is probably nothing better than this! Gorbio is a perched medieval village, high-up above Menton, in the southeastern corner of the Côte d’Azur.

One is transported to a time centuries ago. Gorbio actually has about 300 full-time residents although we didn’t anyone on the ancient lanes on this morning.

Gorbio seduces the early morning traveler with it’s beautiful charm.

I’ll post a Part 2 of “Silent Morning Walks” in the future.

Photos: Dick gentry. Not to be used without permission.