I’ve been reading a book by Frances Mayes, titled “A Year in the World.” This afternoon I ran across a passage that made me stop and think. The passage, on page 98, reads thus:

“One of those flash epiphanies of travel, the realization that worlds you’d love vibrantly exist outside your ignorance of them. The vitality of lives you know nothing about. The breeze lifting a blue curtain in a doorway billows just the same whether you are lucky enough to observe it or not. Travel gives such jolts, I could live in this town, so how is it that I’ve never been here before today?”

The reason this passage struck me, is that it puts into words a feeling I have had about a town I had the opportunity to visit last year – Russell, New Zealand. Russell is located in the Bay of Islands, on New Zealand’s North Island.

I remember seeing the town on the map, but since it required either a ferry ride or a long round about trip, I decided against going. But, I decided to drive down to where the ferry left just to see the water front. As I was driving down the road, I turned the corner and found myself at the ramp of the ferry. The ferry master was waving me into an open spot, so I just went ahead and pulled in. I remember gliding along in the ferry, past harbors of small pleasure boats and fishing boats. Finally, the ferry docked and I made the short drive into town. What I found was a small town, consisting of only a small shopping area, with a beautiful walkway along the waterfront. I spent several hours just wondering along, visiting small museums, shops, and just watching the boats in the harbor. Finally, it was time to leave to continue my journey to Paihia. To learn more about Russell, visit the official website of the town: http://www.russellnz.com/