Last week I visited for the first time my son and daughter in their new home in Berkeley, California.
It’s not only a beautiful home, it’s in a beautiful neighborhood as well. In The Uplands and up it is. Houses hanging on mountains, gardens on slopes.
As they both work my son handed me a book: The Secret Stairs, A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Berkeley and Oakland by Charles Fleming. At that moment he had no idea what the impact of that simple gesture would be.
For Secret Stairs: East Bay, Fleming has designed more than 30 individual hiking loops. Linking multiple staircases into one-to two-hour self-guided strolls, these urban treks will delight the tourist, newly arrived in Berkeley undergraduate, and veteran Bay Area resident alike.
What attracted me most was the word “secret”. It felt like a mysterious discovery tour, that I had to embark on.
Actually it isn’t just a hiking guide. It’s an invitation to delve into neighborhoods that many overlook. Experience the thrill of anticipation as you ascend steep flights and meander through charming gardens, all while soaking in the breathtaking architecture. This journey is more than a physical trek; it’s a profound exploration of self, offering moments of introspection and revelation.
I’m drawn to places that reveal themselves slowly, so this was an excellent opportunity for me. I never knew what to expect at the top of the stairways. Some were mighty high (186 steps) and steep, some were just a sloping path.
So Monday morning I chose to do the very first walk mentioned in the book. It was actually not just a walk in the park. It consisted of many flights of stairs, but also streets, parks, gardens, and many beautiful houses.
Oh my the houses! The architecture. Not one house was the same, not one garden had the same layout. Everything was eclectic and harmonious at the same time. Creative comes to mind. So much to see. In the Netherlands we have an expression: “Je kijkt je ogen uit!” I cannot come up with an adequate English translation, but it means that there’s so much to see, to take in that you don’t know where to look. One thing more beautiful than the other.
I walked in amazement for hours on end for 3 days straight. I began to get a better feel for the layout of the city.
What I enjoyed most was the surprise effect. The anticipation. What was on top, at the end, around the corner?
My best vacations, escapes from daily life, routines, are discoveries, opportunities, growth.
The week in California invited me to reflect on my life’s purpose and my aspirations. What do I value most? It sure was a transformational week.
