Perennial Tourist

Sometimes it seems I live life as a perennial tourist. Today is a case in point. Irina, my fomer neighbor, and I sauntered down to Baltimore's recently developed Harbor East to try out a new Mexican restaurant. On our way we stopped at Barnes and Noble at Harborplace to buy an interesting best-seller, Blink. When we arrived in the area near the restaurant, we were surprised to see a block party in full swing--DJs, offerings from vendors and a general celebratory mood.

We looked around, went into the restaurant for margaritas and shrimp quasadillas and ran into other neighbors from Ridgely's Delight who joined us. They were just back from Peru. Irina recently returned from her honeymoon in Antiqua and I returned a month ago from San Miguel de Allende. World travelers all but sticking to the Western Hemisphere for now.

On the walk home, the sound of panpipes swept through the air. An Andean music group was performing in the Inner Harbor amphitheater. We stopped and listened. As we got closer to home, we passed party-ready crowds descending on Oriole Park at Camden Yards for the game.

Should boredom ever strike--Heaven forbid-- a short trip around the corner kicks me right back into tourist mode and life becomes a trip all over again.