Believe it or not, I enjoy sightseeing

People think I’m joking when I tell them I love ‘sightseeing.’ I’m completely blind, so they can’t imagine how I can enjoy traveling without being able to see. For me, sightseeing involves using my other senses to learn about the places I visit.

I’ve traveled extensively throughout Mexico, from my parents’ hometown of Michoacan to the beaches of Los Cabos and Cancun to the bustle of Mexico City. Each destination has presented me with its own unique multisensory experience.
I make a point of seeking out regional dishes in every place I visit. Not only do I taste the food, I query the locals about the dishes, their cultural history, and their ingredients. (The chapulin, a.k.a. grasshopper, I had in my Oaxacan quesadillas was delicious, FYI.)

I also enjoy touring iconic and historic sites. Tour guides are generally very descriptive, so I feel I’m getting a full picture. I can also appreciate the other sensory stimuli. No doubt, when I visited Chichen Itza, I took note of the subtle bird-like qualities of the pyramid echoes more than my sighted companions.

Traveling is one of the best ways to learn about the world and all the different people, cultures and perspectives in it. And, you don’t need sight to enjoy all that it has to offer.

Sandy Murillo is an Associate Producer at Chicago Lighthouse Media and a graduate of our Birth-to-Three Program. “Sandy’s View” is a reoccurring feature in our Beam newsletters.