Alleyways

We don’t just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary.

Robert was a bearded, black-haired Jewish manager in the Japanese software company. He introduced me into the company. He teased me about liking to eat colourful ice cream parfaits there in Tokyo. We together liked to hike the eerie, but fascinating alleyways there. Unfortunately, he cut his job term short because he had to go back to Washington State to marry his Chinese girlfriend. I attended his wedding in Seattle. I was a bit late because I mis-estimated the time to get there driving from the BC border. Robert bought a brand-new house.

A bell tower overlooks the picturesque lanes and alleyways of the medieval heart of the city.

I remember that Venice was like a labyrinth full of old alleyways and canals.

Korea was an eye-opening visit for me. I was there to renew my working visa for Japan. During my sojourn, I hadn't yet memorized the Korean script. The alleyways and buildings boasted colourful signs in the robust writing. I bought various quaint masks to decorate my walls at home. I ate some spicy red-orange food. Years later, I would be able to pronounce Korean words, with their meanings only a dictionary look-up away.

It's easy to get lost in this maze of alleyways.