I got stuck with a real "bludger" as their called in Australia. One who wouldn't pull his weight, even if he hung himself.
He\d finish a meal and say, learing,"Why should I spend my own money."
But I owe him for that. I've enjoyed my own company, better than split decisions, ever since.
Hi,
"Stuck" gawkabout? One time would be the maximum for me - even then he would be lucky to leave the building in one piece. Don't you just love the lowlife?
We were working in the outback for a while. Then quit our jobs at the mine together. I couldn't get rid of him till Perth.
Life is a bitch and then ya die.
Solo travel, street sense, and serendipity rule!
Hi Lee,
I identify with you regarding not being a good travel companion. However, I believe if the tone and all things are understood upfront and a the very beginning, it miminizes the chances of disappointments and frustration. I have decided if I have a contact with whom I might consider a travel companion, I will have it understood that we will have separate rooms and when dining out , pay our own expenses. In other words, having a travel companion for being just that...a companion for sightseeing, sharing cab fare, companion for meals, etc.
I avoid+- talking with my own nationality.
"Where ya from, where ya been" is white noise.
What can you really learn.... from that?
They don't care about you either.
I thank sweet dyin' Jesus, ny friends chickened out on 1963. Wnder how many wives they've been through. But not really.
AIN'T NO LUGGAGE RACKS
On A HURSE.
Emmlittle - have you heard the phrase "I am never less alone than when alone" ?
When you travel solo you meet many more people. And you can choose whether or not to spend time with them. For as long or as short as you both like.
When you travel with others you're stuck with them. And no-one likes to break into your companionship.
Have fun! When you've done it once, you'll never want to travel with others again
Right on, go_2!!!
WELL PUT.
BTW, I sure enjoyed meeting you in Sevilla maravilla.
I hope too do it again.
Birds of a feather department.
I enjoyed meeting you too, Gawks.
Am currently getting myself prepared for the long drop - oops! sorry - long walk - from Sevilla to Santiago, same time next year.
But I may be heading up a whole posse of 'Older Travellers', most of them not from this site but from a centre I go to where we hang out and do things like zumba, and belly dancing, and tai chi, etc.
I haven't actually 'advertised' it yet, but have a couple of bites already.
Key to success, as I've told/shall tell those interested is that we make our own pace and meet up at the end of the day - or week, even.
There will be no 'hand-holding' (except perhaps for the guy in the wheelchair, if he decides to come too.)
Hasta la vista, baby. See you next year., :>D
Spot on Go_2!
If I was travelling with someone right now I would be able to interact with so many locals as I have been doing. Yesterday, in a short lull in the HEAVY rain, I bused it to a local village to look up an old acquaintance from previous trips to Fiji. Found the village, deserted, and was about to return to Nadi when I saw an open door, and a hand beckoning me to approach. I did; as it turned out, the hand belonged to an astonished nephew of the woman in question, and he and his nephew were in the middle of lunch. They invited me inside - he did so because he thought I looked lost - and after finding out that I was looking for his aunt he said that she was in Nadi, so his nephew set off in the rain to walk to Nadi to find her. Meanwhile, older nephew and I sat and discussed anything and everything, even touching on the current state of affairs in Fiji, a taboo subject for the citizens. The rain wouldn't give up, it was steamy hot, the small house was another one bordering on squalid, and I had a whale of a time.
The nephew eventually returned, soaked to the skin, to say that he couldn't break into the church service that 'auntie' was involved in. So unfortunately even though I had to get back to Nadi without catching up with her I went back to Nadi when the rain eventually took another break, and immediately ran into the woman's daughter-in-law and another relative, who invited me back the next day (can't make it, though, I'm going elsewhere). I had spent nearly 3 hours in delightful company, and although uncomfortably hot, sticky, wet, and thirsty, I thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected visit with total strangers, and, as usual, Fijian hospitality. I'm pretty sure if I was travelling with anyone - apart from anyone on this tree branch :-) - they'd not have been able to cope with the heat and/or dirt. Well, none of my friends could; I can hear the whining right now.
I also managed track down two other friends from the old days, one of whom has invited me to spend the night in her village with her and her husband, tonight. Wouldn't be able to do that if there was someone else with me. So, rather selfishly, for me it's solo, unless the travel buddy is of like mind.