Walk/Hitch Around the World..

Had a similar idea once and left from London through France getting odd jobs in a casino and vineyard but in Germany the snow started, so I worked a few weeks and bought a cheap kombi van from a butcher and so had a dry place to sleep - turtle fashion. Drove it and picked up travellers right through Europe, Turkey ,Syria and Jordan then across the Mandelbaum Gate into Israel and worked on a kibbutz till the 6 day war brought a forced evacuation. Ferried to Turkey and worked my way on foot to Morocco for a few months then hitched back to London and took a boat back to Oz.
So...it will be harder now ,but leave the option open of buying a cheap car along the way,working sometimes, ....and go for it!!

Great dream! But the reality is different. Some places, you will be fine, most, you won't be safe. I couldn't imagine hitching across Mexico...or most of S. America. Just too dangerous...especially so for a solo woman. You might do OK, but then again, you might not.

Reminds me of the Olympic bike rider who decided to bike around the world. Met his demise in Baja California. IMHO, walk where it is safe, do the bus when it is not...and enjoy!

Haaaa...JJD, I'm doing my thumb exercises now as we speak...
I hitched and winged it in Patagonia, Chile and Argentina. Believe it or not, even managed to hitch on Route 40, with two lovely blokes from Dublin in a tiny hire car. They managed to hit a rock the size of a camel on a gravel road with no other rocks on it and 360 degree panorama, so we spent a butt clenching 8 hours driving with no spare on probably one of the most remote roads in S.A!! I seem to remember that they're reaction to this event was 'Ahh, don't worry. It'll be grand!!' Haa....(I love Irish people!) Rest of S.A, I agree craigt3365, probably too dodgy...
Wow, this has to be the best forum on TT. I LOVE older travellers! May we all continue doing what we're doing until we croak it, with worn out bodies and massive smiles on our faces!
A big smile and thankyou from me to you, folks. You're all an inspiration..

I haven't been in Latin America for 6 or 7 years but it used to be easy to get a ride in the back of a pickup truck, free or very very cheap. It was fun and I never encountered any problems.

When I was on my solo 3 month trip in West Africa - using public transport - I met an inspiring guy who had walked from Eritrea to Dakar!

That reminds me. I met a young French guy in Mongolia who hitched from France to Mongolia. He was a character. He did say he had a blast, but getting a ride at times was difficult. Many times, he was picked up by truck drivers.

...amongst many other road adventures, I've hitched in Australia from Melbourne to Cairns - that's only two States, but probably 4-5000 km. Also Istanbul to Marrakech to London in the 1960's - the Good Old Days...

Tomkat - I'm off to Istanbul en-route to Konya in three days' time. Last time in Istanbul I met Sami from the Pudding Shop (which he no longer owns and which has changed beyond belief).
I' going to meet up with him this time round and chat about 'old times.'

If you have a photo from those days (plus a recent one) I'd be delighted to show him.

I have PMed you with an email link. Anyone else like to forward a picture, or memories, I'l send you a link too.

go-2 ...it was in 1965 and cameras weren't invented yet....I did see the Puding Shop again last May during a month travelling Turkey...and yes ,like Turkey itself , it has changed (surprise!)
although Turkey is still good however I'm glad to say.
Answered your PM

I would agree with the person who said to go alone as not everyone is a good hitching/walking partner.
If you already have hitchhiked the you know what you are doing.
Go for it!
-Kent
http://thedromomaniac.com/