Solo travel gives us the gift of people. Getting to know others, a least to a small and temporary extent, is a major part of traveling alone. From chararacters so entertaining they leave us with impressions that will last a lifetime to individuals so bland we forget about them even while we’re conversing. From overwhelmingly friendly people with endless charm to grumpy ogres we’d like to kick. The good people of the world overpower the bad.
Traveling alone seems to inspire some of the people I meet to leave me with a little something to remind me of them. As a result, I have many small gifts which I have gathered while traveling solo. Every one is so special it brings back acute memories each time I look at it. Israeli airport security once took such an interest in my gifts they detained me for hours. Perhaps you too will find some of my gifts interesting. If not for hours, then hopefully for a few seconds.
My name forever memorialized in hieroglyphics on the cover of the very first issue of Afar magazine, courtesy of Mahmoud, who sat next to me at a whirling dervish performance in Cairo
A pepper, handed to me by a young boy who followed me for an hour or so while pushing a small wooden wagon, on the streets of Nablus in Israel’s West Bank
A magnet in the shape of the country of Romania, given to me by a man named Romulus, a resident of the aforementioned country, after we chatted on a nighttime Lufthansa flight
Earrings, unintentionally gifted to me by a jeweler named Mahmoud in Jerusalem’s Old City, when he made them for me thinking I would buy them and…well, I didn’t.
A pelican, given to me by Jess, my new friend in Australia, after we went to watch a pelican feeding at the The Entrance in New South Wales
Thumbnail gift photo by by MarcinMoga / Lolek
What a fabulous post! I have a few small things from my travels, but I never thought to document them.
JoAnna´s last blog ..Standing on a Corner in Winslow- Arizona
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 17:05
Thank you, JoAnna! It’s always more interesting to bring home gifts rather than things you buy yourself.
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Love this ! You still haulin’ that pepper around?
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 17:05
Yes, I am still holding it in my hand. I just can’t let it go.
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Haha, what Mike said. You’ve met some lovely people out there.
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 17:06
Yes, I really do meet some intriguing people.
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That’s terrific, Sabina. Those are nice mementos to have to remind you of those people.
Gray´s last blog ..Solo Dining Aboard the Norwegian Epic
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 14th, 2010 at 17:06
They are – far better than photos or non-tangible memories.
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[...] we talk about The Gifts of Solo Travel, most of us generally talk about the intangibles we draw from the experience, the things we learn [...]
What a touching, personal post, Sabina. Thanks for sharing this!
Nick´s last blog ..Do you see what I see
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Sabina Lohr Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 17:53
Hi, Nick! Thank you.
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I have never experienced traveling alone. It seems a nice idea especially when you like to contemplate.
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