Coddiwomple: english slang for traveling purposefully toward an as yet unknown destination.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. Mark Twain
My experimental, quirky soul had long been sacrificed for convention. Upon retirement I was lucky enough to have the freedom to travel and badass enough to do it unaccompanied. I opted to make my crazy light shine so bright that other weirdos would know where to find me.
I packed up my potential and all I had learned. Grabbed some sensible shoes and headed out to discover a few things about the commonalities of our world’s cultures in art, music, literature, and joy. My quest: to learn more about how these shared appreciations unite rather than divide us as universal travelers.
Observations From the Road
Never read a tourist map on a street in a third world city, ask for a glass of chardonnay in a biker bar, or smile at a mime.
In restaurants technique tops ingredients. Good words: seared, roasted, sauteed. Use caution: poached, glazed, pureed.
It is impossible to pass people on another boat without waving.
Always ask to be seated next to a fat, seasoned peer. Of any gender.
Dress like your going somewhere better later.
Drunk people, children, and leggings always tell the truth.
If a child is screaming in the airport, there’s an 85% chance it will be seated near you on the airplane.
Women who wear black have the most colorful stories and those with a lot of tattoos generally have an interesting past.
Travel magic: the universe sends people and messages to keep you on your path if you’re listening.
All grown up with a floursack cape, tied around his dreams; he was full of spit and vinegar, he was bustin’ at the seams. He licked his finger and checked the wind, It was gonna be do or die; He wasn’t scared of nothin’ boys, and he was pretty sure he could fly.
He’s one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath…and always trust your cape.
Things it would have been nice to know....
Never accept an ATM’s conversion rate. Decline so that your home bank does the conversion rather than the banking institution managing the ATM which always charges a higher fee.
Avoid roaming charges by turning off IPhone cellular data. Use available WiFi in hotels and most restaurants instead.
Uber, WhatsApp, and Google Map apps are essential travel aids.
Save money ( particularly in countries like Egypt ) by calling hotel and asking them how far away they are from your arrival site and what you should expect to pay for taxi to get there. This gives you leg up on inevitable bartering.