Travel Memories

Since I can’t yet plan my Route 66 trip I’ve been going back over past travels and gathering my favorite memories from those trips. I want to share some them with you in the hope that they will stir positive memories in you and maybe inspire you to plan an adventure as the weather improves and Covid restrictions are being relaxed. Some are from business trips when I took time to myself to see more than the hotel and meeting facilities, and some are from stumbling into unexpected things on vacations.

I’ll start with my first trip out of college. A trip to the Bahamas with my girlfriend at the time and another couple. We booked the cheapest booze cruise we could find and were skeptical of our choice when we saw the captain and his boat, and even more so when he told us we had to wait for his wife to return from the market with what would be our lunch. That rocky start turned into a fantastic day on a small island with no other tourists or boats in sight; snorkeling and swimming, a wood-grilled lunch of fresh chicken, fish and fruit, and a rum-based concoction in a BIG jug that provided the booze part of the trip. When it was time to head back, everyone carried something out to the boat and we passed around the jug until we arrived back at the dock. From that scary start, we wound up with a real island experience that we wouldn’t have gotten on the typical tourist cruise.

On business trips I always tried to see some of the area I was in, and sometimes took an extra day in the city/town on my own. While in Charleston, SC I took in a local minor league baseball game then went to the hotel bar for a drink. I encountered a group that seemed to be having a party, and was quickly invited in. It turned out that the gentlemen leading the festivities was there because his wife was being treated for cancer nearby and rather than sit alone he wanted to be with other people. By celebrating life he was dealing with his situation in a positive way and letting a bunch of strangers share in his experience. I saw him the next morning and before I could wish his wife well with her treatments, he thanked me for being part of the gathering the night before and told me how we had helped him through a tough time. WOW! That still blows me away every time I think about it and it’s a great example of how we can impact others just by being there – even if for a stranger who is buying us drinks and pizza.

While in Munich as I was walking through the main park, I encountered surfers. Yes, you read correctly, surfers. There is a canal going through the park, and at one point near the river, there is essentially a wave pool about 50 yards long. Not big waves, but in the middle of Munich, what do you expect? Another Munich memory happened on vacation with my wife. We had arranged a rental car for pickup but being American we figured the pickup time was flexible like it is here. Germans are a bit more rigid, and when we arrived 15 minutes late we were told our car was gone. We could however upgrade for the equivalent of $25 for the week. That took us from the Food Festiva we had rented up to a Mercedes S500. Sold for $25! Driving that machine on the Autobahn was amazing and was made even better when while in a small town a gentlemen in an unnumbered BMW (beyond 7 series) asked which way we were headed as he would like to follow us on the autobahn. Sadly we were going in the opposite direction but that incident made my day, and driving that wonderful car around Germany made the entire trip more fun.

Ireland provided many fond memories from a trip with friends a few years ago, but one stands out for me. We befriended the tour guide and he took us to the local pubs he went to in each town after he was done with the tour group for the day. In Northern Ireland as I was buying a round of drinks for our group, the guide introduced me to an older man at the bar and told me he had been an officer in the IRA. His story was fascinating and we chatted briefly – no small thing as the people of Northern Ireland tend to be guarded and wary of strangers. Being with the tour guide whom he knew well, no doubt allowed for this. As we left, the guide stopped to say goodbye to this gentlemen and to my amazement he reached out to shake my hand as well. I felt honored and to this day it is one of the strongest travel memories I hold.

A few more random recollections from travelling:

While in Italy for our 10th anniversary my wife and I were walking to the hotel pool when the pool guy stopped her to ask if I played American football. For those of you who know me, that is VERY far-fetched, but at least all the weights and cardio were showing. I spoke with him after she told me what he asked and it turned out he was a retired international rugby champion – another fascinating conversation ensued. And this amazing former athlete was asking that about me!? I felt six feet tall (again, those of you who know me get that one)!

On a trip to Hawaii for a medical convention with a friend we watched the Superbowl at a tiki bar on the beach in Waikiki. Having a cigar at half-time while up to my knees in the Pacific was the icing on that cake.

In Chicago over 4th of July several years ago my wife and I wandered into Ditka’s Steakhouse for dinner. We were seated upstairs, right at the top of the stairs (the result of our very casual dress according to my wife). It turned out to be the best table in the house as Mike Ditka came in shortly after and sat at the next table. I got to speak with him for a bit (a really nice guy) and came away with an autograph. That never would have happened if we had been seated anywhere else in that restaurant.

More recently, my wife and I were treated to a ride in a friend’s skiff while in Islamorada. He had been trying to get her in his boat for several years and finally coaxed her into a short ride to check his stone crab traps. Of course I jumped in for the trip. Once all the traps were checked (and after I almost tossed him overboard with a not-so-smooth throttle shift) he took us up the island a bit and came zooming back down along the reef at full speed in maybe a foot of water. What a rush, and another great memory to store away.

There are so many more travel memories, some from planned activities but most just happened along the way (like that dune buggy ride in Oregon). Memories of things that not only made the trips more enjoyable, but in some cases had a positive impact on others and even changed the way I view the world. As we get back to some sense of normal, I’m looking forward to making more such memories. What memories do you have that can help you kick the Covid blues and how can you create new memories?