This blog post is dedicated to age. So-called “silver surfers”: Online, connected and with often similar hopes, experiences and dreams. I just think it’s wonderful that each time I hit the road, I meet those very inspirational characters who, despite being twice my age or older, come across as true “youngsters“. In virtually no time, we share stories, laughter and experiences as if we had always known each other. Why is this so?
Well, in any case it is happening. From Australia to Argentina, the most important thing is to meet “the right people”, those you want to hang out with. Whether they are old or young, Asian or European, “big or small” is downright irrelevant: I get the most respect from people with a special attitude to life. No matter where they are from, what they look like or what their age is.
“Each day, I want to learn something new. At least I am trying”, I remember the sweet laughter of this 70-year-old Italian lady who has welcomed my group and me as part of a European CULTrips programme near the city of Valtopina at the Ricamo Textile Museum. That’s exactly what I feel like! And she is 40 years older than me – it’s ever since I’m thinking: I want to be just like her when I am her age – full of energy, life and with an open mind!
Thanks to our dedicated Italian teacher (first on the lower right) full of energy, we join this unique embroidery lesson near the city of Valtopina. More about my creative travel experience there can be found looking at my Creative Travel Blog.
Half a year ago, during my round the world trip in 2011, I met Luisa from Argentina (on the right), who has totally enthralled my Danish travel companion and me with her happiness, stories and laughter: She has, I swear, talked more than the two of us combined, leading to the sensation that we were all one, of the same age – like sisters on this trip!
“Back home” too, in good old Austria, short trips can lead to finding unusual characters and local stories: Erika Stipsits, who is Austria’s most famous Easter Egg carving artist and one of the last of her kind, welcomes more international visitors in her rural small town Stinatz in southern Burgenland than the entire area combined. Typical for her: A disarming openess, the literally “open door” and her unique skills practised for more than 40 years. Read more about her here.
Being an open-minded World Citizen is no question of age – and no privilege of our “young backpacking generation” either
At Lago Grey in famous Torres del Paine National Park, I remember having had such a good time running jokes without end with an elderly German couple as part of my great South America trip. It’s improbable how much these two have defied the typical cliché of “serious” German travellers. They were just really cool and fun to be with. I have met a lot of elderly people who go out of their way to do the things they do (after all, they have retired) but who simply cannot stop being young (in a good way 😉 ). Who cannot help being just as curious, open-minded and “travelous” as we are. As for me, this is the point where the boundaries between the generations blur. Here is me, attaining a certain level of “peace, tranquility and serenity” from all my travels facing a person who might be twice as old as me but with such a keen and eager sparkle, it is incredible: We touch down at the same level. It has happened to me countless times while travelling, and meeting all these inspirational people, I have finally decided to introduce you to them. I hope that you, too, meet them next time. It is pure magic!
My “second family” from New Zealand (from left to right) Denise & Crispin Raymond, who have emigrated with their adult daughters to Kiwi Land in order to establish the network of “Creative Tourism New Zealand”: Quite an inspirational move which has had a lasting impression on young folks like myself who have come to support them in their work. On the far right: Billie (+) and Roy, my lovely “second grand-parents” down under.
Looking across the Pacific, we meet the Vice President of the Global Greeter Network in Buenos Aires: Joaquín Brenman (69). Nobody asks him to do the things he does, he just continues doing what he loves: Meeting new people and “greeting” them in a personal, free city tour as part of the “Buenos Aires Cicerones” greeter network. Check out the full story here.
I will never forget meeting this incredibly funny German couple: Every national or cultural cliché deserves someone who exactly defies it.
This elderly lady in the heart of the city of Bangkok has captivated me with her hard, intense look: What is it that she might have wanted to say?
Another lovely “Madame”: Marthe Brohan is part of the Parisian creative tourism network “CreativeParis.info” welcoming visitors to her beautiful and lavish Paris apartment for unique, personal cooking workshops: On this picture, we are about to choose our ingredients from the local Montparnasse market preparing delightful quiche and summer salads.
“Like two giggling girls”: Maman & Anne-Laure, my favourite Frenchies & lifetime friends visiting us in Vienna! So nice when everybody can join in and laugh at the same jokes, it makes age disappear altogether.
During the last Internationalen Creative Tourism Network Conference in Paris, friends of the same age Laurie & Caroline (from right to left) meet Victor, head of the FUSIC Fundació de Societát i Cultura in Barcelona: The passion we all share for developing creative travel is equal among all of us.
Finally, a picture of “my” Ocumazo family in the northern parts of Argentina close to the Bolivian and Chilean borders, who have each welcomed me with a lot of heart and open-mindedness.
… this portrait shows the 86-year-old grandpa who joins our discussion about life, the universe and everything – and finally ends up giving orders to the rest of the family: Full of energy alright 😉
6 comments
Silver Surfer, Baby Boomer, Best Ager, how ever you want to call them, I´m one of them and I enjoy travelling and the contact with other people in the same way as 20 years ago. The only difference is I need no more extremes.
Kind regards from the Lake of Constance / Germany
Udo,
Thank you so much for your reply. That’s exactly what I mean: Age just does not matter, it’s the people who do 🙂
What kind of “extremes” did you enjoy earlier on? And what do you prefer now?
Best wishes back to you from Krems, Lower Austria!
Hallo Elena dein Reiesblog ist so spannend und interessant!!! Ich kann gar nicht aufhören zu lesen. Da wird das Reisefieber in mir auch schon wieder geweckt.
Mach weiter so!
Liebe Grüße Ingrid
Liebe Ingrid,
Mein Herz hüpft vor Freude und ich kann gar nicht mehr aufhören zu lächeln ;-))
Vielen lieben Dank für Deine Unterstützung. Ich werde auf jeden Fall weitermachen, hab so eine Freude mit meinen Reisen, Inspirationen, einfach allem 🙂 DANKE Dir!
Elena!!
Tus palabras representan lo que nosotros también sentimos! No importa la edad, ni la nacionalidad para ser feliz, para ir por los sueños y para descubrir la magia que tiene cada encuentro!
Mucha suerte en tu vida y que sigas encontrando muchas personas como estas en el camino! besos y abrazos desde Buenos Aires! Aldana y Dino
Gracias Aldana,
Por eso quería escribir sobre lo que no importa, sino lo que realmente importa en la vida y a la hora de viajar 🙂
Y Ustedes, por cierto, son las personas con quienes se debe cruzar en la vida !! 🙂 Les extraño mucho, un fuerte abrazo a Buenos Aires y seguimos en contacto xoxo