All my life I have had a somewhat strange ability to be in the right places at the right times to meet interesting people and see interesting things. I am a naturally shy person, and walking up to people to start a conversation is not easy for me. But when you are traveling, you just have to get over it.
Walking out of Windsor castle on the first day of our trip, I found myself in the middle of an Indian wedding ceremony…
This interesting combination of two cultures and histories was a colorful and delightful moment in an already wonderful day.
I also met some lawn bowlers, and stopped to chat, because my mother does lawn bowling at a club in Berkeley, California…
Not quite as colorful as the wedding party, but a delightful group of people nonetheless.
In London, I made friends with the guy who owned an ice cream cart. He gave me free ice cream because I got a bunch of the band kids to stop by and give his stand some business…
Remember that everyone is interesting in some way. I didn’t take pictures of everyone I chatted with, because it seems rude, somehow. But I met some really nice people. In London, as we photographed a Royal guardsman, I talked to an old Englishman that served in World War Two. He told me how the buttons on the uniforms were done in different patterns that let you know which famous regiment that soldier was in. Slow down and say a few words to shopkeepers and taxi drivers and the working people of any city. They know stories about that city that aren’t in any guide book.
I spent quite a lot of time getting to know our tour bus driver, Marcus. He was from Germany, and stayed with us for the entire trip…
He was a really nice guy, and had a lot of stories to tell. And that is not an easy job, driving a bus that size around London, Paris and all through Europe. Look at that friendly smile.
One person out of all the people I met fascinated me quite a lot. He is a shop owner in the medieval town of Rothenburg. At night, he puts on a cape, grabs a pike and lantern, and gives guided tours of the town as ‘the Night Watchman’. Just Google it, you will be glad you did. I found him to be so engaging and full of history and knowledge, that I visited his store the next day and spoke with him at length. These are the kinds of memories that will stay with you long after you return home…
Pouring My Art Out 
i dont get to travel very much……but the blogs allow me to travel…….many many interesting people have been encountered….it is a fascinating and very marvelous world we live in……….went to this little chinese retaurant last night to buy a take away and got chatting with the chinese owners….ended up sitting and drinking four beers during the chat and left with this huge chinese fan with a really beautiful painting of a peacock on it………..it was hanging on the wall as part of the decor……..i swear only i can go aut to buy chinese and end up buying the furniture…………..but the fan is really beautiful……….
I’ve been on a few good trips. Most have been in the U.S. I have seen a lot of this country.
Been enjoying the pics…thank you kindly, sir, she said…but have to tell you this was a great one. I think Gemma is on to something…if you don’t think you will ever see somebody again there is no pressure to repeatedly make a good impression or to perform well. You can just wing it and be yourself without worry. Makes it much easier I think too. I love a poster I saw once that said, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”
I love the quote. But shy is shy, whatever country you happen to be in.
Yeah. Who knew? And as far as strangers go, I have an easier time talking to strangers than people I know. I thought long and hard on this once after my 89 year old mom asked me why it was so easy for me to talk to strangers. She has an accent and it bothers her to talk to people she doesn’t know. (I think she’s cute.) Anyway, I figure it like this. I’ll never, (probably) see these people again so I am less inhibited and don’t worry about what I’m spewing. Like, who cares?
Oops! My insecurities are showing.
Phew!
I have a hard time just walking up to people… but once you know me, I wont shut up.
Who knew you were shy?! Strangers are cool. I like the bus driver the best. I like the lawn bowlers second best. I like to ride the bus.
The bus driver was the best. Strangers are cool… until they kill you and make your skin into a suit. That is where I draw the line.
We were talking about unicorns and glitter, thinking happy thoughts.
Unicorns poop glitter… and vomit rainbows…
I like when strangers photograph me. It happened twice but I liked it. I think I reminded them of someone. Or I was that odd looking they had to sell it to National Geographic.
Were you holding a card with numbers on it in front of your chest when they took your picture? And did they ask you to turn your head to the side for another picture?
Some people have the knack for sparking up conversation abroad, I travel with those people. For me, depends how much I’ve drank that morning
I just don’t let my shyness get in the way. At home, maybe, but not other places.
Love this post! Meeting people while traveling is the best part of the trip, and so many people miss out by not reaching out. Most people are glad to tell you about their home town, business, and interests.
Some Americans travel and try to stay within their comfort zone. I find this a little weird.
That’s why cruises were invented, so you can leave home and not leave home. I once had a boyfriend who didn’t want to go out of the country because there were foreigners there.
One mom that went on the band trip kept complaining that they never served American food in any of the restaurants… American food? Like pizza, tacos, sweet and sour pork, or what exactly?
I’m taking a group of students to London and Paris next week, and one of my fears is having someone like that on the trip. It sets such a bad example for the kids. I’m glad you had such a great time taking your daughter to Europe- what a memorable experience!