One of the best outcomes of traveling is coming home with great stories. Maybe it’s funny characters you’ve come across, like the man next to you on the Megabus in his sixties wearing a Hawaiian shirt and short shorts staring at you in the reflection of his computer, or maybe it’s the unexpected twist to a night of almost-homelessness. Either way, they add a uniqueness and personal significance to your travels and adventures. They can keep you motivated and mindful. You never know when these moments will occur, but they leave a lasting impression of your trip and the interactions you had. We’re going to start a series of simple posts called Sweet Serendipities – short, memorable stories of previous travels. We hope you enjoy reading them and comment with your own!
This first story occurred during a two-week trip around England with my best friend, our moms, and my aunt, the summer after graduating high school. Everything on our trip had gone, a bit unexpectedly, as planned, until one day. About halfway through the trip, we left the sheep farm we were staying at in Derbyshire and thought we could fit about two days worth of activities into one day while still arriving at our hostel in time. Unfortunately, by the time we made it to the small village hostel, after driving from the north of the country to the southern coast, it was past 12 AM and the reception was well-closed. After a collective panic at our newly-found homelessness, and worry that the five of us might have to sleep in a cramped car all night, we came across a small inn with a night-guard on duty. Unfortunately, there was only one small room available, but he said we were more than welcome to sleep in the car in their parking lot and use the restrooms. While we were getting ready for our night in the parking lot, Gary, the night-guard, came to us with another proposition. He explained that we might be able to sleep in the lounge, which was furnished with a couch and some chairs, as long as we were out before 6 AM, so none of the actual guests saw us. We very gleefully obliged and situated ourselves for bed in the lounge, thrilled we didn’t have to spend the night in the car all together, and at no monetary expense.
Although it was, admittedly, a very restless night, there was nothing to complain about. Around 6:15 AM, Gary knocked on the door, and after giving us a few moments to whip out of our PJs, he entered the room with a tray of hot water, tea, cream and sugar. Some minutes later, he came back with another tray with toast and jam. His kind hospitality left us speechless and grinning from ear to ear, despite our enduring exhaustion.
As we packed up and headed out, it was still too early to check-in at the hostel, so we went for a morning stroll around the tiny, charming town. We walked across a bridge and found a lovely church, then sauntered through a back field in dew-covered grass as the sun rose. I still think back to this morning as one of my favorites, and it’s where I took the picture at the top of the page. It was peaceful, enchanting and storybook-like.
Moments like these can’t be searched for. They come unexpectedly and are disguised as potential disasters. Besides the pure enjoyment as a story, moments like these have taught me to relax and trust that everything will turn out. They also serve as a reminder that we aren’t as independent as we’d like to think. Traveling requires you to trust the humanity of locals and other travelers. It’s a lesson that’s often difficult for me to remember and apply, but it always turns out to be a refreshing experience.
~Leah
