What is the weirdest, funniest, scariest, goofiest, most dangerous, rudest, strangest travel experience you’ve ever had? Could be an experience two towns away at a gas station or WalMart, or maybe it’s something wacky internationally or maybe just some big city here in the US.
I’ve got a few weird stories in the holster, but let’s hear yours. Go! [Reply]
Originally Posted by GabyKeepsMeWarm:
Does nobody travel?
I traveled the world from 1979-1985. Posted a couple of weeks ago......
At 25, I’m in Jerusalem in the old city. Circa 1984. The Arab part of the old city. The Israelis patrolled the area to make sure the tourists didn’t go into the Arab quarter. I wanted to go in there. Went to the top of David’s tower and figured out a path through the Israeli soldiers.
It worked I’m in taking some pictures. I see a real old man leading a donkey through some of the old arches and took the pic. He was pissed. Starting yelling at me flying his arms about etc. a group of young men were suddenly by me. I’m saying all I did was take his picture. They said something to the effect the old man wants $100. I told them to fuck off turned to leave and got busted in the head with something and the fights on.
I took out 2-3 before they got me on the ground kicking the shit out of me. I was thinking laying on the ground getting the shit kicked out of me that this was a stupid way to die. About that time the Israeli patrol had heard the commotion and came to investigate. The attackers scattered and the Israelis got me off the ground and outta the Arab quarter.
Didn’t get into any trouble because I got my ass kicked I'd probably not do that again. Went to the hospital and I had a perforated stomach, burnished kidneys and a concussion.
Within a month I was back in the states. Decided I wanted to live, have a family, fall in love and raise the kids.
33 years later I’m still madly in love with my wife. Son is in NYC pursing his dreams. And now, I’m retired comfortable enough. Wife retires in 3 weeks. Time to show her the world as just a regular tourist doing tourist things.
And yes, I still have that picture of the old man in Jerusalem. [Reply]
Any crazy, rude, worst travel experience I have had has always centered on my wife. She has anger issues, and once triggered will lose sanity for about 20 minutes or so before she returns to normal. When it happens while driving, she road rages. So, as a rule, I do all the driving while we are on vacation. Every time an exception has been made to that rule, I have a new story to tell.
One time, we were making the trip across Kansas to the Rocky Mountains. Five or so hours in, I needed a break, so an exception was made. We were in a Chrysler Concorde, a big, old, road-eating sedan, heading west on I-70. I was chillin' in the back with our son, who was 4 or 5 at the time, watching videos on a laptop. Then, we got stuck behind a semi in the left lane going the speed limit.
We were directly behind the truck, and a stream of traffic was passing us on the right to get past the slow moving semi. It was never ending, and we were stuck, unable to get free and pass the truck. It seemed interminable. I could see and hear the frustration building in the front seat. More minutes passed. You could feel the anger building.
After what seemed an eternity but was probably like 10 minutes or so, an opening showed up. She punched the gas, made the lane change, and was finally past the semi. Except, she didn't slow down once clear. Instead, the car kept accelerating, going faster and faster until the Concorde finally topped out. The next twenty minutes was sheer, back seat terror, 100+ mph on a busy I-70, moving in and out of traffic with no sign of slowing down. Nothing I could say or do could break through the road rage. I could only hold on and hope for the best.
After twenty minutes of terror, the car finally began to slow, and my wife turned around, calm and normal once again, and with a smile on her face said, "Made good time, didn't we?"
Next week, we go on vacation again. We are flying into Chicago, spending a couple days doing museums and driving to Michigan to see our son, who is now all grown up, married, and has probably forgotten that car ride across Kansas twenty plus years ago.
Time may have passed, but the anger issues are still there. I have more stories to tell. And now, she has asked to be put on the rental as a driver for the upcoming trip. I'll probably let her, for convenience sake, but I'll try my damnedest to keep my hands on the wheel. I know only one thing, though, that car won't be a Lamborghini. [Reply]
Lots of examples come to mind where I get severe second hand embarrassment for other US travelers abroad. We seem to love to make an ass of ourselves. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Couch-Potato:
Lots of examples come to mind where I get severe second hand embarrassment for other US travelers abroad. We seem to love to make an ass of ourselves.
I walked from Costco to OD, as I was walking over, some lady was either trying to talk to someone in a car, or just got out. Cant tell. She immediately set off the radar.
I go in to get printer ink, quickly go through pens etc, and get in line. A nice older man was buying a printer and I gave him the usual 5 feet or so distance.
All of a sudden, crazy lady is right behind me, well inside my personal bubble. I take a step up, so does she. oh my.
Then she says "Do you know the government is trying to kill us all?" and all I am thinking is DO NOT ENGAGE. Look straight ahead-out the window.
She continues "Unless you are not supposed to believe everything on the internet." I of course say no, you should not.
Then she starts on the election. I just cant and wont say a word. She keeps talking.
Couldnt get out of there fast enough.
My trip involved a walk in Central KS in the pitch-dark night. Won State title in Football senior year and went back from college to support the guys the following season. They played at a away school that was new to our town, so my knowledge of the area was limited. They won, and head back to my hometown south of I-70. Being a country boy short cuts across country and was the norm. Never been down this road, but it headed in the right direction.
Turned off of I-70 and headed down a road that went from pavement to gravel. No issue, I grew up on the back roads. Well now problem, my over confidence of driving this gravel road led to excessive speed and a curve without any signage. I didn't make the curve and the car flew off the road and landed in the ditch. The front bumper on the back ditch, the back bumper hanging on the front. No wheel's touch ground! My buddy and I noticed we hadn't passed a farm or seen any light for the last 10 miles or so.
This was before cell phones, so hoof was our only option. Going forward hoping to find a residence in the middle of nowhere. It was dark, not just no lights nothing but some stars for as far as we can see. After walking 30 minutes we come to some intersection as we can see a light in the distance. We ponder going off the main road to the secondary road, but as we started down the road noticed our footing was different. I dropped to my knees and determined the road was mainly vegetation, not a regular traveled road. Back to the main road.
Another 30 minutes of pitch-dark walking and no traffic we see a remote residence with lights on and some music. We can only imagine someone living out here and some young dudes showing up at 11pm on their porch might cause some concern. After the wife called out to hubby, he showed up and we did our best to provide confidence to him that we were harmless and clueless to show up on their porch. I promised to pay him to pull us from the ditch. He said, give him a few minutes and jump into his van. Did I tell you this was a hippie couple in the middle of nowhere. Sitting in the seats behind the driver we see him get in the van and put a holster down at his feet. Crap....was he going to take us and dump us, for us never to be seen again. Becoming some murder mystery show about two young teenagers who disappeared.
He drove us back to the car and tied a on the Malibu. The van struggled to pull the car and my buddy started jumping on the rear bumper so the wheels might make contact as he pulled, and I floored the car to leap out of the ditch. As the gravel flew, we were freed. I was so happy that I flipped the guy a $20, which was a lot of money for a poor college freshman in late 80's. [Reply]
A couple years ago in Puerto Escondido in southern Mexico, I was walking on the beach at night when off in the distance I noticed a pack of stray dogs running at me barking at full speed and they end up surrounding me. I was paranoid because at the time there was a lengthy thread on here about people’s experiences with dog attacks. I ended up chucking my sandals at the dog directly in front of me as hard as I could figuring he was the alpha of the pack. Luckily for me it was enough to him and the rest of them to back off. [Reply]
Originally Posted by excessive:
Any crazy, rude, worst travel experience I have had has always centered on my wife. She has anger issues, and once triggered will lose sanity for about 20 minutes or so before she returns to normal. When it happens while driving, she road rages. So, as a rule, I do all the driving while we are on vacation. Every time an exception has been made to that rule, I have a new story to tell.
One time, we were making the trip across Kansas to the Rocky Mountains. Five or so hours in, I needed a break, so an exception was made. We were in a Chrysler Concorde, a big, old, road-eating sedan, heading west on I-70. I was chillin' in the back with our son, who was 4 or 5 at the time, watching videos on a laptop. Then, we got stuck behind a semi in the left lane going the speed limit.
We were directly behind the truck, and a stream of traffic was passing us on the right to get past the slow moving semi. It was never ending, and we were stuck, unable to get free and pass the truck. It seemed interminable. I could see and hear the frustration building in the front seat. More minutes passed. You could feel the anger building.
After what seemed an eternity but was probably like 10 minutes or so, an opening showed up. She punched the gas, made the lane change, and was finally past the semi. Except, she didn't slow down once clear. Instead, the car kept accelerating, going faster and faster until the Concorde finally topped out. The next twenty minutes was sheer, back seat terror, 100+ mph on a busy I-70, moving in and out of traffic with no sign of slowing down. Nothing I could say or do could break through the road rage. I could only hold on and hope for the best.
After twenty minutes of terror, the car finally began to slow, and my wife turned around, calm and normal once again, and with a smile on her face said, "Made good time, didn't we?"
Next week, we go on vacation again. We are flying into Chicago, spending a couple days doing museums and driving to Michigan to see our son, who is now all grown up, married, and has probably forgotten that car ride across Kansas twenty plus years ago.
Time may have passed, but the anger issues are still there. I have more stories to tell. And now, she has asked to be put on the rental as a driver for the upcoming trip. I'll probably let her, for convenience sake, but I'll try my damnedest to keep my hands on the wheel. I know only one thing, though, that car won't be a Lamborghini.