Share your unforgettable travel stories

dseag2

dseag2

Dallas, TX
Location
Dallas, TX
My career involved lots of travel. I have many stories that come to mind, both good and bad. But the one that I always remember is my night in Zagreb, Croatia. I was on business in Dubrovnik. I flew out of there and was scheduled to overnight in Zagreb before heading home. However, the airline checked my luggage all the way through, so when I arrived in Zagreb I had nothing.

I was stressed, but I had booked a quaint little hotel in which every room was different. I asked about dining and was told that the owner of the hotel cooked meals outside each night. I'm a "room service" kinda guy, but I sat outside in the courtyard of the hotel under the stars while I was served fresh chicken from the grill. I sat next to a Frenchman, who shared his stories about going back and forth on business through Zagreb and how much he loved it. My stress just melted away and I realized it was a great experience that I will never forget.

I really feel fortunate that travel was such an important part of my career because it gave me an understanding of other cultures and created so many great memories. I look forward to hearing from other members who have traveled, even domestically, and the positive memories you still have.
 

dseag2 said:
My career involved lots of travel. I have many stories that come to mind, both good and bad. But the one that I always remember is my night in Zagreb, Croatia. I was on business in Dubrovnik. I flew out of there and was scheduled to overnight in Zagreb before heading home. However, the airline checked my luggage all the way through, so when I arrived in Zagreb I had nothing.

I was stressed, but I had booked a quaint little hotel in which every room was different. I asked about dining and was told that the owner of the hotel cooked meals outside each night. I'm a "room service" kinda guy, but I sat outside in the courtyard of the hotel under the stars while I was served fresh chicken from the grill. I sat next to a Frenchman, who shared his stories about going back and forth on business through Zagreb and how much he loved it. My stress just melted away and I realized it was a great experience that I will never forget.

I really feel fortunate that travel was such an important part of my career because it gave me an understanding of other cultures and created so many great memories. I look forward to hearing from other members who have traveled, even domestically, and the positive memories you still have.
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"on business in Dubrovnik???"

desag2 is CIA for sure...:):):)

My friend Mike is a roadie. His older brother was a roadie for Pink Floyd. He was an electronics whiz. So, back in the late 60s? early 70s? or so, he went on a trip to Moscow. And he disappeared.

So, you know, in rock lore...the theory was that he defected to the Russians.

About 20 years ago, Mike asked me if I could think of some way to see if I could find out anything. I didn't do much. I just contacted the major Pink Floyd fan clubs and put the word out.

So, mystery solved. Russian spy? Not quite. Mike's brother was just getting endless correspondence from his family in Jersey and he could not take it anymore. So, he just changed his name and moved to the English countryside to have his privacy.
 
I was with a cruise line. We had a sales meeting onboard one of our ships. Dubrovnik was our first stop, so I disembarked there. Nothing so clandestine as the CIA!
 

Ok, you asked for a travel story, so here's one.

1980, hitchhiking in Wisconsin, just outside of Madison. At the time it was legal to hitchhike on the entrance ramp, but not the highway. But, of course, not much traffic there.

So, I was hitchhiking on the interstate itself. Couple of hours of nothing...and then, all of a sudden, I see this older car, slowing down.


Guy picks me up. It's a 1961 Ford Rambler or something, some kind of famous hippie car. Guy in the car has long hair, very hippie guy. Has a lock of his girlfriend's hair braided into his own!

He's on his way from Florida, to northern Wisconsin, where two of his hippie friends are going to get married. The guy's surname is Brown and the gal's surname is Schoof. And they are going to get married and both change their names to Broof.

Very hippie.

So, we pull out and drive for a tiny bit...and then, see a state trooper behind us, flashing his lights. Great. He has seen hippie #1, pick up hippie #2 and we are both going to jail..

Ford Rambler hippie says to me, "Positive vibrations on the cop, positive vibrations on the cop". And he kind of bows his head and is, I guess doing his "positive vibrations on the cop" thing. I have no clue what to do, but I try my best at whatever.

Trooper comes over to the window.

"Now fellas, I can take you both to jail. I can do that. You know I can do that. You were hitchhiking and this guy picked up a hitchhiker...both illegal. Now, what I can do for you, you can just pay me the price of the ticket and I will process all the paperwork for you, and just let you both go, right now."

And so, I paid the officer the $70 bribe...and he just let us keep going!

So, now I am traveling on the interstate with this guy...about 100 miles to go to the farm. And everything is just smooth as can be.

Until...

I am sure no one is going to believe me...but all of a sudden we just heard this thud. The AXLE BREAKS!!! and we are sliding on the highway, sparks flying everywhere.

Car stops dead.

Rambler Ford hippie just grabs some things, puts it all in a backpack...and the two of just start walking and hitchhiking together!

That goes on for awhile, because we walked clear away from the dead vehicle, wanting no association with it whatsoever.

And then, we got picked up by these gals in this open air jeep.

I think it was four of the creatures. Definitely too much inbreeding in that family. And not by a little.

And they say to us, "Gas, A**, or Grass."

Now, I did not know what was a thing.

First of all, rule of the road #1...I ain't paying for nuthin'. Just ain't happening. (Well, except for the bribe to keep us out of jail).

Second, I didn't have any weed. Rambler hippie did not have any weed. Nothing to share.

Lastly...I did mention the whole inbreeding thing...so that option was not happening.

We just shut up and got in the back of the jeep.

And the gals just started driving. Took us 90 miles up....could have driven the last ten, but dropped us off early out of spite.

But, we were young. Walking ten miles was nothing, was fun.

Got to the farm. I remember playing frisbee with a few guys in a field.

Best memory was at night, when the stars were out in northern Wisconsin. Had never seen anything like that before with next to no light pollution. Literally must have been thousands of points of light visible. Was amazing.

That was one of those moments, in rural Wisconsin, when you just completely fall in love with America.
 
dseag2 said:
I was with a cruise line. We had a sales meeting onboard one of our ships. Dubrovnik was our first stop, so I disembarked there. Nothing so clandestine as the CIA!
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well, that is what all the agents say...

bunch of my musician friends have worked cruises. I mentioned Mike, I think. He worked a cruise. was a roadie, but also a drummer, in a lot of bands...

My cousin was a piano player, jazz...blues....worked for Disney. Pissed them off somehow and got fired, mid-cruise. Captain locked him in his cabin...

I guess international waters and other laws don't apply?
 
dseag2 said:
I was with a cruise line. We had a sales meeting onboard one of our ships. Dubrovnik was our first stop, so I disembarked there.
Click to expand...

Laurie and her mom used to go on cruises until her mom's health faded too much. They had such wonderful, wonderful times. Really wonderful break from the daily grind.
 
OK, nothing spectacular but something that happened that at the time seemed like Divine Intervention.

I was traveling home from Turkey for a visit with my 4-month-old daughter. When we landed in New York, we had been traveling for about 32 hours at that time and I was at the end of my rope. I was one of the last ones off the plane as I had to gather up a lot of stuff, so when I hit the immigration and customs area, several other flights had emptied and I was at the end of a loooong line. I had her in my arms and was pushing my bags along with my feet when she literally erupted from both ends. I'm not sure how a tiny baby could hold such a volume of odiferous ...uh...issue but it was spectacular. She was covered with it; I was covered with it. People were turning around and looking to see where the dead body was.

There was no place to lay her down and clean her up except for the filthy floor. I was just about to start bawling when two stern-faced gentlemen in suits with walkie-talkies appeared, gathered up all my stuff and barked, "Follow us". They took me through a locked door, down official-looking corridors and out into the main terminal, leading me to a family restroom. When I finally came out, one of them was there with my suitcase and a baggage cart.

No immigration, no customs, no stamping my passport.

My stern-faced angels from heaven walked off. Bless 'em, bless 'em both.
 
This is unforgettable for me, because I was 6 at the time. My mom and her three kids, ages 4 mos, 4 yrs, 6 yrs., were traveling to Germany from Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. My dad had been stationed there for awhile because my mom was too late in her pregnancy to be allowed to fly.

We got to the airport, and Mom noticed that a lot of the wives were traveling alone with children. She found out who was in charge of the Airmen on the flight, and asked him to assign an Airman to each child, except for the babies. The guy did it! So my sister and I were very well taken care of during that flight by a bunch of young men (mostly 18 year olds, I think my mom said). No complaints from anyone.
 
I spent my life in the military and was shoved all over the globe. I have good travel stories and bad travel stories. Which do you prefer to read about?
 
jujube said:
OK, nothing spectacular but something that happened that at the time seemed like Divine Intervention.

I was traveling home from Turkey for a visit with my 4-month-old daughter. When we landed in New York, we had been traveling for about 32 hours at that time and I was at the end of my rope. I was one of the last ones off the plane as I had to gather up a lot of stuff, so when I hit the immigration and customs area, several other flights had emptied and I was at the end of a loooong line. I had her in my arms and was pushing my bags along with my feet when she literally erupted from both ends. I'm not sure how a tiny baby could hold such a volume of odiferous ...uh...issue but it was spectacular. She was covered with it; I was covered with it. People were turning around and looking to see where the dead body was.

There was no place to lay her down and clean her up except for the filthy floor. I was just about to start bawling when two stern-faced gentlemen in suits with walkie-talkies appeared, gathered up all my stuff and barked, "Follow us". They took me through a locked door, down official-looking corridors and out into the main terminal, leading me to a family restroom. When I finally came out, one of them was there with my suitcase and a baggage cart.

No immigration, no customs, no stamping my passport.

My stern-faced angels from heaven walked off. Bless 'em, bless 'em both.
Click to expand...

Never underestimate the "Power of the Poo!!!" :):):)
 
I spent Easter weekend about 30 yrs ago visiting my mom when she was living at retirement community,Kendall at Hanover,NH I took the Darmouth bus to Logan airport in Boston to catch my flight. When I got there the weather had turned into a big snowstorm,I was stuck there for 2 days. At the time I didn't have any ID on me except for my credit card which had my picture. I had no problems using it when I left Buffalo,but not the case in Boston, The TSA agent embarassed me in front of everybody when she unload my suitcase in security, quite rude to me, I was so upset/livid The added frustration all the local hotels were booked so I stayed at the airport,USAir never bothered to give us a meal ticket or pillow/blanket,slept on the floor or one of the chairs .On the 2nd day when the weather cleared, I reboarded my ticket told the agent'I'm not spending another here,this what I have for my ID' She told me that's 'ok' she did tell me how to get a non driver's license
When I talked to my mom later that day she saw me talking to local TV reporter who had come to the airport to interview people. I didn't tell her what I said to the reporter,how stupid it was only 1 runway was opened,ranting about the terrible plows they were using,of course not sleeping well for 48 hrs I was not thinking clearly
 
I was driving through Northern Italy long before GPS was available, in a tiny hot literally ..dusty... one horse town near Verona where the men were old and sat outside 4 or more together drinking , and playing board games. ..the place was silent, there were hardly any stores, no kids to see, and stray dogs walking in the middle of the road. I'd got lost, my directions had led me to that town but it was clearly the wrong town /village ..
I got out and approached a group of elderly men and asked in very broken Italian for directions showing my paperwork and address of the business.

Without a word one man stood up, and indicated for me to follow him.. I was a little apprehensive but I did .. and we drove for miles, through several more dusty villages, through vineyards, and down long deserted roads.. and just as I I started to get a little worried I was in something deep... we pulled into another town, and he stopped right outside a big factory gate on the edge of town , didn't get out of the car , just gesticulated with one arm out of the window, that this was the place.

I jumped out of the car and tried to give him some money for his time, but he wouldn't take it, and drove back in the direction we'd just come... never forgot him.. that was 35 years ago
 
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moviequeen1 said:
I spent Easter weekend about 30 yrs ago visiting my mom when she was living at retirement community,Kendall at Hanover,NH I took the Darmouth bus to Logan airport in Boston to catch my flight. When I got there the weather had turned into a big snowstorm,I was stuck there for 2 days. At the time I didn't have any ID on me except for my credit card which had my picture. I had no problems using it when I left Buffalo,but not the case in Boston, The TSA agent embarassed me in front of everybody when she unload my suitcase in security, quite rude to me, I was so upset/livid The added frustration all the local hotels were booked so I stayed at the airport,USAir never bothered to give us a meal ticket or pillow/blanket,slept on the floor or one of the chairs .On the 2nd day when the weather cleared, I reboarded my ticket told the agent'I'm not spending another here,this what I have for my ID' She told me that's 'ok' she did tell me how to get a non driver's license
When I talked to my mom later that day she saw me talking to local TV reporter who had come to the airport to interview people. I didn't tell her what I said to the reporter,how stupid it was only 1 runway was opened,ranting about the terrible plows they were using,of course not sleeping well for 48 hrs I was not thinking clearly
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I’m sorry you suffered such embarrassment and inconvenience. I am not sure if it was a TSA agent that made the gaffe, but probably airport security. Normally, most airports if they are going to make passengers unpack, they take them to a room right off of security. Things have changed since back then.

I told passengers all the time “back when you actually got a ticket” to read the fine print. The ticket used to make passengers aware that in case of an event that is out of the carrier’s control, they wouldn’t or weren’t liable to compensate for any damages incurred. Weather issues were always included. Back in those days, U.S. Air had a lot of financial difficulties. This was the reason for their merger with American.

I remember those days when I worked at United. If the airport closed, the company made an effort to find accommodations for their passengers. We had contracts with Holiday Inn and Ramada back then.
 
Most memorable trip was from Ramey Air Force base to Charleston So. Carolina.Transferring from Roosevelt Roads Navy base using Air force military transport was how the Navy reduced travel costs. The plane to travel in was a Lockheed C-121 Constellation.

1st. born son was about 6 months old so feeding on his schedule was important. Our outbound flight was delayed for some reason so while waiting we fed him. His favorite strained carrots & apple sauce. A little later a bottle of milk.

At this point it important to know weight & balance was important in that aircraft. By that I mean weight distribution made a difference to how the pilot was able to maintain a level flight.

Now the fun begins. About 2 hours into the flight our son did what babies do. He digested his food then deposited that digested food into his cloth diaper. I was sitting in the aisle seat so it was easier for me to get up to go to the rear of the plane to change him.

Absolutely amazing how carrots, applesuace & milk can turn into a smell that defies description. It was so bad approximately the last 6 rows of passengers got up to walk forward. That change in weight distribution caused the plane to go nose down. The pilot unaware of the shift in passenger movement did what pilots do to regain level flight. Once the smell had disapated the passengers returned to their seats causing a weight shift again.

On landing the pilot wanted to meet the reason for his need to adjust the plane level.
 
Another story... in England this time.
After my divorce I was poverty stricken despite working hard, and really couldn't afford to take my daughter anywhere very much aside from coach trips to the seaside.. and occasionally cheap caravan holidays..

When she was 14, I was in my early 30's, I managed to finally afford an old second hand Estate car to get me to work , and I thought taking my daughter to another seaside coast where there was a huge funfair would be enjoyable for her, even tho' it would take most of my money just for the fuel.. but she would have her paper round money to spend for herself while I watched on..

We drove all the way down to the coast , and just as we came off at the slip road on the motorway for our destination.. about 5 miles from the beach.. the car just stopped.. and refused to start..

I was at a dangerous junction, and of course worried how we could move to safety, and of course get home again.... and I didn't have any roadside coverage so couldn't call anyone..

A few minutes after being stuck..2 young guys maybe in their 20's pulled up.. and asked what was the problem.. I told them.. and they said they were mechanics and would have a look.. . They lifted the bonnet, ( hood).. and rummaged around there for a while, and within about 10 mins they had fixed it.. and the car was good to go... but now I was scared stiff. I thought they're going to ask me for money, and I don't have any... so I asked them how much did I have to pay.. and they said £50... well that was 1/2 a weeks' wage , and I stuttered and stammered and said , ''I have no cash but will you take a cheque'' even tho' I didn't have enough funds to cover a cheque ... they both burst into laughter, and said they were joking, and just happy to help... and waved us on our way. I have never been so relieved or thankful for gentleman of the road.. but ever after that I made sure to afford the Emergency roadside Services
 
Years ago, before retirement, I worked for a short time in Rochester Mn. One evening, I went with some colleagues to a great restaurant called the Hubble House in Mantorville. This is famous for the fact that just about anyone who was anyone, had eaten there. Presidents, distinguished Doctors etc.. had all eaten there.

Some years later, I took the family on a road trip across some of the northern states and on going through Minnesota, we stopped at the Hubble House. We were quite early and the place was quiet. We chatted with the waitress and she showed us the visitors book and said that she had served LBJ and his wife. She pointed out where they his bodyguards sat. The waitress was intrigued to find that we had come from England and knew about the restaurant. She gave our daughters menus and copies of pages from the visitors book to take home.

Our trip took us across Lake Michigan on the S.S. Badger and later, we took a flight in a light aircraft to see the Great lakes from the air.
One totally unexpected encounter was in a small town where they were celebrating 'Christmas in July'. It was great fun and of course being Brits, and this being off the tourist trail, we received a lot of attention . Our journey took us East , through the Amish country and eventually on to Washington DC where we visited Arlington cemetery before flying back to the UK.
 

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