What a heavenly change since we managed to get out of that muddy road. We were back into this comfortable silence and conversation about the story of our lives along the way. I didn't know how to be more thankful enough to be taken 1000 km to my next destination. Everything went smoothly after we had gotten past that great obstacle on the road.
We all had to spend a night somewhere after being on the road for the whole day. One of the hardest parts of this trip was to look for an accommodation or a "Cabaña" in this unknown town. I let my folks do the talking as they are the ones who could really speak Spanish to the Argentine ruralites. Luckily, we found a very nice one with 4 bedrooms. I was very grateful to be even hosted here too.
That night, we went out to buy some food and proper wine to celebrate this day. We cooked our dinner and shared all the food that we had. And of course, I would never forget all our good moments, from the muddy road to this little house. After this little celebratory feast, we went to bed early to have that well-deserved rest.
The next day, even though the road seemed endless again, I knew that everything would soon come to an end. Deep down, I didn't really know how to face this part. My Spanish folks finally dropped me to my Couchsurfer host's house, like they really made sure I was in the right place. There was a Korean girl here from Couchsurfing too which I hitchhiked with later on. My Argentine host was there and even offered to smoke Marijuana with my Spanish father, ha! It was nice to have such cool parents that moment.
They didn't stay long as they had to move on. What sucks about being left behind here? It was not because I was leaving behind a man or a man was leaving me in a place, this was a different kind of goodbye. There was this certain kind of love I felt during those days. Not because I was transported, housed, or fed, but more of a parental appreciation, attention, and care I have never really felt for so long. This time though, goodbye was really hard. This was just one of the goodbyes I would never forget in my life. It broke my heart and right there and then I cried. I cried like I would never really cry for anyone else. I still feel very deeply. My Spanish mother finally kissed me on the forehead, Mi hija, she said. And with a heavy heart, I said goodbye. I'm hoping to this day that I would see them again in another place, in another time.
When you are traveling, you have to say goodbye a lot, it can be exhausting and to be honest, emotionally draining. But this is what makes you human. There would be people along the way you would never forget, as you move on and begin yet another chapter of your life on the road. I guess I haven't warned you enough of this kind of goodbye.
Travel for as long as you like, for whatever it is that you are searching until you find it. The world is yours. Be forewarned though, the leaving part never gets easier. You will never forget how people made you feel. Be prepared for that moment when it would be hard to swallow. Be prepared to be emotionally attached to the good moments that might never be repeated. Be prepared to say goodbye to that time and place, and to that version of yourself that might never exist again.
As you travel, you see things differently. Your senses are heightened. The air is fresh, the mountains look majestic, the trees are greener - everything is vivid. You become happy with all these simple pleasures in life, you are happy to be on your own and to look after yourself all the time. But this human need to belong and be taken care of would still be there wherever you are. You take what you get most of the time, and if you encounter really good souls along the way, it would even be harder to let go. It is just the way it is, so just feel it anyway. It is fine to embrace your humanity. I guess the hardest part is saying goodbye to a part of yourself that you met in a certain time and place.
I understand how you feel. I was blessed to be taken in by some really good people one time when I was stranded in Miami during a hurricane and I couldn't get a flight home for 3 days! (The hurricane didn't hit Miami, somehow, but crippled every location between Miami and my final destination).
So the couple, who I knew only from interactions online and having a mutual hobby, (my car - yeah, I originally met them on a car forum... and one time at a car meet) they graciously let me into their home and we spent a lot of time together, as if we were a family.
The trust and love that some people have in their hearts is truly amazing. They cooked me dinner, I nerded out with the husband, and bonded with the wife. Extremely good people. I will never forget the love and hospitality that they offered to me. And I would gladly honor their presence in my home now and invite them with open arms if they ever cared to visit our were randomly stranded in my area unexpectedly.
While my experience was not exactly the same as yours, I would imagine that it is something similar. Solo travel is not for the weary!
It was so nice of them to receive you in their home! There are really good people anywhere in this world.
Thanks for sharing your experience about the goodness of humanity.
Goodbyes are hard. But the excitement of going on another adventure would constantly tug me away.
True that. It's part of the journey.
That part about saying goodbye really hit me hard. I suppose it's better to call it a farewell, but leaving a part of your life behind is tough! People and environments are interconnected and as you said, you say goodbye to a part of yourself as well. Wish you the best with your journeys and also the future parts of yourself that you will meet!
Thanks for dropping by!
Lovely post. Its true some people are so hard to say goodbye to, soul brothers and sisters. It so nice that you had that connection, its what makes travelling those connections and hopefully you will keep in touch with them!
Thats one of my biggest regret not keeping in touch with people I met travelling. Some of it out of my control but still!
Sometimes it can't be avoided not to get in touch with them, but the important thing is that you have good memories of them. Who knows, maybe you'll meet each other again, small world. Thanks!
Indeed, I met someone in Africa well the school I taught at had a choir. About eight years later I was in my college and heard singing. Turned out the choir had come to sing in the collage. Small world indeed!
Oeee....Yes this is so true. I think it never gets easier because you are connecting to someone, thats why you are travelling with them or at least spending time with them. And it sucks to let go of that person again..
Goodbyes truly do not get easier!
Thanks for reading! :)
have a nice trip @diabolika,,,, interesting story and nicely moments place. good writing.
upvotedi am sure enjoyable travel @diabolika ,, so, i interested your story.amazing and nicely place....
have a nice trip @diabolika. Interesting story and nicely moments place. I like and enjoy your travels story. upvote complete.
Nice story.....check this out
https://steemit.com/photography/@virtualone/the-outfit-that-almost-broke-the-internet
how are you @diabolika it is nice to see all your post. i love traveling in my introduction i have shared my travel too, you can check it out your friend https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@awisdom/hello-steemit-my-name-is-awisdom-from-philippines
You've always been headstrong. Go forth and conquer new grounds!
Just avoid chickens. :D
Thanks dude! :P
Anytime!
Put yourself out of your comfort zone and sharing your feelings with people from everywhere helps you grow incredibly :)
Great follow up, @diabolika. Really touching. Travelling really is a life-altering experience.
I haven't really consciously thought about it before, but after reading your story here it's made me think back to some of the people I've met in my travels. I'm a fairly reserved quiet guy while travelling, and don't particularly go out of my way to meet other travellers (I travel alone, most of the time). But in a way, that makes the people that I do meet even more special(?)/interesting. Honestly, though, the people I've enjoyed meeting the most are the locals. And I don't mean that in a sort of 'I hang out with da locals' kind of way. Just locals that you meet incidentally via your accommodation or train trips etc. And even better is when you can't communicate via the same language. Somehow it makes the experience even more special, the fact that you managed to 'converse' about stuff with people who you share no significant language with. Or perhaps it says something about my isolated ways that I don't really want to have a meaningful conversation with anyone... ;)