humanity

If nothing else, travel opens your eyes to the colorful quilt that is humankind.

France Roadtrip Nightmare
To Whom It May Concern: While traveling, it is common for one to experience a brief moment of “Oh my gosh this is my life!” For me, this usually happens during a private wine tasting in Portugal or watching the Eifel Tower twinkle at night while gnawing on a baguette. But there are few moments, even in life, where that glimpse of awe turns into a short reality. This moment happened for the six days I spent living out of a campervan through France. It was an accumulation of driving through the French Alps, hiking to waterfalls and rivers, picking wildflowers in a field, laying on the beach in Nice, eating fresh cherries we picked from a tree and the list goes on. Van life is what everyone made it cracked out to be – truly a dream.
By Haley Tonge5 years ago in Wander
Are You Home?
Home. A simple word with an extremely complex meaning. A word that means something different to everyone. A word that can change its meaning at the drop of a hat.
By Shae Moreno5 years ago in Wander
Peyote and Potatoes
The night time temperature in July hovered at 75 degrees, a welcome relief from the sweltering 110 earlier in the day. The humidity was low, making it bearable. Wyatt had left his remote desert home three hours earlier to make his monthly trek into the nearest town for provisions, a Calico Print newspaper and a hot meal from the local diner there. It was 1890, and he had spent his recent days mining for silver in the nearby hills, after heading West to seek his fortune. He was still grieving the loss of his young wife, 20 years his junior. Six months ago, Tess had left him for a prosperous banker in Blythe, PA where they lived. More than anything, he missed her cooking. Her Scottish origins meant that he was treated to a steaming pan of rumbledethumps every Sunday night. It was his favorite meal of the week.
By Dana Rogers5 years ago in Wander
Amsterdam, where umbrella's come to die.
As a private tour guide, I am the missing link between what the Dutch think is worth showing off and what the actual visitors want to see.
By Loukalicious5 years ago in Wander
Washington Square Park
It was his second night in New York City. Morale was running low. He’d lost his wallet at some club around 12:38. After some time, in the search for his wallet he had lost his phone. After being lost for what felt like eons, but was probably only an hour or two, he’d lost his hope as well. He grew up in a small town which meant his navigating skills were about as good as any other average persons since the creation of iPhones.
By Jessica Harvey5 years ago in Wander
Worldwide Friendship
For as long as I've been going away from home, adventuring about the UK and the broader world, friendship has followed me. The kindness of strangers who become friends, and friends who'll be strange with you when the delirium of travelling sets in, is an absolute necessity to making the most of being away and getting to know the places you visit.
By Laura McCann5 years ago in Wander
End of the Road...
It all started with a break-up. The usual story of gay dating. After 2 years of bliss in New York together, I got a dream job in San Francisco and we decided to go long distance. It lasted well. We weathered his house burning down, the passing of his mother and my kidney stones. He graduated. He did his first triathlon. I thrived in the new company, adapted to constant beautiful days.
By Eric Machine5 years ago in Wander
It would look like this,
Present: Less than 48hours before it closes and I still haven’t started writing. I wonder why... Is it because I am busy thinking about all these things or is it just that I am being lazy? Or maybe I simply run out of things to say; I have been particularly normal and quiet today. No, that can’t be it! Writing for me is like a treasure island for a pirate. I may not know where to start but I am convinced that at the end there will be something valuable. So, of course, I will give it a try. But for the pirate to even start looking, she needs a map. I started looking for one.
By Orianne Toure5 years ago in Wander
My Town
You would think that the small town where I live is probably no different from other small towns. It has its Town Hall, Library, main street that has small businesses that cater to the local economy. Many local restaurants and coffee shops where you’ll find the young and old hanging out. The difference between my town and anyone else’s is that I live here. The uniqueness about my town is profound; from its beautiful waterways and the buildings and structures that have been built from the Limestone to the surrounding forest, hills and valleys, rivers and streams that pass through the heart of my town. The beauty is astounding no matter which way you turn. There was once an Opera house and in the early years my town was a hub for the Grand Trunk Railway which built the massive bridges that are now repurposed as trails that allow you to overlook the Thames river, Trout Creek and as far as the old water tower. You can still catch a train at the local train station which is in the same location that it had been originally built. The railway tracks are now gone and replaced with foot paths, trails and bike paths for everyone to enjoy. My town is surrounded by many species of wildlife from Grey Herons, Osprey, Ducks, Canadian Geese, Bobcats, deer, and small creatures like skunks, rabbits, and racoons. The variety of plant and wildlife in such a small area is amazing to behold.
By Sheri Lee5 years ago in Wander
Mother Nature Takes A Selfie
If you’ve ever been anywhere. You’ve seen them. If you’ve passed a lookout, a beach, or god forbid a pair of angel wings painted on a wall, then you’ve seen plenty of the same thing.
By Matthew Donnellon5 years ago in Wander
Little Cranberry
Little Cranberry Isle, Summer 2019: a warm blueberry donut and a warm cup of coffee. The stones look like a blueberry donut, encircling the water at low tide. The sky is warm, like a cup of coffee.
By Pallavi Juneja5 years ago in Wander
12 volt Glamping
So you want to go camping or have a long road trip to complete. But you don't like the idea of bitterly cold weather, or the scorching hot sun. Maybe you want to or have to do it on a tight budget. Maybe can't stop at a petrol station every time you want a coffee or cold drink, either because there isn't one or simply your in an area where this stinking covid-19 virus is more prevalent. Either way, no matter the reason/s you have, there are certainly quite a few options you have. These days cars and equipment are amazing, the advancement of them are incredible and the cost of setting up is next to nothing.
By Louise Dickson5 years ago in Wander