Kristi, this is an amazing story! It's so beautiful, I teared up a bit. Thank you for sharing it. It's inspiring as heck. Through most of it, I was thinking that I'm way too uptight and shy to ever do anything like that with a "stranger." But then, as I started to type that, I started realizing that some of my best experiences and most memorable have involved meeting new people (albeit not necessarily kidnapping them). Actually, by the end of the story, I was left wondering who kidnapped who? I mean, sure, you drove the car, but I think a case could be made either way. From the little that you've shared, I'd be mighty surprised if Harold hasn't retold his version of this story loads of times over the years.
Aww thank you so much Craig! I must say, this is one of all-time favorite travel memories. He was such a good sport and so open to whatever came his way!! I love human connections like this 😊
Thank you for sharing your experience, Kristi. It was a great read. It reminded me of the time I was travelling in Austria and met a young American girl, Kris in a Youth Hostel in Salzburg. We clicked, so decided to do the whole touristy thing over a weekend. It was a hoot; so much fun having a companion to share the experience with after travelling for weeks by myself. We went our separate ways on Monday, only to meet up again by accident in Vienna, so we spent another couple of days checking out the sights there. We did keep in touch for a while when we got back to our respective countries, but eventually, as happens in life, we stopped writing. I sometimes think of her and wonder how she is now.
I have also written books and tales about strangers who cross paths and change lives and enjoy and then disappear, or stay forever. Wonderfully written. I'm a traveller, too and ..... if we didn't reach out to strangers, where would our friends come from??!!
We were all strangers at some point!! Please check out my last post, DELAYED, it, too, might resonate with you!! Congrats on that lovely blogger trophy! As cruisers we hear that Jamaica is a very dangerous place so it's nice to see your perspective as I so want to explore there.
Thank you Janice! And about Jamaica, it is a beautiful and unique country that's ripe for exploring. It has gotten worse in recent years but tourists are pretty unlikely to end up in the most dangerous places there.
Amen to that! Although, even if I'd been traveling with someone I'd still have dragged Harald along. And if he had a friend I would have grabbed them both!
I’m so glad I stumbled across you here on Substack, Kristi and you’re just the kind of traveler I would want to cross paths with. An excellent read which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is what Substack is all about - discovering great stories.
Such a charming accounting of this lovely memory. I am sure Harald has told it over and over to his friends and family. Good for you for making him such a great offer, Kristi. All the best things that happen in our travels are the unexpected or spontaneous ones.
I love this story!!! I live and work at a tourist destination, and I treasure the times I can make a tourists trip better by letting them in on the “secret local spots”. Thank you again for sharing!
I’ve lived in Hilton Head for 10 years, and I can’t see myself living anywhere else. If you head my way, hit me up, and I’ll let you in on all the “secret local spots”😉
I wish I had a story. The only strangers I get to know for a few hours are on a long flight. I always like to know who I'm sitting next to. We bond over something great or silly, exchange names before landing then there’s that awkward good bye. “Have a nice life.” But then it gets awkward again if you see them in baggage claim. “Have a nice life… again.” Or you turn away and pretend you’re already onto that nice life.
Bahahaha! I totally get it! I had a "have a nice life" moment with a lady flying to a destination. Then, 7 days later who did I see in the ticket line getting on the same return flight as me? I think she had a nice life for those 7 days. She was coming home engaged to a dude she just met 😂😂
The connection and humanness is so reaffirming. I think we need these stories more than ever.
One time on a family trip to Mexico I had to sit apart from my sons and husband so, while he tended to them, I engaged in soul searching, meaningful conversation with the woman sitting next to me. She was from my tiny little valley and we’d known of each other but never met.
We connected so deeply on that flight and never saw each other again (she no longer lives here) but I have never forgotten her.
When I got off the plane I felt like I’d had a life-altering experience, my husband not so much🤣
That's amazing!! I love those random moments with strangers on airplanes. And knowing you, I bet she felt the same way ❤️
One time when I was leaving Jamaica I sat beside a Jamaican woman who had never left her country. She was going to live with family in Toronto and she was TERRIFIED of flying, so much that she had tears rolling down her cheeks. I held her hand in the beginning of the flight, kept her company the whole way, and then walked with her out to the arrival area and stayed with her until she found her family. Obviously never saw her again but I felt so good to be able to be her ambassador into Canada 🇨🇦 ☺️
Absolutely delightful. I don't know if I changed his life, but I know that he changed mine when he safely delivered me back to my apartment when I was convinced I would be murdered.
Hahaha Ida, I can totally relate to that! Before I drove my own cars in Jamaica I accepted rides from plenty of people. I'd always ask them, "Is this the part where you chop me up and throw my body parts in the ditch?" 😂😂
Kristi, this is an amazing story! It's so beautiful, I teared up a bit. Thank you for sharing it. It's inspiring as heck. Through most of it, I was thinking that I'm way too uptight and shy to ever do anything like that with a "stranger." But then, as I started to type that, I started realizing that some of my best experiences and most memorable have involved meeting new people (albeit not necessarily kidnapping them). Actually, by the end of the story, I was left wondering who kidnapped who? I mean, sure, you drove the car, but I think a case could be made either way. From the little that you've shared, I'd be mighty surprised if Harold hasn't retold his version of this story loads of times over the years.
Aww thank you so much Craig! I must say, this is one of all-time favorite travel memories. He was such a good sport and so open to whatever came his way!! I love human connections like this 😊
I'll bet Harold had told this story many times! I've been kidnapped by a nice lady is just as wonderful and I kidnapped a tourist!
That's awesome Penny! It's neat to think that we've become part of someone's story, hey?
Thank you for sharing your experience, Kristi. It was a great read. It reminded me of the time I was travelling in Austria and met a young American girl, Kris in a Youth Hostel in Salzburg. We clicked, so decided to do the whole touristy thing over a weekend. It was a hoot; so much fun having a companion to share the experience with after travelling for weeks by myself. We went our separate ways on Monday, only to meet up again by accident in Vienna, so we spent another couple of days checking out the sights there. We did keep in touch for a while when we got back to our respective countries, but eventually, as happens in life, we stopped writing. I sometimes think of her and wonder how she is now.
Lisa, I love stories like this. It's a testament to just how awesome talking to stangers can be. It can truly open up our world!
I have also written books and tales about strangers who cross paths and change lives and enjoy and then disappear, or stay forever. Wonderfully written. I'm a traveller, too and ..... if we didn't reach out to strangers, where would our friends come from??!!
Your last line...that's the title of a post I want to write, almost verbatim!
We were all strangers at some point!! Please check out my last post, DELAYED, it, too, might resonate with you!! Congrats on that lovely blogger trophy! As cruisers we hear that Jamaica is a very dangerous place so it's nice to see your perspective as I so want to explore there.
Thank you Janice! And about Jamaica, it is a beautiful and unique country that's ripe for exploring. It has gotten worse in recent years but tourists are pretty unlikely to end up in the most dangerous places there.
Every place has its bad areas.
What a great experience!
The sort of thing that only happens as a solo traveller! 👏👏
Amen to that! Although, even if I'd been traveling with someone I'd still have dragged Harald along. And if he had a friend I would have grabbed them both!
What a wonderful story!
Thank you Kim!
I’m so glad I stumbled across you here on Substack, Kristi and you’re just the kind of traveler I would want to cross paths with. An excellent read which I thoroughly enjoyed. This is what Substack is all about - discovering great stories.
This is such a high compliment Rosy. I'm so glad you landed here as well! I appreciate you 😊
Such a charming accounting of this lovely memory. I am sure Harald has told it over and over to his friends and family. Good for you for making him such a great offer, Kristi. All the best things that happen in our travels are the unexpected or spontaneous ones.
I agree with you! I rarely make concrete plans because the unexpected often turns out so much better!
I love this story!!! I live and work at a tourist destination, and I treasure the times I can make a tourists trip better by letting them in on the “secret local spots”. Thank you again for sharing!
That's awesome Michelle. There's certainly something to be said for knowing you can change an experience for the better, isn’t there!
For sure. Travel is all about experiences. Have you ever been to Hilton Head Island?
No, I haven't traveled a ton in America but the Carolinas have always been on my radar. My dream is to road trip all through the USA someday.
I’ve lived in Hilton Head for 10 years, and I can’t see myself living anywhere else. If you head my way, hit me up, and I’ll let you in on all the “secret local spots”😉
That's amazing!!! It would be a long ass drive from western Canada but I'd be up for it!
What a wondrous story. Abundant living in action!
OMG! I saw this title this morning and couldn't wait to read it. It did NOT disappoint!! What an epically good time!
It certainly was!!
What a great story. Harald! He looks happy on FB.
I wish I had a story. The only strangers I get to know for a few hours are on a long flight. I always like to know who I'm sitting next to. We bond over something great or silly, exchange names before landing then there’s that awkward good bye. “Have a nice life.” But then it gets awkward again if you see them in baggage claim. “Have a nice life… again.” Or you turn away and pretend you’re already onto that nice life.
Bahahaha! I totally get it! I had a "have a nice life" moment with a lady flying to a destination. Then, 7 days later who did I see in the ticket line getting on the same return flight as me? I think she had a nice life for those 7 days. She was coming home engaged to a dude she just met 😂😂
Haha!
I love love love this story, Kristi. So much kindness, so much trust, so much life. Thank you for sharing the pictures. The plastic straw is a hoot!
Awww thank you Heather! And Harald WAS a hoot! Such a great 24 hours 😁
Exquisite story! Loved it. Seize the day indeed!
Thank you Jeanine!!
The connection and humanness is so reaffirming. I think we need these stories more than ever.
One time on a family trip to Mexico I had to sit apart from my sons and husband so, while he tended to them, I engaged in soul searching, meaningful conversation with the woman sitting next to me. She was from my tiny little valley and we’d known of each other but never met.
We connected so deeply on that flight and never saw each other again (she no longer lives here) but I have never forgotten her.
When I got off the plane I felt like I’d had a life-altering experience, my husband not so much🤣
That's amazing!! I love those random moments with strangers on airplanes. And knowing you, I bet she felt the same way ❤️
One time when I was leaving Jamaica I sat beside a Jamaican woman who had never left her country. She was going to live with family in Toronto and she was TERRIFIED of flying, so much that she had tears rolling down her cheeks. I held her hand in the beginning of the flight, kept her company the whole way, and then walked with her out to the arrival area and stayed with her until she found her family. Obviously never saw her again but I felt so good to be able to be her ambassador into Canada 🇨🇦 ☺️
Absolutely delightful. I don't know if I changed his life, but I know that he changed mine when he safely delivered me back to my apartment when I was convinced I would be murdered.
Hahaha Ida, I can totally relate to that! Before I drove my own cars in Jamaica I accepted rides from plenty of people. I'd always ask them, "Is this the part where you chop me up and throw my body parts in the ditch?" 😂😂