Today D.L.Hammond at Cruising Altitude 2.0 is hosting the Deja Vu Blogfest. The rule: Repost some good old stuff from your archives, as simple as that.
Originally posted in May 2010, this is probably my own favorite from my blog archive:
The old jew from Brooklyn
Last night I was reading some old travel diaries, from university days, when I was a physics student.
Once we stayed in a small youth hostel in Vienna. There were six beds in each room, and separate rooms for boys and girls. In my room I met a small and skinny man, with white hair and a big beard. He was an 85 year old jew from Brooklyn, older than the rest of us together. He had sold everything he owned, and wanted to spend his money traveling around the world until he died. I thought that was a cool thing to do, while waiting for life to fade out.
He would have been close to 110 years old now, if he was still alive. I wonder how far he got on his journey. I hope he made it all the way to the end >:)
I hope so, too! Oh the stories he would have to tell.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helen - he'd see some amazing things.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I love to wonder about those ships I've passed. Especially the ones that make me wonder why we were even on the same course.
ReplyDeleteI'll be back.
It certainly sounds like he was an intriguing person to run into.
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like an interesting person--I'll bet he would have had some stories to tell if he was still alive.
ReplyDeleteI agree - assuming I could schedule my death w/o the usual failing health/organs ahead of time. Hostels are a great place to meet people - we still stay at them w/ our kids whenever we travel.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing way to spend the end of your days. I've never heard anything like it. Most people opt for the safety of seclusion. What a spirit that guy had.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for joining the Blogfest!
Wow! What a great story! I really admire that 85 year old man.
ReplyDeleteCount me in as a new follower. Hope you can drop by my blog
Wow, you think of hostels as belonging to the young, the ones who are just starting out on their adventure.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to know that someone planned on ending his adventures in such a humble, down-to-earth way. I do hope he kept traveling for a long, long time, continuing his adventure.
Thanks for sharing! Happy Deja Vu!
That is someone I'd love to sit down and talk with. To listen to his stories and adventures. Such an interesting individual! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool re-post, for so many reasons. Makes me think of all the people I've had fleeting contact with when the paths of our lives intersected ... and whether I really would want to know what happened to a guy like the one you describe, or if I'd rather make up a story for him in my own head. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteYou keep diaries? How very good habit. You'll have a lot of materials to write now. As for the old gem in Vienna, imagine yourself in your 80, what would you like to do?
ReplyDeleteMy Darcy Vibrates…
Helen: I think he did >:)
ReplyDeleteAlex: He'd probably seen a lot already, and had more to come.
farawayeyes: It's quite interesting, who we happen to meet; some for just a moment, some them become friends and spouses. It all starts as a random encounter.
stu: He was an amazind person to meet, when I was just about 20 yo myself.
TGE: Yes, for sure.
Melody: Health issues is the uncertain factor here. Not everyboddy are able to travel when they get old. We still stay in them sometimes to, when we travel on vacation.
Lydia: You're right. The jew is one of the few old risk takers I've met. Most elderly people strive for a safe and quiet life.
Kristy: Thanks. I'll check out your blog too >:)
Dianne: Hostels are great for budget travelers, both students and other people who want to see the world without spending a fortune.
DL: I spent a night talking and drinking coffee with the old jew in the youth hostel. The next morning, he was gone when I woke up, and I never saw him again, unfortunately.
Sarah: I would loved to meet the old jew again, a couple fo years after our random encounter. Also, it would be fun to just make up the rest of his story, as a novel >:)
Enid: I don't keep regular diaries, only when I'm out traveling (and have time to write, and something new to write about every day). When I'm 80 yo, I will probably sit by the fire place, with a lap top, and write down my life experience before I die. That's my plan >:)
All: I was in the mountains skiing this weekend (as usual), without Internet connection. Therefore, I wasn't able to visit other deja vu bloggers. Will try to make a round trip and read some re-posts next week >:)
Brave old man, huh? What an adventurous way to round out a life.
ReplyDelete