Comments on: 8 Ways to Deal with Loneliness on the Road http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/ The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:10:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Mike http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-4517 Mike Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:02:35 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/#comment-4517 Just leaving the northeastern U.S. for Ireland was culture shock, at least from the perspective of social interaction. It's almost impossible to be alone and <em>not</em> meet people there. Just leaving the northeastern U.S. for Ireland was culture shock, at least from the perspective of social interaction.

It’s almost impossible to be alone and not meet people there.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-4509 Amanda Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:29:53 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/#comment-4509 I agree with you both. My example would be in south-west Germany, where there are lovely people but it takes a long, long time to get to know them; but in Australia you can meet people and make friends just by standing next to them in a supermarket queue. I can't imagine traveling in Australia and feeling lonely for too long, really. I agree with you both. My example would be in south-west Germany, where there are lovely people but it takes a long, long time to get to know them; but in Australia you can meet people and make friends just by standing next to them in a supermarket queue. I can’t imagine traveling in Australia and feeling lonely for too long, really.

]]> By: Mike http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-4449 Mike Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:15:58 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/#comment-4449 That's a good point, Drew. Here in the States - particularly in the northeast - we're very much an insular people. I wrote <a href="/welcome-to-new-england-now-go-home/" rel="nofollow">an entire post</a> about it actually. If you tried to approach and chat up a total stranger, they'd probably call the cops! That’s a good point, Drew. Here in the States – particularly in the northeast – we’re very much an insular people. I wrote an entire post about it actually. If you tried to approach and chat up a total stranger, they’d probably call the cops!

]]> By: Drew http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/comment-page-1/#comment-4440 Drew Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:23:59 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/8-ways-to-deal-with-loneliness-on-the-road/#comment-4440 Loneliness while traveling really depends on the societies in given countries and how interactive they are. If it's a "warm culture" you'll never be lonely. A trip I took to Greece about 10 years ago was amazing - I met so many people without batting an eyelash. One thing which helped was to frequent a seaside restaurant not far from where I was staying. A waiter named Stratos became my buddy and treated me like family in the end, wouldn't even let me pay for my meal! Conversely, I've lived in Hungary for a total of about 13 years and while I love it this is a very closed society - people here would never just strike up a conversation on the street and if I do the reaction of the locals is often a quizzical stare or fear of something. Much of Central Europe seems to be the same way. Loneliness while traveling really depends on the societies in given countries and how interactive they are. If it’s a “warm culture” you’ll never be lonely.

A trip I took to Greece about 10 years ago was amazing – I met so many people without batting an eyelash. One thing which helped was to frequent a seaside restaurant not far from where I was staying. A waiter named Stratos became my buddy and treated me like family in the end, wouldn’t even let me pay for my meal!

Conversely, I’ve lived in Hungary for a total of about 13 years and while I love it this is a very closed society – people here would never just strike up a conversation on the street and if I do the reaction of the locals is often a quizzical stare or fear of something. Much of Central Europe seems to be the same way.

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