A Good Travel Companion
; "Maria am Gestade at night")
- is an early riser and late sleeper, but doesn't mind sleeping in now and then.
- loves to explore, but isn't adverse to relaxing at a sidewalk cafe.
- prefers not to rush, but can rush when needed.
- knows what he or she wants.
- can compromise.
- can stand in awe for a moment before taking a photo.
- can sometimes just stand in awe.
- is curious, patient and trustworthy.
- is willing to try the local cuisine.
- can appreciate the architecture and landscape.
- can set aside an hour for napping when the other isn't feeling well.
- knows how to plan, but doesn't panic when the plan goes awry.
- doesn't mind getting lost.
- can think on his or her feet.
- has common sense and a sense of humor.
Certainly, it's an incomplete list, probably missing some crucial qualities, but it's a start. Sometimes, being a good travel companion is difficult. Sometimes, being one is the easiest thing in the world. Traveling, by its nature, is fun with a high potential for stress. There are places to be and things to see on a tight budget of time and money. The stress only increases when traveling with the wrong person.
During our first night in Vienna, my travel companion and I went on a dining expedition down Wipplingerstrasse, a street we would walk many times during our stay. Intent on finding restaurant signs and menus in windows, my eyes were blind to the streets and alleys we passed along the way. Four or five blocks into our journey, she stopped me and pointed down a narrow street off to our left. Tucked behind a row of buildings stood Maria am Gestade, the beautifully lit church in the photo. It was one of many occasions where, if not for her, such a sight would have gone unseen. A good companion spots what the other overlooks.
Through the bad times, they can make everything more tolerable. During the good times, they can make the experience that much better. If any the listed traits make someone a good travel companion, then mine was a good one indeed.
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listomania , travel buggy2 Comments
Your list could be just as reasonably titled, "A Good Life Partner," or "A Healthy Human Being." I do like it . . . even if people in possession of all those traits are rare.
I think I'd want to tack on "is comfortable with silence." When you're with someone in a strange land, and for an extended period of time, it's nice if they recognize that constant conversation is not always necessary.
(I think you were lucky, though.)
"Comfortable with silence" is a nice addition. Some of my most enjoyable experiences were when we took in the scenery together and didn't feel the need to speak. I agree, the list could be applicable to more than just traveling. If nothing else, it's a note to myself of how to be a good companion to someone else.