Following a hobby abroad

Australian War Memorial in Canberra

Besides travel, my other passion is genealogy and family history. I have made various trips to places where my ancestors lived and hope to do more of these journeys.

I belong to a number of genealogy and family history groups. Some are face to face groups and others consist mainly of people who only know of each other from the printed word or online contacts.

In Toowoomba Clare invited me to visit local family history society.

On a recent trip to Australia I was able to meet for the first time several people from one of my family history groups. Not only did we share ideas about our common interest, but it was enjoyable spending time with them and getting to know them. In Canberra, the national capital, I met Barbara who took me to the Australian War Memorial museum.

Roll of Honour commemorates armed forces members who died due to war service.

I also learned from my new friends about some of their local places I would not likely have discovered otherwise. In Queensland Clare and Paul showed me the historic, rural Spring Bluff railway station.

Queensland's Historic Spring Bluff Railway Station

Living with the locals

No expensive hotel room needed

In Spain in early 2013 I lived for a month in the home of Lola and her teenaged son in the lovely southern city of Benalmadena where I took 2 weeks of Spanish classes. With Lola's minimal English, my beginner's Spanish and occasional use of a dictionary or phrasebook, we communicated well enough to develop a bond of friendship. When I took an unexpected trip to the colder north of Spain, Lola loaned me two sweaters and, as she dropped me at the bus pick up point, asked me to let her know when I reached my destination since I was now like family. Three weeks later I returned to Lola's home to experience the pageantry of Semana Santa. 

My week in Lisbon was spent in the home of Kenia and her amusing daschund Donna. Kenia gave me many ideas on exploring her city and one day showed me her favourite spots. Recently in Australia I stayed in 4 different homes in 3 cities. In Adelaide I was a 2 minute walk from the beach, in Brisbane I stayed in two different suburbs, both with good access to the urban rail system, and in Canberra I had a lovely view of the surrounding hills and trees. 

View from house where I stayed in Canberra

I have also stayed in homes in London, England and Toronto. My hosts have loaned me books, invited me out for Australia Day, driven me to get a meal when I arrived late, and given me many tips on enjoying their local area. From them I've learned a little about their life styles and the issues that concern them.

Cosy room in Brisbane

As a solo traveller I want to meet other people, especially local people. Since I also want to spend several months away on a modest retirement budget, I need to find inexpensive accommodation. Both these requirements have been met by staying with people in their homes. 

Most of my travel accommodations in the past year were arranged through the airbnb website https://www.airbnb.com/ which has worldwide listings for accommodation in homes. Airbnb also offers the opportunity for you to advertise your spare room for visitors and provides a means for hosts and guests to evaluate each other to give future participants an idea of what to expect. I plan to continue staying with the locals wherever and whenever I can.

Being a temporary local

This entry is written from Canmore, Alberta where I am house sitting for a friend. Travel writer Rick Steves describes travel as intensified living. He recommends enjoying the differences we find and trying to become temporary locals, ideas consistent with my approach to travel. One way I have found to live like a temporary local is house sitting. 

House sitting in Canmore, Alberta

From mid November 2012 to mid January 2013 I did a house sit with a small dog in Lethbridge, Alberta, where I had previously lived. A 6-week house and dog sit over the 2013 Christmas season in Toowoomba, Queensland was the starting point of a 2 ½ month trip to Australia, one of my favourite destinations. 

Windmills at Toowoomba's Cobb & Co museum

One house sit allowed me to reconnect with once familiar people and places and the other to make new acquaintances. Both of these sits were arranged through the agency House Carers.  http://www.housecarers.com/ 

Sculpture at Galt Museum in Lethbridge with view of rail bridge.

Reference

Rick Steves' Spain 2013, p. 37-38.