The goodbyes and the short friendships of vagabonding

When we travel we face the phenomenon of short friendships and frequent goodbyes.  That particular feeling of connecting with others and then leaving it all behind over and over again. 

It becomes so normal moving from one place to another that it feels as though one is getting emotionless. Tears don’t come out and when they say "We're going to miss you", we halfheartedly answer "me too." 

The excitement of going to new places and the uncertainty of not knowing what we'll find on the road leaves no room for nostalgia. We can’t be sad.

"I'll come back," we say sincerely. "Whenever you come by (my city / country) let me know and you stay at my house" we offer to them as a sample of our deep gratitude because although the encounter was short, it was also very significant. 

Those are the last minutes that we have to look them at their eyes, to appreciate their presence and feel the warmth of their being. It's time to tell them how fortunate we feel for meeting them, to apologize if they felt offended at some point, and to remind them how great they are ... "Thank you !!!" We conclude. 

Then, when we think it is all over... "The photo, the photo!" We exclaim, realizing our forgetfulness. It is the last moment that we capture and that we naively take with us hoping to last forever because the experience has taught us that the rest will change. 

Every step that we take thereafter physically distances us from the people and places that mean so much to us. There were many moments lived and lessons learnt. 

Good Bye. 

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December 9th 2016, Naples, Italy

Originally published in Spanish here 

Photo: With a friend in Roskilde, Denmark.