“We are travelers, you know, and can put up with any thing.” ~ Mr. Sword
Since we started planning for this trip we have met some brave and intrepid travelers who have followed their dreams and explored the world. However, it was not until this last weekend, when I read a journal of a couple that took off to see the world for their honeymoon, that I truly appreciated the timeless allure that travel can have.
Mary and John Sword left Philadelphia and spent 8 months traveling around the tip of South America by boat and exploring the world along the way. Their story is inspiring as she recounts the people they encounter and the amazing experiences which unfolded each day .
In this day and age, we are envious but rarely surprised to read about such a story. With the proliferation of blogs and travel sites today we are able to “ride along” with people as they head out on the road. What has me so entranced is that this particular adventure story was written in 1837 by the Great, Great, Great Aunt of our roommate.
We all know how hard it is today to break out of our “chosen” paths to explore the world and design a new lifestyle, but I cannot fathom how completely strange this would be over 170 years ago. In reading through the journal, beyond being utterly fascinated by the words, I discovered there are a number of lessons available to us all in these pages:
- Take things in stride. During their voyage the ship springs a leak hundreds of miles from land, yet her reaction seems so understated. “We have met with a misfortune which is likely to cause my seeing a little more of the world than I expected…We will be obliged to put in to Rio de Janeiro to have her repaired, and we may possibly be detained there a month.”
- Be patient. When you are on the road an extended time you need to realize you are not typically in control. “The wind is now dead ahead, and there is no saying when we may get there [Valparaiso] although we are not more than 250 miles distant.”
- The best way to see a city is by foot. Every day she highlights things she sees on her walks. “It was the most beautiful walk I ever took, through the most wild and romantic scenery I ever beheld.”
- Travel writing should include some flair. “Accident the first. Lost my green veil overboard. Had it tied on my beaver bonnet, never thought of pinning it fast, and had just got up the companionway when it took leave of me forever. I suppose some mermaid has appropriated it by this time, if it has not has the honour of falling into the hands of Amphitrite herself.”
- The world is very small. While on their trip they seem to run into family friends at every turn. Even in Rio, she cannot escape people that know her. “Mr. D says he knew my father and he enquired after all the Aertsens”
- Stay in touch with your family. Who needs Skype? “As we could not go out today, and had no visitors I took the opportunity of writing to my mother; there is a vessel going to Baltimore the end of the week.”
- Sometimes you cannot tell your family everything that happens or they will freak out. Know that sometimes you must break lesson #6. “My Dearest Mother, I have obtained permission to write you a few lines, to inform you of an event which I think will surprise you, as I had not given you any previous intimation of it. You are a Grandmother for the first time….You must forgive me dear Mother for not letting you know any thing of this beforehand; but I knew that you would be uneasy about me until you heard of my safety, and I wanted if possible, to save you from all anxiety on my account.”
- Know your surroundings. “Mr. Wright quite alarmed us on Saturday evening by telling us that there is danger of being attacked on the hill of Santa Theresa, by runaway slaves who secrete themselves on this mountain, and sometimes attack passengers; and rob or might even murder them.”
- Stay up to date with current events. Sometimes this is more difficult than you would expect. “On Saturday the news came of the death of the king of England…”. This was written on August 9th, 1837. King William IV died on June 20th of that year of pneumonia.
- Reflect upon each experience with fondness. “I bade adieu to Rio with some regret, for I had spent many happy hours there.” It is wonderful to see the fondness she is able to capture in a single sentence of prose.
This journal is a true inspiration to me and helps me appreciate what travelers that went before us have achieved. I have found new resolve in their words and stand here 173 years later ready to follow in their footsteps and call ourselves “travelers.”
Who do you look to for your inspiration in the next big adventure in your life?
About Warren
Warren what a fantastic post!
Remind Betsy to pin fast her favorite veil to her beaver bonnet on the voyage, if you end up pregnant on the trip….yeah it will be best to save that bit of news :), and remember when misfortune arises be grateful for the opportunity it presents (this is the patience piece for folks like you and me!)
I hope you continue to share more of the adventures of the Swords.
We will wait hopefully at the docks when the ships come into port from South America hoping for news from our traveler friends.
Hey Debb,
We are planning to use this journal not just as inspiration but are hoping to follow in their footsteps and explore the same sites that Mary writes about. We will of course share that story along the way, and we have more insights from the Swords that I think will be interesting.
Looking forward to seeing you waving us into port in Valparaiso!
What an awesome story! I imagine it took real courage to do something like that in the 19th century, when the world was a much more dangerous place.
Yet I suspect that stories like this were actually far more common in those days than they are now. Despite all the improvements in safety, health and technology over the last 173 years, people have become far more fearful of travel and the unknown.
Not that I’m waxing nostalgic for the days of deadly plagues and murderous slaves - but do you suppose people were a little more willing to accept a risk or two back then?
And re: #4 - how many “pieces of flair” are you planning to bring on your trip?
Marc,
You bring up a very interesting perspective and something that is sure to be the subject of an interesting discussion over wine this weekend.
I certainly agree that fear of travel today is quite high thanks to the media and our constant access to information. At the same time it is just so much easier these days to jump on a plane and get out of town for just a few days in another country. In 1837 any overseas trip required long-term travel just due to the transportation. I am looking forward to getting into the discussion with Betsy tomorrow night.
You brought a tear to my eye knowing we share a love (or at least can recognize an obscure reference) of Office Space. You have given me a new idea to fill my backpack up with the most inane and random flair I can find. My search begins…
Yes, give it away as you go! Do a blog post about it and have people send you stuff! It has to be light, preferably weightless and flat. Colorful is a plus.
The thing I love most about this story is that we discovered it through our friend (and roomie) Betsy Moore. She is quite the traveler herself, having grown up outside the US while her dad was with the State Department, and I love hearing stories about her family and their travels. It is like it is in their blood, part of their genetic makeup, and that amazes and inspires me. I’m so grateful to her for sharing this (and many other) stories of travel and adventure.
This post is made of win! I love Mary’s calm and understated (yet lovely) writing style.
Warren-great take-aways from Mary’s posts.
Having just returned from Italy I can say that you are both correct in your assessments! I never lost a veil to the sea goddesses, but Eric did leave his Bungie cap on a train. Alas! We did not write about it with such flair. Perhaps I will rectify that now:
“Accident the first. After years of brave and stylish sun-shielding service, Eric’s Bungie cap has taken leave of him forever, lying forlorn and abandoned on the lulling rocking of a regional train through verdant pastoral landscapes. I suppose some young scamp has appropriated it by this time, if it has not has the honour of falling into the hands of some descendant of Telemachus himself.”
Absolutely hysterical. I feel as though you truly captured the flair of a travel writer and cannot wait to read more about your adventures in Italy now. Maybe you should jump on a boat and sail to China. I would ready your journal in a heartbeat!
What an awesome post! My great great uncle was an artist and traveler (and we share a birthday, 99 years apart). He also lived not too far from me in NYC (in fact his apartment was right next door to one of my favorite restaurants). So we share a few things in common. He spent a lot of time in the Middle East, Tunisia, and Alaska painting and sculpting the locals. I think it would be amazing to follow in his footprints like you plan to do.
And I personally never travel without my beaver bonnet, so I would have been devastated to lose it overboard.
Michaela,
What a fascinating parallel you are living with your distant relative and I love how much it fits with who you are today. I cannot imagine how interesting it would have been to visit the Middle East in the 1800′s when it was so foreign to most Westerners at the time. Do you paint as well? If so, I will start freaking out a bit:)
I have one request…I would like to see a picture of you with this beaver bonnet in front of different NYC landmarks. It seems like a good #MeetPlanGo dare.
This is incredible! She is such a colorful writer- I love it!
I don’t think we can ever be as “out of touch” as one would be just a few decades ago on a trip around the world, with cell phones and the Internet so ubiquitous. The last time I remember the feeling of truly being “away” was on a two week vacation to the Mexican Yucatan in 1994. We had no cell phones and didn’t contact anyone while we were gone. On the plane home, we saw a newspaper that referred to Jackie O’s death several days before.
We’ve never had that feeling since, of really getting away from it all and being unconnected. I wonder how that will play out for you, and if there is anywhere you won’t be in cell phone or Internet range for more than a day or two.
It’s an interesting topic to consider for your trip and blog.
I wish that woman’s journal could be published! Thanks for sharing it.
p.s. The editor of Office Space is a friend of mine. No kidding!
That is one of our favorite movies ever and I have even watched it with my 92-year-old grandfather and he loved it. Anyone who has ever worked for a living and had a boss can relate to it.
And I worked at the inspiration for the “flair” bit- TGI Friday’s- I lasted about two weeks- because I didn’t have enough “personality!”
We all often forget how easy travel is today, despite thinking otherwise. This is truly incredible. I can only imagine how traveling was for this couple in the 19th century, but I love how you complied lessons you can put into place on your own travels from this woman’s words. Amazing story!
Take things in stride - great advice 173 years ago and even more so today. what an amazing document to have.