River Cruising Series - Familiar Faces

One aspect of a vacation that we simply can't plan for are the relationships we may form along the way. Sailing on a river cruise brings you closer to the hundred or so passengers that you share your experience with, rather than the thousands you would encounter on a larger vessel.

I had anticipated that my sister and I would keep to ourselves, as I am often a fan of anonymity during my down time. This was a chance for us to have our own adventure and spend quality time together, so making friends was not on the itinerary.

However, I love people. I especially love being around older people, which most of this cruise was made up of. There's a special interaction that we have with others who have really seen things in life and had an opportunity to know who they are, appreciate every day a bit more and have perspective if things go awry.

I was also fascinated that we could all come from such different places in the world, yet find so many commonalities. Everyone shared where they were from and inquired about us as well with genuine interest. There was a lightness about our new friends and we ended up joyfully interacting with many members of the crew and passengers.

My sister and I did stand out a bit as I was hobbling around with my medical boot. The care and humor that our fellow passengers shared regarding my situation only endeared them to us even more!

The group tours were also so much more fun than I had expected them to be, thanks to the interactions of our fellow travelers. Looking at this group from afar, you might think we're just trudging along behind a guide, doing our own thing. However, when we were amidst the crowd, we laughed, shared moments of awe and even moments of frustration...whatever the situation was, we were experiencing it together.

We also created opportunities to have our own sister-bonding time, as well. That was the beauty of renting a car and going off on some of our own adventures. We would return in the evening and swap stories about the things we saw with our new friends over dinner, and then head outside to enjoy the view or go to our cabin to watch Downtown Abbey. (Thank you, sister, for sharing that great show with me!)

Wherever your travels bring you, I hope you have unexpected moments of connection with those you meet along the way. If you want a supportive companion to come along with you, please look into my on-site travel services and hopefully there is a plan will work for you! Let's go make some new friends!

Pictures of some of the lovely people and experiences we enjoyed on our sister trip!