Went to see the rather wonderful Henry Rollins spoken word show the other week, and was impressed anew by his attitude of just getting on with things. If his government advise him not to go somewhere, he has to do it. He also claims to think the world is just one Al Green song away from peace; if only it were true.
I also got a bit pissed off, remembering how much I used to just get up and go. 2 or 3 times a year, take a plane, then a bus or a boat and see where I ended up. OK, usually in Greece or Turkey or Europe, but alone and curious. Eventually, there is only so much sexual abuse a girl can take, so I stopped. In spite of my belief that if I listened to everyone who said it wasn't safe then I would never go anywhere; if more people did it, it might get safer, right? And now I am probably too old, wobbly and complacent. It's all very well getting middle aged and becoming invisible as a woman, I will still never be able to travel as freely as the Henry Rollins of the World, purely because I am still a member of the weaker sex (in so many ways, in so many lands). Does this mean I won't be able to travel any more, just be a tourist? I am so envious of men I know, who can take off around India for example. I bet I couldn't even travel across USofA without getting into trouble. My itchy feet have become roots and trapped me firmly in Europe now; age brings vulnerability in a purely physical sense. Through all my youthful trips; blood poisoning, food poisoning, assaults and adventures, I never felt actually endangered. Or am I misremembering? Gilding the memories with the patina of time? I miss the feeling of being lost, the certain knowledge that no one knows exactly where I am. Pre mobile phones, laptops and GPS, that was freedom of a sort. What am I trying to say? That there will never be equality when it comes to travel and adventure? Or that I have lost my curiosity of the World? Bit of both I am afraid. Everyone wants to go where no one else has been, but they want 4 star comfort when they get there. I just want to be invisible.
Hal Hartley said, in 'Simple Men' - 'There is no such thing as Adventure and Romance; there's only trouble and desire... and when you desire something you get in trouble but when you're in trouble, you don't desire anything at all"
I also got a bit pissed off, remembering how much I used to just get up and go. 2 or 3 times a year, take a plane, then a bus or a boat and see where I ended up. OK, usually in Greece or Turkey or Europe, but alone and curious. Eventually, there is only so much sexual abuse a girl can take, so I stopped. In spite of my belief that if I listened to everyone who said it wasn't safe then I would never go anywhere; if more people did it, it might get safer, right? And now I am probably too old, wobbly and complacent. It's all very well getting middle aged and becoming invisible as a woman, I will still never be able to travel as freely as the Henry Rollins of the World, purely because I am still a member of the weaker sex (in so many ways, in so many lands). Does this mean I won't be able to travel any more, just be a tourist? I am so envious of men I know, who can take off around India for example. I bet I couldn't even travel across USofA without getting into trouble. My itchy feet have become roots and trapped me firmly in Europe now; age brings vulnerability in a purely physical sense. Through all my youthful trips; blood poisoning, food poisoning, assaults and adventures, I never felt actually endangered. Or am I misremembering? Gilding the memories with the patina of time? I miss the feeling of being lost, the certain knowledge that no one knows exactly where I am. Pre mobile phones, laptops and GPS, that was freedom of a sort. What am I trying to say? That there will never be equality when it comes to travel and adventure? Or that I have lost my curiosity of the World? Bit of both I am afraid. Everyone wants to go where no one else has been, but they want 4 star comfort when they get there. I just want to be invisible.
Hal Hartley said, in 'Simple Men' - 'There is no such thing as Adventure and Romance; there's only trouble and desire... and when you desire something you get in trouble but when you're in trouble, you don't desire anything at all"
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