Backpacking: 25 facts in 50 days of travel

We are turning our 50th day on the road and our list of anecdotes only grows. Since this is what makes our trip unique, we decided to write them down so we don’t miss any details. On these 50 days we’ve already:

• Lost a cellphone in a theater and found it the next day. Intact.
• Lost a pair of gloves, an outlet adapter, and a portable drink heater. We almost lost the second one.
• Stayed in a luxury apartment. We shared bathrooms in a hostel.
• Celebrated a birthday in Times Square. And other, at home.
• A dog peed in our suitcases. And others jumped on our laps to say ‘hi’.
• We spent a whole night awake taking care of an anxious pet. We fell in love when he chose our lap to sleep.
• We got lost. Over and over again.
• We found out a subway station was close, a line blocked, and then we ran with our suitcases on the streets and upstairs.
• We didn’t use a subway because we couldn’t understand how to buy a ticket.
• We took the wrong subway and we stopped 50 streets away from where we wanted to go.
• We gave a rug— instead of a towel—for a guest to dry herself.
• We met people who were so intelligent and kind that we can hardly believe we did it.
• We are already bridesmaids and godmothers of the kids (it’s settled already) of a dear friend. She’s going to get married at the Plaza.
• We cried when someone criticized us.
• We cried in farewells. Of people and dogs.
• We laughed until our bellies hurt. Every day.
• We read fewer books and we watched fewer movies than we would like to.
• We got emotional with a musical on Broadway. We smiled at street musicians.
• We had to sit on our suitcases in order to close it. Then, we learned how to use the extension.
• We cooked enough to feed a little army (including Brazilian brigadeiro).
• We decided to go out to have dinner at 1am. In Times Square.
• We were happy for having the chance to sleep a whole morning.
• We felt like winners the days we could stay at home in pajamas.
• We walked more than five kilometers to buy chocolate (and ice-cream; and condensed milk).
• We didn’t have a roof where to look for shelter. And we found out what to do only two days before arriving at our destination.
• We thought we were the most blessed people in the world. And we still do.