Traveler Tuesday – Peter of Where Is Your Toothbrush?
Are you tired of traveling couples? Not me! I think it is amazing when two people share a passion for something and can do it together. That's what Peter (and Lindsay) of Where Is Your Toothbrush? did for an entire year and when they settled down into the Portland area (I love Portland!) they still get out and travel as much as possible believing that home is where you put your toothbrush!
Let’s meet Peter!
[1] When and how did you become a traveler?
I was in my diapers, in the 1980's, in the Slovak part of what was then the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. On weekends my parents would take me and later my sister to Hungary on day trips to an outdoor swimming pool in one of the nearby towns. There were strict rules as to how much currency one could take over the border. Because Hungarian stores were better stocked than the ones in Slovakia, my parents always carried more than was allowed. They made sure I fell asleep at the back of the car before we reached the border, and hid the extra money in my diapers.
One time I woke up when the border guards were inspecting the car. One of the uniformed men asked me if my parents put anything in my clothes, money maybe, in my diapers maybe? I said no. He kept asking and asking and I kept saying no, until I stomped my feet and yelled, “If I told you there is no money in my diapers, then that's that!” He let us through without further trouble. After the border, I fell asleep again, and my parents removed the cash out of my diaper.
I don't recall any of this, but it's one of my parents' favorite stories from my childhood. The point is, I was a traveler before I can even remember.
[2] What is travel to you in 10 words or less?
Freedom to be who I am anywhere in the world.
[3] What is your favorite mode of transportation and why?
I love to walk. Whether I'm in a city or out in nature, walking is the best way to get to know a place. For long distances I love the train. My father worked for the railway, so I grew up riding the train, first to my grandparents', later to college, and then around Europe. I have yet to take the train in the U.S., even though I've lived here for 11 years.
[4] What do you typically do while traveling by plane?
One of the first things that happens: I fall asleep (like an old man, my wife says). After I come to, I watch a movie or two, read, have a glass of wine, snooze again… Flying is a bit of a drag.
[5] What is your favorite travel memory involving food?
On Santorini, Greece, my wife Lindsay and I stayed for a month at Caveland Hostel, in the middle of the island. On one of our first days there I jogged down to Karterados and Monolithos Beaches, on the caldera's eastern shore, and popped in to Armenistis Restaurant to ask if they’d be open for dinner, since Panos Taverna just down the hill was closing for the season that day. A woman sweeping the floor, who turned out to be the proprietor, said yes and that they would also have live music beginning at 10 p.m.
Not accustomed to late dining, we walked armed with flashlights 45 minutes down a dark valley and along a star-lit beach to have, at 10 pm, the best meat dinner we’d have on the island, to the tune of otherworldly rebetiko music (‘Greek blues’) played by a 5-piece bouzouki band, whose male players alternated with a woman chanteuse to sing their heart out while local men took turns on the dance floor in between meals and cigarettes. This was our moment, the there and then that would feel spoiled had we pulled our cameras out. As we were leaving, after 1 am, the restaurant owner gave us a hug.
[6] What is one blogging tip or lesson that you have learned along the way that you can share with my readers?
It's your blog. Create a blog you want to create, not necessarily one that others want you to. In other words, forget about pageviews and sponsoring and all that, just make something you can be proud of.
Thanks Peter!
You can keep up with Peter on Twitter, Facebook and of course on their blog. Wherever you catch them, I am sure you will enjoy their adventures!
How about you? What would you like to know about Peter?
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I just love and look forward to your travel blogger features, Andi. You ask questions that tell us really meaningful things about each writer and what makes him/her/them tick and smile! In this piece, I felt like I was walking to that Greek restaurant, with flashlight in hand, right along side Peter and his wife. And the diaper smuggling story…!
Thanks, Ruth. Oh those precious travel moments, you can’t make that stuff up sometimes.
I love that he and his wife travel together! I hope when my hubby and I are done having kids and they’re a little older we can take big, long trips together!
You don’t have to wait, Shannon. We know of and met many couples who travel with their kids.
Sounds like great fun! I admire couples who can do such things. My husband and I are equal in our homebody tendencies, so we love our home and stick close to it. But such travel stories do stir up a bit of wanderlust in my bones. Someday… maybe.
Thanks, Lisa. After we returned from the big trip, we try to live like travelers at home. You don’t have to go far to travel. It’s a mindset!
What a blast! I’d like to travel with them and I’m going to follow their blog. Win-Win.
Thanks, Cheryl. We aren’t taking co-traveler applications at this time 🙂 The doors of our blog are wide open, though, welcome!
I would love to travel more. I like the story of the cash in Peter’s diaper 🙂 Going to check out more stories on their blog!
Please to, Lauren (travel more and check out our blog). Let us know what you think.
I’m envious of couples who can travel extensively — more power to them!
Thank you, Helene. Power to you and your future travels!
What wonderful adventures – all the more precious because this couple shares so many great moments!
Thanks, Sheryl. We love our little blog and are grateful if others like it too.
That is the BEST “when I started traveling” story I’ve ever heard. And the story from Greece? Those are the moments that make any hardships experienced during travel completely worth it!
Absolutely, Katie.
Thank you for the opportunity, Andi. Just to be sure, the baby in the picture isn’t me. Not only was I much less cuter, my parents couldn’t afford color film…
Walking is my fave thing to do when traveling, too. We get to see so much!
That is a fact, Carol. You literally experience the place with your feet.
Love this post. I agree with favourite mode of transport is to walk. I feel that by walking you get to immerse yourself more greatly in the culture.
Rosie x
That is so true, Rosie. Walking, you get to experience the place immediately and with all your senses. Nothing like it.
That sounds just like my husband, who also falls asleep as soon as he gets on the plane!
Some people are just lucky that way…
Well spoken and adamant for a baby in diapers! Haha! That’s a funny anecdote! Nice to meet Peter and hear his stories!
Thanks, Christina, likewise!
jacob’s cousin lives in portland so we try to go there often. that’s too funny that money was being smuggled through diapers. Smart! 🙂
Holler if you’re in town, Local Adventurer. We enjoy hanging out with out-of-towners / fellow travelers.
It always amazes me to know some travelers actually stay somewhere for a whole month. I’d get bored pretty fast after 1 week.
I hear you, Mai. But you get to experience a place on a deeper level in a month than in a week. Try it sometimes, I recommend it.
What a lucky couple! My hubby is not much of a traveler but will go when I push him. I couldn’t imagine staying someplace for longer than two weeks though. What an awesome pair they are. Thanks for sharing their story!
Thanks, Carolann. The harder you work, the luckier you get 🙂
This sounds like so much fun! I love traveling but I can’t afford to do it often. I’m so envious!
Hang in there, Devin. You can do it!
such a wonderful recreation for couples!:)
Thanks, Ayesha. Making travel happen is actually hard work, not to mention the fact that traveling isn’t always relaxing. We call it life 😉
I love that diaper story and the meal in Santorini makes me want to head back to Greece stat.
See you there, Brianna.
Santorini sounds wonderful.
It is, Jen, it is.
i love to travel traveling sounds like so much fun sounds like fun great post
Thanks, Krystel. Traveling can be fun, that’s for sure.
I would love to be able to do this someday 😀
You can, Patricia. Let us know if we can help in any way.
This is so neat! I would like to travel one day! My husband not so much! I think it’s so great they are traveling together- what an experience!