The art of waiting, and waiting, and waiting
Making the most of enforced (and unenforced) wait times
No matter where we travel or what we do, I can guarantee that some of your time will be spent waiting. Whether it be waiting for a train, a plane, or just a damn good coffee it can have a significant impact on your time. Well maybe not so significant for a coffee, but when you have to check out of a hotel several hours before your next onward journey it can be a challenge to not waste your holiday time. Many people would be happy to just scroll on their phones through the vast number of social media apps or sink a few beverages at a nearby bar or cafe. In years past this might also have been me. But these days, I would rather use my time a little more constructively than on the apps.
I've spent many hours waiting, and waiting, and waiting. No matter what you are waiting for it can be boring and sometimes wasteful, especially if you're on a tight time schedule, a short weekend away or simply just looking to maximise your vacay time. While I don't mind going for a beverage or two I definitely can't do that for hours on end. If I can walk around and take in the sights without dragging luggage behind me I will definitely do plenty of that.
Getting lost in a city or small town is a great way to find unique and unusual places. Bookstores are hidden gems. Especially if they offer coffee or tea, have a resident dog or cat and sell not only new books but rare and antique books as well. I can spend a surprising amount of time in a small bookshop. Ditto record/music stores. Also beaches. Beaches are a great place to relax and pass some time. Swimming or not swimming. Beach days,for me, are the best days.
People watching is also a fascinating pasttime, not to mention eavesdropping. You don't have to be at a bar or cafe for this. Find an open-air market, sitting at the airport or a park, during a meal service or even on your hotel balcony. It's amazing what people say when they think no one is listening. People love the sound of their own voices and if they have their phone on speaker you just might be privvy to the entire conversation. Hotel balconies in the tropics are a perfect place for this kind of eavesdrop but I'm getting off track.
If you’re waiting for a train or at the airport you might not be able to go too far if you have all your luggage in tow. I had this problem in Mexico as there was no luggage storage anywhere and I spent hours sitting in bus stations or cafes waiting. During these spurts of time waiting at bus stations across Mexico I was able to plan my next few days in advance by booking buses and accommodation, none of which I had planned in advance, downloading maps and researching things to do, places to see in my next destination.
In Australia, we’re lucky that the majority of hotels will store your luggage after check out until you need to catch your flight or move on to your next destination. This frees you up to sightsee after check out, grab a few extra souvenirs or wander around without the added baggage, collecting it only when you're ready to go on your way.
However, my favourite go-to waiting game these days is a book. That is, besides writing these posts. I’ve always read books but I've started reading again in a big way and always have a book with me. Just. In. Case. I even read a chapter at the mechanics while I waited for them to fix a puncture in my tyre. Hence, no time wasted. I use the story graph app where I can keep track of the books I've read, set targets for the year and join challenges for different reading goals. I not only have a local library card for all the books I can't afford to buy, I also have an ongoing book exchange with some of my work friends. No sooner do I hand back books that I've borrowed than I find another on my desk. I've yet to stop at a street library, but if I keep buying used books while on holiday I will no doubt have to start offloading some once I've read them. Books and beaches work too. If you have to wait and there's a beach or a view of the ocean it's the perfect setting to wait out a couple of hours if necessary.
So what’s your favourite way to wait? Reading? Snacking? Drinking? Scrolling? Planning? Or a combination?
What I'm reading: I just finished The Dream Hotel. This will surely get you thinking. It definitely feels like it could happen.
