Cheers to Happy Travels

Summary

Anne Bonfert reminisces about her collection of shot glasses from various countries, reflecting on the memories associated with them and the practicality of maintaining such collections while living a nomadic lifestyle.

Abstract

Anne Bonfert, a traveler who moved every six months, once collected shot glasses from different places as souvenirs. She accumulated a significant number from four continents and numerous countries. Although she no longer adds to this collection due to the impracticality of carrying them around the world, the glasses hold sentimental value. Stored at her parents' home, they are more than mere decorations; they are used during gatherings, symbolizing the different countries her friends have drunk from. Currently residing in northern Germany, she has selected five glasses from her collection to enjoy liqueurs with friends, each representing a different destination: Mallorca, South Africa, Tenerife, Florida, and Dubai. This reflection is a response to Sandi Parsons' writing prompt challenge on "Collections" for October.

Opinions

The author values the sentimental aspect of her shot glass collection, as they represent memories from her travels.
She acknowledges the impracticality of continuing to collect items like shot glasses when frequently moving across the world.
The collection is not just for display but is actively used during social gatherings, enhancing the experience by adding an international touch.
The author seems to have a fondness for travel, as indicated by her road trip in South Africa and her visit to the States, despite its brevity.
There is a sense of humor in her description of Mallorca as "the 17th state of Germany," hinting at a shared cultural observation.
The mention of Dubai as a "cheater" in the list suggests a personal criterion for what constitutes a meaningful addition to her collection, implying that merely passing through an airport doesn't count.
She encourages readers to engage with her work by joining her email list or becoming a Medium member, indicating a desire to build a community of readers and potentially a source of income through commissions.

Friends drink together. Around the world.

It’s one of my collections I stopped once I started to move every six months across the world. It wasn’t sustainable or practical to buy another shot glass from every country or even every city I traveled to.

But it’s what I did in my teens. And I accumulated quite a selection of shot glasses over the years. Souvenirs from four different continents and countless countries.

I still have the collection of estimated 30 glasses stored at my parents' place. And those shot glasses aren’t just decoration. At birthday parties in my younger years, each and every friend of mine would drink out of a glass from a different country.

And even today, I still use them. Maybe not all of them, but when we moved to northern Germany for the season in early April, I packed five of these glasses. That’s the ones we’ve used in the last few months drinking a variety of self-made or store-bought liqueurs.

These are the five trusty souls from left to right:

Mallorca — a Spanish island also known as the 17th state of Germany due to their preference for vacationing across the island and taking over the land.

South Africa — the southernmost country on the African continent. I’ve done a road trip once from Johannesburg to Cape Town and visited the latter a second time a few years later again.

Tenerife — is the largest one of the Spanish Canary Islands. They are located off the west coast of Africa and are known for good weather and strong winds.

Florida — Yes, it’s true. I have been to the States for a total of six days. Flying across the ocean was never more meaningful than to surprise my aunt for her 60th birthday.

Dubai — this country located on the Persian gulf is a little bit of a cheater in this list since I only flew in and out of the airport. But back then it was the most exotic place I ever put a foot down.

This is a writing prompt response to the October challenge inspired by Sandi Parsons: “Collections: October Prompt”

WRITING PROMPT RESPONSE

Cheers to Happy Travels

October Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collections”

Friends drink together. Around the world.

More prompt responses:

Connected and Remembered

October Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collections”

Throw Away the Key to Seal the Love

October Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collections”