Tips for hitchhikers

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

In the summer, you definitely need to travel. And if you don't have a lot of funds, but a lot of craving for adventure, then hitchhiking is what you need. However, you need to know a few rules to help you on the road. We'll talk about them, and at the end we'll tell you about the very interesting Hitchhiker's Guide to Havana competition.

1. Cleanliness comes first

You must be washed, shaved and dressed clean. No traces of blood (this is not a joke, everything happens on the road) and sweat. The lack of a beard allows the driver to see your face better. It seems that the drivers will be more happy to put into the car a person who looks like a student heading to the place of study, than a person who looks like the lead singer of the group ZZ Top.

2. Take off your dark glasses

Whether they are cheap or very expensive, it doesn't matter, you still need to take them off. The driver must see your eyes.

3. Maintain good neighborly relations

This advice is not for long-distance travel, but in case you need to get somewhere in the city. By maintaining good relationships with your neighbors, you can sometimes ask them to drive you to the right place.

4. One traveler - one bag

Lighten your luggage as much as possible. Ideally, this should be one not-too-large backpack with the essentials. Of course, you can carry with you anything that “may be useful”, but it’s better if you can put the luggage on your lap in the car, and you don’t have to strain the driver to open the trunk or clear the back seat of his things.

5. Get creative

What tricks people do not go to get hooked. Demonstration of female legs is already from the category of banal (and you need to be careful with this). Some are chasing a car or performing some acrobatic stunts. You know how you can stand out - use it.

6. Choose the right place

If you need to start your journey from a big city, then get there by public transport or walk to the countryside (20-30 kilometers from the city). There you will already catch a car that follows a long distance. In addition, it is foolish to assume that the driver will stop and pick you up in the hustle and bustle of city traffic.

Learn the laws of hitchhiking in the city you are in. For example, it is illegal to hitchhike on highways in New Zealand.

7. Make a nameplate with the name of the destination

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Here it is impossible to say unequivocally whether it will help you or not. On the one hand, there is a chance to catch a car that goes straight to the destination, and on the other hand, those who are not traveling so far will not stop.

If you are traveling in a foreign-speaking country and do not know the language, then on the plate you can write in the local language (a dictionary will help you): “I can speak (list the languages)”. The driver may want to have a travel companion who can keep the conversation going, rather than just greetings and goodbyes.

8. Choose the right time of day

During rush hours (in the morning from 7 to 9, in the evening from 4 to 6), you will remain standing on the track, despite the fact that dozens of cars pass by you. A driver who would love to give you a lift during the day will not want to do this in the morning when he is taking his child to school. Office workers in the evening only think about how to get home faster, they also do not need fellow travelers.

9. Often a traveler is helped by a pitiful look

A traveler can be lucky if he looks miserable: rain, an empty country road and he, so unhappy and alone in this unfair world, is standing in one T-shirt and shorts while the street is almost 0º. Such a traveler will also be fed on the way.

10. You are not exceptional

You should never think that you have a special exclusive right to travel. Of course, it is very unpleasant and tiring to stand in the rain or in the heat, watching car after car pass you. The thoughts begin: “Why didn't this car take me? After all, it was completely empty …”, the person loses hope, stops smiling at the drivers and only lazily raises his finger up, and even then only in front of every fifth car. Remember that strangers do you the honor of getting you into their car and say no to dull thoughts.

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And now the promised story about the competition. Enthusiasts from Havana Club Russia decided to show and prove to everyone that you can hitchhike anywhere, even to Havana - the homeland of the legendary Havana Club rum and an island where anything is possible. From a huge number of those wishing to participate in the project, six daredevils were selected, who went from Moscow to Havana. They take photos and videos of the entire trip, and write reports. From time to time they have the opportunity to earn some money by completing original assignments about the organizers. You can watch videos, photos and reports of travelers, as well as learn a lot of interesting things about hitchhiking travel firsthand, in the official group of Havana Club Russia.

Perhaps the experience of the guys will inspire you to travel. After all, the whole summer is still ahead!

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