We recently announced our third annual Travel Story Contest and asked to hear your most memorable travel stories. As usual, we received a slew of wonderful and worthy submissions. From all of us here at Tablet, thank you to everyone who took the time to write their stories and send them to us. The winner of this year’s contest is Alexandros Yannis, whose story earned him $300 to use on Tablet, a lifetime Tablet Plus membership, and a memorable place in Tablet history. We hope you enjoy!
Left Alone in a Hotel Room
by Alexandros Yannis
I am still shocked. By the way you decided to end it all.
In a hotel room. At the end of one of the most beautiful trips ever together. We both love hiking, trekking, mountains, peaks. We had just finished the Salkantay trail. The alternative way to Machu Picchu. I saw you crying at the 4,600-meter-high Salkantay Pass, both from excitement and fatigue.
I am still shocked. By the way you decided to end it all.
The morning of our return home. At the end of a perfect trip. The Andes are your favourite mountains. You looked so happy. The night before in Plaza de Armas in Cuzco you even drank two pisco sours even though you are afraid of them since that time in Putre when you were knocked out by one of them.
I am still shocked. By the way you ended it all.
The last day of our trip when as usual you are dreaming about our next one. You talked about Mount Fitz Roy. Patagonia. The place you fell in love with and have wanted to return to since our first visit there. You even shamefacedly said once that you would consider settling down in Patagonia.
I am still shocked. By the way you ended it all.
We met while travelling. At an airport. Nothing more romantic that that for natural-born travellers. Our relationship grew stronger on the road. I always thought that you fell in love with the tattoo on the back of my neck, the word ‘travel’ engraved on my skin.
I am still shocked. By the way you ended it all.
I am modern. You know that. So I didn’t really expect that it would last forever. Nothing lasts forever in our times. But I expected some explanation. Some words. A goodbye. A kiss. A thank you. Everything is expendable in our times, but still manners do matter. Friends with benefits, but friends don’t just drop each other like this.
I am still shocked. By the way you ended it all.
Memories carry weight. Deepen feelings. Braving a snow storm while hiking outside of Ushuaia, the end of the world as you called it. Your agony, feeling powerless to rescue a guanaco caught in the fences in Torres del Paine, the cruelty of life as you called it. Your hat being blown away, never to be seen again, by a freak whirlwind on our Aconcagua trek.
I am still shocked. By the way you ended it all.
I am hurt by your sheer arrogance. The utter disrespect for the other. Everything has a soul. The world and everything on it; humans, animals, plants, stones, water, fire and everything on earth. You have conquered mountains, so you know the brilliance of nature, the fragility of life and the humility that travelling inspires.
I am still shocked. By the way you ended it all.
I expected more from you, exactly because you have travelled. I thought you understood the world better, exactly because you have travelled. I believed you had learnt to respect diversity, exactly because you have travelled. I believed you were different, exactly because you have travelled.
I am still shocked. By the way you ended it all.
Left alone in a hotel room. Never to see you again.
Always yours,
Your toothbrush
On my gosh! I loved this story!
That was brilliant, Alexandros!
So poignant and hurtful.
Of course there are always at least two sides to every story
Great story!!
Can’t stop laughing. Thought “it” was a heartless soul. What a surprising ending. Loved it!
I was shocked. By this witty story. Fantastic.
I was welling up and up. Then you dashed my moment of wallowing. It left me embarrassed and unfulfilled.
Oh. Wow.
I am shocked by how you ended the story. I definitely did not see that coming. I assumed you had been ghosted by a lover/partner. Silly me
hillarious! loved it.
Thank you for your story, you made me smile today.
I too thought how awful to leave someone in a hotel on vacation. It was funny to find out that his tooth brush felt the abandonment. I had to chuckle when I read the end.
Good story. I would have voted two thumbs up.
How wonderful!!! Thank-you for sharing. Now I’ll just double check that I brought mine home last week.
I am surprised that THIS was the best story.
OMG — what a dreadful waste of time & read, most ridiculous story, wish i had my 3 minutes back, good luck toothbrush — only wish it ended sooner!
Unexpected ending!
Suspenseful, funny and an unexpected ending.
Hah!! Thanks for the suspense. And a not sad read over the holidays
Ah, I love it!! Thank you!
Fantastic.
Because a toothbrush tends to be monogamous and mate for life, I feel that it may never find another traveling companion. Such is the cruelty of life….
Terrific short story!
Amazing play on words! I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
Congratulations, Alexandros! Well done!
She must’ve gave great head.
Briiliant I loved it and thought it a worthy winner very original
I really didn’t like the implication that she killed herself. Was this really the best story? I think this must have been a case of nepotism.
I can understand the sarcasm of this story and the witty ending, but I doubt it was the best one.
It was so much said that I was beginning to feel that this was not a human being. But it was beautifully written.