How exploring the world enables us to meet like-minded travels—and lifelong friends
June Calender, 5-time traveler, Hyannis, Massachusetts
I used OAT's Roommate Matching Service for my trip to Turkey, as I have done for all of my trips. I like to use this special service because I enjoy meeting adventurous people. It doesn’t worry me at all because I enjoy traveling alone. I grew up on a farm and was not near friends to play with, so I learned to be comfortable on my own. When I went to college, I learned that most people I met were pretty likable.
As always, my group on my Turkey’s Magical Hideaways trip was a diverse bunch of people—and most of us were eager for the “adventure” part of the trip. After a couple of days of getting to know one another—which is so easy to do in a small group—I found myself often talking to one of my fellow group members, 8-time traveler, Marcy W., who was traveling with her male companion. Marcy and I first connected because we compared our travel backgrounds and realized we had been to several of the same places and had similar tastes: She was a high school art teacher, and I am a writer with an interest in art.
June and her fellow traveler, Marcy, pause to take in panoramic views of Chimera, on Turkey's Turquoise Coast.
Although Marcy and I had many exciting adventures together during our Turkey trip, there is one experience in particular that I’ll never forget. One day, Marcy, her companion, and I decided to visit a hammam—or Turkish bath—in Anatolia during some free time.
It was just as Oriental—and just as steamy and cleanly tiled—as I’d read about. But now, it was also unisex (which was a big change from what I’d thought). The attendant who scrubbed our bodies and gave us massages was a man, and he was wearing the same kind of tiny linen towel we were all given! Marcy and I shared a private room—and her presence gave me such comfort during an incredibly new and foreign experience for me.
June enjoys the view from the top of the natural rock castle in Uçhisar, Turkey.
Although our visit to the hammam was one of my favorite memories from Turkey, there were many other aspects of the trip that were just as wonderful—from the delicious food to Cappadocia’s unique rock formations to our amazing days and evenings on our gulet with its spectacular crew. But more than that, and as with every OAT trip I’ve experienced, it’s the people I meet along the way, and the bonds I’m able to form with them that truly create the memories I’ll always carry with me.
June’s group enjoys an evening of dancing aboard their gulet.
Marcy and I kept in touch upon returning from Turkey—and we even attempted to plan various trips to visit one another. After many years of our schedules not meshing at all, I found myself scheduled to travel to Marcy’s hometown in the southwest. She invited me to stay with her and took me to several art museums, as well as an interesting revitalized neighborhood to help me do research for a special project I was working on.
Since my very first trip traveling solo, I have done many things “alone” and always found that I was adaptable and that most people are easy to get along with. I think that meeting people like Marcy, who share interests so similar to my own (like my curiosity and adventurism), allows deeper connections to form easily. Some of these friendships come and go, but sometimes you meet people that leave lasting impressions on your life. And because of this, I’ve met some truly wonderful women.
Experience Cappadocia’s unique rock formations and friendly locals on our Turkey’s Magical Hideaways adventure.