81 years old, traveled around the world in 80 days

Ellie Hamby and Sandy Hazelip (right) pose for a photo in Bali, Indonesia. Photo: Facebook/Around the World at 80

Two elderly women from Texas, USA, had the idea of ​​"going around the world in 80 days at the age of 80" in 2022 but the plan failed due to Covid-19.

They set off on a round-the-world trip earlier this year. The first stop the 81-year-olds visited together was Antarctica. It is one of the most difficult travel destinations because of its remoteness and coldness. But once they arrived, they forgot all the hardships, especially when they saw the penguins, icebergs and glaciers.

Since that first adventure, the two have visited 18 countries on 7 continents (Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, Antarctica, North America, South America). They have ridden camels in Egypt, met elephants in Bali, danced in Nepal, and seen the Northern Lights in Finland. Their travels are regularly updated on their personal pages, and they are known as "the old ladies".

In 1999, after her husband died, Hamby took her grandchildren to Zambia for a trip. There, she met Hazelip, who was running a medical project with her husband. They bonded over their shared love of travel, prioritizing unique experiences over comfort. In 2005, Dr. Hazelip’s husband also passed away. Since then, the two widows have become closer. They wanted to dedicate the fruits of this trip to their two late husbands, whom they always remembered.

For Hamby, the highlight of the trip was the people they met along the way. “We loved all the beautiful sights we saw. But what we remember most were the people we met,” she said. They made so many friends from all over the world, and were lucky enough to meet some wonderful, kind, and friendly people. “Every day was an adventure for us,” Hamby said.

Now that they've accomplished their goal and are back home in Texas, they're planning their next trip. They say they don't have to worry too much about the language barrier when traveling. "Not everyone speaks English, but there's one common language, and that's smiles," Hamby says.

The two travelers also encourage other older people to pack their bags and not let age hold them back. Hazelip says 81 is the "perfect age to start traveling."

According to VnExpress