By Debby Merickel
Sometimes, when traveling, I find myself spending the night in a small room with someone I have never met before.
What is the proper etiquette for such occasions as these? Certainly one should still brush one’s teeth before retiring but what about lights out, attire, and concerns about snoring, toilet excursions and the possibility of him being a psychopath and murderer?
Abnormal paranoia? I think not!
My paranoia is not abnormal as I was raised by strict parents at home and by nuns at school. Even in college when we had our annual open house in the dorm there was a stringent rule about the female students having one foot on the floor at ALL TIMES, and the doors to the room were to be left ajar so someone could easily check.
A very deep voice ordered us to keep quiet
When my daughter and I traveled from one Greek Island to another, we opted to take the overnight ferry and reserved two beds in a room for four to lessen the cost. Imagine our surprise when we crept into the room late that night and had a very deep voice ordering us to keep quiet. We acquiesced until the second base voice in the room started snoring causing us to break into raucous giggles. Needless to say, we were encouraged to flee the room and spend the night upstairs in the lobby.
Sleeping fully clothed
A couple of years later, I was hiking in the Himalayas and never knew from day to day what would be the accommodations for the night. As I was traveling with my brother-in-law, we knew we would have to share space if there were not two rooms available. When the inevitable happened, we were modest enough to sleep fully clothed and sensitive enough not to complain about questionable nocturnal noises. But when we were able to have a thin wall separating us we were much more relaxed.
I was imagining this strapping Australian male’s thoughts at being thrown into the proverbial bed with a much older woman.
The night before my summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, I was resting somewhat uncomfortably in my chilly hut when there was a knock on the door. I opened it to find the caretaker escorting a roommate to my humble abode. As there were many more shelters than trekkers, I was mildly astonished to see this strapping Australian male in his 30’s throw down his sleeping bag and belongings. The only way I kept my wits about me is imagining his thoughts at being thrown into the proverbial bed with a much older woman. Too bad the altitude and the need to preserve energy played such significant factors.
Sorry. Private berth not included in sleeping car
On my most recent trip to Italy I tried to make prudent use of an Italia Rail Pass traveling from Venice to Sicily non-stop. The only option was a sleeping car and while I had a first class pass, it did not include a private berth. The man at the station convinced me that there was a possibility that it would not be full so I took my chances. When I boarded the train, the stranger was already there. He talked non-stop. When I shook my head and politely responded that I did not speak Italian it made no difference. He kept talking and I kept nodding and smiling despite my aching jaw. Thank goodness a young Italian woman joined us. I no longer mattered.
My head was on my unacquainted seatmate’s shoulder
I soon realized that sleep for me around strangers was elusive indeed. Consequently, I was excited when I heard about the new magical sleeping pills that weren’t addicting and yet promised a good 6 hours of uninterrupted rest. I could now take the red eyes on airplanes and get the rest I needed to hit the ground alert and ready.
The first time I slept but discovered upon awakening that I did so with my head on my unacquainted seatmate’s shoulder and had drooled all over his fancy sweater. The second time I actually dropped my head into my food tray and caused much amusement to everyone walking by my seat that night.
Destined never to sleep in peace
It doesn’t sound like sleeping with strangers will become an easy old habit for me. Perhaps I really do need to look for Sex and the City’s Mr. Big or Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. McDreamy or …. <<
Debby Merickel is putting the finishing touches on her book– a travelogue called “The Misadventures of an Aging Globetrotter.” Reach her at Debby@LetLifein.com
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