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Super-Short Travel Stories

Super-Short Travel Stories

By Travel + Leisure and Travel + Leisure Staff

January 18, 2013

201301-w-super-short-travel-stories-the-crack-up

Credit: Courtesy of Amazon.com

“3:30am. Hiking up to Machu Picchu under the stars. Day breaks. Find a quiet spot without any tourists. Why hello, llama!”

Can you tell such a tale in just one tweet? That’s the Super-Short Travel Story challenge we recently posed to the Travel + Leisure community. Already, more than 500 participants have tweeted funny, wistful, and even poetic tales, using the dedicated hashtag #TLStory. Each is a sort of traveler’s haiku—and the best are too much fun to keep to ourselves.

Many of our favorite #TLStory tweets vividly capture a particular moment: a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon 25 years after first studying Shakespeare; the thunderous approach of a buffalo migration in the dust-filled plains of South Africa; a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over Turkey's otherworldly Cappadocia region.

Misadventures always make for juicy stories, and perhaps that’s why “lost” was included in 37 tweets. T+L followers have accidentally taken the road less traveled in destinations ranging from the Utah desert to Uluwatu, Bali. Other tweets of travel gone wrong—a missed train in Marrakesh, a night spent at the Dublin airport Starbucks—sound amusing now, even though the experiences must have been frustrating at the time.

Read on to discover what this Twitterature is all about, and then tweet your own #TLStory. The best ones will be retweeted by @TravlandLeisure—and a new #TLStory will be published in each month’s issue of Travel + Leisure magazine through 2013.

Consider tweeting a trip photo too. We’ve featured some user-generated images in this slideshow, notably, one of Pope John Paul II giving T+L follower @Tippi_Ocampo a spontaneous blessing after her wedding in St. Peter’s Basilica. Now that’s a moment to remember—and to share.

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Paris

Credit: richwilliamk

Midnight stroll with friends in Paris. Metro closes so we keep walking: Louvre, Moulin Rouge, Sacre Coure. It was a l o n g night. #TLStory —@queenbeemrsbell

Pictured: Paris’s Louvre, at night.

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Wyoming

#TLStory Watching my kids summon nerve, jump off rock ledge into WY’s Snake River rapids, then bob to surface, laughing, laughing. #PureJoy —@aegisnyc

Pictured: Jumping into the Snake River, WY.

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Hawaii

Credit: SuperStock / Alamy

Paddleboarding just off of Kona, Hawaii. Mid-day. Suddenly surrounded by small pod of dolphins who frolicked with us in the sun. #TLStory —@Becky_LK

Pictured: An ocean view from Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii.

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England

Credit: Antony Nettle / Alamy

Inspired by my HS Shakespeare teacher Clara Sanchez, I traveled to Stratford-upon-Avon UK to see all things Bard...25 years later. #TLStory —@AntKristi

Pictured: The Shakespeare Hotel, in Stratford-upon-Avon’s Norfolk Square.

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Machu Picchu

Credit: Courtesy of Nate Storey

3:30am. Hiking up to Machu Picchu under the stars. Day breaks. Find a quiet spot without any tourists. Why hello, llama! #TLStory —@brookeporter1

Pictured: A llama atop Machu Picchu, Peru.

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Egypt

Credit: moodboard / Alamy

We finished touring the glorious Egyptian pyramids, with our friendly tour guide. 2 secs later, my feet met Egyptian camel poop #TLStory —@currentlysavvy

Pictured: The Great Pyramid of Giza.

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Croatia

Credit: philipus / Alamy

Lost driving in Croatia, no phone, came across dirt bikers who laughed when we told them our destination—we were THAT far off #TLStory —@CoupleofTravels

Pictured: A rural road in the Croatian town of Murter.

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Cape Town

Credit: Cephas Picture Library / Alamy

Cape Town—morning wine tasting, afternoon hiking up Table Mt, many hours later lost on Mt—next time hike first, drink later! #TLStory —@booksnyc

Pictured: Table Mountain viewed from Signal Hill.

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Istanbul

Credit: Jasper James

Club bouncer says: No entry. Us: We came from far, let us in. Him: No speak English. Us: Go to hell. Him: What did u say? #Istanbul #TLStory —@spilling_beans

Pictured: The bar-lined Istiklal Caddesi, Istanbul.

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Georgia

Credit: Eddie Gerald / Alamy

I grip. The driver insists on passing in 5-mile stretches, playing chicken with traffic. Grip. The speedometer says "0." #Tbilisi #TLStory —@foodieintl

Pictured: A busy intersection in Tbilisi, Georgia.

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Egypt

Credit: konacraig

In a hot air balloon over the Karnak Temple. Dawn coming up. Call to prayer sounds. Balloon goes off course. Extended flight. #TLStory —@Overlaid

Pictured: The sun-drenched Karnak Temple complex.

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Las Vegas

Credit: Courtesy of Scott Frances/ Aria

Trying to use the remote to turn off the tv without closing the blinds and turning on bathroom lights at the Aria in Vegas #TLStory —@JTillard

Pictured: A deluxe king room at the Aria hotel.

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Switzerland

Credit: Prisma Bildagentur AG / Alamy

#TLStory Hiked a Mtn outside of Zurich sweating all the way to find summit packed for wedding reception #Wie/sait/me/underdressed —@hcegner

Pictured: Mount Rigi, Switzerland.

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South Africa

Credit: sjay710

Lots of thudding. 50 buffalo headed towards the lake (and our jeep). Then 50 more. 200 more. Happy hour in the dusty African sun. #TLStory —@girlgonewell

Pictured: A herd of approaching buffalo in South Africa.

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Reykjavik

Credit: travelstock44 / Alamy

Watched the sun set in Reykjavik, then bounce right back up. Daylight street party all night long. Delirious 48 hours, no sleep. #TLStory —@KarenEull

Pictured: Partying in Reykjavik.

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Dublin

Credit: JoeFox / Alamy

Gettin stuck @ the Dublin airprt ovrnight bc of RyanAir, eating cereal 2 save $ & sleepin @ the Starbucks while they vacuumed 4 hrs #TLStory —@JillianKHunter

Pictured: Terminal 2, Dublin Airport.

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Budapest

Credit: Courtesy of Faust Cellar

Faust sold his soul to the Devil, but his Wine Cellar in Budapest is a slice of Paradise. Bull’s Blood & Aszu—heaven in a glass! #TLStory —@DFreeTraveler

Pictured: Inside the Faust Wine Cellar, in Budapest’s Buda Castle District.

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Queenstown

Credit: Courtesy of Lindsey Olander

"Liking Queenstown?" Obvi. "First bungee jump?" Yep. "Nervous?" Um... "Oh good, no worries then," he said, and let go of the rope. #TLStory —@lindseytravels

Pictured: Lindsey Olander, on her first bungee jump.

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Bali

Credit: Keke S. A.

Renting a car and getting lost in Uluwatu Bali only to discover numerous secluded beaches with the best views #TLStory —@kheyansory

Pictured: A stretch of secluded beaches in Uluwatu, Bali.

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Illinois

Credit: Margie Smith

GATE 1: Miami! GATE 2: Nassau! GATE 3: St. Thomas! Us? GATE 4: St. Louis, MO. Then Quincy, IL. Feet so cold. #TLStory —@Msmargarita1

Pictured: Quincy, IL, in a snowstorm.

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Kyoto

Credit: Om & Away

Kyoto, best damn sushi for dinner then geisha hunting at night in the rain, found one and got a picture! #TLStory —@omandaway

Pictured: A geisha, found.

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Iceland

Credit: Rebecca Subbiah

Went to Iceland and had a gloomy rainy day but headed to countryside it was still beautiful ;-) #TLStory —@chowandchatter

Pictured: The happy traveler in Iceland.

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Alaska

Credit: Brown Cannon III

For my 50th bday took a helicopter to a glacier in Alaska. Drank the purest water ever. Felt alive & very small at the same time. #TLStory —@rcravatta

Pictured: The Colony Glacier in Girdwood, Alaska.

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Spain

Credit: Jacinth Sohi

Driving through La Rioja, #Spain and seeing a man with dogs and a donkey herding a flock of sheep #TLStory #travel —@jacinthsohi

Pictured: A rural scene in La Rioja, Spain.

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Rome

Credit: Tippi Ocampo

Marrying @ito_ocampo in St. Peter’s Basilica, meeting Pope John Paul II & receiving his newlywed blessing #TLStory —@Tippi_Ocampo

Pictured: The newly married couple outside St. Peter’s Basilica.

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Marrakesh

Credit: Rob Crandall / Alamy

Overslept, mad dash to catch overnight train to Marrakesh. Missed it by 5 mins, slept in station. Punctual traveler ever since. #TLStory —@BySarahKhan

Pictured: The Gare de Marrakesh train station.

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Venice

Credit: Ryan Scalzo

Watching the sunset over Venice from Lido. Once in a lifetime view #TLStory —@rscalzo8

Pictured: The view of Venice from Lido.

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Istanbul

Credit: Sedef Piker

#TLStory Discovering Monastery of Satyros amidst residential neighborhood, Kucukyali on the Asian Side of #Istanbul —@SedefsCorner

Pictured: The Monastery of Satyros, Istanbul.

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Charleston

Credit: Shane Mitchell

Dear drive-thru window lady @BessingersBBQ. Why no napkins? Hands now smell of mustard sauce. Blessed mess. #TLStory —@shanegoesforth

Pictured: A barbecue plate from Bessinger’s Barbecue.

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Turkey

Credit: Troy M

Woke up early for a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia Turkey #TLStory —@TroyM26

Pictured: The view from the hot-air balloon ride.

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Switzerland

Credit: Courtesy of Zurich Airport

Swiss lounge being fed chocolates and hugs, wish I had a guitar so I could play Kumbaya. #zurichterminalE #TLStory —@Shteyngart

Pictured: Zurich Airport’s Swiss Lounge, Terminal E.

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Morocco

Credit: Peter Forsberg / Alamy

Took a cab in Casablanca & the driver blasted Shania Twain’s "Man, I Feel Like a Woman". Unexpected culture shock. #TLStory —@DawnCorleone

Pictured: Stuck in Casablanca traffic.

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Zambia

Credit: Robert E. Barber / Alamy

Paddling Zambezi in 2-man canoe. Sunlight glints; hippos grunt. 18-ft croc slinks under boat. Paul (guide) not talking. Um…Paul? #TLStory —@peterjlindberg

Pictured: A hippo in Zambia’s Zambezi River.

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New York City

Credit: Patrick Batchelder / Alamy

A tiny café, a glass of Barolo. The air redolent with clove cigarettes, a swirl of language. I close my eyes. Paris? No. Nolita. #TLStory —@danijshapiro

Pictured: New York’s Nolita neighborhood.

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Super-Short Travel Stories

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Paris

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Wyoming

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Hawaii

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England

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Machu Picchu

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Egypt

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Croatia

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Cape Town

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Istanbul

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Georgia

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Egypt

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Las Vegas

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Switzerland

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South Africa

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Reykjavik

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Dublin

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Budapest

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Queenstown

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Bali

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Illinois

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Kyoto

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Iceland

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Alaska

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Spain

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Rome

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Marrakesh

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