Super-Short Travel Stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

20 of 38

Illinois

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

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

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.

23 of 38

Alaska

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.

24 of 38

Spain

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.

25 of 38

Rome

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

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

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

Sedef Piker

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

Pictured: The Monastery of Satyros, Istanbul.

29 of 38

Charleston

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.

30 of 38

Turkey

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.

31 of 38

Switzerland

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.

32 of 38

Morocco

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.

33 of 38

Zambia

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.

34 of 38

New York City

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.

35 of 38

Milan

Courtesy of Campari

Trip idea: visit the Campari factory outside Milan to confirm that the aperitif’s main ingredient is cinnamon gift soap. #TLStory —@hankalf

Pictured: The Galleria Campari.

36 of 38

Yellowstone National Park

Jim Peaco

Winter in Yellowstone: Geysers filling air w/steam. Snow covered bison, wapiti. Icicles on my beard. Peaceful silence & reflection #TLStory —@medinakansas

Pictured: Yellowstone’s Steamboat Geyser.

37 of 38

Utah

Mikael Utterstrom / Alamy

Car broke mid-Utah. Instant regulars at only game in town—Don Ho’s Mexican American Chinese Café. Tumbleweeds & joy of slowed time. #TLStory —@sachsmo

Pictured: A dirt road in the Valley of the Gods, Utah.

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Rome

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Rome 2003: Owen Wilson’s place overlooked two fountains and had books everywhere, among them F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Crack Up." #TLStory —@thomasbeller

Pictured: Fitzgerald’s 1945 collection of essays, “The Crack Up.”

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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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