How the World Has Changed

Posted by stuart (normandy park, wa, usa) on 02/06/25 11:49 PM

I look at the photos ... before the Iran Revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, my sense is relations between India and Pakistan were less tense, a time when Turkey was much more secular than today. The photos make me wonder "what happened to the youth in the pictures? To the families who hosted Rick and Gene in Bulgaria, India and elsewhere?"

1978 was 47 years ago. If we use "half way timing" it was the half way point from 1931 to present. Think of all that happened during that time of 1931 to 78, then 1978 to now.

I graduated from college several years too late to be able to go on the hippie trail but appreciate the photos and look forward to the book. I did get to see some of Istanbul and Bulgaria 9 years later and the photos look similar to what I saw. Most memorable are the personal interactions, the curiosity of people to meet people from a very different background.

Posted by leonard

Oregon

02/07/25 02:50 AM

304 posts

I graduated from high school in 1967 and went to Europe on a 2-month tour.

I didn't get further East than Greece. But fell in love with the Greek people. It was only 22 years after WW2 and German was the second language. Greece was like a third world country to me. I couldn't imagine going further East.

What I remember most was the quality of toilet paper. Greece=rough like old paper towels; France=waxy; England=very thin paper.

Posted by Bon voyage!

West Coast

02/07/25 04:51 PM

264 posts

I recently returned from a tour in Morocco (separate trip report posted) and two of the ten other group members had come to revisit their Hippie Trail experience - Morocco doesn't show on the main map, but was certainly a detour! Think "Marrakech Express".
One most noticed the improvement in infrastructure, for example, the current paved two- lane highway through and over the Atlas Mountain Range ((he had a photo of a young and long- haired version of himself next to his rental car on a cliff).
The other member clearly has continued his hashish use since his original visit for that purpose (sorry, eye roll- he reminisced about these glory days far too often).
Seriously, the guide in Chefchaouen did talk about the current hashish growing and selling situation in and around the Rif Mountains, and the government's response.
Such an interesting post, thank you. about how stories of the Trail managed to inspire travel for others before the age of Internet and social media. There were so many Instagram posers at some of the more famous locations we stopped. And reflecting on the subject of overtourism in general for which social media has been blamed.

Posted by slimehound

02/07/25 06:27 PM

1 posts

I was on a different version of the 'hippie trail' from England to Australia in 1976-78. I was no hippie but enjoyed meeting 'all sorts' along the route. I was on my own (age 23-25) and didn't plan on going so far or being gone so long but one place lead to the other, (23 months: So Pacific, SE. Asia, the Orient). So, I have a pretty good idea of what Rick and Gene experienced. I've since traveled overseas nearly every year for 3-4 weeks (about 90% of what I do are Rick Steves recommendations -if in Europe). The cultures, customs, religions -etc. will truly take you out of your 'American mindset' and help you appreciate the world at large: the good the bad and the ugly of it all. Experience with others is the key to tolerance and coexistence. Wisely did Mohammed state: "Do not tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled" (that's an education in itself). "Keep on Traveling", ss.