At 95-years old, an Australian named Keith Wright is proving that age is just a number. Just as he’s done for the past ten years, Wright will spend the summer traveling alone through Europe. His trips have earned him the unofficial title, “World’s Oldest Backpacker.”
Since he started his solo treks, the young-at-heart wanderer has visited 109 cities in 23 countries, according to News.com.au. Gadling.com reports that this summer, Wright has plans to experience Madrid, San Sebastian, Paris, Munich, Vienna, and London, using the $9,000 he saved during the rest of the year. His two-month vacation begins on May 28.
The trips began after his wife passed away, when Wright sold the house they shared together and used some of the money to fund an excursion to Gallipoli in Turkey for Anzac Day. He said he has had “itchy feet” his entire life and that this was something he’d always wanted to see. Wright also makes sure to see some sights and events that aren’t listed in the guidebooks. "I have seen things most tourists haven't seen, because I walk the back streets and take trains or buses to nearby towns for the day," he told The Daily Mail.
Wright enjoys his independence. “'My belief is that if you are fit and able to travel independently, it is the best way to see as much as of the world as you want,” he said. He considers himself to be more fit and able than many people who are a fraction of his age. He said, “I can do it on my own much better than the young ones I meet in hostels.”
Even though he travels by himself, he’s not really alone. He makes friends with fellow travelers, who often approach him after noticing that “Australia” is written on his hat. The hat is the one item he never travels without. Besides the new people he meets, there are people who care about him in his home country. Wright makes sure to keep in touch through e-mail, especially with his travel agent.
“Every booking I have made for him has been an inspiration to me,” said Christina Kerr, the woman who helps Wright organize his trips. She uses him to inspire other elderly travelers to keep a youthful sense of adventure as well. “I like to tell his story to other travelers, particularly those who may have thought themselves too old to travel overseas.”
Wright told News.com.au that he will keep travelling until he gets "too old''.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
