I have been to a number of International Mensa events over the years but never to the European Mensa Annual Gathering (EMAG) and after no travel for 4 years I decided to go this year. I decided to get a Round the World ticket and attend the American Annual Gathering in Baltimore as well, and use SIGHT to find hosts for the 3-4 weeks between the 2 events.
My journey did not start well with the Saturday afternoon flight from Perth to Sydney cancelled due to unrepairable issues with the aircraft, so we were sent home and the flight was scheduled for 6am. Meaning that apart from having to get up at 3am, it would also not connect with the flight to New York via Auckland the next morning. I got a new flight leaving Sunday afternoon via Melbourne then straight on to LA and a final leg to New York overnight. This allowed me to get my train to Baltimore as planned on Monday. However, it meant that instead of 2 nights to break up the journey – in Sydney and in New York – I travelled more or less continuously and arrived at the AirBNB in Baltimore 42 hours after leaving home.
At the AG, I did a presentation on the International Board of Directors meeting that I am running in Perth next year, followed by a humorous one on Australian Animals (Not everything is trying to kill you). Afterwards, I stayed with a mensan in the Washington DC area, then then 2 nights at the YMCA in New York, before flying to Frankfurt.
I had 12 days before I flew to England and then to EMAG, where I repeated my presentation.
I had contacted the SIGHT officer in Germany and had 5 offers to host me. One of these mentioned they were 3 hours from Prague and I thought that it would be an opportunity to visit that city. I contacted the Czech SIGHT officer and had 5 or 6 offers to host me there. I chose to stay with Zuzana and Jiri, whose oldest son JJ is actually the member.
He was in England at the time but they hosted me anyway in their apartment in the old town. The younger son Atu and 3-year-old daughter Mali were home. As they were out at the time I arrived, another member, Jitka, met me at the train station and showed me around. After returning to get my case from the station, I arrived at my host’s street just as they were unpacking their car.
They were very generous hosts, feeding me as well as giving me a bed for 2 nights. As they were at work the next day, I walked around the old town again going a bit further in all directions than the previous day. I have to say that Prague is one of the most attractive cities I have visited, and I was very pleased I had added it to my trip. In the afternoon, Zuzana with Mali in a pram, took me to the castle, then to the Petrin tower and down through the park to the river.
We then met up with Jiri and Atu for dinner in an outdoor restaurant, where I tried the local dish svickova na smetane.
The next morning, I joined the local Mensans at their monthly breakfast, before heading back to Germany and then on to England, the Netherlands and then home via Singapore.
I have been touched by the generosity of Mensa members in the places I have visited, who have opened their homes to me, often just because I am a member of Mensa. The SIGHT service is a boon for travellers like myself and I have gotten to know locals in the places I visited, as well as seeing interesting sights and trying the local food. I thank all my hosts and hope that some day I will be able to return the favour to visitors to Australia.