Voyassitude

It is close to midnight when the storm unleashes upon us. Thick, furious raindrops hammering the rooftop make us escape seeking for cover, but once we’re safe from the rain and winds inside the building, we keep the animated conversation going. Three hours ago we didn’t know each other but now, as Montevideo surrenders to a torrential downpour outside, we revel in the warmth and enthusiasm of getting to know one another through travel anecdotes, pending dreams, and future destinations.

There are five of us in this impromptu League of Nations conformed on a Sunday evening in the Uruguayan capital: Capucine, a French girl with the aura of a full-time dreamer; Daniel, the Australian drone expert; Franci, a German flutist whose spirit is still captivated by the allure of Río de Janeiro; an Argentinian guy who joined us last minute and whose name I can’t remember, and myself, Jef, the Colombian writer delighted at the prospect of a night to connect with wonderful people from all over the world.

The magic of this casual conversation is how spontaneously it unfolds. One moment I’m by myself writing a letter on a silent rooftop, and just ten minutes later I’m introducing myself to travelers from multiple continents who converge on this spot to enjoy the breeze along with the view. We are all traveling on our own, but solitude steps aside as we build camaraderie out of trips and out of joy at being free and alive in Uruguay. This bond grows organically, putting to the test the notion that we are solo travelers.  It might be that, when being so far away from everyone you know, a deep longing to connect with someone else, even for a fleeting instant, makes you prone to seek a word, a smile, a brief eye contact that anchors you to this place and this time. That’s what happens with Cap, Franci, and Daniel. With lightning and thunders as a background spectacle over the La Plata River, we take turns to reveal the wanderer side of ourselves, confessing our favorite places, worst hostel experiences, or ideal spots to be at if we weren’t lucky enough to spend this pleasant night on a rooftop in Montevideo.

Capucine not only possesses the most charming name I have ever heard, but she also carries a free spirit air that makes her every gesture and word a true fantasy. She tells us her dream in life is to ride horses in an idyllic place, and that dream is mere hours from coming true, because she is going to Cabo Polonio to volunteer taking care of those precious animals in a remote farm. Daniel speaks of his job helping people with disabilities to fulfill their dreams and live easier lives in his native Australia, while here, in Montevideo, he shows us his skills controlling a drone that captures cinematographic images of the city center at night. And Franci, despite showing some signs of tiredness, cannot hide her passion when talking about Río and the two unforgettable weeks she spent there. A German flutist with Croatian roots who has played music in France or Perú, Franci has fallen in love with the samba, the bliss, and the colorfulness of that Brazilian paradise. The Argentinian guy joins us when we are safe from the rain. He doesn’t speak a lot of English but his open, genuine smile says a lot, and then Franci and Cap surprise him (and me) by displaying their fluent Spanish in an effort to make him feel more included.

Think about it: Germany, Australia, France, Argentina, Colombia. Five nationalities, all assembled at midnight somewhere in Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo. There is a high chance we will never see each other again, but for one brief moment in this tempestuous night, our solo traveler paths lead to one rooftop and all that matters is that we share laughs, ambitions, and a meaningful conversation. How marvelous is that?