The strange thing about having this website is that every once in a while, I become completely self-conscious and have to re-examine why I am sharing any of my experiences or thoughts. It may be hard to believe but I really am a private person. It is only my job that is public. That said, my career path has my credibility steeped in my Life experience. Being a fitness expert who advocates living a well-rounded Life yet refuses to share himself is not exactly inspiring. Off the ledge I jump again with probably the funniest moment I have ever captured on video edited together on Day Four.

Here’s the takeaway from Manchester:

1. Be open to EVERYTHING
Life is a composite of experiences. If you are not sharing yourself with others then why the hell are you leaving your home?
a. Eat the local food
b. Learn the local customs
c. Take the mass transit options
d. Try to speak the language if it is different from your own

2. Be open to EVERYONE.
There are so many jaded adults I meet who behave like they have enough friends and have no room for more. How juvenile? Let people in. Most people do not have agendas. Even if they do, you are smart. Don’t give to anyone what you can not afford to part with.

I met my friends Phil & Laura in Franz Josef, NZ on a glacier tour. We ran into each other again in Queenstown. I was alone and they were cool. We had a few drinks and dinner and made fast friends. Low and behold, 6 months later we made a plan to meet up again in their home country, the UK. Julie and I spent our last full day in MAN with them and it was one of the greatest days I have had in the last year. Imagine the joy I would have never known without them.

Best Day Ever!!!

3. Make sure you travel with people you thoroughly enjoy and set ground rules before you leave.
I am a solo traveler, in general. Traveling with my friend Julie is always a joy because neither of us shows up with agendas. We know how to play well with others and when to take our private time. If I travel with anyone, whether it be friends, family, lovers, I always ask in advance:

a. What are your expectations for the trip?
b. What sights are a must see or do?
c. What do you expect of me?

I share my own expectations. We discuss our needs and negotiate the differences, if any. Clear communication avoids conflict.

4. Don’t play safe. Make memories.
Indulge in play. No one knows you when you travel. You get a chance to re-invent yourself and BE FREE. The trip to Manchester was amazing. I made a concerted effort to both BE in the moment and record my moments. However, you don’t need to go away to do that. You can document the every day activities that make your Life unique. The point is DON’T WAIT.

Farewell to Manchester – Highlights & Outtakes from Erwin Gonzalez on Vimeo.

5. Do your research in advance and download app’s to your phone or iPad to make life easier.
When visiting a new town or country, I do a Google search and find any FREE app’s that exist out there. Most larger cities have a travel bureau that produces maps and tourist friendly app’s for your convenience.

Here are iPad/iPhone app’s I recommend:
Packing
UPackingList – Create lists and catalog your Travel TO DO List
Trip Organizer – Similar to the above but you can add more information like medical, vaccines, travel reports, etc.

Travel
Kayak – Great for price comparisons on hotels and plane travel
Tripit - I use the basic service to store all my flight details. It is as easy as forwarding my confirmation email.

Language
iTranslate – Translate words from one language to another. Mixed success in MAN
Currency – Convert your money to local rates

Tours
CreativeTourist – Manchester’s app guide for the creative tourist. I used these maps for my walking tours. They were awesome.
Lonely Planet – There are PAID app’s available depending on the city of your choice. None were available for MAN.

I promise you there are MANY more app’s out there from Gay hospitality app’s to Bed and Breakfast guides. You just have to search.

6. Learn to pack what you need and carry what you definitely need WITH you.
Literally the evening of my third day in Manchester (MAN) my suitcase arrived. Yes, it arrived just in time for me to carry it back to the airport. It was frustrating but what else could I do but laugh about it.

Take a Look at my No Suitcase video and article if you want to know more.