Hitchhikers work in Erbil’s Qaysari bazaar to support money-free travel
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Hitchhikers Aaron Ellenburger and Alice Chapman, both 19, travel the world largely for no money.
From Germany and the UK, they have made their way to the Kurdistan Region’s capital.
“So, the plan in Germany was that I want to travel with no money… because with money you don’t learn something about the world. You buy everything it’s easy,” Ellenburger told Rudaw on Monday.
They have been working near the citadel at a café in Erbil’s famed Qaysari Bazaar for two weeks. Instead of receiving money, as per their request, they are being paid with food and shelter.
“It is hard, but not impossible,” said the traveller of his low-cost travelling method, which he has done without shoes on.
During his journey, which began in Germany in mid-September, he met Chapman three months ago in Romania.
Intrigued by Ellenburger’s method of travel, she decided to join him in his mission to travel the world.
“I was very lucky as a child my parents worked in a lot of different countries all over the world. And so, for a very young age, I have been travelling to really poor countries and seeing very interesting things that you’d normally experience such a young child,” Chapman told Rudaw on Friday. “I think that has really opened my eyes.”
In the countries they visit, the duo find jobs to support their basic needs.
Mohammed Rashid, the owner of the café Ellenburger and Chapman work at, says his curiosity brought about the current work arrangement.
“They passed by the café. I noticed he [Ellenburger] was barefoot. It attracted me. I offered to help and buy him a pair of shoes. I called out to him and then I realized he was a foreigner. In English, I offered to serve him with coffee. He said 'yes, but I do not have money'. I answered 'no problem, come in and drink for free',” said Rashid.
The traveller’s original plan was to travel to Iran, but things changed after they were denied a visa by the Iranian consulate in Erbil. They will, therefore, travel to Jordan.
They aim to end their journey in India.
From Germany and the UK, they have made their way to the Kurdistan Region’s capital.
“So, the plan in Germany was that I want to travel with no money… because with money you don’t learn something about the world. You buy everything it’s easy,” Ellenburger told Rudaw on Monday.
They have been working near the citadel at a café in Erbil’s famed Qaysari Bazaar for two weeks. Instead of receiving money, as per their request, they are being paid with food and shelter.
“It is hard, but not impossible,” said the traveller of his low-cost travelling method, which he has done without shoes on.
During his journey, which began in Germany in mid-September, he met Chapman three months ago in Romania.
Intrigued by Ellenburger’s method of travel, she decided to join him in his mission to travel the world.
“I was very lucky as a child my parents worked in a lot of different countries all over the world. And so, for a very young age, I have been travelling to really poor countries and seeing very interesting things that you’d normally experience such a young child,” Chapman told Rudaw on Friday. “I think that has really opened my eyes.”
In the countries they visit, the duo find jobs to support their basic needs.
Mohammed Rashid, the owner of the café Ellenburger and Chapman work at, says his curiosity brought about the current work arrangement.
“They passed by the café. I noticed he [Ellenburger] was barefoot. It attracted me. I offered to help and buy him a pair of shoes. I called out to him and then I realized he was a foreigner. In English, I offered to serve him with coffee. He said 'yes, but I do not have money'. I answered 'no problem, come in and drink for free',” said Rashid.
The traveller’s original plan was to travel to Iran, but things changed after they were denied a visa by the Iranian consulate in Erbil. They will, therefore, travel to Jordan.
They aim to end their journey in India.