Hey, fellow Lucky Bastards! Today, we’re zooming in on a dude who’s literally been everywhere. Meet Jorge Sánchez, a Spaniard who turned his passport into a storytelling canvas. Born in Barcelona in 1954, this guy has crisscrossed the globe and was once ranked the world’s number one traveler! Now chilling in Siberia with his fam, Jorge’s life is anything but ordinary.
The Day that changed Everything
Jorge’s story of becoming a globe-trotter is wilder than a night in Bangkok. At 13, this guy bolts from his humble home in Barcelona, hops on a boat, and heads to Mallorca. By 14, he’s in the Canary Islands, plotting his next move. His dad’s old atlas was his only guide. No fancy gear, no fat bank account, just pure, burning wanderlust. Now, get this: In ’68, when Western Sahara was Spain’s playground, Jorge joins the Spanish Legion. Why? Just to get closer to Mauritania. But, as you’d expect from a free spirit, he bails on the Legion pronto. Military life? Not for him. Plus, they wouldn’t let him into Mauritania without a passport. Talk about a buzzkill. Fast forward to 18, and Jorge’s crisscrossing Europe like a madman. Hitchhiking through 11 countries, working odd jobs from Paris to Geneva, he’s learning languages and mastering the art of roughing it. This guy’s goal? To soak up every bit of the travel smarts he can. Sure, he had to pause for army duty back in Spain, but by then, Jorge was already a seasoned road warrior.
Globe-Trotting Favorites
You think choosing a favorite pizza topping is hard? Try picking favorite countries when you’ve seen ’em all! But Jorge’s got his picks. Top of his list? Peru, for its insane diversity – from coasts to deserts. He once joined a gold-seeking team in the Amazon, earning enough gold dust to keep wandering for six more months. Next up, the Solomon Islands, where he witnessed cargo cult practices and encountered WWII relics. And Egypt, for its timeless blend of ancient wonders and vibrant local life.
Unforgettable Moments
Imagine crossing Nepal’s Kali Gandaki gorge with merchants, reaching the ancient Lo Manthang, and getting a friendly send-off from the Chinese Army with a bag of food. That’s just a regular Tuesday for Jorge. Or how about climbing a tree in Greece to find your way to a stunning monastery? Yep, Jorge’s done that too.
Making a living while traveling
Jorge used a multitude of skills to make the money he needed to continue traveling. Teaching Spanish in Japan, playing chess for cash in the Philippines and Indonesia, working with a group of gold miners in the Peruvian jungle, being a busboy in a Puerto Rican restaurant in Greenwich Village, working in a dental laboratory in Paris, or accepting multiple unusual jobs in China, are just some examples of how Jorge kept financing his lifestyle.
Tough Times on the Road
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Jorge’s been through the wringer too – like getting robbed in broad daylight in Johannesburg, surviving a nasty insect attack in Africa that damaged his eardrum, and even doing a stint in a Paraguayan jail.
Jorge’s Wisdom
Travel’s not just about ticking off countries. It’s about generosity, staying connected to family, and skipping the tourist traps for real experiences. Jorge prefers authentic stays in youth hostels or local homes but doesn’t shy away from the occasional splurge at a Spanish Parador with his wife.
A Life Well-Traveled
Jorge’s journey teaches us to use travel as a tool for growth, not just escapism. He advises knowing when to hit pause on globetrotting to focus on life’s other aspects. And talk about roughing it – he once slept in a sarcophagus-sized space in Sikkim, India!
Cities That Stole His Heart
Finally, let’s not forget Jorge’s favorite cities – from Blagoveshchensk in Russia’s Amur oblast to the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires, or Ronda, a small town in Andalucia (Spain). Each city tells a story, a chapter in Jorge’s grand adventure.
A Jorge Sánchez’s ‘Lucky Bastards’ story
Alright, hold onto your hats, because Jorge’s journey to Afghanistan is a rollercoaster that makes your average adventure look like a walk in the park. This guy, with a month’s worth of beard and decked out in full Afghan attire, sneaks into Jalalabad from Peshawar. But, boom! The Pakistani officials catch him and send him back.
But Jorge? He’s as stubborn as they come. He decides to give it another shot, this time through the wilds of Kafiristan.
Picture this: Jorge’s trekking through winter, living with descendants of Alexander the Great in the Bumburet Valley, dodging Pathan bandits and Pakistani border posts. The guy’s surviving on raisins and snow, for crying out loud!
Now, get this: Jorge finally sneaks into Afghanistan, hands over his Swiss knife to a mujahideen commandant, and gets a lowdown on the war situation. He witnesses the horrors of war first hand – bombed villages, fleeing families, and even a tense encounter with an armed old man and a rifle-toting girl with mesmerizing green eyes.
In Asadabad, he’s in the middle of a guerrilla party, shooting at cardboard Russians, and feeling a bit blue about the whole humans-killing-humans thing. He rides a Russian lorry to the front lines, narrowly avoids being labeled a KGB spy, and experiences the daily grind of war – morning prayers, chai, bombings, and more chai. By the fifth day, he’s had enough. After hiding from Russian bombers in mountain tunnels, Jorge ditches his plans and heads for Pakistan. He treks through the mountains with refugees, dodging howitzer-toting donkeys, and finally crashes with the refugees in Pakistan.
Back in Islamabad and itching to get home, Jorge plots a route through Iran. He’s off to Quetta, befriending mujahideens, dressing like a Baluchi, and sneaking across borders like a pro.
But Afghanistan had one more surprise – he’s thrown into Pul-i-Charkhi prison for 101 days!
So, what do you think? Ready to pack your bags and follow in Jorge’s footsteps?
Take a look at Jorge’s website to find out more about his incredible stories: http://jorgesanchez.es/journeys-to-dangerous-place/
And stay tuned for more tales of daring and wonder, only here at Lucky Bastards!
