In 1889 a distant relative of mine, Nellie Bly, (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran) inspired by the H.G. Wells novel, Around The World In 80 Days, actually made the trip in 72 days and a few hours. She travelled by regular commercial steam ships and trains, except for the trip across the U.S. which was made by a special train. She made the trip on two days notice, without a pre-planned itinerary and travel reservations.
A friend and I were talking about her trip a few days ago. It occurred to me that it would not be possible to duplicate that trip today. That is, it would not be possible without air travel. The great passenger ships of 125 years ago no longer exist. I believe that there still are a few freighters that can accommodate a few paying passengers. Rail service is available today in countries where there was none in 1889. But some of the lands that Nellie Bly passed through are now battlefields and simply closed to a casual tourist. Even the high seas are not totally safe, what with modern day pirates capturing ships off the African coast and in certain Far East Waters.
In Nellie Bly's day, a round the world trip by ship and train was possible because most of the world was at peace. There were some trouble spots. There have always been places that the prudent traveller would avoid. Today there are parts of cities that even the police try to avoid.
In 1889 Nellie Bly, a young woman alone, started her trip with 1000 pounds in English money and a few hundred U.S. dollars that she carried in a bag on a cord around her neck. In today's money that would be close to $250,000. I wonder how far a young woman would get in today's world carrying that much cash.
How the world has changed! How did we ever get from a world where a young woman alone could carry a bundle of cash around the world, to a world where a woman alone is not safe on a trip across the city where she lives.
Will there ever again be a time when the world is at peace and people are free to go about their lives without being molested at every turn?
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