Crossing a bridge over the Bandon River in Cork recently, my eye was caught by brightly-coloured canoes bobbing around in the river below. I stayed a while to watch as together, they got their entire group safely out of the turbulent waters and onto dry land. Just as soon as one member of the group pulled their canoe out of  the water, they turned around to assist the next person trying to get out, and so on until everyone was out.

With atrocities around the world threatening to tear communities, townships and countries apart, this kind of unity is what we need to survive with our spirits and integrity intact. So this week is all about celebrating pure human connection,  like these guys building sandcastles in Tramore…

… stealing a secret tango in Seattle…

…stopping for coffee in Rome…

…and a circle of hands at Holi.

I could have chosen many other terms for this week’s theme, such as solidarity, team spirit, fellowship or concord, but they all mean the same thing and “camaraderie” to me rang the friendliest and the least political. Use whichever one resonates most with you if you would like to create your own take on this week’s theme. Everyone’s welcome to join in – here’s what to do:

• Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Camaraderie
• Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
• Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
• Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.

Love,

Ailsa

One of the main points about travelling is to develop in us a feeling of solidarity, of that oneness without which no better world is possible. – Ella Maillart

Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony. – Heraclitus

There is a fellowship more quiet even than solitude, and which, if rightly understood, is solitude made perfect. – Robert Louis Stevenson