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Elizabeth Gallagher travellers return home to Canada | Elizabeth Gallagher travellers return home to Canada |
(1 day later) | |
A plea by a Canadian looking for a travel partner with the same name as his ex-girlfriend became a global story. Now he and the stranger he found have returned. How did they get on? | A plea by a Canadian looking for a travel partner with the same name as his ex-girlfriend became a global story. Now he and the stranger he found have returned. How did they get on? |
In November, a Toronto-based man took to Reddit to ask "Are you named Elizabeth Gallagher?" | In November, a Toronto-based man took to Reddit to ask "Are you named Elizabeth Gallagher?" |
Jordan Axani had purchased a non-refundable round-the-world trip with ex-girlfriend of the same name, and was looking for a travel companion. | Jordan Axani had purchased a non-refundable round-the-world trip with ex-girlfriend of the same name, and was looking for a travel companion. |
This week, he and student Elizabeth "Quinn" Gallagher of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, returned home from the three-week tour as "brother and sister," rather than the strangers they had been. | This week, he and student Elizabeth "Quinn" Gallagher of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, returned home from the three-week tour as "brother and sister," rather than the strangers they had been. |
But they've rejected any notion that romance was involved. Ms Gallagher has a serious boyfriend and the large hotel chain that housed the pair during their trip gave them two suites at each stop. | But they've rejected any notion that romance was involved. Ms Gallagher has a serious boyfriend and the large hotel chain that housed the pair during their trip gave them two suites at each stop. |
The two travelled from New York to Milan, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Khao Lak, Thailand, and Hong Kong, both touring together and spending time apart. | The two travelled from New York to Milan, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Khao Lak, Thailand, and Hong Kong, both touring together and spending time apart. |
"We probably got along better because we were strangers," Ms Gallagher told Canadian media. "We didn't have a relationship to break." | "We probably got along better because we were strangers," Ms Gallagher told Canadian media. "We didn't have a relationship to break." |
Their unlikely pairing challenged both as they toured together. | Their unlikely pairing challenged both as they toured together. |
"Quinn liked to see the [landmarks] of different areas, and I liked to mingle where the locals hang out," Mr Axani told the BBC. | "Quinn liked to see the [landmarks] of different areas, and I liked to mingle where the locals hang out," Mr Axani told the BBC. |
"I hate heights and everywhere we went, she took me to the highest thing possible - whether it was the highest level of the Eiffel Tower, or the highest bar in Bangkok - and she'd poke fun of me for my fear of heights." | "I hate heights and everywhere we went, she took me to the highest thing possible - whether it was the highest level of the Eiffel Tower, or the highest bar in Bangkok - and she'd poke fun of me for my fear of heights." |
Ms Gallagher on the other hand, had a knack for getting lost. | Ms Gallagher on the other hand, had a knack for getting lost. |
"I would get these tweets and emails from the strangest places on a quasi-frequent level," said Mr Axani, "of her being trapped in a stairway at the hotel or being lost in an airport or missing a train." | "I would get these tweets and emails from the strangest places on a quasi-frequent level," said Mr Axani, "of her being trapped in a stairway at the hotel or being lost in an airport or missing a train." |
At one point in Prague, she had gone into a restaurant to use the ladies' room, but exited into the subway station, where Mr Axani says he found her locked in an unmarked room down a corridor. | At one point in Prague, she had gone into a restaurant to use the ladies' room, but exited into the subway station, where Mr Axani says he found her locked in an unmarked room down a corridor. |
"And that sort of characterised our relationship, and is a lot of where the big brother little sister thing came out." | "And that sort of characterised our relationship, and is a lot of where the big brother little sister thing came out." |
The self-proclaimed siblings spent Christmas, for the most part, on their own. | The self-proclaimed siblings spent Christmas, for the most part, on their own. |
The morning of the 25th, Ms Gallagher toured Vienna on a hop-on hop-off bus. At lunch, she tweeted "Families giving me sad looks because I'm eating alone on Xmas. HELLO I'm in #Vienna life is great! #TravelBrilliantly." | The morning of the 25th, Ms Gallagher toured Vienna on a hop-on hop-off bus. At lunch, she tweeted "Families giving me sad looks because I'm eating alone on Xmas. HELLO I'm in #Vienna life is great! #TravelBrilliantly." |
Ms Gallagher told the Toronto Star she and her boyfriend unfollowed each other on social media to protect his identity, but they were in touch throughout the trip. | |
Mr Axani spent the day working on a new charity organisation called A Ticket Forward that he envisions will help survivors of abuse, cancer and warfare take transformative trips of their own - something he'd been thinking on since before he left Canada. | Mr Axani spent the day working on a new charity organisation called A Ticket Forward that he envisions will help survivors of abuse, cancer and warfare take transformative trips of their own - something he'd been thinking on since before he left Canada. |
That evening, both tried to share as much of what was going on with their families. | That evening, both tried to share as much of what was going on with their families. |
"We're both very close to our families, and here we're in this crazy situation together." | "We're both very close to our families, and here we're in this crazy situation together." |
Later, they met with a group of ex-pats and locals and rode the Wiener Riesenrad, a "huge old rickety Ferris Wheel" near the Christmas market. Mr Axani said "Vienna is magical at Christmas - that was certainly the highlight." | Later, they met with a group of ex-pats and locals and rode the Wiener Riesenrad, a "huge old rickety Ferris Wheel" near the Christmas market. Mr Axani said "Vienna is magical at Christmas - that was certainly the highlight." |
Having returned to Canada on Monday, they appeared together on Canada's Global The Morning Show on Tuesday, before parting ways. | Having returned to Canada on Monday, they appeared together on Canada's Global The Morning Show on Tuesday, before parting ways. |
Ms Gallagher will return to classes at Dalhousie University this week. | Ms Gallagher will return to classes at Dalhousie University this week. |
"It was wild," she told The Morning Show. "And it's just because of my name - I have to thank my mother for that." | "It was wild," she told The Morning Show. "And it's just because of my name - I have to thank my mother for that." |
During media interviews, Mr Axani said he was in talks about a possible television or movie based on their journey. | During media interviews, Mr Axani said he was in talks about a possible television or movie based on their journey. |
Now both international celebrities, they hope to meet again, when Mr Axani goes to the east coast to visit friends. | Now both international celebrities, they hope to meet again, when Mr Axani goes to the east coast to visit friends. |
"The amount of people on a personal level, who are deeply interested in our story, that will bond us for life," he said. | "The amount of people on a personal level, who are deeply interested in our story, that will bond us for life," he said. |
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