Two great friends from Texas have just returned from a rather extraordinary journey: the two 81-year-old women completed around the world in 80 days!
During their great adventure which began on January 11, Ellie Hamby and Sandy Hazelip visited 18 countries on seven continents.
The two women became friends in 1999, when Ms Hazelip’s husband died. Ellie and Sandy quickly connected through their passion for travel, preferring unique experiences to comfortable, touristy getaways.
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The two grandmothers grew closer when Ellie’s husband died in 2005.
The idea of going around the world germinated in their minds a few years ago, when they saw their respective 80th birthdays approaching quietly.
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The octogenarian duo began their journey with a rather unusual destination: Antarctica!
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“For nearly two days we tipped and slid through Drake Passage and we were hanging on so we wouldn’t die. It was completely crazy,” says Ellie.
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“But when we set foot in Antarctica, we forgot everything. The beauty of Antarctica is simply amazing. Seeing penguins, icebergs and glaciers was fantastic!” she adds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jXJznpzZeQ
During their three-month odyssey, the two women rode camels in Egypt, rubbed shoulders with elephants in Bali, danced in Nepal and admired the Northern Lights in Finland.
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Although admitting to being both stubborn and independent, Ellie and Sandy claim never to have argued during the trip, because they understand each other well and respect their feelings.
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“We loved all the scenery we saw, but I think what we will remember most are the people we met. We chatted with some of the most amazing and kind people on the planet. We now have friends from all over the world,” says Ellie Hamby.
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