About
Hi, I’m Andrew Hitchins (“Hitch”).
My mother said that as soon as I started to walk, I wanted to walk out the door and explore. Maybe my love of travel had started even then.
My grandfather had a similar spirit. He was a pioneer. He had a dream to spend his winters in warmer climes, and in the early 1970s he bought one of the first apartments in Lanzarote, and for years my childhood memories were of exploring this exotic and totally other world, so different from my own. That started a fascination to explore, to visit new lands, experience new cultures and to learn about the world through seeing and becoming a part of its colour and diversity.
As a student I studied languages and history, and I was particularly shaped by the art, culture and ideas of Europe, Asia and Africa, and it seems I made it my mission to taste what these lands had to offer, perhaps seeking for what aspects of these countries I could synthesise into my own worldview.
I would spend my summers travelling around Europe – mainly by train – roaming from east to west, and down to the south – integrating what I had learned in my history books, and developing a deep love and appreciation for this culturally rich continent.
And then, my passion to explore further took me to Egypt and Israel at a time of great political upheaval, coinciding with the first Gulf War, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
I was fascinated by how East and West had experienced such a history of conflict and misunderstanding, so I studied World History, and then in 1993 I embarked on a 77-day overland trip by truck from London to Kathmandu, with a group of fellow travellers. At the time, I wanted to be a Diplomat, and I saw this journey as an opportunity for me to explore Asia and the Middle East so that I could make a contribution to the world that somehow brought us all together in peace.
I never made it to the Foreign Office, but what I did do was write a vivid account of my experiences in a travel journal which allowed me to express my love of writing and my love of travel. 33 years later, I finally published this book, and you may read it here by clicking on the link below. My intention is still that it brings peace and greater understanding to the world.
My career shaped itself in a different direction, although still firmly with travel at its heart. For 23 years, I worked at Thomas Cook – surely the pioneer himself of modern travel. My job took me to over 30 countries, over 500 hotels and countless beaches and bars. I had the good fortune of meeting so many wonderful people who cared about travel and tourism as much as I did. In the latter part of my career, I felt especially proud to be responsible for the holiday product for over 17 destinations, stretching from The Gambia to Lapland, and I truly felt like I was gifting that little boy who played in the sun in Lanzarote with the experiences that made him feel connected and at one with this amazing world.
This lifestyle was cut short through the dramatic bankruptcy of Thomas Cook, and I am truly grateful for my memories. The emotional connection to travel is still there in me – less urgent than before, now more appreciative. This website is a tribute to the places that I have seen, and a way for me to express my experiences through pictures and through words. I hope that they may inspire you in your travels and encourage you to open up the map and explore wherever your calling guides you to.