The thrill of international competition

You don’t have to be a star athlete to experience the thrills of competition on the world stage. Some of my best travel memories have been made at the foosball table.

The endorphin rush of sports in combination with the similar neurostimulation of travel is delicious.

You don’t need a uniform, contract, nor sponsor. Pickup soccer on the beach or in the plaza, cricket on the banks of the Ganges, or even chess in a Budapest bath. Competition becomes the common language. Your skill and focus matched against a foreign adversary.

It goes without saying to keep it civil and watch who you’re dealing with. No need to add Pool Hall Shootout to your itinerary. Though, to be fair, the most likely place to find a gunfight might be home.

Have any stories of competition on the road? Let’s hear…

Photo by mydearboy via Flickr.