For eight years, I’ve explored the globe with my delightful traveling gnome, Alfred. We met in a supermarket in Sydney, and ever since, he’s been my favorite travel companion. Together, we've journeyed across five continents and embarked on numerous road trips throughout the U.S.
The inspiration for photographing a gnome didn't stem from any travel brand or the movie Amélie. It all began at 6 a.m. in June 2006, when I set off with my best friend for an East Coast trip to Maine from South Carolina. While leaving, I spotted Harvey lying on a porch, covered in cobwebs, and knew he had to join us.
Harvey, my first gnome, closely resembles a character from Snow White, and we took him to Maine in July 2006.
A few years later, some frat boys took Harvey from my friend's porch. My first gnome, Albert, met a tragic fate in Niagara Falls. My second, Walt, was about 18 inches tall and had a bird on his head. When I relocated to Australia in 2008, I couldn’t fit him in my luggage, so he went to live with my nephew. I was gnome-less for a little while until I found Alfred among a row of travel-sized gnomes in Sydney. (He stands at 8.5 inches tall.)
In 2011, Alfred faced a near-disaster at Leh airport in Northern India. While security checked me, my bag fell off the conveyor belt, and Alfred broke into pieces. I was devastated during the hour-long flight to Delhi, but I quickly learned the Hindi word for “superglue” and sought out a market. My wonderful friend, Justin, helped me fix him up. (Real friends will help you repair your gnome, even with an early morning Taj Mahal visit ahead.) When I returned to the U.S., I bought spray foam insulation to reinforce Alfred.
Justin helps mend Alfred after his unfortunate accident at the airport in India.
Now, Alfred travels in a $40 indestructible Pelican case. I also keep a 4×6 photo collage with him for airport explanations. He's become quite the hit with security staff. In Costa Rica, one guard asked to see inside the case and called over his colleagues to meet Alfred, bombarding me with questions about his travels. Meanwhile, my friends thought I was in trouble.
Alfred’s sturdy Pelican Travel Case.
I began snapping pictures of Alfred in various iconic locations. I also started creating themed gnome Christmas cards for friends every year, along with a few other holiday cards that I occasionally sold at local art shows. Each year, it takes me hours to design, write, and send these cards to my wonderful friends scattered all over the world. My aim is to bring a smile to their faces, making it my favorite holiday tradition. Everyone deserves a gnome in their mailbox!
Ultimately, I hope Alfred encourages others to travel. If a small green gnome can journey across the globe, why can't you?
To see more of Alfred's escapades, check out his travel gallery!
