John’s been around the world in 80 days Octogenarian makes epic celebration
WITH a diary full of adventures, Gold Coast legend John Goldstein has returned home a new man after his 80day round-the-world trip.
Mr Goldstein, who was inspired by author Jules Verne’s classic tale, set off on the 80day tour in June to celebrate his 80th birthday.
Mr Goldstein, who with brother Frank ran the Goldsteins bakery empire after taking over their parents Julius and Paula, was one of the group who established the Gold Coast Marathon.
When he left on his voyage, Mr Goldstein said he was on a mission to prove that age was no barrier.
Now he’s back, Mr Goldstein says his solo journey across several contents has changed him – for the better.
“There wasn’t one day that wasn’t exciting,” he said.
“The most exciting thing was walking into the unknown and making something out of it.”
The Gold Coast businessman travelled to the UK, Europe, the Caribbean and North America and said he had gained a new sense of confidence.
“The question everyone asks is what place I liked the most,” he said. “That stunned me because I liked the whole bloody lot.
“But the highlight was meeting people, understanding what was going on in their part of the country.
“You gain a lot of confidence by being out there on your own, making conversation. Up late and up early, you fill each day in with some new adventure and the most beautiful things.
“The experience was enormous. You learn to open up – if you are happy and say hello and greet people, straight away you have a friend.
“I came home confident knowing that I can do anything I challenge myself to.”
Now he’s been well and truly bitten by the travel bug Mr Goldstein said he will going away again next April.
“I have saved every penny I earned, and I won’t be feeling sorry for myself at my age,” he said. “It is beautiful world out there.
”My wife passed away, I’ve had a bypass surgery and a heart valve replacement, so I want to make the most of it.
“I wrote a log book of all the different things I have done, it sits on my table I haven’t opened it up yet.
“I just want to float around with the memory of it for a little while first.
“It is something not many people have had the opportunity to do.”