The story of a German backpacker who arrives in Peru after being imprisoned in two Arab countries, mistaken for an American spy

The young European had spent years traveling to different countries to meet new people, other cultures and different languages, and then write a book. However, his path was not easy. It started with only $17 in his pocket. by mistake a. Due to this, he was also imprisoned in two Arab countries. american spy and are considered communists. The German made a living by being a fixing machine and a teacher. That’s because he spoke six languages.

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It all began on the morning of Monday, April 11, 1960, when Helmut HettenhausenWith only 24 years of age, left his native Hamburg, Germany, to fulfill your dream of traveling the world as a backpacker. The German radio technician wanted to meet new people, other cultures and different languages. It was his idea to capture his experiences in these places in a book.

In this way, the young European took a long journey with only $17 in his pocket. However, he knew that his skill in repairing any electrical appliance and his command of six languages ​​(he spoke German, English, Spanish, French, Swedish and Arabic) would allow him to survive in any nation. His desire to experience new adventures did not give him up in the face of adversity.

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After leaving his city, hettenhausen visited europa On foot and in all types of vehicles. Later, he came to Turkey and Iraq, where he was in prison for a few days after being mistaken for an American spy. same happened in Iran, In that country they put him in jail for a few weeks because they thought he was a communist. However, this would not stop him.

The German expert continued his journey and visited Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Singapore, He arrived in this last Asian nation disguised as a “Turkey” on a ship, where he also worked as a mechanic for six months. Later, he went to Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and East Timor. then he left Australia, He worked there only for one year. His travels continued in New Zealand, the Philippines, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan, In “Land of the Rising Sun” he was an English teacher for six months.

Later, he traveled America As a sailor on a Norwegian ship. Later, he visited Canada, Alaska, Mexico and a large part of Central American countries. After that, he reached there via Colombia, Ecuador Peru, In our country, he spoke with Business On 10 January 1965. there she told him Dean told the newspaper Chronicler that his idea was to move to Brazil and end up in Southern Africa. in that continent i will work “One year to be able to visit all your countries” and returned to Germany to complete his degree in electronic engineering.

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hettenhausen He explained that he was on this very long journey to fulfill his dream of writing a book, which would be titled: “I saw the other side of the world”, He also revealed that he met his compatriots in Nicaragua Dietmar Hayden, 25 years old. They met when they saw their country’s flags in their backpacks at a boat station in the Nicaraguan capital.

Haydn told this newspaper that he left Münster, the capital of Westphalia (Germany), in August 1962. At that time, he traveled to the city of St. Paul, Minnesota, America, as part of a student exchange. there he studied Agriculture Science in the university of that state. After completing his degree, he moved to California, where he worked for more than six months. Then, he went to Central America to learn about the socioeconomic reality of his countries.

Along with Agricultural Engineer helmut On their crazy journey ever since they met. However, after living in our country, he left England, it is because of hettenhausen He followed his journey through only a few South American and African countries. Nothing else was heard about him. It was also not known whether he wrote the book or not. Thus began the incredible story of this German traveler, who was imprisoned in two Arab countries and came to Peru more than 50 years ago.

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