Solo Travel: Liberating or sad?
I have loved travelling since I was young, and only recently have I started taking a few trips on my own. I sometimes questioned my choices, as others questioned why I travelled alone and whether I was lonely. Certainly not. I enjoyed the freedom of creating my own itinerary, which often included walking around with a camera to capture the sights and really practising the different functions. This can be boring for others, but alone, I don't disturb anyone and can fully immerse myself in this hobby. I also love to wander. I don't get on public transport in a city I don’t know well unless I've done some research and really decided to visit, especially at night. I walk everywhere, rain or shine, and not everyone likes to do that. I also have slow digestion, so when I travel alone, I can eat when it suits me and not have to spend a long time in restaurants for lunch and dinner. I also like to eat locally, at places locals choose, and in a cosier setting than trendy or posh ones.
Sure, in the evening, it might look weird to people seeing a young woman sitting by herself at a table and eating. I think the first time I travelled by myself and did this, it definitely felt a bit awkward, but over time, I have learned to bring a Kindle or a newspaper, enjoy my food, and not dwell on lengthy conversations or small talk.
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I also join small local food tours, city/history walks, or day excursions to somewhere in a small minivan. I may have chatted a bit with other travellers, but nothing much has ever come of it. When I visited Lisbon for the first time by myself, I found a nice hotel right in the city centre, just a few minutes' walk from the Plaza or Praça do Comércio. It was a lovely time, lovely weather, marred only by sad family news back home, yet I still had a wonderful time. On the last evening, I booked a sunset wine-and-sunset cruise. I found the dock where the boat was moored and waited until the guide and captain had checked in the fellow travellers. I started talking with a girl from America who was sitting near me. As we set off, we ended up at the stern and chatted throughout the tour. It was a lovely sunset sail up and down the River Tagus, and through the 25th of April Bridge, which looks familiar to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. We ended up eating dinner together. That brings me to the point: yes, one can be alone and perhaps look lonely, but when the occasion arises and someone strikes up a conversation, one can make an occasional travel friend. Personally, I find the concept itself liberating, a time for self-reflection and perhaps something you are doing entirely for yourself. When travelling with people, or sharing a room, for that matter, you always need to consider the other person’s sleeping habits and meal times. Consider whether the person has the same sleeping patterns or whether they snore.
I find that when you're alone, you have more time. If I want to sit and enjoy a sunset and take lots of pictures, I don't have to worry about disturbing a friend and then leaving because she is bored. In a museum or while walking around, I can take my time at my own pace, and that's something I have really begun to value and enjoy. I remember travelling to New York once and having the entire day to myself. I loved every minute of it—just me, myself and my camera. I got up early, went for breakfast around Central Park South, and then wandered around Central Park for hours, taking pictures of whatever pretty scenery I wanted. I then walked down toward Bryant Park, where I decided I wanted to see NYU's campus. I got hungry and found a lovely little Greek restaurant, where I enjoyed a souvlaki and a glass of Greek wine. I was still up for walking further, so I kept going. All the way down to the financial district. It was a day of photographing, and something I couldn't have done with someone else, as they probably would have got bored with me stopping everywhere. But that is what I mean by ‘liberating ’: the day was mine to take in: me and the streets of New York. If you have great playlists, interesting podcasts or enticing audiobooks lined up, you can roam as far as you want without interruption.
So, as daunting and scary as it might sound, try it. Whether you’re travelling for music festivals, a cultural junkie, a party seeker, a beach bum, or simply seeking quality downtime, exploring a new city, or photography, you might meet people along the way with the same interests as you. That isn't to say you shouldn't exercise caution, walk around alone late at night, or research how to get from your hotel or Airbnb to a museum or restaurant beforehand; there is no harm in quality ‘you time.’ You might even appreciate and learn to enjoy your own company.
"The best journeys are the ones you take alone, for in solitude, you truly find yourself.” — Unknown
