travel solo

this was a really exhilerating experience. i went to europe: london, france, italy. spent two weeks traveling around and two weeks on a volunteer restoration project in provence.

i have traveled in the past with both friends and family, but it didn’t compare. this time i was constantly meeting new people from all over the world. a big backpack with a flag on it is an automatic invitation to chat, even more so if you’re on your own. hostels, cafes, and line-ups also make for perfect meeting grounds.

plus, so so so much freedom. its important to take advantage of this, be a tad selfish. i was able to visit and savour every art museum and gallery without feeling like i was dragging someone along. i could get up to watch the sunrise or sleep in a little after a late night. and i was able to skip some of the more touristy sites… without feeling even the smallest slice of guilt.

having said this, traveling solo is not always ideal. gotta watch out for yourself. sometimes a collective effort is nice in trying to figure out languages and train schedules… i didn’t eat at many restaurants… also, there were a few times when i longed for people who knew me, people with whom i could skip the small talk and really share the experience. but oh what a great challenge.

Everyone EVERYONE should travel solo at least once in their life. i feel like i can anything now. woo.

i’m finding the planning process really exhilerating, a little overwhelming; it feels good to keep it loose and forget compromising. i will be away for a month which seems like a long looooong time. regardless, im proud to have the means to be able to do this for myself. gotta watch out though; i’ll probably be broke by the time i get back. oh well.

i’m excited. i’m scared. i’m feeling an overabundance. it’s three weeks away, i’m pretty much ready to go, i have everything i need, my itinerary is loosely set… eeee.

I’m still working on where exactly I want to go. I will definitely be spending 2 weeks in provence, volunteering on a village restoration project, probably stopping in Paris, flying in and out of London… would love to venture east into Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague… so much to see!

for a trip to europe in june/july! woo! i am convinced that traveling solo will be great: going by my own schedule, meeting lots of people, locals and other travelers… i will be free to create, write, collage…. i tend to be more of a typical tourist when traveling with another person. none of that this time around.

i am very inspired by this book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375756639/sr=8-4/qid=1146615322/ref=pd_bbs_4/002-0414456-6387257?%5Fencoding=UTF8
by Sabrina Ward Harrison, her trip to Italy, and “re-coloring” her life.

renew my passport
chat with others who have traveled solo
explore the travel section at the library
research possibility of volunteering while traveling
... or making money while traveling

just found this fabulous website… an online travel magazine for women who plan to travel solo. great networking opportunities and inspiring stories.

http://Tangodiva.com/

any stories or tips or ideas or dreams?