I've travelled quite a lot alone.
I don't necessarily think I want to go alone but circumstances have often lead
to either you go solo or you don't go at all...
So I Just Go.
There's a special freedom to travelling on your own.
You can eat wherever you want. You can see whatever you want.
You can choose to pay the overpriced steak and frites tourist menu.
You can spend an entire day watching Friends in a cafe on the island Koh Phangnan.
You can spend only ten minutes in the Louvre, if thats what you want.
You can have three gelatos, not feel an ounce of guilt.
You can do the same 5 hour hike in the Italian Riviera two days in a row.
You can wake up when you want. You can go to sleep when you want.
You can spend two hours drawing a building in Venice.
You can change your itinerary on a whim without an ounce of hesitation.
You can literally do whatever you want.
This isn't to say its easy and perfect. This also isn't to say that you can't do those things
with a buddy. It just works differently. There are more considerations you must think about. There is someone else to think about.
Typical 'on your own' pictures.... Somewhat embarrassing.
But sometimes.. you just want to remember that you were actually there.
I've had some rough times alone.
Moments of uncertainty, of fear, but most of all, of loneliness.
I've called my mom in tears from Thailand. I've cut my itinerary short in Italy.
But in the end I obviously wouldn't really change a thing.
There is nothing better than great company when you're travelling. But when you're alone, that company just may have to be a former stranger that becomes a new friend.
http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/06/the-costs-and-savings-of-traveling-alone/
