It has been one year to the day since I took a two-week guided trip to Europe as a single traveler, and it was absolutely one of the best decisions of my life. Throughout this post, I’ll (1) tell you why traveling to Europe was one of the best decisions of my life, and (2) provide you with inspirational take-aways that you can apply to your own ambitions.
My two-week tour took me through 10 european countries and provided me with dozens of experiences that I will never forget. It’s safe to say that I loved every minute of the trip. Traveling as a single tourist as part of a group tour significantly increased my travel experience, enhanced my social connections, and gave me the confidence to get out there and explore to satisfy my own interests and hobbies.
Inspirational Point Number One: don’t be afraid to fly solo in order to take on your own life ambitions.
I almost didn’t take this trip, as I was unable to find somebody to accompany me on this great adventure. On one hand, I’m a social person and really enjoy traveling in the company of others. On the other hand, I wanted to give myself the opportunity to travel regardless whether or not I could find a travel partner. After much consideration, and just about as much research as is required to write an A-grade 10- page term paper, I chose the option to join a guided tour as a single traveler. This option satisfied both of my needs: I could travel abroad as a single traveler, and I would have the opportunity to travel with other like-minded individuals. I had never planned or taken such an ambitious trip before, but my need and desire to travel abroad inspired me to leave concerns of the unknown behind and just go for it.
Inspirational Point Number Two: you don’t have to physically see to get a rich cultural experience
Much of today’s world emphasizes the use of eyesight as a primary means of taking in information. As somebody with little eyesight, I am well aware of the power of the other four senses, and the role they play in all facets of my life. I quickly learned while In Europe that I didn’t need to see to take in all that the cities and towns of Europe had to offer. Actually, I found that the lack of eyesight allowed me to have a rather rich cultural experience. Instead of making the physically seeing of a famous landmark my number one priority, I instead focused my energy and time on finding cultural experiences that enriched my time in Europe. Examples of these included feeling my way along the architecture of Windsor Castle in London, exploring the Roman Coliseum , indulging in local cuisine, interacting with the locals, and many others. Sure, I physically saw landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the canals of Venice, and feel lucky to have been able to see them. However, I also made it a point to take advantage of what experiences my other senses could give me. To give you a perspective of what this was like, I’ll provide some examples below. Please note that this list is nowhere near comprehensive; I have so many experiences from this trip that I could probably write a small book.
Exploring and Eating My Way Through the City Center of Brussels, Belgium:
After a rather long travel day, my tour group arrived in Brussels, Belgium. As the 30-minute orientation to the city center concluded, I introduced myself to one of my fellow tourists, a nice British man who was a retired book publisher. He, like me, was a single traveler. It was a fantastic feeling: eating our way through all the fried food, sampling the chocolates from the many candy shops, checking out the architecture, and finishing the night with a true Belgian beer. The air was cool and somewhat moist, but not humid or sticky. The people around us, very friendly and inviting. The vibe of the city was bright, excitable and vibrant.
A Morning in Lucerne, Switzerland:
I awoke just before sun rise on a warm July morning in Lucerne, Switzerland. I took the time to take in the mostly quiet city center from my corner room in a vintage, but well-kept small hotel. As a side note, in all the times I’ve stayed in hotels, this place was the only one where I was issued a metal door key to my room. Okay, so I’ve just given you a clew as to the era that I grew up in.
After a hearty swiss breakfast, I set out with some of my newly-made tourist friends to take a cruise of Lake Lucerne. A beautiful aqua-marine lake set in the middle of the valley where the town of Lucerne resides. I remember sitting on the deck of the boat and listening to the gentle slap of water against boat hull and shore. These small sounds adding to the peace and quiet of the lake. as the captain shut down the main engines half way through the tour, allowing everybody to take in the beauty of the lake and surrounding area. I remember telling my friends “if I lived here, and had a bad day, I would just come to this lake.” It was one of those experiences where I felt light as air; not a care in the world.
Later, our group traveled by cable car to the top of Mount Stanserhorn. It was a clear day, and the air was crisp and clean. My friends and I hiked to the very top of the mountain, and what an experience. My feet planted on solid, flat ground, the wind in my face, and the smell of earth, water and pine trees. It was a very freeing experience.
Tuscany Dinner Party:
About half way through the trip, our tour overnighted in a small town just outside Florence, Italy. The big attraction for the evening was a tuscany dinner party. The event was held at an olive farm/winery. (In Italy, they go hand in hand.) After a short demonstration on how they make extra virgin olive oil,, (a personal interest as it’s one of my cooking staples), we were treated to a three course meal complete with properly paired Italian wine. Later, and after several glasses of wine, we danced to the live authentic Italian music. The food, full of flavor, some of which I had never tasted before. The wine made me feel like royalty; so smooth and full. On a side note, wine is cheaper to purchase than Coka-Cola in Italy, and buying a five Euro bottle of wine from a service station is loads better than wine you might be served in a typical Italian themed chain restaurant in the United States.
A Swim in the Mediterranean:
After a late night party in Monaco, a half dozen of us awoke early, and walked 30 minutes to where we could take an early morning swim in the Mediterranean. The beach we found was a rocky shoreline, but we didn’t care. The clear-deep blue water of the Mediterranean was calling. I ditched my white cane and shoes a few feet from the water’s edge, and dove in. I couldn’t believe how warm the water was; probably 24 Degrees C (75 degrees F) or so. It really felt like bath water. I swam out a few strokes into the waves, and simply enjoyed swimming around in the warm, clear, deep blue water. The group of us agreed that we could’ve stayed there all day. I’ll never forget the smell (and taste) of salt water, the soft feeling of my skin after getting out of the sea, and the smooth rocks under my feet. The experience was incredible, and definitely worth getting up early for.
Inspirational Point Number Three: be yourself, and don’t make excuses for what you want and need out of life
It’s okay to have your own ideas, ambitions, and dreams. Even if they don’t follow the normal progression of society, or others think your plans are foolish. I say, “go for it; if you want something and you are willing to own its outcome, then just do it.” Do it for yourself and your well-being. Planning and taking this trip to Europe taught me to embrace my ideas, ambitions, and dreams. It was a fantastic adventure, and one that I will never forget. My senses came alive to give me a rich european experience, and I met a lot of great people. As I reflect on my experiences from one year ago, I can’t wait to travel abroad again, and hope to sooner rather than later.
I will conclude this blog post by saying “get out there and explore; take a bit of a risk; work hard; and enjoy your life.”
