London, England.
My time living in England was winding down. I knew that I needed to make each weekend count before the movers came to haul away the accumulation of my years of living abroad. Even though I’d relocated to the UK without knowing anyone, I was still afraid of a weekend jaunt alone. Where would I stay? What would I do? What was I thinking?
Traveling as a single woman can be daunting, but spending time alone on a plane - or for a long train ride - can be cathartic. The silence of the mind can be deafening, especially for those of us who don’t take the time to replenish ourselves. Existential angst aside, working past the mental roadblocks to traveling alone is the half the battle.
There are plenty of practical tips available for women who travel solo. And they all read much like listening to your mother or a self-defense instructor.
“Don’t go anywhere alone at night.”
“Stay in a safe part of town.”
“Wrap your purse across your body.”
“Walk with determination and make eye contact with strangers.”
So let’s not go there. You know how to carry yourself in public. You know how to take care of yourself, and you’re savvy enough to know better than to get into a stranger’s car after a few drinks at a bar. But what do you do when eating a meal alone at a restaurant? There’s no one to talk to, and it can be awkward to pull out a book to read while munching on your Caesar salad. It’s always entertaining to people watch.. and who isn’t guilty of occasionally eavesdropping on a particularly juicy conversation? But in the silent moments after ordering, while munching on some bread and sipping quietly on your diet soda, there is nothing to do except sit and be still. Take time to reflect on your day, where you want to go tomorrow, what you will write about when you return to your hotel room. Get lost in the labyrinth of adventures that are solely yours to enjoy.
There is no easy answer for how to enjoy a table for one, especially at first. It’s simply something to get used to doing each day of your trip. Before you realize it, your journey will be winding down and you will have enjoyed lingering over museum displays that would bore your children, eaten food you wanted to savor, rested when you were tired, and browsed in boutiques for as long as you chose to and not felt guilty for holding back the rest of your traveling companions. As you get further into your travels, you’ll find it easier and more serene to keep your own company.
