Best of all,it’s Italy! The Italian waiters respect a woman sitting alone at a restaurant table,whatever age you might be. In fact,fake flirting with Italian waiters is one of the real joys of dining solo in Venice.
I think I’m more open to having conversations with strangers when I’m alone. Someone at the next table starts chatting,or a waiter gives you some tips for their favourite local places,or as happened this trip,you drop into a luxury store for directions and find out that the person you ask is Australian,with an interesting story about why they are living in Venice.
You meet people when you’re travelling with friends,but somehow it seems more special when you’re alone.
But there are a few things about solo travel I don’t love.
Being sick when you’re travelling alone is truly awful,even if you don’t need to go to hospital. You don’t have someone to go to the pharmacy for you,or to carry your bags if you’re feeling faint,or monitor your illness and know when to call the doctor. Hotels and tour leaders sometimes help,but you’re not their sole concern,as you would be for a partner or friend.
If other things go wrong,such as cancelled flights,you can feel abandoned. And you can’t lighten the burden by sharing the funny side of it with someone close.
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For some reason,I find travelling alone on a cruise the most difficult. I’m surrounded by couples and family groups,and it seems quite pointed that I’m alone,in a way that’s different to being in a restaurant,where they may only see you once.
If you don’t join in,they tend to consider you a bit of an oddball.
Sometimes you also become the target for the most annoying person on the cruise,who is looking for someone lonely on whom to unload their boring opinions.
Cruises have get-togethers for solo travellers,and people do meet on tours,but it’s not really a solution unless you luck out with people who share your interests. I’ve always preferred my own company to someone who is tedious;I imagine most people who choose to travel solo feel the same way.
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There can be safety issues for women who travel alone,more so than men. It can be a bit limiting,especially at night in certain cities.
But last night I went out in Venice solo,wandering aimlessly,grabbing a slice of pizza and a gelato,and watching the crowds at Saint Marco square from a comfortable distance.
It was wonderful.