“One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more.”– Thomas Jefferson
When I used to travel around the country for my job, and I didn’t have a dinner engagement, I enjoyed eating out alone. I’d find a cool restaurant, take a book and away I’d go. If the place had a counter at the bar, I’d sit there to dine.
It’s not always comfortable doing things alone that people traditionally do in couples. The movies? Vacations? Museums? Do it a couple of times and your comfort level will rise, I swear.
Solo-ness has its plusses: You don’t have to talk, wait for anyone or agree on plans.
I’ve often thought of picking up and flying to Paris alone for a few days. One day I’d randomly walk wherever my legs took me, stopping here and there for delectable little snacks and window shopping to my heart’s content. The second day I’d go to the train station, look up at the departure board and take a train to a town about two hours away. It wouldn’t have to be a well-known destination. It would be a mystery.The last day I’d hire an erudite guide to take me on a private tour of The Louvre.
Spending time with myself makes me think about things that might not otherwise occur to me and to spend some time focused solely on the world around me.
0 Responses to ““I vant to be alone””
susan grant says:
Traveling alone can be very liberating from the compromises we are so used to making; noone to say “let’s eat now” when you’re not hungry yet, or just want dessert for dinner, noone to say “let’s go to the Louvre” when you’d rather see the wonderful impressionists at the Musee d’Orsay instead, or just shop to your heart’s content, or as you said, just hop on a train for a day trip.
I’ve gotten into the habit of going to Paris a few days ahead of my husband who either meets me there or elsewhere. It’s the best of both ways of traveling.
Andrea says:
Some of these things I prefer to do alone. Art museums, for example. I always go alone. I bring an iPod onto which I have downloaded specific playlists for art-viewing and just wander around at my own pace, not having to keep track of anyone else. It’s wonderful.