So you want to try out traveling solo for the first time. Well, you may get hit by a bird, eat alone for the first time, or end up talking to yourself when you travel solo for the first time. You may even become best friends with your selfie stick.
But personally, I don’t see anything wrong with any of these things (besides the bird – that one I would stay away from).
Traveling solo had never really crossed my mind until a few weeks ago. Well it had, but not as something I would be doing before I graduated college. Realizing that I wanted to go somewhere, and having no one to go with me, it was either stay in Seville for the weekend or spread my wings and explore on my own.
As much as I love Seville, it was time for me to push myself further out of my comfort zone and travel by myself for a few days.
I settled on the city of Malaga, the coastal capital of the Province of Malaga. I had heard good things about the city itself, and honestly, didn’t know where else to go. So, I was off to Malaga on my own!
As nervous and anxious as I was to visit a foreign city in a foreign country alone, I can say that looking back, those few days taught me a lot.
1. Traveling Solo for the First Time Taught Me Independence
I would like to consider myself a pretty independent person when it comes to most things, but after traveling solo, I know that I can be extremely independent.
I was able to rely on myself for getting around (I also learned my directional skills are on point), finding great places to eat (whether it be ice cream or an actual restaurant), and creating a list of to-dos and actually doing them.
2. I Like to Talk – a Lot
I’m not sure if it’s that I like to talk, or if I like to hear my own voice, or both. But I don’t think I have ever talked so little in my life. Meeting new people in my hostel, talking to waiters and even a few strangers (even if it was in Spanish) filled me with such happiness!
Don’t get me wrong, I loved meeting and talking to all these local and foreign people, but try going a day with only hearing the little voice inside your head – it’s the weirdest feeling in the world. Sometimes that little voice wants out! I found myself randomly narrating to myself what I was doing, like “Hmmm, gotta find myself a cafe!” or “Ugh. This ice cream sucks!” (which it did). Yes, food is always on my mind.
3. Spanish Proficiency or Spanish Deficiency
As most people in the Southern provinces of Spain don’t speak much English, I found myself getting along just fine. Ordering in Spanish, talking to the waiters (and even the strangers I mentioned before), and sadly, talking to the information center when I lost my map, I could understand everything and hold a legitimate conversation! Well, almost everything.
My second day I was approached by two girls who spoke Spanish, and I swear they asked for an ATM (pronounced: ah-teh-eh-may). Of course I could help – they’re everywhere! And in this instant, there was one right on the wall next to me, so I pointed and said “Alli!” They smiled a pitiful smile and sighed with a “Noooo.” I told them I was sorry, wondering why that ATM wasn’t good enough. A few seconds later as I was walking away, I realized they were looking for H&M (pronounced: ah-che-y-eh-may). Oh, c’mon!! They sound identical; it’s probably a common misunderstanding.
Later that day as I was people watching while sitting on a bench one a busy street lined with many shops, when an older lady sat down next to me. I continued to people watch until she started talking to me. Her accent was extremely thick, and even harder to understand since she seemed to yell all of her words. From what I understood, she was going to her brother’s house to see her brother. What a deeply intellectual conversation!
4. Embrace the Awkward
Let’s be honest, I’m maybe one of the most awkward people you will ever meet. Not socially awkward, but socially weird, quirky, and simply put, flat out weird. But, throwing myself into this world of solo travel, I became slightly socially awkward.
During the first night’s free sangria night at my hostel, I grabbed a glass of sangria and sat in-between two groups of people. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself. Do all these people know each other already? Did they just meet? I didn’t know and felt like I would be intruding. So there I sat, drinking alone, until finally, thank God, the group next to me started to talk to me. And that is when I realized that I should’ve been the one to talk first; they probably just thought I looked like a lonely lost puppy drinking sangria, and they were probably right.
This statement also has to do with using a selfie stick. You may be judging me or you may not be, but who would take your picture when there’s no one around but you and the selfie stick!? You’re traveling solo… There’s no shame in using a selfie stick to snap a few pics of you and the surroundings. Even if there are people, whip it out and have no shame.
5. Eating Dinner Alone Can Actually Be Fun
My hostel recommended that I try La Brocheteria, which sells tapas and a drink for 2 euros. I couldn’t pass that up. Three tapas and three tintos later, I had been sitting and eating alone for over an hour. I chose to sit outside and managed to keep myself busy by people watching the entire time.
When you find yourself traveling solo for the first time, you’ll end up eating alone. But this offers you time to yourself to think and enjoy the simplicity of life around you, especially when there isn’t any wifi or a date to talk to. Surprisingly, I would definitely do it again.
Going into this short trip with me, myself, and I, I imagined myself wishing to be back in Sevilla: my foreign safe haven. To my surprise, I never once wished that. Traveling solo for the first time is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself! Here’s to more solo experiences!