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Why go alone? This is the oft-asked question solo travelers grapple with, whether it springs from deep within, or from the lips of curious friends and worried family members. Why aren’t you going with someone, they ask. Wouldn’t it be safer, easier, less intimidating to travel with a companion? Why indeed?
When the three of us began talking about our own travels, we were most curious about each other’s solo trips – where, what, how, and of course: why? In the casual swapping of our stories and those of our friends, we realized that the reasons for going alone are as many and varied as the travelers themselves. For some of us, the first solo trip is less a personal choice than a last resort: family and friends couldn’t commit, partners were too busy or didn’t exist. For others, traveling alone fulfilled a long-held dream, sometimes years in the making. But whether propelled by fierce independence or circumstance, each of us found that the urge to travel had simply become too strong to ignore any longer. Facing down assorted worries – loneliness, vulnerability, fear of the unknown—we packed our bags and headed out, on our own.
Traveling alone can be as challenging as it is liberating, and for many women, especially those of us who’ve been told that “we shouldn’t,” learning to navigate the inevitable ups and downs of solo adventure can be surprisingly satisfying. Every obstacle overcome is all the more exhilarating, each small triumph—the meal you hope you’ve ordered actually appears on your table—more intensely gratifying. With each step, we learn that the world reveals itself in startling and vivid ways when experienced without the filter of someone else’s viewpoint. Perhaps this is why we remember our solitary trips in such remarkable detail.
Despite the fact that these solo journeys are often undertaken with fear and trepidation—or perhaps because of that—it is all the more astonishing that it can really be such a liberating and fun experience. Untied to the whims and schedules—and opinions and expectations—of others, we are free to do what we like when we like. We learn to rely on ourselves, and this greater self-confidence fuels us as we tackle each new day. Through the sometimes hilarious process of trial and error, we learn a great deal about ourselves along the way. As solo travelers, we are more exposed and vulnerable, and we are all the more aware of our actions as a result. Undiluted by the comforting presence of a companion, all of this—the freedom, the encounters, the obstacles overcome, the self-awareness—make for more intense and textured journeys. Perhaps most important of all, we learn, very simply, to be good and reliable companions to ourselves.
Knowing how many of our women friends had traveled on their own – or at least talked about giving it a try – we were astonished to find that no volume of women’s solo travel stories existed. Certainly the travel lit sections were overflowing with stories by men, and we were aware of several wonderful single-author accounts of solo adventure by women such as Robyn Davidson or Mary Morris. But we wanted a book that would present a wide array of experiences and shine a light on the growing numbers of women who are exploring every corner of the globe. We wanted to inspire other women to listen to the inner voice urging them on, to put those fears on hold. And we wanted stories that told it straight: what went wrong, what went right, what was it really like?
We were amazed and gratified by the enthusiastic response to our call for submissions, and dazzled by the range of voices and experiences. Working on this book was an inspiring and exciting process as we read through all the wonderful, wild, strange, poignant and funny stories. Certainly we were prepared for tales of adventure and independence – and we got those in spades, from scorching African deserts to rain-chilled islands in the North Atlantic – but we were intrigued by the number of stories that focused on cross-cultural connection and friendship. Interestingly it seems that traveling solo opens wide the possibility for connecting with others, perhaps because we must rely on the kindness of strangers or simply because we are free to interact in new ways. Over and over we read about memorable, if fleeting, bonds made during the course of a trip, whether on a crowded train through India, a quiet wood in Ireland, or a bustling village in Senegal. Although women are often cautioned about the dangers of traveling alone, these stories show that warmth and friendliness are a common experience.
Editing A Woman Alone made us long to hit the road ourselves, to put down our work and take off – obviously the stories were casting their spell. We hope you will experience the same feeling as you read, whether you are a seasoned traveler or contemplating your first solo journey. We think you’ll find compatriots in this volume, a travel tip, good laugh, a new locale and perhaps a little inspiration.
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