How I Accidentally Became a Solo Traveler
Have you ever traveled anywhere alone, either for business or pleasure? What is your favorite part of being alone? How do you handle eating alone, shopping alone, walking somewhere alone?
Solo Traveling
Just a few short years ago, I was a competitive triathlete on the Big Sexy Racing triathlon team. I was in the right place at the right time and was awarded a slot to race in Austria 6 weeks later. My teammates encouraged me to go and told me it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I was in between contracts for work and had the time to go. My savings account said I could spare the expense. My only apprehension was that I didn’t have a partner and I didn’t have any close friends to take with me. But since you have to make the decision when the spot is offered, I paid my money and decided that I could figure out everything else later.
Not only did I have to continue training, but I had to make flight reservations, lodging reservations and arrangements to fly my bike over to Europe. Up until this time, every triathlon or bike ride I had done just required me to put my bike on the rack on the back of my car and drive. Oh, and did I mention that I only had 6 weeks.
Making the Arrangements
I decided that I would go for the race and then stay as a tourist since my bike would be on a round trip and sent back home immediately after the race. For some odd reason, I decided on 40 days. To this day, I have no idea why. I booked my bike transportation, booked my airline ticket and booked my lodging for the race. Then I went back to training so I could try to be somewhat competitive.
Surprise, Surprise
They say life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans. I continued my training in consultation with the most important man in my life at the time, Chuck Kemeny of LifeSport Coaching, I suddenly became more and more exhausted. Chuck said to take a little time off, that maybe I was overdoing it. When I mentioned that I wanted to lay down on the sidewalk and take a nap during one of my short runs, I decided it was time to see a doctor and he agreed.
Long story short, the doctor ran several tests, but could not figure out what the cause of my exhaustion was. Eventually she ran one more test and bingo, this mature teenager was officially diagnosed with mononucleosis or glandular fever caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. You might remember mono as the “kissing disease” in high school. To this day, I’ve never figured out how I contracted this virus. The doctor wrote on my lab report “I don’t think you should do the bike tour”. I started laughing because she had no idea that I was scheduled to swim 1.2 miles, cycle 56 miles and run 13.1 miles, a half marathon. At this point, I’m about 3 ½ weeks out from leaving. I thanked her and told her that my race was paid for, my bike was already shipped, I already had my flight reservation and a place to stay. I promised her that if I didn’t feel I could do the event on race day, I would not.
Almost Race Day
By this time, I was still extremely exhausted. Normally I would plan every detail of my 40 days, but I just didn’t have the energy. So, I decided to not only be a solo traveler, but to wing the itinerary for all of the days after my race.
My flight was uneventful and I spent two nights in Munich. I visited some castles there and just took it really easy. I then proceeded to Austria where my accommodations overlooked a beautiful little stream with a backdrop of mountains. They were on the third floor though, which meant climbing up 3 flights of stairs. I needed to rest at each floor. In my mind, I was trying to figure out how I was possibly going to do the race. My bike arrived at the race site with no problem and I did a little test ride on the bike path across the road from my room.
I knew a few other people that were racing and I managed to do the practice swim with them. It was absolutely gorgeous swimming in a crystal-clear lake and looking up at the mountains every time I took a breath. On race morning, I had no idea where I was going next. I managed to talk to some friends who told me they were driving to Croatia. I hitched a ride with them, ever so grateful that I had shipped my bike home because there was only room for me and my small bag. I did start the race and successfully completed the swim. I was pulled from the bike course at around mile 43, after I had done ALL of the really steep and grueling hills. I knew that I had made the right decision to come and experience whatever part of the day I could.
The Trip of a Lifetime
I managed to visit 8 other countries, starting with Croatia where my father was born. I saw the church where he was baptized. I figured everything out day by day, a very unusual way of operating for me. I took trains, buses and BlablaCar to travel from place to place. I stayed in hostels and a few hotels. What was most memorable was meeting people of all ages from all over the world and learning more about how they think about life.
I called this my childhood live history tour, seeing everything that I had studied as a little girl. This included the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, the Herculaneum Ruins in Naples, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the gondola rides in Venice, the wonderful museums in Florence, the Coliseum in Rome, Versailles in France, London Bridge and the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard, the Parthenon in Greece, the beautiful blue roofs in Santorini and the Cliffs of Mohr in Ireland. I was pleased to be able to spend my last day abroad with my sister and brother-in-law who were arriving in Dublin as I was leaving to go back home. The trip was tiring and exhilarating at the same time.
I kept track of all of my expenses and was amazed that I did everything that I wanted to do and didn’t spend anywhere near what I thought 40 days in Europe would cost. The fact that it was so enjoyable and cost a fraction of what I had imagined intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to do it again!
Eventually, I recovered from the mono. The memories, however, will last a lifetime.
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