I am convinced that solo travel is the way to go. Here's the story behind my stories.
For the longest time, I felt like I was always traveling - even when perched on the sofa. No, I don't have an issue measuring d/T or any love for VR goggles. It's because I'm living in a new-to-me country. There is so much to see and experience that even a mundane drive can feel like fun. Except for that one time when my GPS told me to drive off the Bay Bridge -- and into the Pacific Ocean. (That would have been too adventurous.)
I like to tell the truth about myself. And when folks ask me how I ended up where I am, I give them the condensed version: I came for love and stayed for the weather. My Canadian pals back home get it.
I can set my watch by the seasons here, but love? We're talking storm of the century. That's often the way it goes. But when you're going through divorce in a foreign country, that's a truly unique experience - one I wish never to repeat.
I had to learn how to navigate my new life, glitchy GPS and all.
I'm happy to report that I'm happy now. And for the last few years I've been gladly exploring California on my own. I now have a solid career, lovely friends, and creative outlets galore. But when it came time for me to spend my first winter holiday completely alone, something shifted. I didn't feel satisfied by the thought of a winter beach trip, one of my go-to get-aways. I started to feel a deep need to get out of town. Way out of town.
Out of the country, even.
So, on a bit of whim, I booked a list minute trip to Italy for the holidays. Alone. I was instantly hooked. So much so that I decided to go to again - three times that year. And the whole time I was traipsing around Europe a single question kept swirling in my noggin.
Why. Didn't. I. Do. This. Sooner?
Going it alone has brought me so much joy and self-confidence that I decided to add my testimony to that of other women who have stopped waiting for someone else to take them on a trip. The world goes round with or without me. I choose to be a part of a wider world. It is my hope you do, too. And if my blog helps to inspire you even a tiny little bit? Totes worth it.
So this blog features selected thoughts and experiences about what it means to travel abroad, as a single woman *ahem* of a certain age. Everything from Amazon toiletry hacks to more thoughtful pieces on what I have learned about myself and the world on the road alone. Mostly about stuff that I wish I had known before my travels, or are just too good to keep under wraps. Like why I am fanatical about a certain travel pillow.
My stories will mostly concern traveling to Western Europe from North America. Though I will cover some American cities that took my breath away.
I'll also put up a few things for sale that feature my travel photography. No pressure at all.
Speaking of buying things, I'm not particularly wealthy so I do not travel as such. It's all coach and 3 star hotels for me. Except I go off season. And that means I find rock bottom fares and stay in amazing places for a fraction of high season rates. It's pretty easy to pull off - especially when you don't have to accommodate someone else's schedule!
Oh, and in case you're wondering about the title of my blog. Allora andiamo! is Italian for, Ok, let's go! But it also means more than that. It's about accepting things the way they are and moving forward. It's about how my Italian friends see life - a more dynamic version of the British "Keep Calm and Carry On" thing.
And, it's a great travel philosophy! Things will happen. The trick to making every accident a happy one is to move into radical acceptance of the moment. I ended up in Germany by mistake once, decades ago. True story. And one I keep telling because it was amazing!
Thanks for sticking around and hearing my story. If you like what you read, please feel free to subscribe. You'll get notified every time I write a new post.
In Adventure,
Kelly
