A Wren Says

Last year when I stayed at the Villa Copenhagen, I made sure to visit the gym to do a well-rounded review. I was set to take pictures of the layout, but there was a problem. There was another woman there working out. I felt self-conscious and certainly didn’t want to capture someone else unawares in my online content. So, I put away my phone and focused on fitness. Then she came up to me and asked me a question about a piece of equipment. I did my best to assist. And we discovered that we were both Americans, who happened to meet all the way in Denmark. We said our goodbyes to get going with our days of sightseeing.

I saw her again at breakfast and she invited me to join her family, all visiting from New York. They welcomed me into the conversation and gave me some must see places for my upcoming trip.

A couple sat next to me, largely silent, in the darkened Restaurant Cofoco. As I enjoyed the tasting menu by myself, I took a breath and decided to engage them in conversation. “I like your shoes.” They came to life, telling me about their journey and learning about mine.

Solo travel can be nerve wracking, but I have found that I am never truly alone. There is always someone else, there’s always a conversation, there’s always some interaction. Even if we don’t continue to stay in touch and become lifelong friends, those interactions enrich my travel for those fleeting moments. I’m glad that I’m making the effort to travel alone more, but I’m even more grateful for the people I meet along the way.