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Considering it recently being Valentine’s Day, I decided to focus on the positive aspects of being a single woman when surrounded by those who are in love. It may seem depressing, empowering, or both depending on your outlook, perspective, or perhaps even the way you were raised. Regardless of what you may think of your relationship identification, I think it’s important to realize that you should not let the happiness or life of others impact yours in a negative way. If your friends are happy and in love, you should be happy for them. If seeing your friends happy and in love upsets you or makes you jealous, then it honestly means you are not a very good friend. Personally I don’t care much for this holiday. In fact, even when I was in a long-term relationship, I didn’t find much significance in the day. The only important aspect of the holiday had to do with the fulfilment of my sweet tooth. I especially loved the day after Valentine’s Day because everything would be on a fifty percent discount. So, don’t let this holiday period bring you down. If it does bring you down, just know that one day there will be a person in your life who will appreciate even the most miniscule of things about you. I am a single woman. I don’t have a relationship and I actually don’t plan to have one for some time. I think love and romance is very sweet when it does come around or if it happens to someone close to me like a friend or family member, but I don’t think I have time or patience to commit to anyone other than myself right now. Reading this probably gives the impression that I am selfish. It’s most likely accurate to get this impression. I have this outlook on any potential romance that may come around because I think now is the best time to find myself and really figure out who I am as a person. I have discovered more about myself as a single woman than I have from when I was either dating or in a committed relationship. Mind you, this is from a first-hand experience. If you are in a committed relationship, you have most likely discovered who you are with the help of your partner. For me, it didn’t work this way. I think it may have to do with my personality, but I’m not sure. Regardless, I am a happy single woman. I have freedoms. I have been productive. I have plenty of time to take care of myself. I don’t have to worry about trivial things such as getting worked up over a text message or a few missed calls. I am just focusing on me and I think at this point in my life, it’s the best time to be doing this. I identify as a solo traveler. This to many, seems intimidating. In fact for many of you, the mere thought of traveling anywhere by yourself may seem haunting. I want to share with you why I think it is so wonderful to be a woman and travel to a foreign country by yourself. Imagine boarding a plane, a bus, or a train by yourself. You are sitting down, looking out the window, and anticipating your destination. There’s a feeling in the pit of your stomach. It’s the kind of feeling you get before a job interview, before a first kiss, or before a date with someone special. It’s a little nerve wrecking, but it’s exciting. There is a slight mystery to what happens after the interview, the kiss, or the date. That is what makes it so thrilling. The combination of anxiety and excitement brings your adrenaline up and you get this chemical reaction that is difficult to put into words. That feeling is what I get every time I travel somewhere by myself. Whenever I go to Rome or the time I went to Berlin by myself, I get that feeling. When I finally arrive at my destination, I’m excited. I get to decide where to go, what to see, how long I will be at certain locations. It’s all up to me.
Honestly, the only hard part about traveling by myself is the picture taking. You may have seen the photos of me standing or sitting in front of structures or places? I took those images by setting up a timer on my camera then running and posing. I know it is very strange and unusual, but you got to do what you got to do. Since I am by myself, I have no other choice. It is true, I can ask someone to take it for me but I choose not to. Aside from the difficulty in picture-taking, I enjoy the walking around and exploring. I enjoy observing others while I walk or sit and eat. I feel empowered by traveling in this way. I have traveled around with friends and with family. Traveling with friends is way more fun than with family but I have a better time when I am by myself. When traveling with other people, I find it more difficult to try to meet other travelers or locals. When by myself, I got to meet way more people than I have in all my traveling experiences combined. I enjoy talking to people and learning a few things about them. I regret not documenting these interactions, but I have made it my goal to begin doing so. This may seem strange in the way I have decided to go about seeing the world, but it is the best way I could have chosen. I hope this makes you think about the next time you travel, whether that is alone or with others. Regardless, thank you for reading. Stay positive.
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On the wall was written "save a gelato, lick a pussy."  I have been to Rome many times, it is a beautiful city that provides each visitor a unique experience. I decided to revisit the ancient city for a day of photography and exploration. I made a plan to visit the spots that have high rates of tourist visitations. This was mainly because I wanted to do a reshoot of some of the places I had visited before and I think it would be a great way to provide images of these places for the people who won’t get the opportunity to travel and see them in person. After getting off the train and having lunch at the American fast food chain located across the street from Roma Termini, I headed in the direction I thought was the infamous Colosseo I walked not knowing 100% if I was going in the correct direction. I decided to leave my phone in my backpack so I wouldn’t get distracted and drain the battery. However doing this made me always a little unsure of where I was going. Surprisingly, I found my way to the Colosseo. Before reaching the structure, I had to walk down a street with a very high wall. On the wall was written “save a gelato, lick a pussy.” I thought this was probably the funniest thing to have seen while heading in the direction of a well-populated area. I was in such a rush to photograph the structure that I didn’t get the chance to snap a photo of these wise words. However, now that I know that is there, you should expect me to return and even show friends. I yelled Italian curse words at the two boys and they left me alone  I arrived and took out my camera. I took some shots then turned on the timer. I was waiting for the right moment to pose for my camera. It was at this moment I felt most awkward. Even before posing, I felt odd. I could feel people making faces in reaction to what I was planning to do. It was just a little uncomfortable but a part of me felt like I had no choice. I honestly didn’t feel like risking someone running off with my only camera. I changed to about 3 other locations within the vicinity for “posing.” During the process of finding the right spot, I was approached by a selfie-stick salesman, two dancing boys, and a waiter from a restaurant near my shooting location. The salesman was easy to brush off. I yelled Italian curse words at the two boys and they left me alone. I was sitting on a ledge trying to take a video when this waiter approached me. Feeling cornered, I decided to be “friendly” to him. He seemed like an okay person but it still made me uncomfortable. Lucky for me, he was still on the clock and I was able to make my escape as he returned to his job. Desperate to get rid of this man, I told him to not waste his time on me because I have a boyfriend... almost immediately after he heard the word 'boyfriend,' he began walking in the opposite direction.  I headed down below from the ledge I was sitting on, and photographed a spray-painting artist. Soon after, I filmed a man performing “Volare” on guitar. Although many people only passed by, he had a cheerful performance. Next to him was a painter who looked as though he was in the process of painting a new piece. I continued in the direction towards three tanks and two military men. They had the typical uniform of military men that can be found in Italy: camouflage, beret, black boots, and what I think was a machine gun – I don’t know much about guns, sorry. As I was approaching the ancient central site of Rome, known as the Forum, a man approached me asking if I was Italian or American, followed by a suggestion of joining me while I photograph things. Desperate to get rid of this man, I told him to not waste his time on me because I have a boyfriend. This wasn’t true but it made a great success because almost immediately after he heard the word ‘boyfriend,’ he began walking in the opposite direction.   After spending about twenty or so minutes in this general area, I walked in the direction that I thought was the Vatican. I was wrong. However I came to the Pantheon. This area was completely populated. Although the Pantheon is a very beautiful structure, I was more interested in a guitar player who had a large audience. After capturing this moment, I walked down a path that I had thought would lead me to the Trevi Fountain. Again, I was wrong. Nonetheless, I came across a market that was coming to a close. I had never seen this before and was able to capture a clip of the various stands.  Continuing my adventure, I found myself at a point in the city where most local Italians are located (in my opinion). There are two parallel streets filled with shops ranging from designer, boutiques, and the mass-produced, “affordable” clothing stores. It was very difficult to spot any tourist in this area. These streets were filled with well-dressed men and women. I recall seeing an older woman proudly carrying a large Gucci shopping bag. It was very nice and durable for a shopping. In my experience they are usually made of a thick paper-like material. This women’s shopping bag seemed to be made of a cloth material of some sort. Trying to escape these crowds, I went down a few different alleys and ended up in Piazza de Popolo. It was here that I realized the time of day and temperature. It was very cold and I had only my flimsy leather jacket. I decided to take the metro back to the train station because it was too cold and too far to walk. When I finally returned home in Latina, I had discovered that I walked 12 km (~8 mi). You can imagine how my feet felt when I took off my shoes then socks. The next day I was very sore in the leg area. Although tired and sore, I had the memories of that day to stay with me for the rest of my life. This day gave me the chance to realize what it means to travel alone. I was by myself, but I did not feel lonely. I enjoyed experiencing the city at my own pace, even if at times it was very fast and long. It was an adventure and I enjoyed about every moment of it. I hope to come to Rome again soon so I can experience a different part of the city then share my experience with you. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it was entertaining and inspiring. I have placed the photos taken from the day below. Check them out and let me know what you think ! Do you have experiences that may have been similar to mine? Have you ever thought about solo travel but are too scared or nervous to go for it? What sorts of things would you like for me to share? Comment below, or feel free to shoot me an email! Thank you again and have a wonderful week! |
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