I always knew that I wanted to travel solo one day; I just never realised that it would take becoming a mother to finally push me.
It sounds kind of contradictory, doesn’t it? How could becoming a mother be the reason I decided to leave my little one for three days to go on a solo trip?
Two words: self-care. Over the last two years of being a parent, I’ve learned the hard way that my health, happiness, and hobbies are just as important as my son’s—if not more so. Without feeling whole and happy myself, it’s pretty hard to pass that feeling and example on to him.
For the three months prior to my trip, I was battling with myself about booking it. I kept trying to talk myself out of it, allowing my mind to invent every possible problem. Once I had officially booked it, I had a mini panic attack and immediately regretted my decision. What if something happened to me? What if my son needed me? What if the plane crashes? What if? What if? What if? I tried very hard to silence that inner critic and instead leaned into the fear.
What if I love it? What if I learn something new? What if I gain more confidence? This is what I decided to focus on, and that fear soon turned to excitement.
I must admit, I’m not the best flyer. There’s something really unnatural to me about an 80-tonne hunk of metal flying through the sky. Unfortunately, we had some turbulence on the way there, and straight away my mind started imagining the worst. I kept telling myself, I just need to get there safely and get home safely for my son!
So, there I was. At the end of August, I found myself in Venice, Italy. I was sensible and booked a hotel not too far from Marco Polo Airport. The hotel I stayed at was called Hotel Arlecchino in Cannaregio. My room was perfect; it overlooked the canal where I could people-watch and admire the many boats cruising by. I also had a lovely flower bed outside my window, which boasted an array of beautiful pink flowers.
Rain was predicted for my stay, but much to my surprise, the next morning I awoke to glorious sunshine. I immediately got up, got ready, and put on my cute flowery skirt, ready to explore the wonders of Venice. I must admit, there really is no place like it. Being near a constant flow of water, with its hidden alleyways and glorious sights, felt very tranquil and magical. I wasn’t able to use my phone away from my hotel’s WiFi, and this invited a deeper sense of presence and wholeness to my explorations. I had time to slow down and take everything in. Another beautiful bonus was not having to cook, wash up, or tend to any other household duties.
The food was incredible. I was indulgent and allowed myself to not feel guilty about the gym or healthy eating. I ate pizza, pasta, sea bass, and—much to my amazement—was able to find dairy-free ice cream. I enjoyed day-drinking tipples from rosé to margaritas to limoncello. I ate where the locals ate, which allowed me to fully immerse myself in the culture and gain a real appreciation for their food.
Two places I visited that really stood out to me were Burano and the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo.
The Campo del Ghetto Nuovo (Jewish Ghetto) was quite close to my hotel, around a 20-minute walk away. I found it to be very peaceful, full of stories and opportunities for reflection. I also spent some time browsing the artisan shops.
Burano's rainbow houses were my highlight. Burano is an Instagram dream come to life—a fishing village with houses painted in incredibly bright, contrasting colors. It's whimsical, photogenic, and charming. It's also famous for its lace-making. I caught a Vaporetto (water bus) there, which was a big part of the experience.
I found that during my time away, I had much time for reflection. I remember at one point feeling extreme gratitude for having sight and mobility—two things that can often be taken for granted. I was grateful to be able to walk around and explore and to take in such stunning views. I thought about my son often, especially when I saw little ones walking around with their parents. However, I knew he was safe and happy spending time with his dad. On my last day, I made a point of FaceTiming him, as I was beginning to miss him dearly; this had been the longest time I’d been away from him. It was lovely to see him, speak to him, and show him the boats on the canal.
There were times, mainly in the evenings, when I felt a pang of loneliness creep in. I missed having someone to chat with or share my excitement with. However, I now understand the significance of a solo trip: it was to allow myself to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and the unfamiliar, and to challenge and push myself outside of my comfort zone.
My first-ever solo trip was a profound experience and something I will always remember. I would encourage anyone who is thinking about it to really consider giving it a try. I learned a lot about myself whilst being by myself.
I’m now thinking about where my next adventure should be…but for now, Arrivederci!
No comments:
Post a Comment