“The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.”  Henry David Thoreau

We all talk about it and we all want to do it, yet life comes in the way and we just don’t get to it.

When I went abroad to do my Masters I was on a budget and thought I would be really happy if I could visit Paris, Amsterdam and maybe the UK. While studying I was fortunate enough to get a paid job at a Human Rights organization and managed to save a bit for living and travel! After my first term I wanted to reward myself with a trip. I was frightened but also being an Aries and of a rebellious nature I wanted to go somewhere alone. Also, I wasn’t planning on telling my parents (… but then after I traveled to 11 countries my dad wondered/asked if I went to Brussels to study or travel?! Me: Both, dad 😉 ). The truth is living in Europe might not be always cheap but traveling is really cheap (at least for us North Americans).

I’m really grateful for my parents who planted a seed in us through traveling. Throughout my childhood, we traveled/lived/moved quite a bit with my family and I always had a thing for exotic and/or anything traditional (i.e. traditional clothing, jewelry, food, customs, language..etc). Also, as I got older I’ve come to appreciate the life we had in the Middle East and North Africa more and more. While I was in Brussels I came across neighborhoods and shops that are owned by Arabs (*Moroccan diaspora make up 4% of the Belgian population) so I was unintentionally introduced to Morocco without going to Morocco and that really revived my interest to visit Morocco (and I still want to)! It took me a week or two to decide and plan my solo trip. I did a good amount of research and I think I would’ve been OK had I decided to go, but being a female and extra paranoid I chickened out and couldn’t go alone to Morocco 🙁 so I chose Italy instead. I still can’t wait to go to Morocco!!!

My Italy Solo Trip (also inspired by Eat, Pray, Love) was one for the books. I started in Rome, Naples, Sorrento, pit-stop in Capri and ended in Positano – which is really a honeymoon destination and I was determined to come back with my love/husband (my thoughts before dating Peter at that time ha!) Flying to Italy wasn’t very expensive from Brussels (around $200-300 CAN). I had such an incredible time, so I then decided to do it again at the end of my Masters degree (around the same time when I started dating my husband) we both had already booked different flights. He was traveling to Rome and I had already booked my trip to Lisbon.

After both of my solo trips I felt more grounded and inspired. These trips were full of self-discovery, gratitude, being present, open to new possibilities, getting out of my comfort zone, making new friends and doing whatever the heck I want because there is no need to discuss/compromise with anyone on what activities or places to visit! Also, I recently read that solo travelers are usually perceived as more approachable and open than those who travel in groups – and you are far more likely to develop new international friendships. I know that lived all my travel experiences to the fullest and really embraced all aspects of being alone on a plane, reading  by the ocean on a patio with an espresso or prosecco, getting lost between pine trees and charming alleyways, all in new cities and places, new people and culture. Yet at that time I wished that I could share this experience with one of my siblings or someone special. And now that I’ve done a good amount of solo traveling here I am today grateful for every opportunity I get to travel and create beautiful memories with my best friend, life and travel companion – husband! <3

Get out in the world friends, traveling is so enriching and you never know what you’ll stumble upon… As Rumi once said travel brings power and love back into your life. 😉

“As you move outside of your comfort zone, what was once the unknown and frightening becomes your new normal.” Robin S. Sharma

XO Dalia

Follow my blog with Bloglovin