Archive for the ‘Perspectives’ Category

Posted on August 31, 2010 - by Janice

The Right to Travel Solo

Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo found a way to be together, yet apart. According to the film Frida, they addressed their needs for solo time as well as couple time by creating a home(s) in these fabulous houses joined by a bridge.

Two houses would likely be a bit of a stretch financially for most of us. Fortunately, there are less expensive ways to get a bit of space for your personal well being and that of your relationship. You can take a break and travel solo.

The right to be solo is for everyone.
Single people have no trouble enjoying their right to be solo.  They simply ask themselves: is this trip one for friends or is it my personal adventure? It’s up to them.

People who are coupled can sometimes struggle with their right to be solo. Yet very often it is these people who need a bit of time alone more than any. With responsibilities for children and a partner and possibly parents, they may never find time for themselves. They need a bit of solo time  for renewal.

I’ve also known more than one couple like Diego and Frida. Unwilling to live without their partner, yet frustrated when they have too much time together. These people have planned time apart. Solo travel is their way of meeting their personal needs.

Reclaiming the right.
There’s nothing odd about needing some time alone. Children do it all the time. They seem to know instinctively when they need to shut down, read a book, play a solitary game or just sit in a tree and stare into space. Adults need that time too. We just have to learn how to listen to our needs. Listen and take a bit of time solo.

Please tell me…
How do you tell your partner you want to travel solo.

Posted on August 21, 2010 - by Janice

Travel, Stories and a World of Understanding

On a solo road trip, driving at night from New York City to Cape Cod, I was listening to the fantastic National Public Radio available in the U.S. I’m not sure what the program was but I was sure to note the person being interviewed. Chimamanda Adichie was speaking about the danger of a single story. (You can view her presentation on the topic in the TED Talk video on the right.)

She explained that when we are inundated with one story about a people via the media, those people become one-dimensional. They are all poor or uneducated or radical or, or, or… In fact, this is not possible. All cultures have their challenges and joys if we take the time to look.
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Posted on August 18, 2010 - by Janice

Women Traveling Alone Part III – 7 Reasons to Go

You may also be interested in Women Traveling Alone Part 1 – Tips and Women Traveling Alone Part II – Destinations.

A twitter friend, @DSXmac, told me that she heard a woman say that all women should travel alone before they get married.

Interesting comment. While I don’t like the “should” word – it’s quite judgmental in my mind, — going solo is a good idea for women — and men — at just about any stage of life. Whether you’ve never been married, are married with kids, divorced, widowed, partnered with an empty nest… here are some great reasons to travel solo.

7 Reasons to Go

1. Discover yourself as your discover the world – before you get tied down, learn self-reliance, decision-making and how to organize your time.
2. Do what you want to do when you want to do it.
3. Have a last hurrah before you have children.
4. Discover who you are when you’re not responsible for children or a partner
5. Take a break from endless daily responsibilities and come back refreshed.
6. Build confidence after a divorce or loss.
7. Eat dessert first – do anything you want to do without being judged.

Posted on August 14, 2010 - by Janice

Don Quioxte or Sancho Panza – who do you travel to meet?

In a small garden near the Torres de Quart, one of the gates in the old city walls in Valencia, Spain, is a statue honoring Cervantes and his two most famous characters, Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza.

I listened to an audio book of Don Quixote on a 1 month trip in Spain. It’s amazing how the language of this book permeates literature and daily life.  Cervantes is credited with such common sayings as “the kettle calling the pot black”, “the proof of the pudding”, “tilting at windmills”… Yes, Don Quixote is a book of significance in popular culture even today.

So it’s not surprising that there would be a statue honoring Cervantes. In fact, there are many such statues  in many different cities.  What is surprising is the design of this particular statue.

The more common representation of the knight errant and his squire has Quixote on a horse and Panza on a donkey. This statue shows Panza carrying Quixote.

There is a very direct honesty about this representation. In reality, the nobility, the leaders and game-changes (and the somewhat madmen) of history who have books, buildings, parks… named after them, achieved their status only with the help of many minor characters. The Sancho Panzas of the world don’t merely walk beside them, they carry them.

This statue could certainly have been placed in a more prominent spot in Valencia. It’s a wonderful reminder to the traveler to take as much if not more pleasure connecting with people like Sancho Panza as well as those like Don Quioxtes.

Thanks to the Region of Valencia for making my trip to their city possible.

Posted on July 29, 2010 - by solotraveler

Pic of the Week: The Beauty of Silence

The post that goes along with this picture is

Travel Solo in Silence… at least some of the time.

This post offers a video of John Francis who lived silent for 17 years.
His commentary on the value of living in silence is wonderful. Well worth a view.

Click on the title to watch the video.

Posted on July 7, 2010 - by Janice

Summer Theater for Solo Travelers – the drama of my dreams.

I have always loved theater. My husband and I actually started a theater once but it wasn’t gong to feed the kids so we had to go in another direction. Fortunately, that direction fed our desire to attend theater. But that’s another story. This one is about the joy of seeing great theater. And the great theater that I have yet to see. (more…)

Posted on June 26, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel for Inspiration – a new passion

The human eye is designed for distance. Unfortunately, I work on a computer many hours a day using a focal length that can be measured in inches. I live in a city where my view bumps up against buildings rather than enjoying the sweep of the landscape. And when I get outside Toronto into relatively flat Ontario, my vision is stopped short by trees.

That’s why I love to travel to mountains where I can stretch my eyes and really see the horizon. When I do, I’m inspired.

When I lived in western Canada, I knew the pleasure of mountains. But for the last 25 years I’ve lived in the east. I forgot how mountains enrich life.

In November, I rediscovered their wonder when I went to the Lake District and walked for four days. Climbing the fells was not just exercise for my legs, a work-out for my heart and fresh air for my lungs, it was also a relief for my eyes. And, as my eyes drank in the view, I could think differently. I was inspired.

In January, Utah was my mountain destination. I went and volunteered at the Sundance Film Festival but the best day of my trip was skiing at The Canyons.

At 10,000 feet, the views were stunning. The thin air may have contributed to the Rocky Mountain high that I felt for days afterward but the mountains served well to free my mind and inspire creativity.

It doesn’t surprise me that the famous poet, William Wordsworth, went to the Lake District of England and stayed.  In the same way, it’s not surprising that the mountains of Utah are the backdrop to the Sundance Institute to support emerging and aspiring filmmakers. It’s simple; mountains are inspiring.

When I plan my travels, I now try to include some time at a higher elevation with a view. It frees my eyes to do what they do best and, in the process, frees my mind to new inspiration. It has become a passion of mine.

Note: Next week I’ll be in Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. Hopefully I’ll make it to the top of Cadillac Mountain. At just over 1500 feet it is the highest point along the north Atlantic coast of the US and the first place to see the sunrise. I’ll have pictures to share soon.

Posted on May 21, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel: 17 signs you’ve had too much ‘alone’ time ;-).

When you travel solo you can do what you want when you want. Being alone, that independence, is one of the good things about solo travel. But can there be too much of this good thing?

So that you don’t go too far on the solo side of travel, I give you… (more…)

Posted on May 12, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel is Great for a Gap Year

To read about the special benefits of solo travel for Gap years and other times of life,
download GLAD YOU’RE NOT HERE: a solo traveler’s manifesto.

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I remember, about a year ago, reading a travel article arguing the case for university credits for Gap Years. I emailed the author but didn’t receive a reply. Too bad. I would have loved to embark on a project to support his position and possibly create scholarships for Gap year travels. (more…)

Posted on May 3, 2010 - by Janice

Travel Contest: the Blog Hop is on!

This contest is now closed.



HERE YOU GO… YOUR BLOG HOP TRAVEL CONTEST PLAY CARD!

Click here to download the play card for this week.

PLAYING THE BLOG HOP?
You’ll find the answer to the question for my blog by clicking on the correct post below. (more…)

Posted on April 14, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel: a ticket to freedom at any age.

At any stage of life, actually at every stage of life, solo travel can be a ticket to freedom. After all, it offers:

• Independence.
• Your own time table
• No need to compromise.
• You get to do what you want to do.
• You don’t have to do what you don’t want to do.

But it can mean more.  Solo travel can be the answer to the unique challenges experienced at different times of life. (more…)

Posted on April 2, 2010 - by Janice

A little travel humor for you.

When I’m booking my flight I’m happy to look for the best price and bypass the expensive, first class tickets.

BUT, when I’m boarding the plane I look longingly at those large comfortable seats whose occupants are receiving champagne or whatever their pleasure. People with a much higher flight attendant to passenger ratio. People who are not charged for a pillow or a headset…

For me, air travel is just a means to an end – it’s an endurance test during which I try to ignore the fact that some people have it better than me.

For Brian Regan it is a source of humor. Please enjoy!

Posted on March 24, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel: Go to Dance

When we’re at home reading the headlines, watching the news, we can so easily reduce  people of  other cultures and countries to their problems.

I was reminded of this when listening to a recent broadcast of Tapestry on CBC Radio (their podcasts are free). I was also reminded of an objection I received to a post I wrote in which I suggested that Cuba has a unique sense of luxury. This is a bit of a response. (more…)

Posted on March 17, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel: Why do we go to sad places?

On Tuesday we had a guest post on “Solo Travel to Berlin” by Dian of GirlsGetaway.com.  She beautifully describes one very intense day in that city that has so many sites of sadness. As I prepared it for publication, I recalled a post that I had started but did not complete. It is this one in which I explore the question: why do we go to sad places?
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Posted on March 12, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel with the Shore In Sight

On Thursday I posted some tips for the shy solo traveler. I said that the confidence required to travel solo is not the exclusive domain of the gregarious; shy people can be confident and enjoy solo travel too.
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Posted on March 3, 2010 - by Janice

Chile: whether to travel during a travel alert.

You may also be interested in:
How to donate to Chile Earthquake Relief – Canada

As mentioned in a post quickly written on Sunday, I have a flight booked for Santiago, Chile on Friday. At that point, I wasn’t sure whether I should go and I put my dilemma to all readers. I received many thoughtful comments and good advice.  You can read them here:  Solo Travel to Chile: Torn between two values. (more…)

Posted on March 3, 2010 - by Janice

How to Donate to Chile Earthquake Relief – Canada

Americans wishing to donate to Chilean relief please go to
Mashable where there is an excellent list of options.

(more…)

Posted on February 28, 2010 - by Janice

Solo Travel to Chile: torn between two values

My ticket is for this Friday, March 5th.

Many arrangements have been made.

But with the devastating earthquake in Chile yesterday, I am unsure whether this is a solo travel adventure I’m prepared to take. (more…)

Posted on February 23, 2010 - by Janice

Travel & Art Intersect on the
Road to Understanding.

What inspires your travels?

Are they just about fun? Are they also about learning? You can’t go everywhere so, how do you choose where to go? (more…)

Posted on February 13, 2010 - by Janice

Love, the Olympics and
is somebody camping in your head?

This is a follow-up to my “Confessions” post last week.

Love: Valentine’s Day(as manufactured by the greeting card industry)  isn’t a big deal. But, if you’d prefer to be partnered, it does highlight the fact that you aren’t.  So, as described in last week’s post, I planned to go to, ”A Special Valentine’s Day Aphrodisiac and Wine Affair” put on by The Works in Toronto. Why not give it a try? Meeting new people is always a good thing. But, it was canceled.  Ah well. (more…)