I’m constantly asked why I chose to travel alone, especially as an older female. “What about safety?” “Why not wait for someone to keep you company?” “Don’t you get lonely?” The questioning is relentless.
Whether single, coupled or in a group, to me, travel is one of the most rewarding pastimes anyone can do. Augustine’s quote sums it up perfectly: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page.”
I vowed years ago that not having a partner to travel with or to protect me wasn’t going to deter me or my wanderlust from seeing how the rest of the world lived, worked, and played.
I travelled for work (often at the drop of a hat), so my suitcase was always ready. My holidays were usually for a minimum of six weeks (one can waste around five days travelling to and from my home base of Australia). While most of these were also alone, I often caught up with friends living overseas during the holiday.