tzarinna

O,um the reason I'd run around is because I want to see as much of the country as possible. Every place can be different in one country and I never know when I'll come back and I'll know when I do come back which was my favorite place to hang. I haven't returned to Ireland because I had such an awesome time and I'm afraid my return will not live up to my initial visit. Silly I know but I'd like to keep the memory I have intact.
But I know I want to go back to Dresden.

crackers

I have been traveling alone for many years now. The first time I traveled alone was when my sister got married (she had been my traveling companion). I wayed my opptions with stay home and do nothing or go to Hawaii and be on the go for 2 solid weeks. I was lucky. No one in my family said I was crazy.

I don't understand why your family says you are being unreasonable. It is your life and you should be able to have an adventure if you want.

My very first trip was to Hawaii. I figured at least on the island I rented a car I couldn't get lost. Well my first day out I decided to follow a road to see what kind of view it had. I wasn't alone, because there were a few other cars on this road that went from paved to dirt. Well about 15 minutes into my drive I had a flat. This was before we had cell phones to carry incase of an emergency. I was taking the stuff out of the trunk mumbleing that everyone who said I should not go alone was so right. A nice man and his wife stopped before I got too far with trying to figure out what to do and helped to change the tire. I was on my way in no time and that was the worse thing that happened for the whole 2 weeks. I had a great time.

I do talk to people all the time and had a few days that I hung out with someone who I had met. On the road to Hanna I met a couple at all the stops and by the time we wanted to stop for lunch that asked it I would like to join them. On the bus I took to the Cultural Center on Oahu I met a couple that let me hang out with them all day.

So, don't be afraid and enjoy yourself. Let yourself be a new person and enjoy yourself. It is always nice to get out of your comfort zone and explore. When I am home I have a hard time getting myself to play tourist and stay home a lot. When I am on vacation I am on the go all the time. When I did New Orleans I swear I walked for the 3 1/2 days I was there.

I love explore other places. When they are in the news I very often can picture what it is like to be there. I have seen the mighty Mississippe, I have been to see Colorado, California, the Rockies, the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal and, also, a little of Europe. Next I plan on the coast of Norway.

I don't let travelling alone stop me at all. The alternative is stay home and that I can't stand. My vacations are the one thing I look forward to every year. I spend a great deal of my time dreaming of all the places I want to go in the next 13 years. Then I hope to retire and go to one place for a few months out of the year and just enjoy being a local.

Have fun and let us all know how you did.

Corshi

Thanks for the advice, crackers. My state of mind right now is I can either take the trip and risk having an awful time, or sit at home and do basically nothing. So I think it's much better to take the risk of the trip.

I know I've talked about my problems I'm facing with the trip alot. I realized another one of them is my biggest. I feel like this is the be-all end-all trip, that my life as I know it will be over once I get off the plane. But that is a prety dumb fear; I have to remember that I have plenty of friends and a stable life back home to return to. So even if life is unstable on my trip, I will always be able to return to what I know.

crackers

Do go with the glass half full attitude. I have always enjoyed my trips wether they are taken all alone or group tours alone or like the most recent a cruise with 19 other people.

Last year I sent an email to 2 couples I had gone to Alaska with about a cruise of the Panama Canal that I was planning in March of 2007. I picked the cruise then sent the email. From there I ended up with 20 people on my cruise. It was so much fun being alone, but with people. And we all had a great time.

Just enjoy exploring. I gather you are going to Europe. Sounded like a tour or something and staying on after. It will be great fun. When you don't know what to do ask around at your hotel for some ideas. Don't be afraid to jump out of your comfort zone and get to know the people a little. Use it as a learning experience. I have gotten so much better at planning my trips over the years. People say I should become a travel agent, but I don't know if I would be any good planning vacations for other people.

My sister-in-law does say she enjoyed our trip to Alaska and appreaciated how much planning I did on it. Her and my brother are the type lets go then figure out what we want to do. I research for years, so when I go I know how many days I will need to see enough.

You say you need to do cheap. Find out what there is to do that doesn't cost anything. I have been to several free outdoor concerts on my trips. Some days you can just spend the day walking around taking in everything and not spend.

When is you are leaving. I am guessing June.

firebird3954

hi .. i am in my early 50's and have been a single vacationer since my 20's. if you keep an open mind and a friendly attitude you will have a wonderful time. don't listen to the nay sayers in your life, they will hold you back. focus on the great experience you are going to have. stay positive - you are always going to have people in life who aren't happy about things and who won't move out of their comfortable circle of existence for whatever reason. life is to short not to enjoy it .. go where you can go, see what you can see and live! be careful, be open to new ideas and new people, take lots of pictures and ENJOY!!!