Month-long European tour made her brave and changed her forever

Travelling solo across ten countries, she became open with new thinking

By Kul Bhushan

A month-long solo tour of Europe… When Priya, a young and single bank executive, shared this plan with her parents, they were horrified. “What? Are you crazy?” was their initial reaction. “And how much would you spend on this trip?” they wanted to know. It was working out around Rupees five lakhs (Rs 500,000). “Five lakhs! No way are you are going to spend this huge amount! Remember, you have to get married soon and you will need every Rupee you have for that. After marriage, you can go on a honeymoon with this amount. Or you could buy a new car.”

Priya was not convinced. She argued that marriage was not on the horizon and has unlimited budget and what if her husband does not want to go on a honeymoon to Europe? And a car can be bought anytime in instalments. “I was taught that I cannot think big because it is only for the rich, high-class people, out of my reach,” she mused. And she was travelling all alone. Don’t worry, she replied, in the first half of 2024, more than 15 million Indian nationals travelled abroad, which is higher than the same period in 2023.

Shattering these prejudices of family and friends was tough but she managed. “I started travelling because I used to read blogs, watch vlogs and many articles about solo travelling and it always fascinated me. Listening to stories by relatives of their distant travels made me curious. Travelling made me explore the unexplored,” she says.

Half A Million

After spending more than a month on the web to plan her trip, she found that a one-week package tour of Europe was priced at Rs 150,000 to Rs 170,000 and a two-week package was more than Rs 250,000. Since she had applied for leave for a full month, she wanted to spend all that time in Europe. Meanwhile, her travel budget rocketed to Rupees over half a million!

Was group travel an option for her? In group travel, you make friends and enemies almost instantly, everyone does not have the same taste or priority. As the tour begins, you quickly identify one person who wants to dominate everybody all the time. Then you will soon identify one person who is always late and keeps everyone waiting. Everyone does not have the same idea of touring, sightseeing, shopping, museums or street music. So, you have to compromise. Some group members are always energetic and raring to go while others are slow and burnt out. Grouses and gossips dominate conversations and when disagreements become quarrels, mini-groups are formed and the atmosphere becomes sour. So, after talking to many people who had survived package tours, she concluded that going solo was best for her.

After deciding on the destinations to visit, Priya searched the web for youth hostels in the city center, as well as information on public transport, restaurants, major tourist spots, nightlife, and air and railway connections, among other details. She then finalized her trip and booked her air tickets.

“After I boarded the plane, I could not process the feeling that I was flying abroad on a connecting flight to Barcelona vis Zurich. I had a stopover for only 30 minutes at Zurich so I missed the connecting flight,” she recalls. Fascinated by seeing a different world: smart lounges, handsome men, sparkling shops, no wonder she missed her flight but got on the next one. She made a video call immediately to the family to show some facets of western culture to them.

Nightlife in Streets

On reaching Barcelona, she took the bus to arrive at the hostel in the city centre. Awed by the unique architecture, she found street walks were different with roadside cafes and ladies in short dresses, smoking in public, drinking beer. The white wheat beer tasted different. “I enjoyed the freedom of travelling alone,” she says. The heart of the old town is full of cafes, clubs and bars in Gothic Quarter in the legendary Las Ramblas, Maria Cubi and Santalo streets where people are drinking, dancing, laughing and enjoying till sunrise. No wonder the young crowd from India makes a beeline for Barcelona.

Next stop: Seville. Skydiving was the main attraction for her. Hesitant, she was assured that it was safe with an average injury rate of 0.044 per cent. Just be careful while landing. Imagine jumping from 14,000 feet and conquering her fears, which was a big thrill. In the evening, she went to watch flamenco foot tapping dancing by men and women fascinated me as the energy was very high.

Cash Mobile Stolen

Ibiza, a party island, was the next stop. Famous for its pristine seashore, nudity on beaches, lively nightlife in bars and clubs, quiet villages and retreats, she lapped it all. The carefree atmosphere was sheer bliss.

On to Amsterdam, the city of canals and bicycles, art galleries and museums was overwhelming. Reminded of the actress Kangana Renaut in her hit movie ‘Queen’, she let go and made friends like her. Enjoying in a cafe, she was tipsy in the morning when, to her horror, she discovered her cash and mobile had been stolen. The shock sobered her and went to report the theft at the police station. Luckily, she had another mobile and phoned her family to help and bought another mobile with her credit card. Like Kangna, she made a friend, but the theft shook her.

Bruges in Belgium was another city of canals, but she found the Burg square in city centre quite enjoyable as she gobbles French Fries and Waffles and walked to nearby Market Square to see shops selling its famous lace. The chocolates were memorable.

Lovers Walking Kissing

On to Paris, the city for romance as she discovered high fashion on its streets, everyone relaxing at street side cafes, lovers walking and kissing on the bridges and banks of River Seine and finally the Eiffel Tower still displaying the five-rings symbol of the Olympics Games held a few weeks ago. Walking through the Tuileries Gardens was a delight, with people enjoying the beautiful views of Paris, the statues, and the fresh flowers. What a feast for the eyes!

In Switzerland, she found a paradise of nature—silent, peaceful, clean, and well-organized. As she took in the calm scenes, her mental heaviness lifted, and she felt light and refreshed.

During her four-day visit to Prague, she was never without her umbrella as it rained almost all the time. But she managed to see the fairy tale castles, walked the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge with statues of saints and was fascinated by the animated hourly show by the Astronomical Clock.

Bars with Black Dress

Moving to Venice, she found no streets but canals as everyone travelled by boats with their tall oars. Full of tourists, she walked the Saint Mark’s Square admiring the great architecture. Venice could not be left out of her grand European tour.

Now it was Italy all the way with Florence. After touring the famous Duomo Cathedral and other sites, she enjoyed some famous artworks. In the evening, she wore her black dress and went to bars to taste different wines, meet people and watched the sunset.

The final stop was the eternal city of Rome. Plenty to see with the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Vatican…the list goes on and on. But most of all, she made many friends and gorged on real Italian pasta, pizza and gelatos.

“After roaming ten countries, I am not the same person. Every country was a new challenge especially after losing my mobiles and cash. No time for any social media. Just for myself,” she recalls, “It was the most surreal experience of my life,” she gushes.

Not Same Person

And how much did she spend? Almost Rs 800,000. Really, all that much!

“It was worth every penny I spent as travelling is always an investment and not an expense. Friends said I could have bought a new car with the same amount but I chose to spend it on my experience. Travelling alone gave me clarity. I did not know that I am this brave. It was just like a movie and the end is where I start again!” she replies.

No wonder the saying, “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”

“When I returned, I was not the same person who boarded the plane for this trip. I have changed tremendously and am a newborn now. I am open to everything and anything now; this change happened after my trip. Travel more! Explore more! Live More! Laugh more! This is the philosophy of my life now. I got this vision of life when I started travelling. I always loved to know more. It keeps me interested, calm, joyful and happy,” says Priya. What more can she ask for?

Anand Kul Bhushan is a writer, journalist, UN media consultant and workshop/meditation leader.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 10 January 2025