By: Laura Brown
When you announce that you’re taking a trip, particularly to a place like Paris, you’ll soon get an avalanche of, “You HAVE to do _______ !” But guess what? You don’t. Not a big fan of museums? Skip the Louvre. Don’t care about cathedrals? Go sip wine on a sidewalk! The only way you can waste a vacation is by doing things that you don’t care about, not by skipping over some of the big hitters. And that is the beauty of solo travel- only your preferences matter.
I personally knew that food and wine were my top priority, and that I wanted a little more of the “everyday” culture rather than the travel guide checklist. So although I did take one day to check out some famed spots such as the Notre Dame and the Louvre (which I conquered in an hour and fifteen minutes…yes, it can be done), I found the most pleasure in simply strolling. I’ve honestly never done that before because I’ve only ever traveled with people, where we are never in silence and always on a mission, and because we Americans aren’t so great at the art of slowing down (*hand up* guilty).
My biggest splurges were a cooking class in Paris and a wine tour in the Southern Rhone region, both of which took up nearly a whole day each. Those are things I care about, so the time was well worth it. The
cooking class was in a stunning Parisian apartment, where we bought our fresh vegetables from the local market around the corner. What better way to experience a culture than to make food with a local, and maybe discuss the difference between French and American supermarkets? And walking the actual terroir of my
favorite wines, while learning about their intricacies, and meeting fantastic tour-mates was an experience I’ll never forget.
I have no regrets about what landmarks I didn’t see, and the things I did miss out on can happen next time…because there WILL be a next time.
Laura Brown is a sign language interpreter in Nashville, Tennessee, where she rebooted her life in 2014. An avid seeker of challenge and growth, she set off on a solo trip to France in March 2017, after never having traveled alone and rarely out of the country. Laura’s love for wine and gastronomy led the way, as she devoured the charms of Paris, Lyon, and Avignon; learning about wanderlust and herself between meals. When not dreaming of her next trip, you can find her cooking, enjoying Nashville with friends, and taking pictures of her dog. She is currently accepting gifted plane tickets back to France.
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SHE ONLY LIVES ONCE or S.O.L.O. is a movement empowering women of all ages to venture off on their own and fall in love with the world around them. This part of the blog hopes to spark curiosity and inspire self-discovery among fellow female travelers by sharing our adventures, mishaps, and most memorable moments. Interested in contributing a short story or photo? Please contact the Trishlist and/or hashtag #trishlist, #solo, or #sheonlylivesonces for a chance to contribute to the blog.
