Mrs. Stone Goes to Rome - How does she do it?
by ByJane



This is a post about what happens when you want to travel and your better half doesn't because:

  1. You don't have one. You never had one, or he/she is long (or short) gone, or (sad to say) deceased;
  2. Your
    partner has no interest in the places and things that appeal to you. In
    fact, it's his highway or no way when it comes to travelling;
  3. He/she simply can't get the time off.

So
what do you do? I'm asking this for a reason; specifically because I've
answered #1. I'm mate-less and I've got wanderlust. But I'm also
somewhat trepidatious about the whole single woman traveling alone
thing. I'm going to start researching (that's what we ever-grad
students do) the topic. Will you help, please.

Send along any
sites, stories, suggestions about traveling alone when you're a
mid-life woman. That last modifier is the important one. I know what
it's like to travel alone when one's in one's twenties and thirties.
I've done it and had the requisite adventures. And I'm sure that there
are various tours for elders that are gentle and protected. But for
those of us who are between those two poles, what can we expect? what
should we look out for? where should we go--and how?


Submitted by ByJane (view blog) on Sun, 03/30/2008 - 14:19
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Comments

 

Rome if you want to, all around the world...

Traveling solo is AWESOME. And traveling in a city like Rome, solo, Oh My God. I've traveled alone lots, and I gotta tellya, the whole mid-life thing, it's SO much better than traveling as a youngster solo. Yeah, okay, maybe you don't get hit on as much and that's a pro and a con, but also, you care so much less about what anyone thinks - okay, I do - and it just makes the whole adventure so much easier. 

Check out my neighbor Beth's book, Wanderlust and Lipstick - it's quite a nice inspirational guide for solo women travelers who might need a nudge to head out on their own.

You also might consider - and I am NOT joking - checking out the social sites like Couch Surfing. You'd be surprised, it's not just 20 something hipsters. You may find yourself in the guest room of some lovely Italians who are not that different demographically from you.  

But if you're still on the fence, just today I said this out loud: I should go to Rome. No kidding. Hey, I'll go with you. I have a pile of Rome guidebooks kicking around the house and I'm notoriously underemployed. I'm in.

:)

 

Nerd's Eye View

Submitted by Pam on Tue, 04/01/2008 - 18:46
 

Thanks for the response,

Thanks for the response, Pam.  I'm not on the fence about travelling alone.  I was trolling for sites to visit for places to go, tips, hookups, etc. 

 

By Jane

http://byjane.blogspot.com 

Submitted by ByJane on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 15:32
 

Rome Rome Rome

So, I'm not invited? :-)  

I'm right now reading a book about Michealangelo's Rome, it's an interesting read and doesn't help the craving I have for a trip to the enternal city.

I'm a big fan of the Rick Steves guidebook to Rome, it's quite a good one and so full of common sense. If I were shopping for a new guide to that city, that's what I'd buy.

If you do opt for trying out Couch Surfing or the like, I hope you'll come back around and post about the experience. We weren't able to get a place to stay during our last attempt on CS, but we got many invites to meet for coffee or to join picnic or the like. I still get the newsletter for CS/Hawaii and there's always stuff going on, I'll bet Rome is the same.

I'm super envious. We've used up all our travel dollars for a good long while and aren't going anywhere until the coffers are replenished. 

 

 

 

 

Nerd's Eye View

Submitted by Pam on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 16:53
 

Pam,  You are absolutely

Pam,  You are absolutely positively invited.  If I weren't spending my travel budget at BlogHer (and a wedding back east) this summer, I would be more inclined to take you up on it immediately.  I'm also curious about Israel.

I will definitely check out Couch Surfing.  I've started a whole conversation with MidLifeBloggers--right now on my blog, but soon on it's own site--and the travelling thing is definitely a big part of it. 

By Jane

http://byjane.blogspot.com

Submitted by ByJane on Fri, 04/04/2008 - 16:58
 

Other HomeStay options

I'm a huge fan of couchsurfing and globalfreeloaders. But for those wanting a bit more structure, Servas is an excellent way to stay with and meet the locals and be able to get beyond the surface of the culture.

Beth Whitman 

Submitted by wanderluster on Mon, 04/21/2008 - 06:05