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After finishing up my third semester abroad experience in Seville, Spain, I decided to spend a couple of days in Portugal, before the start of my Au Pair job in Madrid. Up to this point, I had always travelled with a friend, or met someone on the other side of the trip. This time was different. My first solo trip: from the arrival, to the departure. I didn’t expect to find myself surrounded by strangers who made my “solo” trip better than any I had taken with people I’d known. I believe that’s the magic of it all, of travel. It brings strangers together who have the same ceaseless desire to experience new cultures, new foods, and walk around until your feet bleed, until you’re guaranteed to have seen it all. There’s also something dreamlike about creating lasting memories with someone you’ll never see again. Perhaps it emphasizes the awareness of how fleeting every moment is, and how lucky you are to be experiencing this one doing what you love. Lisbon is full of bright colors, bright lights, and lots of bright eyes, scouring their surroundings, taking in the sites of the small city near the water. The hills of the city put to the test the cardio regimen of even the fittest traveller. The local small bars I visited were cozy, and musicians played throughout the night. I stayed at YES! hostel in Lisbon, which is exactly who I credit for introducing me to the entertaining, young adult friends I made on the day I first arrived. YES! is a clean hostel, with a friendly and fun vibe, that attracts young people from around the world. Most importantly, as a solo female traveller, I felt safe there, which is key when your goal is having a relaxing vacation. I can’t say enough about how this hostel contributed to an amazing trip! The hostel offered a walking tour in the morning, which is where I met my new friends, and we proceeded to experience Lisbon together. The aquarium, the famous gelato of the Santini parlor, the beach that is a train ride away – every experience in Lisbon gave us great photo ops, and the chance to unwind and enjoy. It’s a small city, small enough to explore in 3 days if you’re pressed for time, and want a quick weekend trip. But those extra 2 days were important for me. They allowed us to go check out stores and bars, and the flea market. We visited nearby cities. We found more local spots that we might have passed over if we hadn’t had the pleasure of taking our time exploring this city and its surroundings. I had always heard of slow travel, and to be honest, I had always been in a rush to experience, so that I could fit in as many countries as I could. The only reason I hadn’t tried to book multiple countries in this week trip to Lisbon, was because as any typical college student, I was strapped for cash. This trip taught me the importance of taking your time. It taught me that the best memories are made just sitting around eating a sandwich in front of the water on a beautiful, sunny day. Or lugging up a huge hill to the flea market which reminds you of the StairMaster machine. Or eating gelato for the fifth time in 4 days (I am addicted to gelato and I don’t care who knows!). After exploring close to 20 countries, I thought I had this “travel” thing down to a science. I mean, I knew how to book the best tickets, how to find the best local spots, and how to coordinate fitting everything into my itinerary. But travel always humbles you in that way, sooner or later. It teaches you what you never expect to learn. Sometimes the fast paced traveller learns to slow down and enjoy one spot for a little bit longer. And sometimes you find out solo trips aren’t as lonely as you expected them to be.