One of the most thrilling aspects of solo travel is the unexpected ways you connect with people. I've had my fair share of these encounters, but the one I'm about to tell you about tops them all, leading to a delightful change of plans in Key West, Florida!

I asked myself this question while staying in an Interlaken, Switzerland hostel. This hostel, by far, had the best views I ever had. My window opened out to the Swiss Alps. There was a hot tub, and they had so many places to hang out, read, and work. The hostel was super close to everything. They even had a "club" downstairs where you could dance and drink. But I couldn't help feeling like I was "too old."

Besides visiting some epic places and creating memories in those locations, my favorite thing about travel is the people you meet. As I discussed in my post about "Why You Should Always Compliment Someone on Their 1920s Dress," I even have a special term for meeting those people: travel magic.

My definition of travel magic is meeting a stranger and spending the day(s) or night(s) with them, and for that time, you become this family, even if it's for only a few hours. You will always have a bond with them even if you never see them again.

As I dealt with my first-world problems and got ready to book my hotel, I looked up from my phone, and there was a couple dressed up in 1920s fashion. Like the girl who commented on my outfit, I said, "I love your 1920s dress! You are killing it!"

What do Sasha Fierce, Marshal Mathers, and I have in common? We all have an alter ego when we do what we love, whether it is singing or traveling solo. And trust me, I am not a singer!

Now, I don't have a proper stage name like the people above, but in some ways, I have coined the name Wandering Bel, even prior to this website. Bel’s a whole different person who flourishes while traveling solo.

Two years ago today, in my friend's condo in Telluride, Colorado, I nervously clicked on the button that would officially launch my website. Most days, I still can't believe I come to my computer and type words to give advice, tips, and tricks I share with the world. I still suffer from the imposter syndrome

Each year, I create a vision board of places I want to visit. They include places such as Waco, Texas; Montana; Greenland; and Volcano National Park, to name a few. I also include words or phrases I want to invite or practice that year.

I want to share a phase and two words I want to practice while solo traveling in 2024!

It is that time of year when we tend to reflect. We reflect on last January’s goals: did we accomplish them? We reflect on the things that either happened to us or us happening to those things. We also reflect on past relationships, jobs, and our very selves.

This year, I have been reflecting more than ever—even on things that technically didn't happen in 2023. While driving to Pennsylvania, I listened to Mel Robbins’ podcast, "How to Make 2024 the Best Year: 6 Questions to Ask Yourself.”

I didn't realize I was asking similar questions when I first wrote this post. I love it so much that I am bringing these same questions to Wandering Bel! 

After making London my jump-off point to Prague, Vienne, and Budapest this past May and June, I wanted to share my experiences, lessons, and thoughts about my first time as a solo female traveler in Central Europe.

Dear DC, 

You are one big, beautiful hot mess, filled with a naïve ambition to take over the world—or your people are. You aren't shy to have a debate during happy hour or at brunch. Your identity matches no other city in the world. You are:

Just how much duality plays a large part in my life didn't hit me until a month before my birthday. In the months leading up to it, the word duality kept appearing in different writing prompts I was doing in different writing groups I belonged to. It even came up when taking a moment to analyze my travels of the past few years and my overall life. At times, being a Gemini is a real curse. You go from one extreme to another. You can ask my friends how things pique my interest; they’ll tell you I go hardcore on a particular interest for months, but then it ends as quickly as it started. That's because I get bored quickly.

My last 48 hours in Denver were not what I expected. Reflecting on those days feels like a mirage, except I have a tattoo that will always remind me of my time in Denver and the importance of trust, even if it’s short-lived.

Have you ever traveled to a place you knew would change your life but didn’t know how?

I wasn't planning to reflect on one year of Wandering Bel. I wanted to do a play on the words love and Valentine's, but everything turned out differently than planned.

I reflected on what I learned by creating this website, and I only had a little to reflect on, aside from picking a color scheme or how to input videos into my posts. After putting this off for a while, I finally figured out what lessons I have learned, and I hope they help you with your everyday life or traveling too.

This trip wasn’t anything I had hoped it to be, and my expectations were not met. Instead of having a calm trip with my cousin in Sedona, I was met with a panic attack and anxiety.

My very personal story of finding Christmas magic after a few hard Christmases in the hospital with my mom.

The pub was a dark, moody green. I knew I would love this place the moment I first walked in since I have a meaningful relationship with the color green. The bar was a mix of dark wood and old metal strung with white Christmas lights. The place was loud, with people chatting in multiple accents, and it brought a warm smile to my face…..

I am sitting at Dulles International airport, sipping on some mediocre champagne. To my left is a window that looks onto the tarmac to gate C 11. When I arrived at this bar, there was a plane at the gate. But the plane was gone when I finished my first glass of champagne and plate of over-priced fish tacos.

I am the last human on Earth who ACTUALLY loves being at the airport. I am one of those people who gets to the airport earlier than they should. I do this because I want to ensure I get to the airport and my gate with time to spare. You never know what shitstorm you will hit on I-495 driving from Maryland to Virginia. I even got TSA Pre Check to breeze through security, but I am always nervous about missing my flight.

Since I am flying out to England this week, I wanted to reflect on the times I went to England and how the country influenced me as the traveler I am now. In my other posts, I mentioned how my travels changed from wandering around cities and countries to camping solo. But I have yet to share what made me first want to travel and be lost in cities or countries.

My mom and grandmother drove me to the Philadelphia airport on a Saturday afternoon. Driving there with them was a horror and comic show, but mostly horror. My mom and my grandmother kept bickering:

"I told you to stay in the lane."

"No, that's not what the GPS said.”

“FUCK! I missed the exit!"

"Well, I told you to take that exit…"

And then, there's me. I was in the back seat, tired as one could be, since I stayed up super late to sleep on the plane and hit the ground running in England. I learned not to interject after other failed attempts. Instead, I probably listened to The Fray or Flo Rida on my iPod, set to the loudest setting so I could drown out the ridiculousness. I couldn't wait to get out of the car in one piece, get to the airport, and decompress.

I have been to England thrice on spring break when I was 20, 21, and 23. I stayed with my family, who lived two hours outside of London, the first two times. And on my last trip, I visited a friend studying at the London School of Economics.

Speak up for yourself because, when you do, you never know what your words and actions will do for the next solo traveler.

In August of 2021, I went to Florida for the first time, taking advantage of my last opportunity to work remotely(As a side note, everyone I spoke with before my trip told me I was crazy to go to Florida in August because of the heat). I live in the DC metro area and am used to heat and humidity…..