How to Make Friends While Walking with a Coconut!
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.
After visiting Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, I walked up Duval Street with zero plans. As I passed the Southernmost Point monument, I saw a truck selling coconuts. I bought one since it was bloody humid outside, and then I started walking down the street, holding my coconut as I drank.
A couple on bikes stopped me and asked where I got the coconut. I told them it was a block or two down from where we were, and we started to chat. They were stuck in Key West for a few extra days because of the tropical depression, a weather condition that often leads to heavy rainfall and strong winds. But they didn't mind, since it was their anniversary. We kept chatting, and they told me about Higgs Beach and this restaurant called ‘Salute! On the Beach.’ so I added it into my plans.They piqued my interest since I couldn't go swimming at Fort Zachary because the surf was too rough, and all I wanted to do was to swim.
They finally left to get their own coconut, and I made the 30-minute walk to the beach that the name ‘Salute! On the Beach’ refers to. After my late lunch there, I could finally swim in the water. Though it wasn't as cold as I had hoped, It was still lovely to swim in.
A few minutes later, I bumped into the same couple again. We chatted for a good 20 minutes or so about our travels, what we liked and didn't like about Florida, and life. They shared stories about their previous travels, including their favorite destinations, and we traded some travel tips. It was a truly enriching experience.
These moments give solo travel its unique charm: forging connections, learning about others' lives, and exchanging travel tips and suggestions. They’re about seizing the present and turning a stranger into a friend, even if just for a moment. Who would have thought a coconut could lead to such a memorable afternoon?
You are thinking, "Bel, it's really not that big of a deal. So what?"
My friend, it is a big deal, especially when traveling solo. Because of this silly coconut, I could explore a new beach and try out a new place to eat, which I shared in my post- Top 6 Places to Eat and Drink in Key West. When traveling solo, you need to allow the silliness of the randomness into you, especially if it is one of your first times traveling alone. I am a seasoned traveler, but I still love a random-ass encounter.
When I told my friends this story, their first response was, "Of course, you made friends that way." These random moments make us storytellers regardless of whether we have a blog. To my fellow solo travelers, I'm sure you've had your share of unexpected encounters. What's your coconut story? I'd love to hear about your adventures in the comments below!