Yes….I am here on my own

A Fresh Start

New England in the Fall – September 2004

After booking this first solo holiday at the start of the year, I waited, with growing anticipation as the months ticked by, until suddenly, there I was, dropped off at a guest house near Manchester Airport and about to set off on my first big adventure.  Was I more scared than excited or more excited than scared?  I’m not sure, although the fact that I was already awake before my alarm went off at 5:30am might give you a hint.  My host, who hadn’t been too enthusiastic when I had told him what time I needed a lift in the morning did, after all, turn up on time so that, at 7:30am, I was arriving at the airport ready for my flight to New York.

Before going any further, I should explain that I do not have a phenomenal memory, but a holiday diary has always been a feature of the weeks, (even a month on one occasion) that I have spent away.  I try to write something every day, even if the day has been fairly uneventful and certainly when something unusual or amusing happens. Reading them always takes me back and often sparks off other memories. I have a box full of notebooks and envelopes containing tickets, leaflets, brochures of places visited, receipts for meals, information from the holiday company, etc.  However, I have not been so good at keeping track of pre-digital photos, so early holidays are not very well illustrated.

Back to Manchester Airport, where I had some breakfast and then decided that I absolutely must venture into the Duty Free shop. It was a pleasure to look around Duty Free, since there had been so many years when our mainly EU meant no duty free prices for us. I made the obligatory perfume purchase before I hurried to the gates, arriving just in time to learn that there was going to be a half hour delay.  When we finally did get away, the flight was rather bumpy due to the bad weather and we landed, now an hour late, through grey clouds and rain.

There was an enormous queue through immigration and customs, not unusual when visiting the US, I came to learn (and heard from others). When I had successfully, if slowly, passed through immigration, it was another great relief to discover that my luggage had also arrived in one piece at same destination as me. Then, finally, I was out of the arrivals hall and looking for someone holding up a sign that meant they were there to meet me. I headed for the person holding up the name of my tour and was eventually joined by 10 other travellers from the UK.  We were driven down 5^th Avenue, through Times Square, past Radio City and the Rockefeller Centre, to the Sheraton on 7^th Avenue.  It was late afternoon by the time we had checked in and I decided, quite bravely I thought, that I would head out to have a look around and get something to eat. Much to my relief, I bumped into two others from my party who had decided to do the same and we joined forces. We walked for several blocks and then ventured into “Brennigans Irish Restaurant and Bar”, where we had our first experience of plus-size portions. After consuming chicken strips like girders and a refreshing beer, we left with a shout of “Have a great night!” ringing in our ears.  We walked back via Broadway, had a quick coffee in the hotel foyer and by 8pm my “great night” was well and truly over.  I woke at midnight thinking it must be morning, then again at 3am but eventually I snatched a few more hours’ sleep before obediently leaving my suitcase outside my room, as instructed at 7am.

After breakfast we met our Tour Manager, climbed on the coach and set off down Madison Avenue, past Central Park, through the Bronx and on to Interstate Highway 95, heading for Newport, Rhode Island.  Truth be told, I was pleased to be heading out of the city and towards the autumn colours of New England. 

I loved this holiday, mostly driving through the countryside and seeing the trees changing their colour as the time went on.  I particularly enjoyed a (very cold) whale watching expedition off Bar Harbor and standing at the top of the ski jump at Lake Placid, which hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics.  I don’t think I skied down it but somehow I got to stand in the gold medallist’s place on the medal winners’ platform.  (I did try to convince my 5-year-old granddaughter through clever use of my video camera but she wasn’t falling for it!)

I did learn a lot about travelling alone though:

• Be prepared to eat on your own and take a good book to keep you company.
• If you book a holiday that doesn’t include most of your meals, don’t do anything foolish like going off on your own in the dark looking for a restaurant.  On our first full day, I had already eaten lunch alone in Newport and, after we had checked in to our hotel, I had to look for somewhere to eat again.  I left my room hoping to bump into someone whose face I recognised, but there was no-one in sight, so I found my way, rather nervously, round the rear of the hotel, across a grassy area, to a TGI Friday where I had my first seafood meal and a very large beer, which I think means that I misinterpreted the menu!  I had to find my way back in the dark, which was uncomfortable and I vowed not to do it again.
• Be wary of suggestions from the Tour Manager that you buddy up with another solo traveller.  You could end up with someone who is pleasant and kind but who has nothing in common with you.  You can say “No”.  
• If you are on a coach tour, learn the etiquette around sitting at the front.  A strict rotation is the usual practise!  And some people can get very sniffy if you deviate from that.
• You will meet some lovely people on your travels but the worst whingers and complainers will always be in the seats behind yours.
• You will meet some lovely people on your travels and enjoy their company on holiday but there will be very few who become lasting friends. This is something that I continued to learn over many years, sometimes quite painfully.
• Maple syrup does taste good on sausages!
• You will have an absolutely wonderful time because you are exactly where YOU want to be, doing what YOU want to do.
• As soon as you get home, start looking for your NEXT SOLO HOLIDAY!!!