Portugal 2021

Just after the lockdown had ended (1st wave), I booked an impromtu 1 week solo trip to Portugal.

In retrospect, going during the height of the COVID pandemic was probably not a great idea. I had to test for COVID on the way back, which involved going to public testing centres which had around 4-5 hour queues. I stood in the queue with an American traveller chatting to him and random passerbys. At the end of the line, the American man came out +ve with COVID and therefore had to quarantine for an addition 14 days (at his own expense) in a designated hotel. I had a brief moment of panic before accepting my fate. Somehow, I ended up -ve and thanked whatever Gods I could think of, and flew back the following day.

Going on this trip made me realise, I do enjoy solo travel, but it is fundamentally different to travelling with friends/partner/family. It’s about figuring out what you like doing alone.

Often times, I wish I could have shared some moments with someone else.