Traveling With Lola

I can’t really tell you why I chose to travel to Greece. I’m not sure why I chose to travel alone while booking through EF Tours Ultimate Break, a global booking company. I’m not sure why I decided to branch out and make friends with strangers. But I am sure that my trip to Greece has forever changed my life for the better. 

The idea originally started with my wanting to travel. I knew all of my friends would be far away working or doing summer classes during this period. I knew I would have to travel by myself. I knew going in that EF Ultimate Break was for travelers 18-30 years old and I knew that 60% of others on the trip would likely be traveling alone. I felt nervous, but my mind was at ease. In that moment of booking, I had some hesitation to actually press “confirm” to book my global trip alone, but something just felt right. The next few weeks flew by, and a few weeks later, I got off my fourth flight to Greece, after a nine hour plane ride from Washington D.C. (next time I’m definitely springing for first class!).

Upon arrival in Athens, I was having strange feelings of disbelief. As we approached the runway to land, I could see the arid land around the airport. I couldn’t believe I was in another country, and it didn’t feel real (but that could’ve been the sleep deprivation LOL!). I tracked down my luggage and loaded our private bus to the hotel, learning some important facts about olives on the way (Did you know that green and black olives are the same tree, but change color based on the length of time they are on the branch?!). By the end of the welcome dinner that night, I had met my fellow group of misfits who had also traveled alone: a Canadian, an air force pilot, an army employee, and a teacher, and the rest was history.

In Santorini my new best friend and I bonded over fantastic views of blue and white domes, a breath-taking sunset, delicious food, and we laughed about how we would be drinking wine in Greece since it’s the same price as bottled water. (Water is NOT free there, by the way!) We visited several historical sites including a centuries old monastery and volcanic black-sand beach. (Traveler’s tip: be sure to bring flip flops to the black sand beach because the sand is scorching.)

Two days later, we found ourselves clinging to a small party boat early one morning in Paros, after a late night of clubbing in the historical downtown with some locals. On the boat, despite our dehydration and grogginess, we were able to absorb the views of the Grecian landscape and stunningly transparent Blue water. Luckily, a quick jump off the boat into the freezing water woke us all up. Even though it was late May and the sun was shining, the water was still very cold and extremely salty, making it very easy to float. Our day on the boat included a barbecue lunch with pork and chicken, fresh Mediterranean salad, and wine to wash it all down. We hit several spots in the ocean around Paros and I convinced myself to go cliff jumping with my friends. I told myself that it’s important to sometimes #challenge yourself and push yourself beyond your comfort zone, because that’s what travel is all about right?!

In Mykonos, we arrived at the city of wind during one of their peak weather phenomenons where strong gusts blast the city for anywhere from three days up to a week. During the two days we were there, we were able to explore the old town architecture with stunning white buildings, load up on fresh seafood dinners, find olive oil to take back as a souvenir, and visit their iconic beach club, where the party lasts all day long. 

I learned so many things throughout the adventure and was able to push my own comfort zone by making new friends, trying new experiences, and immersing myself in the culture. At the end of the day, I told myself the following things about traveling alone: 

1. Keep yourself open to all possibilities. 
2. Take risks (with friends!)
3. Say “YES!” to stuff, but be safe while walking the streets of greece. 

And did I mention, I just booked another trip with my friends for Belize, in 2023?! 

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” -Gustave Flaubert