Traveling Alone
Traveling alone gives a person an opportunity to fade into the background to become an observer rather than a participant.
It is my fourth morning sitting in the hotel cafe in Dubai. I'm here because of the last-minute decision to accompany my husband on a business trip. His dedicated work ethic has created my table for one.
The cafe is often full of families dressed in vacation wear, and people in business plugged into their phones to stay connected to the day ahead. So while I'm not always the only table for one, I'm often the only one alone.
Each day, I plan to visit a local tourist attraction to appreciate where I am to its fullest. I've wandered this city, seeing its personally unfold in front of me with each destination.
Every new experience held me fully never tempted to share my attention by chatting with someone else. The city has my all. As a party of one, I can easily slip into the front of the crowd and linger as long as I want or leave when I desire. I'm almost invisible. I float in and out as my heart desires. It is almost like painting a picture, selecting each color as it fancies me.
This morning I've decided to linger in the cafe with my coffee. The business people have finished their omelets, and the families, with children feed, have resumed their vacation activities. I'm still here with my coffee. I should head out because my table is one of the last not set for the lunch service. Today I've decided to stay near the hotel because lone explorer can sometimes weigh heavy on my anxious personally. Instead of traveling to the top of the world's tallest building, I plan to remain next to the rooftop pool, drinking in all movement below. Before taking the last sip of my now cold coffee, I try to remind myself how wonderful traveling alone can be, ignoring the minor irrigation that maybe having a travel mate would brighten this experience. Then I unintentionally lock eyes with another person across the room at their table for one. We exchange a smile to realize that amongst all the families, many lone travelers blend in to create their own personal painting of a visit to Dubai.
Not to worry, I plan to ride to the top of that building tomorrow. Maybe my cafe mate will be in the same elevator, and we can exchange a glance knowing we have shared a very personal independent experience.
