Even if you're not in university doing a study abroad program, there are work or research opportunities to travel and the people in those programs also tend to be around the same age. As a result, while traveling you tend to meet a series of 20-something year olds all trying to experience the world.
The Trip (so far):
I went to Dublin and Plymouth to see friends. So while I traveled there on my own, I spent most of my time in their apartments and hanging out with an established group. These were easy trips because I met up with people I knew, made friends with their friends and used them as personal tour guides. Also, these trips were relatively cheap because we cooked meals together in their apartments and I could stay in their houses. Even though was living out of a backpack, the beginning of my trip didn't feel like a solo-travel adventure because I was with so many old (and new!) friends.
The first moment that it actually dawned on me that I would have to navigate new countries on my own is when I landed in the Kraków airport and didn't have anyone calling to tell me what address I should go to, or giving me tips on which bus route was the cheapest. Additionally, Ireland and the UK are easier to travel since they're English speaking countries. I landed in Kraków around 10:00 p.m. with just my backpack, a vague itinerary and my hostel address saved to my phone. However, after the initial wave of anxiety, the trip was one of my favorites! I stayed in an apartment-style hotel near Kraków old town (which is a UNESCO world heritage site). I ate iconic polish street food, such as zapiekanka, obwarzanek, and kielbasa!
