Solo Travels: Anna

Anna originally had plans to travel, by car, for two weeks alone. Due to occupational circumstances, those two weeks became one. Here is a brief interview with Anna, gaining insight into her summer vacation.


1. How did you decide where to go for your summer vacation this year?
Well, I was going to St. Louis for something (see picture below). I didn't feel like coming home after a day in Missouri so I decided to visit a friend in Chicago and see the city and South Bend. I didn't want to come home after that so I planned a 2 week road trip out east because I had never been out east. I don't know if Boston would have been where I turned around because that was quite far but it was a possibility. However, when I got my new job, I didn't have 2 weeks to wander so I kept my plans for Chicago and South Bend and decided to just fly out to Boston. I think after being to NYC I had really wanted to see what Boston was like and all the historical aspects of the city.

St. Louis event

Chicago leg of trip

Visit to South Bend and Touchdown Jesus

2. Did you invite any others along with you, or did you intend to travel alone from the get-go? I intended to travel alone from the get-go. I felt the need to venture out on my own and just have "me" time and I could do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. Plus, I needed to figure out how to do stuff by myself, so it was a learning experience in terms of how to travel. I like traveling with people but this last summer definitely called for a little adventure by myself.

3. What leg of your trip do you think was the most entertaining?
I would say the 3rd leg, the trip to Boston. I got to visit the oldest ballpark in America and take a tour of it; got to see Harvard and all of its grandeur; and all of the history in Boston would make it a great city to visit.
4. Can you recall one really great people-watching moment you experienced?
Well, riding the subway is always a good people watching moment and in Boston, I got a lot of chances to watch people do whatever on the subway on their way to or from work. It's always interesting to see what people in big cities do in their "downtime" to and from work.

5. After visiting 3 big cities in a week, do you think you're more of a small town girl or could you hack it in the bigger city?
I like both small towns and big cities. I think they each have their own things to offer: the big city gives you a bunch of cultural things to see and do and the small towns give you friendly people that aren't necessarily in a hurry and can sit down and just have a nice chat.

6. Could you give up driving around town for metro rides and taxis?
No, I could not give driving for taxis or subways...first, i enjoy cranking up the radio in my car and the iPod doesn't do it for me in terms of truly enjoying the songs the way I like to. Second, I like to talk to people and you don't get that chance on the subway. Even though there's people all around you, they're not interested in holding a conversation which is not me and I think that is a big difference between the big city and smaller towns. And third, who likes to be on crowded trains all the time...not me! :)