WHEN I WAS 17, I traveled alone to Europe for the first time, to wash dishes in Gstaad, Switzerland, for the summer. The trip had seemed like a grand adventure. But by the evening I reached the Bern train station, still a day from Gstaad, I’d run out of money for a room. Hunched in a bathroom stall, I felt dumb, scared, and intensely alone. At midnight, a policeman came in and looked for shoes beneath the stalls. I lifted my legs and tried to control my breathing. I’d read that it was illegal to mow your lawn on Sunday in Switzerland, so sleeping in a toilet stall was a felony for all I knew. His uniform appeared in the gap of the door, but then moved on.
The Ultimate Summer Mountain Retreat Is This Lodge in Rural Colorado
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By morning I felt as though I had passed an unnamed but significant test, one I wouldn’t have experienced if not alone. I returned home at the end of the summer having learned more about life in those months than I had in the previous 17 years combined. I felt confident that I could make my way in the world, or at least endure a night in a bathroom. And that was a start. I’ve traveled a lot in the decades since then—to Alaska, Cuba, Iran, Mongolia—though seldom stag. Even now, successfully negotiating a new place feels like a small victory. I’m due for another solo trip this summer, the most amenable time for wandering. I recently found myself alone for the first time in years, just out of a seven-year relationship and with my daughter away at college. It’s time to regain the confidence that I can navigate the world on my own. I’ve seen some photos of huge fish in Patagonia, and I think I might just need to go investigate for myself. This article is part of our Summer School series, a comprehensive guide to acing the year’s best season.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
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WHEN I WAS 17, I traveled alone to Europe for the first time, to wash dishes in Gstaad, Switzerland, for the summer. The trip had seemed like a grand adventure.
But by the evening I reached the Bern train station, still a day from Gstaad, I’d run out of money for a room. Hunched in a bathroom stall, I felt dumb, scared, and intensely alone. At midnight, a policeman came in and looked for shoes beneath the stalls. I lifted my legs and tried to control my breathing. I’d read that it was illegal to mow your lawn on Sunday in Switzerland, so sleeping in a toilet stall was a felony for all I knew. His uniform appeared in the gap of the door, but then moved on.
The Ultimate Summer Mountain Retreat Is This Lodge in Rural Colorado
Read article
By morning I felt as though I had passed an unnamed but significant test, one I wouldn’t have experienced if not alone. I returned home at the end of the summer having learned more about life in those months than I had in the previous 17 years combined. I felt confident that I could make my way in the world, or at least endure a night in a bathroom. And that was a start.
The Ultimate Summer Mountain Retreat Is This Lodge in Rural Colorado
Read article
The Ultimate Summer Mountain Retreat Is This Lodge in Rural Colorado
I’ve traveled a lot in the decades since then—to Alaska, Cuba, Iran, Mongolia—though seldom stag. Even now, successfully negotiating a new place feels like a small victory. I’m due for another solo trip this summer, the most amenable time for wandering.
I recently found myself alone for the first time in years, just out of a seven-year relationship and with my daughter away at college. It’s time to regain the confidence that I can navigate the world on my own. I’ve seen some photos of huge fish in Patagonia, and I think I might just need to go investigate for myself.
This article is part of our Summer School series, a comprehensive guide to acing the year’s best season.
For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!
More News
4-Day Weekend in the Italian Riviera
Is a Club Med Ski Vacation Right for You?
10 Spotlights From the Prestigious Small Luxury Hotels Collection
The Best Value Golf Courses in America
Top Campervan-friendly Ski Resorts and Best Rental Outfitters
The Best Expedition Cruises for Unforgettable Adventures
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
4-Day Weekend in the Italian Riviera
Is a Club Med Ski Vacation Right for You?
10 Spotlights From the Prestigious Small Luxury Hotels Collection
The Best Value Golf Courses in America
Top Campervan-friendly Ski Resorts and Best Rental Outfitters
The Best Expedition Cruises for Unforgettable Adventures
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More News
4-Day Weekend in the Italian Riviera
Is a Club Med Ski Vacation Right for You?
10 Spotlights From the Prestigious Small Luxury Hotels Collection
The Best Value Golf Courses in America
Top Campervan-friendly Ski Resorts and Best Rental Outfitters
The Best Expedition Cruises for Unforgettable Adventures
All Stories
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
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More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
More Videos
The MJ5: Tony Hawk on His Favorite Gear, Why He Always Carries His Board, and More
Here's the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey
Young Guns and a Supercharged Catamaran: U.S. SailGP Team Takes on New York City
