Drink espresso like the Italians

I am always a bit skeptical of anything that tells you 'how to not look like a tourist', but from my experience this one sounds about right. Here are some tips on drinking caffe' like a local in Italy.

Traveling solo

If you love to travel and the thought of traveling alone fills you with fear, you aren't the only one. Personally I think traveling solo as an individual, no gender needed, is incredibly enlightening and life changing. You are forced to rely on yourself, your instincts and your intelligence to overcome challenging situations. I also believe that it enables you to experience things and meet people you never would if you had not traveled alone. Sometimes its good to travel with a companion, but I feel that traveling with another person allows you to use them as a crutch, maybe without even realizing it. You talk to them instead of the locals, you may not be as adventurous because you want the other person to feel comfortable or because you have to do what they want to do.

For me, travel is about growing, learning and experiencing people and places you never have before. I could go to the same place in Italy one million times and my experience would be different every time. Even if you tried to create the exact same trip, your interactions and experiences would never be the same. It's about challenging yourself and taking 'smart' risks (for example, eating at a mom and pop restaurant instead of the one recommended in the guidebook, or taking a local's advice over what your research tells you) At age 25 I traveled alone to Greece, not knowing how to read, speak or understand the language, and not knowing one person in the country. I went to live and work on the islands for the summer, to a place I have never been and with people I had never met. And it has completely changed my life and made me who I am today. I could NEVER have prepared myself for what was ahead of me, and honestly if you told me, I never would have believed you. But that is what travel is all about.

If you are completely lost or afraid to make your own decisions at first, then of course follow your guide book, you always have it to rely on if you are in a situation where you don't know what to do. I always have my favorite copy of Rick Steves with me. You are still traveling alone and will have an amazing experience. Of course safety is number one in any situation especially if you are traveling alone. Always make sure the place you stay is safe and that you are ALWAYS aware of your surroundings. This will save you from headaches like pickpockets and it will also help you notice that charming restaurant in the corner you may have missed with your nose in the guide book trying to follow every step exactly. I highly recommend challenging yourself and finding out what you're made of by taking a solo trip. For your first solo journey, travel somewhere that is comfortable to you so you can worry less and enjoy more. After your first solo trip, you may swear off travel companions all together. Traveling alone isn't for everyone, but it will change your life for the better and I recommend trying it at least once. Don't be a tourist, be a traveler.

A great article on women traveling solo here.