Solo Travel In Central America

M y recent decision to move       of crossing the border alone with  to Panama for four months      my life packed away into two       sounded quite a bit like       large pieces of luggage. I         my decision to move to Costa Rica     wondered how I would find my       for six months, or to Chile for       to-be-co-worker in an unfamiliar   five. I made all the travel           bus stop the next day; and how     arrangements on my own, including     would I pass 16 hours on a bus     a stopover in Costa Rica to see       alone? Longing to crawl back to    my boyfriend. But when it came        the warm, protective arms of my    time to say goodbye after three       boyfriend, I boarded that bus and  weeks of eating, breathing,           watched as my decision to put 16   talking and sleeping together as      hours of time and space between    one with another human being, I       us became a reality.               felt a sudden unfamiliar anxiety                                         about venturing off on my own to      At the Albrook bus terminal in     a new country.                        Panama City, Panama, I stared in                                         awe at my surroundings, which      Traveling alone comes with many       stared right back at me. “What     ups and downs. In our daily lives     was this little American girl      we rely on friends, family and        doing alone in such a big place?”  co-workers to get us through our      they questioned. I was obviously   days. We often overlook how           not an intimidating sight, and     interwoven our actions and            found it quite simple to get help  accomplishments are, and how our      from others. A taxi driver dialed  surroundings define who we are.       my friend’s phone number on a                                            public phone for me, a guard       As I was sitting alone at the bus     watched my bags as I used the      terminal in San Jose during the       restroom, and a fellow passenger   two hours that the bus was            offered me a ride to my new home.  delayed, I started having fears                                          Luckily, I was able to decline        choose to be. Traveling “alone”    that offer as my new boss rolled      may allow you to forge your own    up, as if on cue, to where I was      unique path, but there will        standing in his white ford            always be someone nearby for you   explorer with a huge smile on his     to fall back on. You just have to  face despite the early morning        get used to accepting the varied   hours. And I knew that everything     forms in which these people come.  was going to be okay.                 You never know your own limits,                                          until you take yourself out of     Best friends or recent                the comfort zone, forge new paths  acquaintances, we are never on        and let yourself rely on a         your own in this world unless we      stranger.                          About the Author: Claire Saylor lives and works abroad in Panama. She has been writing for http://www.panamarealestatepros.com. Published At: www.Isnare.com