“Ugh wow that must be so fun. The freedom and adventure.” This was a text I received from a friend of mine.

Traveling along is the best. You don’t have to worry about anyone else but yourself, you get to explore on your own timeline. Eat what you want, see what you want.

Though it does have its downsides. It’s nice being able to split the expenses, split the AirBnB, Uber, dessert. It’s also nice being able to share the experiences, you make memories with who you’re with. Social media does help with that. “Oh my friend would love that, let me send her a video of this.” “This is what I’m thinking in this moment so let me send my friends a picture with what I’m thinking.”

Then there are the rare moments that make you feel lonelier, the moment when you realize that you’re the only one around that is by themselves. Most are with their families, some couples, and some small groups of friends. It makes one feel like an outsider.

I recently took a trip to Washington D.C. on my own. I looked forward to roaming around the National Mall and museums on my own, taking in as much as I could. This was my way of finding peace and clearing my mind, but instead I was greeted by a ton of tweens on spring break taking a school trip, my worst nightmare. Walking around the National Monuments was not pleasant, group of kids running around. It would not have been such an awful sight if I hadn’t been cold and exhausted. I was cold, exhausted and annoyed. So instead of walking around more and running the risk of me potentially punching a kid in the face, I went to my AirBnB to take a nap. When I woke up, I laid there contemplating what I should do for the rest of my day. It was my last night but my exhausting was taking over. The sun was about to set, I figured it would be a pretty sight to see the Capitol building at sunset. By the time I made it back downtown, the sun was already long gone. I stopped by for some food then headed to see the Capitol. Walking down the National Mall, in the darkness what exactly what I needed, I was cold but this time I was okay with it. The little night trip was a great decision and I got my best picture from it.

As I stood in front of the Capitol building taking pictures, nobody else around me. A man shows up, he was traveling alone too. We shared a moment, a moment of solitude. He pulled out his phone and FaceTimed someone. “Hi I just wanted to share this moment with you.” That was me the whole trip, trying to FaceTime my little brother because I wanted him to see what I was seeing, especially since we aren’t able to travel together.

Those moments are tough, but roaming around a new city, taking it all in is an amazing feelings. Some places are meant to be seen alone, some are best to be shared with others.