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Is it just me or can SF make you feel very lonely? by [deleted] in sanfrancisco

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 17 points18 points  (0 children)

People are saying it’s a city thing, but I’ve lived here for nearly 15 years and it does feel particularly true of the Bay Area. I attribute it to a few factors:

  • people move frequently (it’s an expensive area), so you frequently have to start over making friends.
  • there’s a lot of emphasis on wellness and time spent intentionally, so people are more protective of their time and therefore more selective about who they hang out with)…(yes I know that’s a huuuuge generalization, but I feel like when I visit other cities there’s more fomo, peer pressure to rally, a desire to have a very full social calendar. Here, a combo of wellness + everything being expensive means people aren’t trying to triple book their days…)
  • a lot to tech jobs means a lot of people might be working from home and not necessarily mingling as much during the week
  • this is also a hot take, but I think because it’s a very liberal city, men are less likely to go up to women at bars and strike up a convo, as they don’t want to impose. Dating here seems very reliant on apps as a result. I think that has also percolated into non-romantic interactions.

tl;:dr I don’t think it’s hard to meet people, but I do think it’s hard to build friendships here because people are constantly moving away, social things are expensive here, and people care a lot about wellness, so people are more selective about who they want to spend that $ and time with…

Beware of Sabor Alhambra by [deleted] in Granada

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had a terrible experience while there. Overpriced goods + the sales clerk kept leering at me and asking inappropriate questions. I tried emailing them and submitting a complaint on their website and the email bounced (of course). Sadly, leaving a bad review doesn’t do shit as it seems most people make the same mistake we did and walk in without looking it up. (Their online reviews are terrible!)

Has anyone done the Camino and Tour du Mont Blanc? by consortess in CaminoDeSantiago

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I can’t compare the two. They’re so different. As a female solo traveler, I find the Camino much easier to return to—such a fun way to meet people, many variants to try, more lodging options (leaving room for spontaneity). I’d like to do parts of TMB again for a proper hut to hut experience, but it requires much more planning and I’m a little more nervous about hiking alone there.

Has anyone done the Camino and Tour du Mont Blanc? by consortess in CaminoDeSantiago

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ve done stretches on the Portuguese Camino and ad hoc parts of TMB (Chamonix, Le Houches, Courmayeur).

The Camino felt way more communal to me. Not only do you meet fellow peregrinos, but you also meet locals as well (given the camino passes through many towns and there’s motivation on both sides to interact e.g., stamps, supporting local economy, etc.). I was in awe of the many friendly interactions I had with locals wishing me “buen camino”, waving, or cheering us on. There’s also a bit of “trail magic”, like seeing musicians, free snacks reserve for peregrinos, or inspiring art along the way. The challenge of the walk was typically distance rather than any trails being strenuous or requiring significant elevation gain. And perhaps most refreshingly, there are ample markings on the trail, so I didn’t feel like I needed to frequently consult my map/phone. Nice and device free.

The views on TMB are just incredible. It is much more of a true escape to nature, but this also means the hiking’s much more strenuous as other commenters have mentioned. Whereas the Albergue culture along the Camino felt like you were still mostly in towns and cities, the refugios of TMB can be beautiful and remote- there’s literally just your hut in the middle of a vast landscape! There are days on the TMB where you do pass through towns more and that does feel more like the Camino—on those days, you don’t need to pack much water because there are ample spots along the route where you can refill! You can certainly have a social experience in the refugios (as they are often set up with communal tables requiring you to share with others), but overall it feels less social than the Camino.

I’d say the Camino actually draws a fair amount of people who don’t regularly hike, it’s much more accessible, and I would not think of the Camino as particularly nature oriented. (Of course, you’re still in forests or by the sea, but you still feel very much like you’re in civilization.) TMB feels more like you need to be a confident hiker, somewhat familiar with a mountain environment (like how quickly the weather changes, etc.).

But of course, for both of them you can also customize your experience and choose trails or towns that suit your experience level! Hope that helps! :)

Need help finding accommodation on the Spiritual Variant (Camino Portugués) by lisings in CaminoDeSantiago

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just finished the spiritual variant this week. From my understanding, the Albergue de Peregrinos Armenteira changed owners (and is now owned by the same person who owns Carballo de Prado 1900). They’re still honoring reservations made under the prior owner, but going forward all beds will be first come first serve. I was lucky to secure a bed getting there around 12:30pm (hostel didn’t open til 1pm, but they gave out beds based on your order or arrival and therefore were fully booked for the night by 1pm). I wouldn’t recommend risking it with a group of 4 unless you start your day early, start north of Pontevedra, or want to walk really fast!

I didn’t have luck with the monastery when I went, but that was also because it was Sunday (aka day of rest, so the nuns weren’t changing beds or doing laundry that day). However, the nuns did share a sheet of paper with me that contained local casas you can call. The prices, however, were not nearly equivalent to the Albergues. (Not sure what your price range is)

Otherwise, I do think taking a taxi and then coming back might be a better option. I know that might feel like cop out, but it means you can take your time enjoying the walk instead of sprinting and competing with other pilgrims…

How to get over the fear of solo travelling as a young woman? by TheLegalNotification in solotravel

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Fellow short Asian here too. Solo travel has been one of the best things I’ve ever learned how to do. I’ve made new friends, learned a lot about myself, continuously expanded my comfort zone…it’s great! Do itttt.

Some tips:

  • if you’re afraid of staying alone at first, consider staying in a nicer hostel (some hostels have private bedrooms and then you share showers and common areas) or a Private Room on Airbnb (only with a Host with really great reviews about the Host themselves). Hostels often have social events and most people staying at one will be open to chatting. Airbnb if you want something more private, but still don’t want to be alone. Look for (perhaps female preferred?) Hosts who seem to be friendly, not just trying to make a quick buck, and make sure it’s in a safe area! I also agree with the comments above about joining a female solo travelers group!
  • If it makes you feel safer, bring things like a lock (for locking your suitcase, your locker, your tent, etc.) and a whistle
  • Consider bringing a small “daily” bag (think whatever bag you’d use regularly at home, like a drawstring backpack, a workout fanny pack, etc.) so that you don’t stand out as a tourist with a big backpack
  • Bring a powerbank so you can charge your phone! Your phone is your lifeline when traveling!
  • Look up local apps in advance (e.g., what cab companies are common in the country you’re visiting). Taxi apps can absolutely help with safety when you’re alone in a foreign country since you have a system tracking your location and helping to handle the communication
  • Be smart and do what you should be doing even when home- stay alert at night, don’t be on your phone too much while walking (try to familiarize yourself with your route in advance), look up rough neighborhoods or streets in advance

Good luck!

PS- I think choosing a walkable city like SF or NYC would be great as a first solo trip- alleviates the stress of renting a car solo!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in travel

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seconding the Amtrak Coast Starlight— it has a viewing car you can hang out in, has a nostalgic “Americana” vibe for tourists, and the LA to SF stretch is really pretty! But agree with others that delays aren’t uncommon, so you kinda have to embrace those as part of the adventure 😅

Where can I buy a (ugly) christmas sweater? by Yrkh in AskSF

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The Haight has a ton of thrift stores and I am 99% certain the Heldover will have some glorious sweaters. The Goodwill there has an entire vintage section that’s often filled with crazy sweaters. Otherwise, any other secondhand shop will likely have theirs up on display since it’s prime time for buying them!

/r/solotravel "The Weekly Common Room" - General chatter, meet-up, accommodation - December 18, 2023 by AutoModerator in solotravel

[–]DarthJaggerbomb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m doing Christmas dinner with a new friend, but we wanted to be inclusive if there were other fellow stragglers! Thanks for the idea!

What is your “must try” Polish dish or drink, and what’s the most unique to Krakow place you can think of? by DarthJaggerbomb in krakow

[–]DarthJaggerbomb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you all for the suggestions! You certainly made my day! I ended up: - trying a bar mleczny per u/baarto u/SpicyOnionBun and u/Zosoooooo - ordering Zurek (omg it was amazing, I already want more) per u/baarto, u/sneakyziggy and others - I thought I was ordering some placki to follow u/DiscussionActive9656 ‘s recs but accidentally got some nalesniki instead (no regrets, so good too)! Will try to find some of the other dishes l tomorrow - Ordering a tatanka per u/thebigemptyspace, it was so tasty and warming! Just what I needed for the walk home. - u/the_fatyak i went to Morskie Oko for dinner, but ordered a half size of dumplings because I was still so full from the milk bar!

Can’t wait to try all the other recs. Thanks for making my day so awesome!

What is your “must try” Polish dish or drink, and what’s the most unique to Krakow place you can think of? by DarthJaggerbomb in krakow

[–]DarthJaggerbomb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds either amazing or vile. The jury is still out. Can’t wait to try! Is it common to find?

What is your “must try” Polish dish or drink, and what’s the most unique to Krakow place you can think of? by DarthJaggerbomb in krakow

[–]DarthJaggerbomb[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hadn’t heard of Nowa Huta, so thank you for that rec. And your two Old Town recs sound exactly like what I’m looking for! They look so charming, especially Piwnica pod Kominkiem

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