Lettie Goes Travelling

When I started travelling on my own, I hadn’t travelled for decades.

And suddenly, the world was opening up to me again.

My first couple of trips felt very “safe” — visiting friends in other countries.

There was an inbuilt safety net.

But as my confidence grew, I started to push that a little.

Combining time with friends… and then adding a few days on my own.

And I packed a lot into those few days.

I remember one trip in particular.

I flew into Geneva, stayed a night there… then on to Lausanne for a night, Montreux for another, back to Lausanne, then over to Thonon before finally meeting my friend and heading up to Morzine.

Looking back, I can say I visited all those places.

I ticked them off a list.

But I didn’t really see them.

Not properly.

Not in a way that let me get a feel for them.

Part of that was not really knowing what my own travel rhythm looked like.

That only comes with time.

But I also think, subconsciously, I was worried there might not be another trip…

So I tried to fit everything into one.

Fourteen years later, I see things very differently.

Now, I won’t stay anywhere for less than three nights.

Any less, and I know I’ll feel rushed, tired… and I won’t enjoy it in the same way.

I still have a plan — but it’s loose.

Not fixed.

I listen to local recommendations.

They’re usually far better than anything I’ve researched beforehand.

And I go where I want to go.

Not where Instagram says I should.

Not just because someone else loved it.

Because what works for one person

doesn’t always work for another.

But the biggest shift?

My travel is for me.

I’m not trying to prove anything

or impress anyone

And because of that…

I enjoy it far more