Alone And Unafraid | Sabrina Giacomini

Alone and unafraid

Solo travels to the Land of Fire and Ice

The world is opening up and travelling alone has become a favourite choice of adventure seekers. It can seem like a daunting process, but from what I’ve learned, my solo trips have also been the most rewarding.

Story and Photography: Sabrina Giacomini

I travelled on my own for the first time at the tender age of 16. Well, I wasn’t exactly alone—I was travelling to Italy where I was going to spend some time with my family. It was, however, my first time having full responsibility for myself from the moment I went through security at the Montreal airport, to stepping off the plane and meeting my aunt in Milan.

There were a lot of firsts on that trip. I missed a connecting flight at the Charles-De Gaulle Airport in Paris where I had a layover. What a mess! And for the first time, my luggage got lost. Not a bad way to take your initial solo trip!

This, let’s call it “complicated”, experience didn’t deter me from adding to a growing collection of stamps in my passport. I have since had a few occasions to travel by myself, from the occasional trip to see the familia, to adventures in foreign places I discovered all on my own.

There are also quite a few perks to travelling solo when you think of it. Accommodations for one person are generally easy to find, whether you are considering a bed in a hostel or an entire apartment. You also get to make your own schedule and travel on your own terms—no need to compromise.

My latest destination was definitely the most exciting one. Every place I’ve visited offered something special, but this one holds a special place in my heart. I had been wanting to visit Iceland for years. Funny enough, an episode of Top Gear triggered that sudden and heart-fluttering desire to venture to this tiny little island in the middle of the ocean, somewhere between Greenland and England, where ice meets fire.

“Every place I’ve visited offered something special, but this one holds a special place in my heart.”

I was so excited at the idea of visiting Iceland, I actually started preparing for the trip before I decided to go. The first thing I did—and the first step I recommend to anyone looking to travel on their own—is to research the destination thoroughly. Is it as safe place to visit by yourself? What’s the weather like and what’s the best time of the year to go? I read blogs, reviews, and forum comments from people sharing their experiences. For the record, Iceland is a great solo destination!

Then, one lazy Saturday afternoon, sitting at the computer, I felt like poking around Google Maps and plan what my ideal itinerary would be. Just for fun. Unknowingly, six months later, this itinerary would end up being my roadmap!

Google has a tool called “My Maps” that allows you to create your very own route without being stuck following an elaborate algorithm. You can drop pins on must-see locations as well. Once again, I did my research of all the Icelandic landmarks and decided which ones from the endless list I wanted to see with my own eyes. Aside from the black sand beaches and volcanoes; those were a given, I even looked up gas stations every 100 km or so—I pictured Iceland being a lot more barren than it actually is.

I also looked at accommodations; living so remotely from the rest of the world comes at a price, literally, and pretty much everything in Iceland is expensive, including hotels. Thankfully, a little app called Airbnb proved extremely useful and I was able to pay on average $100 Canadian a night renting rooms from people.

Not wanting to follow the flocks of tourists who visit the island, I decided to travel against the current. Most people head south, leaving from Reykjavik and travel around the island counter clockwise. I did the opposite and headed north instead. For that, I needed a car so I researched the cost of a rental car versus SUV versus motorcycle.

You may start to notice a pattern here; research is the key to a great trip. In 2018, we are lucky enough to have a wealth of information at our fingertips. The best advice I can give you is this: do your homework. Research everything. If you have questions, Google can find you the answers. Be informed and know where you want to go, the rest will fall into place.

A few months later, the time finally came for me to make the commitment; so, in January 2018, I bought a plane ticket for Reykjavik that was leaving the following month. I picked February because it was the optimal season to view the northern lights, but also a time of the year when I would get a small, but convenient eight hours of daylight.

It would be enough for me to see what I wanted to see and get to where I needed to go without the worry of having to navigate my way at night. I had the plane ticket, the accommodations, the itinerary and the car. I was going to Iceland!

Of course, we’re talking about me. Things are never simple when I’m involved. I finally made it to Reykjavik on Saturday, February 25th after a six-hour flight delay. The airport was closed all day Friday due to a winter storm. Just my luck. The sixhour delay forced me to rework my agenda and react quickly which brings me to my next piece of advice. Always be prepared to rework your plan because the unexpected will happen, it’s part of what makes any trip a great adventure.

In my case, this meant reorganizing my accommodations. With half of my first day lost because of the delay, I wouldn’t make it to my first destination I had planned for, so I pushed everything back and booked a last-minute room closer to Reykjavik. My motto for this trip was simple; take my time and relax.

There is so much to see and do, rushing to find my room at the end of each day was not an option. It’s supposed to be a vacation, remember? Some people enjoy the hustle and bustle of an exotic destination with an agenda packed with activities of all sorts from sunrise to sunset. I’m not like that. I choose to leave the stress behind.

3839Result: I spent a wonderful, memorable, six-day long trip travelling around Iceland, experiencing things I had never imagined. Sulphur springs, glaciers, icebergs, volcanoes, black sand, miniature Icelandic horses… there was something beautiful and strange to look at around every corner on the road.

A little bit about gorgeous Iceland...

Iceland is the epitome of weird in the most wonderful way. The landscape is a patchwork of familiar-feeling places and outlandish scenery that is somehow stitched together to form an island.

One minute you are cruising through a vast plain between mountain ranges, the next, you’re surrounded with moss-covered volcanic formations, before taking a turn and finding yourself at the bottom of a fjord with blue waters on one side and snow-covered peaks on the other. Be prepared to stop and take pictures all... the…time.

I also chose not to partake in any organized activities; I’m more of a loner in that regards and I don’t enjoy following a pack of tourists. I prefer to make my own path. Sure, I could have gone volcano exploring or glacier hiking. Instead, I offered myself a week of personal time in the car, listening to my favourite music and just pondering life in general. It was restful and pleasant—I have grown to enjoy my alone time.

It might surprise you to learn that Iceland is a lot less cold than people think. When I said I was travelling to the country in February, some people wondered why I was leaving one winter climate for another.

It was actually warmer in Iceland than it was in Toronto, Canada. The thermometer hovered between -3°C and 10 °C throughout my trip. The jokes on you I guess!

If you decide to rent a car, people may try to sell you on the idea that an SUV is required to tour the island as some portions of the road are unpaved. Unless you plan to go do some serious off-roading, which is possible to plan for, you don’t need an SUV.

I received the keys to a brand new Volkswagen Polo, the Golf’s little sister, and white of all things—it didn’t stay white for long.

If that’s not the complete opposite of an off-roadfriendly vehicle, I don’t know what is. Frankly, it turned out to be the ideal partner for my solo trip in Iceland. My biggest challenge was remembering the names of the locations I visited. There is a cruel lack of vowels and a superabundance of accents to deal with.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and to see the world, even if it means having to do it on your own. Learn about your destination, become familiar with the places you will call home for a few days or maybe a week, learn some of the language; get involved. Be adventurous, be smart, and above all, enjoy yourself.