Last month, I visited Belgium alone. Two weeks out from my dissertation deadline, I decided I wanted to travel. I looked at tickets for the Eurostar and booked a trip to Antwerp 30 minutes after conceiving of the idea. (re: my last newsletter. It doesn’t count as procrastinating if it’s productive). I had no plan, knew nothing about Antwerp, and had never really traveled alone.
In lieu of a recommended itinerary or an essay about enjoying one’s own company, I figured I’d share some practical observations from my trip:
Antwerp is an incredible city with tons of great food, interesting shops, and unique museums. If you ever have the opportunity to visit, do it.
Bring a book. Eventually, people-watching gets boring, and staring at your phone detracts from your experience. If given the choice between packing an extra sweater or a book, bring a bigger bag.
Walk aimlessly around the city. Maybe this goes without saying, but as a compulsive planner, it’s easy to rush from one planned activity to the next. Schedule the “must-dos” and spend the rest of your time wandering around like a local.
Traveling alone means less food since you can’t go halfsies on dishes with yourself.
No one knows who you are, and no one cares about you. I don’t mean this to be harsh, but I spent the first night self-conscious about eating dinner alone because I thought the host seemed judgy. You’re probably not being perceived the way you think you are, so don’t worry about what people think. Enjoy your own company. Who knows, maybe you’ll even meet Ethan Hawke on a train (a girl can dream).
Because of #4, you should always get the ice cream or waffle. Never skimp on dessert when you’re forced to skimp on dinner.
A brief list of things to do if you’re ever in Antwerp:
Visit the Plantin-Morteus Museum and Rubenshuis.
Rent a city bike and go to the sculpture park at Middelheim Museum.
Eat at Bourla, sit on the terrace, and eat moules-frites.
Window shop near Krootenstraat.
Order the frites at Pilar FoodBar. They are insane.
Visit St. Vincents and imagine decorating your future home.
If you have the time, go to Ghent. The 50-minute train costs $10.