All roads lead to you (Rome).

I needed to go to UK to meet my friend for one week, instead... I flew to Rome. Because - why not? Haha. And it was the greatest idea ever. +22 (and +5 in Riga), I saw EVERYTHING, literary - everything. I was running like crazy. I met this awesome guy - Carlo. Such a beautiful soul!

Have done all the sightseeing, have eaten pasta, drank whole (!!!) bottle or wine (I'm not a wine drinker, I don't like it at all, I consider myself as a whiskey girl).

Stayed in hostel named "Yellow".
Met these awesome girls from Sao Paolo and Washington, DC. Slept like a baby (it was my first hostel experience, for 20 euros).

Drank some delicious coffee and went back home. Sweet escape, huh?!

I love Italy, I simply love Italy.

Hope to come back soon - to Sicily and Tuscany. Annnddd.... that's it.
I'll be done with Italy, hehe.

I'm never returning to the same place again (at least I try not to), but Italy is something...magical.

That vibe, food, atmosphere and action (loudness and dramas on the street, in the restaurants, haha).

Anyway, I highly recommend Italy (every part of it).

Do. Meet. Live.

#femalesolotraveller

Rome in 12 hours.

I've been so lucky and blessed to visit almost all (the heart of the Tuscany and Sicily is still in progress) of the Italy, to meet beautiful local people and even make friends. 

That's the reason why I'm going to Rome tomorrow morning on my day off. 

I just can't get enough of Italy. The atmosphere, the food and the most important - the views. I feel free and I can breath deep when I'm there. The same sensation fills me, when I'm in Israel. There's something in Italy and Israel. I just can't get enough.

So... Rome, here I come!

Peace.

Hello, Larnaca!

Back to business.

I've hit my first, big target - 500 hours in the sky. Oh, my Gosh!

Such a busy, busy month! Oh, my! You can't even imagine!

It's almost 1000 hours of my duty time in company and almost 500 hours in the sky. Wow!

Just received my November's schedule.

It's calmer, at last. 

Having a cool layover in Larnaca, Cyprus again. And Tel Aviv. Can't wait!

And... can''t wait for NYC!
It's time to dig deep and then - my first visit and my first vacation in the U.S.A. all by myself. It's going to be spec-ta-cu-lar!

#femalesolotraveler

Happy Name's day, Elina!

Fears You Face as a Solo Female Traveler.

Preparing for any solo trip can often bring on some fears, especially if it is your first solo trip, and for good reason as there are a lot of things that can cause anxiety.

If there is one piece of advice that I can give, is that you can overcome these worries, and the fears that you obsess about before you travel will drift away once you arrive in your destination.

Here are a few of the most common fears you face as a solo female traveller and how to overcome them!

1. Safety

Some of the biggest fears that a solo female traveler will have are concerns of safety, but it is something that can be mitigated. Criminals are generally opportunists that look for vulnerable travelers who have their attention diverted, or have bags or items out in the open.

While you may not be able to control everything in terms of safety, make sure that you are smart, keep your wallet and documents in an inside pocket and avoid wearing clothing or accessories that will make you stick out.

2. Unwanted Attention from Men

Another concern that many women will have is that the men in certain countries will be pushy or aggressive. While dressing conservatively may reduce such attention, responding to such behavior by being firm and confident is typically enough to deter the men.

If the situation does start to develop and get worse, it’s best to move to a public area where you can ask for help, such as a restaurant, or towards a police station.

3. Table For One

On my first solo trip, this was one of my main fears because I realized I had never had a meal alone out in public before. Couple of travels later later, it has become a normal occurrence, and I don’t mind one second of it.

As I’ve said before, solo travel isn’t like the movie Castaway. You won’t be drawing a face on a volleyball to sit across the table from you!

Eating alone allows you to make friends with locals, waiters and other travelers, and really enjoy the experience of dining in your destination.

4. Loneliness

Being lonely is something that can happen to anyone, but as you spend time away from friends and family, this can be something that a lot of solo female travelers experience. Knowing this ahead of time, you can plan to Skype home or to call friends at specific times.

You will also meet people along your trip, and if you are sociable in your hostel or accommodation, then you will rarely find yourself without anyone to talk to.

5. Being Out of Your Comfort Zone

This is a natural fear to have, but until you are actually on your trip, you won’t really understand how well you respond to the experience of traveling.

The biggest thing you will probably learn is how resilient you are, and even if you are terribly anxious about being out of your comfort zone, you will be astounded at how resourceful you can be once things start to happen.

6. Getting Stranded

A very valid fear, finding yourself stranded somewhere unfamiliar can be very scary, but in reality, it is something that happens to very few people as they travel.

The key thing here is to make sure that you have a back up plan, and know what you will do in emergency situations. Having the contact number for your travel insurance company’s emergency line is a good place to start!

I always recommend making copies of your passport and travel documents and storing them digitally where you can access them if needed.

Why all women should travel solo.

One of the biggest challenges of travelling solo is actually making the decision to book your flight and pack your bag. There are so many preconceptions that people hold about solo travel but, the reality is very different to what most people imagine.This is particularly true for women. I can’t tell you how many times people ask me, "But aren't you afraid?" or "Is it safe?" The truth is, travelling solo changed my life and is the single greatest gift I've ever given myself. Like me, many women will find solo travel to be empowering, enjoyable and a wonderful experience.

1. The Freedom Is Wonderful

What you eat, the activities you do and how you spend your day are all some of the options that solo travel will give you, and this sense of freedom is a great thing to embrace.

Traveling with friends or family will often cause people adapt to suit others in terms of what they do and where they visit. With solo travel, the ability to be selfish and do what you really want to do is wonderfully liberating.

The counter to this coin is that it does mean that there is no one else to blame if you end up on the wrong train or your find yourself struggling with a menu in an unfamiliar restaurant!

Those moments are when we learn most about ourselves and rise up to overcome hurdles.

2. Meeting New People Is Easier When Traveling Solo

The thought of solo travel may seem like a lonely one to many people but, it is amazing how often travelers will start conversations with solo female travelers.

There’s a curiosity around it and people are usually more inclined to lend a helping hand and play a part in your adventure. It’s happened to me time and time again around the world despite language barriers and cultural differences.

There are also many people who will want to find out more about you and will want to make sure you feel welcomed in their city. This is the kind of experience that can really enrich your travels and restore your faith in people..

3. Solo Travel Will Boost Your Confidence

The hardest decision you will make with solo travel is to book a flight and pack a bag. Even that very first step of your solo trip is empowering. From there, the more you travel solo the more your confidence will grow.

While all of the organizing and hard work will fall on your shoulders, all of the pleasure that comes from a job well done when you have organized a life changing trip will be yours to savor.

4. You Become The Master Of Your Destiny

Being able to do what you like when you like is something that is often underrated. When it comes to solo travel, you can choose whether you want to to sleep in, fill your day with activities or treat yourself to a day of getting lost in a beautiful city.

Solo travel is often associated with longer term travel and, if this is an option, being able to amend your route simply because you want to go somewhere on a whim is a great experience.

5. You Will Learn How Resourceful You Really Are

Until you are in over your head and desperately trying to figure out what to do next, you won’t really know how resourceful you really can be.

This is something that will sometimes happen when you travel, whether you miss a connection in a city you weren’t expecting to visit or you find yourself trying to arrange an activity that isn’t usually offered to tourists in an unusual destination.

Some of the most beautiful experiences come from the unexpected and even accidental. You will learn to loosen up and make the most of any situation.

6. The Only Compromises Are The Ones You Want To Make

Making compromises is a natural part of most trips, as you will have to choose a route to suit yourself and whoever you are traveling with. Finding experiences that suit everyone in your travel party means compromise is inevitable.

However, if you are traveling solo then these compromises are entirely up to you, whether you want a shorter holiday staying in hotels or if you prefer budget accommodation so that you can travel for longer.

Solo travel lets you prioritize what is most important for you.

Just... wow!

When you wake up on 4 o'clock in the morning.

Royal hotel.

Imany.

Opera house.

That view, though.