Solo travel works best if you have a focus(1)
In a sun-basked Sicilian kitchen, the air is warm and filled with the fragrance of garlic and just-snipped parsley. The sounds are of women in the kitchen -- the chop-chop of knives against cutting boards and the chatter and laughter of seven women in a country kitchen. It's a fine place to be if you are seeking good company, fabulous food and a vacation on your own.
I find it tricky booking a solo vacation. It is about defining your comfort zone -- and perhaps stepping out of it. It is about being independent but, at times, having company. One thing that works for me is to book a trip with a focus -- learn a language, have a soft adventure, brush up on your yoga, or cook and eat in Italy.
If your wish is for convenience and having everything organized, book a coach tour or get on a cruise ship. Listen to Elly Happ of Burnaby who, when she was widowed years ago, discovered cruising.
"I'm seeing the world and I love it," says the 78-year-old who has been on 31 cruises including China and cruising the Amazon. She enjoys warm weather destinations like the Dominican Republic but still has a soft spot for the Greek Islands, her first solo experience in 1989. She finds cruising cost-efficient and says that the cruise lines treat singles well.
"There are a lot of activities, they hold singles' get-togethers and everything is looked after."
At the other extreme are travel hounds who wouldn't think of booking an organized tour or even calling a friend. Quite willing to put up with the disadvantages (there is often a single supplement plus no one to share costs), Carol Stewart believes that the only way to hit the road is on her own.
Last winter the Sunshine Coast resident spent four months in Asia schlepping between Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bali and Malaysian Borneo. Carol travels on a shoestring, staying mainly in guesthouses ("my criteria includes a private bathroom so that precludes hostels") packing light (carry-on only) and loves the adventure. "I feel more attuned to what is going on around me, I do more things that locals do and of course, the big advantage is simply doing what you want," sums up the 68-year-old who has taken seven major trips on her own.
These days, when singles actually outnumber pairs, there is a wealth of information available. For those who don't like large groups, yet yearn to mix and mingle a certain amount, here are some suggestions.
EATING IN SICILY
Since most of us love Italy and love eating, booking with Mediterranean Kitchens Cooking Vacations, a Toronto-based tour company, was a no-brainer. Then I wondered if Sicily could live up to the rest of Italy. This doubt was erased when I arrived at Fattoria Mose. (Fattoria means farm and Mose is the village on the outskirts of the city of Agrigento in southern Sicily), a charming, 18th century farmhouse. It was the summer home of Chiara Agnello's family; now, along with her partner, Ernesto, she runs the 45-hectare, organic farm that also offers accommodation.
Set on a hilltop, surrounded by fields yielding olives, oranges, pistachios and vegetables, it makes for a perfect agro-tourism stay.
The sprawling villa is a jumble of appealing spaces, a sitting area here, a library there, plus it boasts three kitchens, which makes it a perfect fit for Mediterranean Kitchens' classes.
An added bonus is that while researching Sicilian recipes, Lindan Toole, who owns Mediterranean Kitchens, discovered that Chiara's own family recipes were winners.
So, each morning, five keen-to-learn cooks assemble in a modern kitchen where Chiara leads us into the memorable world of Sicilian cuisine. It is both enlightening and entertaining as succulent dishes are laced with her astute comments.
"North Americans overcook pasta and use far too much sauce," she says as she presents pasta that gives a new meaning to al dente.
As we wanna-be Sicilian chefs chop eggplant, artichokes and onions and stir bubbling sauces and toss fresh-from-the-garden greens, our taste buds are preparing for the feast. There is something incredibly satisfying about savouring new food with new friends. Although we five come from different parts of Canada, we were all lured here to learn and eat. We joke that we do it well as we tuck into Pasta Norma on the sun dappled, wisteria-draped patio.
Besides great food and company, we explored this intriguing region where the Greeks settled in 581 BC. On a guided visit to the Valley of the Temples we ogled impressive temples and shrines, most dating from the 5th century and rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries. This was a spectacular afternoon walk, among golden remnants of another time.
Another day, we drove by van to Caltigirone, a picture-perfect hilltown known for its majolica ceramics. The highlight of our guided walk -- besides the shopping -- was the famed Scala di Santa Maria del Monte. The long, wide, centre-of-town staircase features 142 steps; each decorated with colourful majolica tiles. Nearby, we also visited Piazza Armerina, an archeological site of a Roman villa that displays many amazing mosaics. It was a memorable week as we spent time strolling markets, visiting vineyards, at wine tastings plus free time to laze with a book, walk the hills or visit Agrigento's excellent Archeological Museum.
But mostly, this trip was about good times in the kitchen or around the table, in other words, a great holiday. (www.mediterranean-kitchens.com)
