Finding Friendship in Snow Covered Sweden

If you have ever pondered over whether or not to travel solo, this story is for you. You never know what adventures might be in store for you if you don’t take the chance and give it a shot! This edition of Travellers’ Tales features Kelly from Girl with the Passport. If you have a travel story to share, get in touch at [email protected]

 

This past holiday season, I decided to travel to Sweden alone.

It was a tough decision because I didn’t know anyone in Sweden and would basically be all alone for the entire time. I was worried that I might get lonely with no family or friends to celebrate the holidays with.

But I knew I needed to get away.

I work full time and don’t get much time off to travel. So, with a smidge of residual guilt in my heart, I decided to book a flight to Sweden.

Once I arrived, I knew I had made the right decision. There were so many historic villages to explore and windmills to admire as the basked in the cool glow of the setting sun. With so much culture unfolding all around me, I forgot to be lonely as I strolled along the cobble stone streets of Old Town Stockholm. I was too busy eating my way through Stockholm to notice that no one was by my side; until I had to pack my bags and board the train to Northern Sweden.

 

 

 

 

 

I was headed for a teeny tiny town that was just above the Arctic Circle. Here, the sun rose at 10 am and set at 3pm. Tourist brochures dazzled me with scenes of reindeer frolicking across the frozen river.

 

 

But I wasn’t headed North to see the reindeer, even though they are totally adorable. The goal of this trip was to see the largest Ice Hotel in the entire world. However, my dreams were thwarted when I realized that the hotel had no available rooms. Not one to be deterred from following her dreams, I decided to venture North and take a public tour of the facility anyway.

 

 

While waiting on the frigid, outdoor train platform for my insanely late train, I observed all the families and friends around me, excitedly chatting about their upcoming travel plans. They all looked so happy and joyful because they had someone to share the fun with. That’s when I looked over and saw nothing. My heart sank and quickly filled with the pangs of loneliness.

In that moment, I longed to share my excitement and enthusiasm about this amazing journey. I also wanted to share my fear of freezing to death since I was headed above the Arctic Circle in December, but there was simply an empty space beside me.

That’s when I turned and saw one woman animatedly conversing with a family. They were deep in conversation and so naturally, I assumed they were all traveling together. But as the conversation progressed, I quickly realized that she was actually traveling alone, just like me!

So me, being the social butterfly that I am,  slid towards her and struck up a conversation about one of my favorite things in the world, coffee – the nectar of the Gods as we fondly called it. The one substance that I wish I could have served to me in a daily IV drip. We bonded over our mutual love for all things caffeinated and then realized that we were both originally from New York.

As we chatted, the train finally arrived. I just assumed that like with most casual conversations, we would say our goodbyes and go our separate ways. But instead, my new friend Danielle asked me where I was staying. I briefly regaled her with my tale of woe about how I had wanted to stay at the Ice Hotel, but couldn’t.

Then to my complete and total astonishment, she asked me to share her room in the Ice Hotel with her. At first , I was a little nervous about spending the night with someone I didn’t really know, but my eternal sense of adventure won over and I agreed.

I reminded myself that life is an adventure and I want to enjoy the ride.

 

 

 

Well, I am beyond grateful that I made that decision because we had an amazing time exploring the Arctic and surviving a night in the Ice Hotel together. I mean, who else would have helped me zip up my sleeping bag in the total darkness so that I didn’t freeze to death during the night? But not only did we enjoy each other’s company, Danielle was also the perfect antidote to my momentary, holiday loneliness. Instead of ruminating in my feelings of loneliness, my wing woman and I giggled the night away, chatting about all the men that we wished we could bring home as souvenirs

And honestly, that newly formed friendship was the best part of my entire vacation.

I now have a new travel buddy, in Miami, who has already asked me to visit her and travel with her on another trip.  This type of friendship is priceless because not all of my friends think like me and center their life around a love for travel. I’ll forever cherish Danielle for her kind heart and her never ending passion for adventure.

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Author:  Kelly Duhigg currently lives in New York City and nannies on a full time basis. When she is not nannying, she is busy working on her travel blog, Girl with the Passport. Any chance she gets, she travels the world because travel is in her soul. She  loves to write and wants to use her blog to inspire others to follow their hearts and pursue their dreams. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

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Thanks to Kelly for sharing her Traveller’s Tale with us. We want to hear your interesting and inspiring travel stories too! Simply send us a mail with your idea or post at [email protected]. You can also share your photo stories on Instagram with #shareTravellersTales to be featured and to connect.

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