If you know me, you know that I love to go on guided pub crawls. They’re a way to safely go to pubs, meet people and have a good time. They’re very popular amongst solo travellers and you have a guide host to ensure everyone is protected. My trip to Faro, Portugal was no different, read on if you want to hear about a pub crawl and more in the Algarve region of Portugal.

The travellers itch is dangerous. If you have felt it you know that, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, you’re never immune to it. Once you have the bug it’s with you forever. It’s been the most prominent in, of course, the cold English winters when almost everyone would, also, rather be anywhere else. This uni year, I happen to finish my lesson on Fridays at 11am, leaving the entire rest of the day to myself to do something spontaneous like, I don’t know, maybe fly to another country?

Wednesday afternoon, the itch appears. Wednesday night, flights are booked. Friday afternoon, going to the airport. Friday night, I’m suddenly in Portugal.

Overhead views of Faro, seconds before landing

First thing I do after check-in, is walk into the hostel bar. Immediately, I’m offered to sit with a group of lovely people from all different countries.

The thing is, that happens the majority of the time; immediately being invited to join people. Everyone is in the same boat, it’s a hostel, you wouldn’t go to one if you hate people and the idea of speaking to one ever. So the vibe is almost always completely sociable and friendly. It doesn’t mean there’s not sometimes that little niggling fear that it won’t be. So it’s nice that it happened so instantaneously.

The thing is, sometimes wherever you are, in my case it’s university. In your case it may be a job, a group of friends, family situations. You can feel stuck in a little bubble. Often you only see your life and the lives of the people surrounding you and the path you’re all on. Then you go anywhere else and you realise that there’s absolutely life outside Brenda who keeps eating your lunch in the staff room (not cool Brenda!)

The reason I bring this up is, this is what I needed to bring me out of a slump. I met a man that had been to Antarctica, a woman who had been lowered into the shark infested ocean in a cage and a girl who was celebrating being clear of cancer. We all bonded and went for food and laughed together like we were old friends.

The next day, I went into the Algarve mountains for a wine tasting that I’d booked. There’s 3 other people at the tasting; a couple and another girl who is solo. The couple invited us to sit with them and we talk and joke like we’ve known each other for years (I even tell them about Brenda). We taste delicious wine whilst looking over the beautiful Algarve views. So we all go to the beach after and watch the waves and talk about our past experiences travelling. Then I say goodbye and that’s it.

Again, this was nerve wracking. To go into a pub alone and sit down and do a wine tasting possibly by myself? Or with a group that I don’t know? But I went because I wanted to see what it was like and I trusted my intuition. I know my safety, the tour had lots of reviews and there would be a guide there to monitor anything happening.

I go back to the hostel and I see my friends from the previous night. We go for some food in the town and then join the hostel pub crawl together. At least 30 others were on this crawl and I met some brilliant people. A group of lovely local women were teaching me dances to songs that were on in the club and everyone had a great time.

The next day I fly home and that’s it.

Faro as a place was lovely with its quirky streets and lovely landscape. It was a short trip so I didn’t see that much of it. Next time I’d probably go on a hike or go in the summer so there’s more activities to do.

However, I got what I needed from the trip. Which was a little escape from the bubble to remind myself that if there’s people that can go to Antarctica so can I.

I’m a very confident and bubbly person but people assume I have no fear at all. Actually I do. Before I step into most of these situations I have a little bubbling feeling because I don’t know what’s about to happen. The thing is I just do it anyway. Did you notice that in all these situations I was the one who was invited to the conversation? If you put yourself in situations where that can happen, you don’t have to do anything more. So why not just be there?

Remember, bravery isn’t about being unafraid, it’s about doing it anyway.

-Elisha xoxo

What to do in Faro, Portugal

University trip vs Solo travel

Why you should go on the road less travelled