🥤 What an Ecuadorian milkshake taught me about solo travel
Plus: Abandoned Buildings, Valentine's Day, & Zipline Destinations
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One day I found myself at a juice bar in Zaruma, Ecuador.
I sat on a stool… and in limbo.
Someone on Couchsurfing said they might be able to host me, but tomorrow.
The situation didn’t seem very promising.
I’d already spent a whole day in Zaruma yesterday.
Since the town’s small, I essentially covered most of it. My options were to wait and maybe have a host, or pack up and continue my trip south.
Zaruma could be explored in just one day, but absolutely stunning.
The Parque Central felt like a slice of Europe. The town beamed with artsy charm. Even better, the views of the mountainous countryside were very impressive.
Despite not knowing what to do, the trip here was still worth it.
I took a 10-hour bus from Quito thanks to a random book cover. One day, a week earlier, I picked up a book off a coffee table and was instantly captivated.
An aerial view of this amazing town was on the cover.
Zaruma.
Its location in Ecuador became famous for gold mines, hence the province is called El Oro. Since 1998, Zaruma has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate.
Inside, my heart raced in curiosity. I needed to visit this place.
I was on a solo trip, so finding a way to visit Zaruma is exactly what I did. It was the first time I'd ever decided to go on a whim to a place completely alone.
I felt a confidence and sense of freedom that I didn’t know existed.
As I sat there thinking to myself, the juice bar lady invited me to what I thought was strawberry juice.
Taking one sip, my taste buds instantly sensed it was a strawberry batido or milkshake.
Despite my strong lactose intolerance, I didn't have the heart to reject her random act of generosity.
I battled my body's warning signs and slowly gulped most of it down.
Finally, my stomach started to cry. It rumbled like the lady’s blender.
I surrendered.
Get me out of this beautiful town…is what I muttered to myself in English.
The travel gods had spoken.
This was the sign I needed to make a decision.
I thanked the juice bar lady, grabbed my backpack, and found the bus terminal to head south.
This experience taught me something about solo travel:
It can have its ups and downs. It can be lonely. You can find yourself contemplating life at juice bars. But you also can discover a lot more, make unexpected new friends, and be fully responsible for the kind of trip you want to have.
In summary, you should try it (solo travel, not strawberry milkshakes) at least once!
🚀 Travel Quote of the Week
"There's something about arriving in new cities, wandering empty streets with no destination. I will never lose the love for the arriving, but I'm born to leave.”
-Charlotte Eriksson
🤲 Did You Know?
The tallest abandoned building is in China. The Golden Finance 117 is located in Tianjin. It’s almost 2,000 feet tall and has 128 floors. Construction began in 2008 with the dream of converting the massive tower into luxury apartments and a business complex. Numerous financial challenges started to build (pun intended) and the project was completely shelved in 2015.
🎏 Culture Corner
This week (February 14) was Valentine’s Day in the United States and many parts of the world. The holiday essence is the same no matter which world you’re from: Giving and receiving love. 💓
However, not all Valentine’s Day celebrations are done the same way. Here are a few variations in different countries:
🌍 Finland: On this day people celebrate “Ystävänpäivä” which roughly means “Friendship Day.” People exchange small gifts with friends and loved ones.
🌍 Czech Republic: The “Day of Love” is celebrated on May 1. Many couples kiss under cherry trees as a sign of good luck.
🌍 England: Besides candy and cards, on Valentine’s Day couples might exchange “plum shuttles.” Also known as “Valentine’s Buns,” these are dough buns mixed with dried fruit. Historically, these buns were used as gifts to potential suitors.
🌍 Philippines: Their Valentine’s Day is famous for mass weddings. Venues fill with throngs of happy couples ready to tie the knot. These are either free or very inexpensive because they’re often sponsored by local governments.
🌍 Ghana: February 14 marks “National Chocolate Day” in Ghana. Ghana is one of the largest cocoa producers on earth. The entire week is dedicated to promoting healthy consumption of chocolate, supporting local businesses, and boosting tourism.
🌆 Five Places to Visit for Zipline Lovers
📍Haleakalā National Park, in Maui, Hawaii: This zipline has a 90-foot drop with speeds topping at 45 miles per hour. You’ll cruise through a native forest at the base of a volcano.
📍Victoria Falls, in Zimbabwe: This adrenaline-inducing zipline takes riders across the massive 1,400-foot Batoka Gorge. You’ll get incredible views of the Zambezi River.
📍ZIPCITY, in Lisboeta, Macao: This urban zipline was the first ever in the Asia Pacific and inspired by Las Vegas. There are daytime and nighttime LED light rides available.
📍Zipline Dolinka, in Bled, Slovenia: This is the longest zipline in Europe, located in Bled, Slovenia. You’ll cruise through the beautiful Save Dolinka Valley near Lake Bled. There are seven cables to explore the entire valley.
📍ZipRider, Copper Canyon Adventure Park, in Chihuahua, Mexico: This zipline is over 8,000 feet long and soars over three breathtaking canyons.
Thank you for reading this post! It means a lot and I’m grateful for the support. Another travel-inspired newsletter is coming next week.
Next miss a future post and sign up (it’s free 😉).
See you again soon!
Much love,
-Daniel
Instagram / Bluesky / Travel Coaching
Enjoy older Itchy Feet posts:
• 🌠 Bored with daytime activities? Try noctourism instead!
• ⚙️ Useful gear for Southeast Asia travel
• 🧰 Your best tool to learn a new language
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The Copper Canyon zipline sounds -- loooong!! Wow! And didn't know Maui had a zipline at Haleakala. That should be a blast.
I like traveling solo-at least flying to/from someplace solo (without my husband/family) because it reminds me that I can navigate it by myself- a new airport, security, all of it. Might sound weird but as I get older, and have traveled many places with my husband, I think that we partner through airports etc each taking the lead on something or another, but when I do it myself, I’m reminded I can do it alone.
also, I might add that ziplining in Costa Rica is a must! So many places to do it, Arenal volcano area, Monteverde cloud forest and south in the Osa Peninsula. Beautiful scenery along the lines and some for the adventurous and not-so adventurous!