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According to a recent Roper poll commissioned by Fodor's, almost 40 percent of us have traveled alone for at least three days in the last two years. And most of us enjoyed it -- a lot. Soloing doesn't necessarily mean going it alone. It's a positive term, meaning independence, and traveling the way you choose, whether on your own, or with a friend or a group. You call the shots and can break away when you wish. You'll meet more people traveling solo than any other way (and maybe even find a Valentine for next year). Thumb your nose at Cupid, and treat yourself with a trip -- and maybe, even a bauble. Better yet, choose a destination where charm -- and charms -- comes at a value price. Here's a suggestion from my own travels alone:
I had read languid descriptions about Cartagena de Indias in the novels of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I knew it was one of the best-preserved Spanish-colonial towns anywhere (and spilling over with emeralds!). So I hopped a short flight -- about 2 ˝ hours from Miami -- to the southern Caribbean coast of Colombia. Cartagena was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. Founded in 1533, it was the start and end point of galleons sailing between the Iberian Peninsula and the New World. Colombia has earned a negative reputation because of drug-related violence, and the U.S. State Department continues to warn of ongoing dangers throughout the country. But the situation is improving in cities, according to its consular information sheet for Colombia: ''Violence in recent years has decreased markedly in most urban areas, including Bogotá, Medellin, Barranquilla, and Cartagena.'' I walked by myself through the old city and felt less hassled than I do on Miami Beach's Washington Avenue. The people, I found, are friendly and helpful. The old city still looks as it must have nearly 500 years ago. Lush plazas, spired cathedrals, wooden balconies spilling with bougainvillea -- all seem especially enchanting at night, when lights dramatize the centuries. Horse-drawn carriages clippity-clop past block after block of ornate pastel buildings and through narrow lanes. To protect the city from pirates and buccaneers, the Spaniards built their most important complex of fortresses in the colonies here. You can walk and climb and descend ancient golden stonework, from towering parapets to narrow dungeons. Outside the old city, contemporary shops and markets thrive. Colorful buses called chivas dart around, blaring tropical music. For nature lovers, 50 nearby islands can be reached by boat for a day's excursion. You can enjoy tropical preserves, an aquarium and a botanical garden. I stayed in the Hilton, a seasoned resort about a 10-minute drive from the old city, on a lagoon in the high-end Boca Grande district. The beach is minimal, but balconies overlook a shimmering, silvery Caribbean under moonlight. As for green gems, Colombia produces 40 percent of the world's emeralds from mines high in the mountains. Check out the jewelry factories that demonstrate turning green rock into sparkling gems. I watched, and learned what to choose when I'm ready for this queen of jewels. Restraint is sometimes best |