The seven of us — all solo travelers — gathered in the lobby of our hostel to embark on a daylong hiking trip south of Granada, Spain. By the time we loaded onto a bus for the one-hour ride, most of us had become fast friends after two days exploring the historic and picturesque city rich in culture and delicious food.
We experienced our first flamenco show, watched the sunset over the Sierra Nevada mountains, toured the Alhambra and enjoyed mouthwatering shawarma and tasty tapas washed down with glasses of Tinto de Verano.
I loved everything about Granada — the smaller size, history, architecture, traditional markets, outdoor dining and people dancing freely in the plazas — but my experience was amplified tenfold by a collection of spontaneous strangers. We were from different countries and traveling for different reasons but we were all connected by a desire to meet new people, share new experiences and see more of the world.
In the words of Taylor Swift, “I was enchanted to meet you.”
I’m well aware Swift’s hit song “Enchanted” is about a potential love interest but the song perfectly coveys this feeling of meeting someone, forming a connection, having a great time and hoping you can make it last just a little bit longer. The conversations, the adventures, the nights you don’t want to end. I had so much fun with the Granada crew that I lost track of time and almost missed my train on the last day!
This trip has taught me many lessons but perhaps the most important: the gift of time. We all get 24 hours a day that must be used. We can’t carry it over, not even a second, and eventually our time runs out. We get this special gift of time every day we wake up and we decide how to use every minute. We build, maintain and reinvent romantic relationships and friendships. We have families. We have work. We have hobbies. We have downtime and distractions. Many of us, including myself, are so good at finding ways to fill up our time that it leaves very few moments to be free, to be still, to be flexible. And it’s during those times of stillness and freedom where we might experience the most enchanting moments or meet the most enchanting people. Those moments simply don’t happen when our time is too structured or spread too thin. This is your reminder that it’s okay to slow down, ditch the plan, go off path and explore the unknown while the gift of time keeps giving. Leave some time for nothing! And when those special moments present themselves, hold on.
As the lyrics go, “This night is flawless, don’t you let it go.”
Can we talk about Taylor Swift for a moment? I’m 40 days into my backpacking trip and I must admit that most nights end with me in a bunkbed scrolling on TikTok around 1 a.m. listening to short clips of the Eras Tour. I don’t consider myself a “Swifty” by any means; however, my feed is flooded and I have become obsessed with the fan reaction, outfits, singalongs, emotion and just how damn happy the tour is making people. I was home in Philadelphia in May when thousands of ticketless fans gathered *OUTSIDE* Lincoln Financial Field where Swift performed three sold-out shows. The positive energy was infectious! As she travels around the country and the world, I feel like Taylor Swift is dropping happy bombs everywhere she goes.
In a world filled with divisiveness and seriously lacking compromise, I am overly supportive of an artist who puts a smile on people’s faces, puts on a good show and is widely viewed as a good human being. Truthfully, I think Taylor Swift is more adored than Santa Claus. It’s true: some of Taylor’s music is cheesy — or “cringe” as the kids say — but I have long maintained the belief that life is supposed to be cheesy. Her songs are relatable, catchy and tap into life’s deepest emotions and experiences. So, in these crazy times, let’s ride the Taylor Swift wave as long as possible.
Ok! Back to Granada and the stunning Alhambra — a walled-off palace and fortress complex built under Muslim rule in the 13th century. It was built atop a hill on Roman ruins and has become the city’s most popular attraction. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous!
The group quickly became regulars at this hole-in-the-wall shawarma and kebab spot in the center of town. It was the tastiest meat and falafel combination and cost just 5 euros. By the second night, my new friend Charlotte and I were taking pictures with the staff and advising tourists on the street that they needed to try it out. I had three shawarma wraps in three days — we couldn’t get enough! If you’re in Granada, don’t miss out on Jerusalem Comida Oriental!
This trip has been full of fun encounters and some repeat encounters with fellow backpackers! I was reading a book on the rooftop of the hostel in Granada when I overheard a man at the bar introduce himself to a guy next to him: “Hi, I’m Alexis!” I looked up, tilted my head and realized this was the same Alexis I met and had dinner with three nights prior in Madrid. We talked about our love of writing and how our imposter syndrome can sometimes be distracting in the process. We had no idea we’d find ourselves staying at the same spot in a different city in Spain but Alexis joined our growing group of solo travelers and we all made plans to hike the Los Cahorros trail the next morning. The group kept growing!
I was on a time crunch the day of the hike but I am so glad I squeezed in one final adventure! The Los Cahorros hike was awesome — a roughly five-mile journey with amazing views, hanging bridges, caves, waterfalls and tight sections along the water that required crawling under big rocks. We had a blast!
I almost extended my stay in Granada to spend more time with the crew but I already reserved a seat on the train to Barcelona. Goodbyes are not fun but I’m thankful for the connection! I spent the first part of my seven-hour trek thinking about how perfect timing and some luck resulted in a group of strangers spending so much time together. We all landed in the same spot with free time, changed our plans and let the adventures guide us!
In the words of Taylor Swift, “This is me praying that this was the very first page — not where the storyline ends.”
Until we meet again, my friends!
The Coffee Break 
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