In the summer of 2024, I had my first solo adventure, sparked by my Birthright trip to Israel ending just days before my 25th birthday. There was no way I was spending my 25th in America, and with Portugal high on my travel wishlist (and part of my goal to visit 5 new countries in 2024), the choice was a no-brainer.
Lagos is a southern coastal town in the heart of the Algarve region and it’s truly a place where magic doesn’t just exist around you, but envelops you. Everyone is friendly and easy-going, the natural beauty of the region is breathtaking, and there are activities for days.
I arrived in Lagos on June 30th around 10pm after traveling for about 32 hours. I was exhausted and starving. After showering and putting my PJs on, I asked the woman working the front desk where I could get food at such an hour. Luckily, there was a little shawarma place just around the corner.
While waiting for my food, I exchanged pleasantries with two American girls who were getting a tasty drunk snack. When I returned to the hostel with my food, it turned out that they were staying there as well. As the three of us got to chatting over our fries blanketed in shawarma and a creamy garlic sauce, a group of Australian guys ventured through the common area and sat outside with us for a smoke break.
We exchanged the basics—where are you from, how long are you here, where are you going next? When I mentioned that my birthday was the next day, everyone erupted, questioning why I was going to sleep rather than celebrating. Despite having a beach skydive scheduled for 9AM the next morning, they convinced me to go out for a drink that obviously ended up being multiple drinks.
That was my first taste of Portugal…hitting the bars with a friendly group of strangers to celebrate my birthday, and then jumping out of a plane onto a beach. What a way to kick off 25.
The days that followed unfolded into a perfect blend of planned adventures and spontaneous connections. On my second day, I met two girls, one with a convertible Fiat 500, and we drove (top down, obviously) to watch the sunset from a mesmerizing coastal lookout. Later in the week, I toured the coast on a hostel excursion, went horseback riding along the beach, and even accepted an impromptu invitation from a local kayaking guide to cruise the shoreline. I returned from that particular side quest with a massage, a new Instagram-worthy photo, a good story, maybe a kiss or two, and a dinner proposal. I had dinner with myself that night <3
Every Decision Is Mine to be Made.
My trust and faith in Miss Universe herself is a relationship I keep close to my heart, mind, and soul. She has a plan for me, and this adventure only helped me open my mind to receiving the messages she has for me. I had felt called to Lagos for months. I didn’t know what awaited me there, but I knew it would be something magnificent, and it was.
What transformed this trip from a simple adventure into a life-changing experience was the profound sense of freedom and self-reliance I discovered. Every morning, I woke to a day that was completely mine to design. I could follow my impulses, change plans on a whim, or do absolutely nothing if I wanted. This liberty to follow my own rhythm revealed a version of myself I hadn’t fully known—someone capable, adventurous, and perfectly content in her own company.
This newfound independence led me to make what felt like the most natural decision in the world: to extend my trip, rent a car, and continue exploring through additional countries. The original plan of visiting Lisbon before flying home from Porto transformed into something far more expansive and unscripted.
Of course, with freedom came responsibility. I was solely accountable for my safety, possessions, and wellbeing. Strangely, managing these responsibilities felt more natural abroad than it sometimes does at home. Away from familiar routines and expectations, I moved through the world with heightened awareness and presence.
One evening, I sat alone on the cliffs overlooking Lagos’s coastline, watching the sunset paint the sky in fiery oranges and pinks. For the first time in months, my shoulders relaxed completely, my breathing slowed, and I didn’t reach for my phone once. The constant mental chatter that usually filled my head had quieted to a whisper, replaced by the rhythm of waves crashing below. I had felt drawn to Lagos for months without knowing exactly why, but in moments like these, the purpose became clear.
Solo travel may not be for everyone, but I think it should be. Being in an unfamiliar place with no familiar faces pushes you to grow in ways you never anticipated. You learn to make yourself comfortable within the uncomfortable—a skill I’ve been developing since my first summer camp as a child, and one that I believe is essential to success in any endeavor.
When I first set out on this adventure, I knew it would be a milestone. I knew this would be the trip where I proved to myself what I alone was capable of. What I couldn’t have predicted was how completely it would realign my sense of self. I have never felt more connected to my highest potential than when navigating this world alone, following my intuition with my heart wide open. It was everything I hoped for and more.