I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS VIDEO 1. your new haircut? Stunning! Gorgeous! Outright beautiful! It suits you so well 2. I love your vlogs so much. They are just the coziest thing on the internet and you can really feel how much time and effort you put into them. 🥹 3. looking so forward to the e-reader video! I‘m debating getting one for myself but I just love physical books so much
As a Person who travels alone quite often (flight attendant) I can‘t recommend alone trips enough. If you get used to being comfortable on your own that really gives a confidence boost. I just spend time as I want, without second thought. You wouldn‘t believe how fun the Cinema can be on your own, or spending a day at the beach, or a Museum, or even visiting the Universal Studios.
I work at sea and often find my self with a day or two before or after crew changes alone in cities and towns, sometime afternoons on port calls or even i have strolled at 3 am when on a nightshift. Not always the nicest places to see though. I don’t mind it alone but when travelling for personal trip alone…. Im not as keen. Don’t know why but i have two mentalities. I think i feel sometimes the time is long and i have lots of thoughts i wish to share and have conversation with someone about.
as someone who travels alone very often (and has social anxiety), i can't recommend hostels enough. i understand some people don't enjoy sharing a room (totally valid), but these places often have common areas and lots of other solo travelers. and they usually offer private rooms as well. you can get to know people and then you also don't have to worry as much about eating dinner alone. you can go eat in a restaurant or cook together in the hostel. (i also just accept that sometimes the anxiety is too much and that it's okay to fall back on things that are comfy like take away or fast food.) you did well! taking the first step is always the hardest. it was nice to be able to join you in this adventure through this vlog :) i hope you had a great time.
Love the new do! I used do solo travel for work (and then for fun). What worked best for me for dinner was to sit up at the bar. Bartenders are paid to take care of you - which usually meant small talk about why I traveled there and what they recommend I do - esp what to order. They are good are reading if you want to talk a lot or just a bit. Also they would notice if unwanted attention was sent my way and deter that best they could. I always left a good tip because they made the solo experience so much more manageable.
As an experienced solo traveller what I recommend always is to mind your own business. Who cares if you are alone or not.... you are traveling alone and should enjoy and not be worried about what others think about you! I am there to eat not to talk. I am there to enjoy not to worry. I am there to be alone, not to be small talking.
I am from New Zealand, and I am travelling solo to Edinburgh, My Anxiety Level is off the roof, from the day my leave got approved. I feel you.Glad I bumbed into your video. Seems its normal to feel that way.
Hello, just wanted to say as a Scot (albeit from Glasgow not Edinburgh) but I don't think you could have picked a better country for a solo trip to because everyone you meet there will be so welcoming and ready to help with whatever you need! Hope you enjoy your trip and don't worry too much 🙂
If you are still anxious im confident it will disappear when you get here. As a Scot from the highlands but have lived in and visited cities many many times i agree with the previous comment you got. Most people want tourists to have good memories of their time here so will help you out if needs be. Also if you can, get to the western isles, ok weather can be hit or miss but people there are very friendly and some beautiful beaches. Also in the rural areas here there are quite a lot of families with loved ones who emigrated to your country, i know two and my aunt nearly moved after several visits. ive not been but i imagine there must be a lot similarities between the people of the nations.
This video feels like a hug. I never (like ever) comment on youtube videos but this one just felt so warm, so calm, so real. I went to edinburgh last summer and it is now one of my goal to live there. As you said: This city is a dream. From the buildings to the people, it just feels like home. I am so so so grateful to have found your vlog ! (Btw I am from Paris and I would love to give you some adresses if you plan a trip to Paris :) )
As an Edinburgh resident if your a solo traveller looking to meet people to chat most locals are happy to chat but are rarely found around bars or restaurants on the royal mile. The best places to meet people would be places like Finnegans wake, Biddy Mulligans, Oz Bar, Wash bar(right on the mound). Theres also lots of pages on facebook to help solo travellers meet
Traveling solo is so much fun! I did my first solo trip when I was 15, and my most recent at 27. You just get to see a different side of the place and of yourself. I think we anxious travelers actually make good solo travelers because we plan and prepare for every eventuality. Hope your knee trouble resolves well!
@@chrissy138Im guessing shes thinking about the environmental impact...An airplanes carbon footprint is much worse than a trains! And its great if ppl start thinking about such impacts when they travel!😊
Travelling solo is the best , the most complete and authentic experience of a place you can have. I travelled solo myself to Edinburgh many years ago and it was great. I never get lonely when I am alone, I guess I am a little bit of a weirdo. Thank you Leoni for another wonderful video !!
I'm so happy for you. Facing fears and trying something new for the first time is incredible. The next time you solo travel, you'll feel even more confident and brave.
You have done so well ! If you are eating alone, bring a good book to read. Another advantage of travelling alone is that if somewhere doesn’t suit, you can just leave and go somewhere else. As you have stated in your video, you can plan your daily schedule.
Edinburgh is a beautiful city. Visited there twenty long years ago and enjoyed it immensely. I love the haircut and thanks for the opportunity to visit vicariously. 🙂
Yessss this is my absolute favourite genre of video: girl goes on a solo trip and becomes even more confident and amazing. I hope there'll be more bookish solo trips in your future Leonie because this is absolutely a dream come true for someone who almost exclusively watches videos on books and videos on solo trips!😊
congrats on conquering your fear of travelling alone leonie!!! edinburgh is such a gorgeous city to commemorate such an occasion 🥹 i travelled alone for the first time as well last year (to ireland from south africa) - it's so freeing to do what you want when you want in a whole new place with fresh eyes!
A tip for eating dinner alone: sit at the bar! That way you can converse with the bartender, and the bar is set up for solo or two-person dining anyway
The idea of traveling alone is not to "converse" with the bartender, or anyone else for that mater. Eat quickly, get out, enjoy the rest of your trip ALONE.
@@mikatu "The idea of traveling alone is not to converse" Yes it is, FOR YOU. Judging by your other comments on this point, you seem to enjoy being alone when you travel, and that's great! More power to you! But Leonie said multiple times in this vlog (that we all presumably watched) that she wanted to connect with other people while traveling, and that being alone so much gave her some anxiety. In fact, many people feel uncomfortable being a solo traveler, so much so that it discourages them from traveling all together. I count myself as one of those people. So we are here in the comments section sharing tips on how to find opportunities to connect with other people when traveling. If you prefer to enjoy your solitude when traveling, good for you! But don't smugly insert yourself into conversations where people ask for something different, and insist that their wants or needs are somehow inherently wrong because they don't match yours. We are not committing a crime for wanting a different travel experience than you. In fact, I cannot even begin to understand why you feel the need to lecture other people for simply wanting some human connection. You are free to live your own life! So quit lecturing us about how we live ours.
@@colinneagle4495 the first comment for me was also a lecturing. Or both an advice? I think what lack the first comment at the end it is ...if you want. I live in Edinburgh and I really dont like when I am eating alone and the bartender comes to ask how its going, xD. So, my tip its not sitting with the bartender.
@@Ssaidak The distinction I see is that the first comment begins with "A tip for eating alone..." while the second begins with "The idea... is not to converse." In this context the word tip is a synonym for suggestion, while the second comment uses definitive language that tells the reader that there is only one correct option for eating while traveling alone and it is "not to converse... with anyone else." Add to this the commenters many statements ridiculing and dismissing the desire many people have to not feel lonely while the travel so I felt this person needed to be reminded what the difference is between a fact and a feeling. They are entitled to their own feelings but not their own facts.
I also travelled by myself to Edinburgh recently and I too felt lonely and kind of frustrated with myself for not socialising as much as I had planned. But spending time alone and reading my book in beautiful cafes was exactly what I needed :) Edinburgh is perfect for first-time solo travellers!
I love traveling alone. I'm so glad that you learned so much and had fun. I've discovered that eating alone at dinner actually sort of opens people up to taking to you. I've had very lovely conversations with the people sitting next to me in various cities. Don't forget that most other people are shy too, so being a little awkward is normal, and it's okay to be a little foolish or whatever, they will be too.
28:42 Oh, absolutely. That's been my experience with travelling. Things go wrong and you end up having a reasonably good time, in an interesting and different way than you planned. Most of the time anyway.
I was in London recently and me and my boyfriend went to a pub to have a drink. And next to us there was this older gentleman with his pint of beer reading a book and I thought it was the nicest thing ever! I was just imagining he just wanted to have a drink and read his book or maybe his wife annoyed him and he just went to the pub and he just seemed so peaceful and that’s definitely the peacefulness and confidence I strive for😝
I love that that's the lesson you took out of your trip. The same thing has happened to me. Every single time I've traveled a lot (which I do a lot) something always happens that should ruin my trip but I manage to figure it out and handle it and it just becomes another story to tell.
As someone who worked away from home a lot and often had to eat alone in strange places, I know it can be difficult to strike up conversations with strangers especially if you are not an extrovert or a bit shy. Most of the time we put up barriers which prevent people striking up conversations with us. Just maintain an open and welcoming posture. Burying your head in a book, or staring at the TV will definitely deter people. Use a prop, eg having a book on the table, wearing a T-shirt with a funny or inspiring message or an iconic figure on it or wearing or carrying something that might mean you are from the Netherlands. Basically anything that lets others have an opening to talk. Go through all the people in the room and do the mental exercise of spotting something about each of them you could use to start a conversation. You probably wont have to though, as while you are doing this you will naturally present as someone who is interested in the things around her, and usually someone in a busy place will be encouraged to open conversation with you. Or you could try wearing that face mask to the pub, that would certainly get people talking though probably about you rather than to you :)
I did my first solo trip to Bath in 2021. I found keeping myself busy was key to avoiding feeling lonely. However, I did notice towards the end of my trip I was really missing having conversations with people, and that's a lot for me to say as an introvert. My tip for eating dinner solo is to research the area, some pubs are great for having tucked away corners but others are more for drinking than eating. If you can, book in advance as well - your hotel can help you with recommendations too. Or, if all else fails, go to a Japanese restaurant like Wagamama's being on your own usually means you can skip the queue! If you ever come back to the UK I would really recommend going to Bath in the Spring or Summer, or Liverpool (anytime of year), its a great Gothic, Victorian city, though be warned the accent is thick, even I struggled with it and I am English!!
Same…I’d look at other people chit chatting and be kind of sad. As an introvert, I couldn’t make friends with random people so I was over it after a while.
Just visited Edinburgh in September. I love history and reading historical fiction and was in my element while there. Thank you for bringing back wonderful memories of my trip there. My anxiety would never allow me to travel alone so kudos to you!
Edinburgh is my favorite city to travel to in a long while! BOOKSHOPS AND BEAUTIFUL GRAVEYARDS AND A VERY SPOOKY HISTORY ATMOSPHERE!! Also so many quirky shops. what an absolute delight
Great video! I'm an extreme introvert who has traveled alone many times. In fact I've learned to love it. Good for you for tackling your fear. One hint is to plan a couple of conversation starters. Like, "Hi, have you been here before? It's my first time." Some will respond, some won't, but as a woman alone you'll probably need to be the one to break the ice. Also, asking a question can get a conversation started. I've even been known to ask for directions I don't really need. I will go out to dinner by myself, but often a "picnic" in my room, with pajamas, wine, and a good book can be a great way to unwind, too.
Don't recall any Edinburgh vampires and I grew up here! I'd like to see that as a native and resident of Edinburgh I've seen dozens of 'We spent three days in Edinburgh' videos and they're mostly same old, same old. Same sights, same impressions, nothing new or original. Yours on the other hand was refreshingly different and interesting to watch, capturing more of the spirit and essence of the city. I enjoyed it.
Awww. I moved from NL to Edinburgh 17 years ago and never looked back. It’s a lovely cozy place to be with amazing green spaces and the highlands only a few hours away. I even wrote a few books set here. Yes, with vampires of course! I’ve never felt the slightest anxiety about traveling alone, or eating dinner alone etc. I find traveling with others usually more stressful because as a dutch person I like to be way more ‘on time’ than anyone else. But I can see how it can be a difficult thing to do. Awesome that you faced that fear and came out so much more relaxed about solo travel. Love your videos and i’m sad to think you were here alone, wishing you had someone to talk to. I definitely would have said hi if I’d seen you in the pub. Either way, thanks heaps for this video. Lovely!
I spent two weeks alone in Edinburg when I was 19 for an english study, and I was never bored. Just exploring the city, slow lifestyle... I could live like that forever. I also bought like 10 books there and had a problem at the airport :D
You are a true adventurer, fearless in the face of the unknown and eager to explore all that the world has to offer. Your ability to immerse yourself in new cultures and embrace new experiences is truly inspiring. Your passion for travel shines through in everything you do, and your wanderlust is contagious to those around you. Keep blazing new trails and seeking new horizons - the world is a better place with a travel girl like you in it...
This was so much my vibe! Even though I've been on quite a few solo trips, I have all the same feelings. The one that gets me the most is not having someone to share that experience with. It's nice to experience things alone as well, in your own time at your own pace, but I would love to have just a friend to be around and experience it with me. For example, I've been to London quite a few times. The first two were with me ex gf, it was great to have her around and share those moments together. After we broke up I went there twice alone, and although it's a city I love and really don't mind being alone, I just wanted to have someone there with me to share that passion, that connection. Even though that is the case, I feel just as you do when it comes to striking a conversation with a stranger. I'd love to do it, but I feel very anxious about it. Last month I went again, this time with a group of friends. It was a totally different experience, and I loved every second of it.
This was exquisite. I completely agree with the awkwardness of having dinner alone, and I do have travel anxiety, but I LOVED my solo trips or solo days on communal trips.
loved this video!! the few times i’ve gone on a solo trip i’ve really beat myself up over my nights in and the fact i lacked the courage (& sometimes motivation) to socialise so it’s so refreshing to watch this video 💛 a solo trip is still a success if you don’t make any new friends and just have a grand old chill time by yourself (and if you do meet new people then it’s also fun!)
On exchange in Oslo, away from Edinburgh 😢, this video is making me homesick! Hope you had a good time :) Edinburgh is the only UK city to have 0 haters
I had to laugh at the hurt knee part. This happens to my friend and I EVERY time we go to Europe. We call it cobblestone knee, lol. It's that sudden explosion of walking mixed with not paying attention to where you're putting your feet because you're too excited about what you're seeing around you. I travel with those gel ice packs now to stick on the offending knee as soon as I get back to the hotel.
Leonie, you did such an amazing job stepping out of your comfort zone! It has been my dream to visit Europe to see parts of my ancestral lineage. Through this entire video, I felt like I was there enjoying the beauty of Edinburgh. I'm also an 'introvert' so I totally understand your feelings. Thank you for putting this video together. 🌼
Thank you so much for taking the train and showing your audience, so they can see that it is a great option! It is so frustrating to see other youtubers (and people in general) casually flying relatively short distances like this one.
I really loved your first travel alone travel vlog. This is also one of my fears and I appreciate you sharing your fear of eating alone, anxiety about the travel itself, and meeting strangers. It was refreshing to hear someone else voice my own concerns about solo travel. This is on my list for this year. I love your hair❤
I had visited Edinburgh once before and absolutely loved it, so last year when I was struggling with a burnout and an almost-depression I decided to travel there alone, and it was fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone. Now, to be fair I had travelled by plane alone several times before so that part wasn't new, but staying on my own was new, and so having to manage all the travelling, the accommodations, any issues that arose, the feeling of being alone, is a fantastic way to grow as a person, to gain autonomy and confidence, and to really to be comfortable with yourself. It was just something I found to be immensely valuable. I think it's something one should do (if it's financially possible to do it of course) at least one in your lifetime. Just make sure that you go to a relatively safe place like Edinburgh, Prague, Lisbon, etc. And yeah it went so well that I'm going on my own again this year for a few days, and then I'll meet up with a friend midway through the trip. Very exciting!
this is so inspiring leonie - anxious person myself, I also aspire to take a solo trip at some point too! I've taken a flight by myself to my boyfriend who studies abroad right now, but the whole trip alone would be such a good step forward myself hahaha. Thank you for the great video!!
When my ex and I broke up in 2020, I started going out and doing stuff alone. I don't really have friends that I hang out with IRL. I live in the US btw. Autumn was coming and I always love heading into the Appalachian mountains for the leaf color changes. I drove down and stayed the night at my cousins house, who lived just north a bit, in West Virginia. It was such a fun adventure. Like you said, you can stop and do whatever, whenever. I remember listening to podcasts at 10pm, eating a bowl of chili from Wendy's in the parking lot, when I was heading down. I was finding places off to the side of the road to stop and walk for a bit and take pictures. I was picking random locations to eat. I only spent two nights there but it was a fun experience. I then took the back roads (not the highway) home, heading up through Ohio. It was amazing. All the colors, the winding roads. I stopped at a state park and did some short hikes, and headed home. I highly recommend solo adventures.
I've been solo-travelling since I was 14 (so... for over 20 years?! Jeez...). Really enjoy it! Like you, I'm an extreme introvert and English is my second language, but I've met a lot of amazing people on those trips and have a ton of stories to tell. You'll get better at it, too, don't worry, practice is what you need. Scotland is insanely beautiful, would love to visit it one day. Nice haircut🤩
I’ve eaten dinner alone & I agree, awkward. People who stare at a person dining alone make it worse. I’ve ordered room service, restaurant delivery, or gotten take-out for just that reason.
Did you notice less people approaching you in coffee shops with an e-reader? My sister exclusively uses e-readers in public because she said people (mostly men) would constantly interrupt and ask her what she was reading when she had a physical book. Also, loved the video!! Think I'll add solo travelling to my bucket list!
For 30 years, I have been reading (physical) books in coffee shops all over the world (and in my hometown, Edinburgh) and not once has anyone ever asked me what am I reading. I’m a man. 👍🤣😉
This was so lovely. I'm going on my first solo trip to Paris in a couple of weeks and I feel just the same as you did at the start (plus I will be flying there and I'm TERRIFIED of planes), so watching you go on adventures by yourself was really comforting. I'm really excited to be stepping out of my confort zone after years of wanting to do it and being too scared to :)
I recently had my second solo holiday and honestly I love them. I don’t want to do it all the time but sometimes I actually don’t want to talk to anyone. Well done you for trying something new and enjoying a new area 👏 🧡
So glad you went alone! I think it's really nice to do things alone because, like you said, you can do what you want and can change plans easily. I don't mind eating dinner alone but I find that people can be weird about it sometimes and judge you for it (happened in The Netherlands even, also my home country). I find it bullshit because even if you're alone, you deserve nice food and you're also just another paying customer so there shouldn't be any problems
I loved the vibes of the video, and you just reinstated my desire to visit Edinburgh 🧘♀ Also a thought about the knee pain 1) After a lot of walking, especially in cities with steep hills, some of the muscles of the leg get really tight with sudden overuse and start pulling on the knee, so stretching or rolling the muscles can really help and 2) after I broke my foot I struggled with knee pain and what really helped me was orthopedic soles, they were a life changer and sometimes when I have knee pain, it disappears after I take a walk in my shoes with the orthopedic soles.
Oh this video is perfect! I was always very drawn to Edinburgh, even since I was a small child (I am from Germany) and just as I was about to visit it last summer, I got LongCovid and now cant even leave my house. So seeing someone with a similar mindset (what to to, what to look for, the travel-pace,...) visit my favourite city and share your journey really made me happy today! I still would love to visit it one day (this vlog made me want to be there even more) but for now this is also great! 😍😊 Also your new hair look amazing! 😊
Lovely video- I have a similar reaction to travel and I’m 53! I think part of it is excitement mingled with a need that everything goes “perfectly “! Of course the way to do it is to relax, enjoy every bit of it and see what happens. I hope you get to see much more on your travels.
First of all, congratulations on your first solo holiday!! It can be intimidating at first but it's such a rewarding experience 🖤 Also a trick to not feel alone (that works for me at least!) is to listen to podcasts that have a laid back enough pace to feel cozy (bonus points if it's about the history of the place you're visiting 😊)
I feel like it’s sometimes better not to force yourself to do something you’re uncomfortable with especially if you’re already having a nice time alone! The stress of worrying about wanting to talk to strangers can sometimes just ruin your alone time and it’s definitely so easy with social anxiety to feel awkward being alone in public. (I used to do it so much and haven’t been able to since quarantine.) But just being at peace with your limitations and not trying to push yourself further than you already have is healthy too :•)
You definitely have a talent for travel vlogs! This was so pretty and fun to watch, and as a person with social anxiety myself (who would like to travel to so many places), very inspiring to see you try to overcome your fear and spend time alone. I honestly would watch 100 more travel vlogs made by you :)
Your talent with editing really accentuates the beauty of this wonderful place 😍 The mashup you did at the end in rythm with the music made me a little bit emotional, and I wasn't even there and never have been, that's impressive! I hope your knee doesn't hurt anymore? Btw I'm french and it's so cute hearing you speak french, you're doing great!
Proud of you! :) As someone who always has trouble with my knees, I'd guess it was probably the hill-climb that got you the worst, ESPECIALLY if you're not used to hills! The whole angle of your ankle changes and you have to lift your legs higher than usual. Also, just standing can hurt even worse than walking, so standing in the bookshops probably hurt too. But in your case, a single day of rest fixed it! Best case scenario, truly. And the new haircut looks SWEEEEET!
A good tip for solo travellers would be to stay in a hostel instead of a hotel! You will definitely run into other travellers who are there to meet people and most hostels offer activities like pub crawls or family dinner which tend to be real cool plans. Plus the accommodation tends to be cheaper and some hostels have private rooms if sharing a dorm worries you :)
I rarely write comments, but! The script, the video itself and the amazing and novel-like intro 😍 incredible! And as solo traveler I can imagine how you felt going out by yourself at night. But it's fine to stay in the hotel room and have dinner there if you not feeling like going to crowded pub. And I like that you share with your feelings and emotions. Thank you for this warm vlog and now I also want to go Edinburgh too. I hope you will have more solo trips in future - it's such a great opportunity to know yourself better. 🙏🏼
This was such a wholesome video! I did my first solo trip a couple of years ago when I was 21. I was still living with my parents at the time, covid was very much a thing, and I really needed to get out and do something on my own. So I packed my bags and travelled to the Lake of Constance for three days. It was marvellous. Even though I didn't stay for long, it was this trip that actually made me want to be on my own and responsible for nothing but myself. (I moved to my first own little dorm appartment a couple of months later.) I totally get that eating out in the evening can get really weird. I tend to be socially awkward, I feel like an intruder or an imposter pretty much everywhere, and I'll blush when interacting with any sort of costumer service or just strangers in general, so eating out can definitely be a struggle. But on my second evening I just sat down at a restaurant by the lake, ordered some pizza and took some notes on a story I still haven't written down, and was very happy. (Having something to write absolutely helps coping with the awkwardness of being alone.) So, yeah, all I want to say is that your experiences really resonate with me and I appreciate you sharing your trip with us :) (And it can't be a coincidence that I was eating vegan sushi while watching this :'D) Also, your hair... chef's kiss.
My family is from Edinburgh but I live in the United States, and I have only been once, in 2019, this video was so fun I loved seeing all the places that I recognized, also YOUR HAIR IS SO PRETTY!!!
I travel alone a few times a year, and I love it. There is some much freedom to do something or nothing. Also, throw plans out the window. Be spontaneous. Blow with the wind. And, most importantly, don’t overthink.
Hello Leonie, I just wanted to say, that you can be so proud of yourself for doing something you were scared of🤗 I went on my first trip all alone last year as well and I also chose Edinburgh as my place to go. I also visited some places in the Highlands. Somehow I felt so connected to you, because we chose the same place to go for our first solo trips😍😍 Now I'm continuing to watch your video😊
I had my first solo trip last year and it was also to Edinburgh. I loved it, it is such a magical city. I loved your vlog and I can relate so much to your struggles. Proud of us for overcoming anxiety and making it! Also, the editing, the clips, it was such a beautiful video!
This resonated with me so much. I have always had that dream too. Something about Edinburgh is haunting me. I feel I MUST be there. I belong there. Thank you for sharing this!
I can’t believe you thought you could see the Old Town in an hour & at night! It is the most stunning & exciting part of the city with loads of independent coffee shops for chilling out in, bars & restaurants to eat in , as well as museums & galleries.
i totally relate about the pub! it was a little overwhelming and awkward going to a pub with just my friend but knowing that everyone i'd encountered in edinburgh that far was super friendly took some of the anxiety off
Your English is incredible. I couldn't tell if you were Dutch with almost no accent or an American who was starting to pick up the local accent. I made my first overseas trip in 2006. I went from San Diego, California to Tokyo, Japan. It was every nightmare I was afraid it would be, and it was the best experience of my life. I returned to Osaka in 2017. It was better planned and went so much better. Practice does make perfect. I have one more trip to Japan in me, then I want to go to Florence, Italy. The weight of the books warps gravity in bookstores. It's almost impossible to get out once you walk in.
Traveling alone is a 100% legitimate fear to have, especially as a woman! I don't feel comfortable going certain places alone if it's late at night, and traveling is extremely nerve-wracking at times because the types of people who would take advantage of you (in whatever way) can 100% tell if you're a tourist, and it puts you at a disadvantage. Had someone attempt to steal my friend's phone mid-day in the middle of a Barcelonan McDonalds because they knew dumb American tourists wouldn't pick up on what they were trying to do. Gotta be safe, and all that! Unfortunately, because the world is cruel, people have to fear travelling just for travel's sake, especially alone. Proud of you for working to overcome this fear, Leoni!!
You don’t need to be afraid nor do you need to make others afraid! Just be aware and yes maybe don’t go out after midnight if it doesn’t feel safe, use our brain and you can travel alone even to the other end of the word.
Another beautiful city in the UK with great bookshops to visit is Bath. Oxford is very gothic too. Edit: Even native English speakers struggle to understand heavy accents like Scottish so don't worry 😅 I was speaking to a man who I thought was drunk once. Turns out he was just Scottish oops
Yes! Bath with the sandstone buildings is soo pretty, very Regency grandeur. I'm desperate to go back there - my in-laws live less than an hour away but somehow we've not got around to going.
I also do not enjoy getting dinner alone - I find people do tend to notice you more when you’re at dinner alone. I’m working up the courage to solo travel so it was lovely to see you overcome your fear of it
i never talk to anyone when i travel, but i honestly don’t want to???? i like being alone and if someone speaks to me organically it’s fine but if i TRY to talk to people it will never work out. best interaction i’ve had with a stranger was when i was just sitting alone reading and they talked to me about Kafka for a while. love that
Yes! Dinner is an intimate time of day and it does feel more awkward sitting alone when everyone seems to be in couples or groups. Perhaps breakfast and lunch feel like halfway stages where we have something to do after the meal. I have done a few long distance walks in Britain by myself and dinner time is always a bit weird. Well done for taking the trip on!
I really admire you for trying to have conversations with other travelers and socialize. My social anxiety could never. From my limited travel experience though I believe the best way to make new friends in a travel abroad is staying at a hostel: it is a more intimate setting and filled with people traveling alone from all the world, willing and eager for connections. And as far as your knee is concerned maybe try wearing shoes meant for trekking. Walking on rough terrain like cobblestone can be a big burden even on healthy feet.
i'm so proud of you for travelling alone! it can be scary the first couple of times. i started travelling alone when i was still in school, so i'm accustomed to it at this point, and it is so nice! it is so freeing to do things in your own time, and not have to worry about making sure someone else is also having a good time. i hope you get to try this out more in the future!
Just reminded me of the trip I took nearly two decades ago. The sunset view from the Arthur’s seat on a sunny day was magnificent. Really nice video I now feel I should go there again!
"Its really extraordinary how things that feel so outside of your realm of possibilities, things that feel so dreamlike, can become so normal so quickly." 27:14 This is just one of the many wise quotes of this video (It inspired a really fulfilling journal entry of mine just now). I really really enjoyed this video. The vibe, the atmosphere, its all just so so so nice. Your videography and filming and editing skills are just so deliciously refreshing and cozy. This video feels like a warm cup of tea, while being curled up in a warm blankie looking outside of the gothic arched window onto the brownish city landscape that is Edinburgh. Thank you so so so much for sharing this, Leonie! I had such a great time watching, its almost as if I did the trip to Edinburgh myself in just thirty minutes xD Thanks a lot again, I love this video
“It honestly really scares me. Because of that, I felt that I should do it” ❤❤ Truly words to live by!
YOUR HAIR 😍😍✨
I HAD TO DOUBLE TAKE SO REALLL
I gasped out loud when I saw the Thumbnail . So beautiful
I LOVE HER NEW HAIR CUT ITS SO CUTEEEE ❤
literally suits her and she looks more prettier 😭🤍
It suits her so well
so prettyyyyy
I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS VIDEO
1. your new haircut? Stunning! Gorgeous! Outright beautiful! It suits you so well
2. I love your vlogs so much. They are just the coziest thing on the internet and you can really feel how much time and effort you put into them. 🥹
3. looking so forward to the e-reader video! I‘m debating getting one for myself but I just love physical books so much
i feel the same and borrowed my gfs grandmas kobo and i freaking loveeeee it. so easy to hold and pleasant to read off of!
The back lighting on my kindle is really nice to have in dark environments too
Get it 100% You will not regret it. I too love physical, but there are so many cons of owning an ereader
@@PinAda92 what are the cons?
@@stitchedscorpio I think they meant pros
As a Person who travels alone quite often (flight attendant) I can‘t recommend alone trips enough. If you get used to being comfortable on your own that really gives a confidence boost. I just spend time as I want, without second thought. You wouldn‘t believe how fun the Cinema can be on your own, or spending a day at the beach, or a Museum, or even visiting the Universal Studios.
I work at sea and often find my self with a day or two before or after crew changes alone in cities and towns, sometime afternoons on port calls or even i have strolled at 3 am when on a nightshift. Not always the nicest places to see though. I don’t mind it alone but when travelling for personal trip alone…. Im not as keen. Don’t know why but i have two mentalities. I think i feel sometimes the time is long and i have lots of thoughts i wish to share and have conversation with someone about.
"Things probably will go wrong, and you'll be fine anyway" is SUCH an important life lesson! Also your hair looks CUTE AS HECK
as someone who travels alone very often (and has social anxiety), i can't recommend hostels enough. i understand some people don't enjoy sharing a room (totally valid), but these places often have common areas and lots of other solo travelers. and they usually offer private rooms as well. you can get to know people and then you also don't have to worry as much about eating dinner alone. you can go eat in a restaurant or cook together in the hostel. (i also just accept that sometimes the anxiety is too much and that it's okay to fall back on things that are comfy like take away or fast food.)
you did well! taking the first step is always the hardest. it was nice to be able to join you in this adventure through this vlog :) i hope you had a great time.
Came to the comments to say the exact same thing! You can make some amazing friendships there very easily! 😊
Have you ever even seen the Hostel movies?? Lol 😮
I would also add this: do free city tours if available, usually solo travelers are more often on that kind of tours
No I would never stay in hostels, let alone alone. Comfort of own hotel room is where it is.
hostels are what you call a travel nightmare!
Love the new do! I used do solo travel for work (and then for fun). What worked best for me for dinner was to sit up at the bar. Bartenders are paid to take care of you - which usually meant small talk about why I traveled there and what they recommend I do - esp what to order. They are good are reading if you want to talk a lot or just a bit. Also they would notice if unwanted attention was sent my way and deter that best they could. I always left a good tip because they made the solo experience so much more manageable.
yeah i would think that pubs would be one of the better places to go solo because its not at all strange to just pop into one
As an experienced solo traveller what I recommend always is to mind your own business.
Who cares if you are alone or not.... you are traveling alone and should enjoy and not be worried about what others think about you! I am there to eat not to talk. I am there to enjoy not to worry. I am there to be alone, not to be small talking.
I am from New Zealand, and I am travelling solo to Edinburgh, My Anxiety Level is off the roof, from the day my leave got approved. I feel you.Glad I bumbed into your video. Seems its normal to feel that way.
Hello, just wanted to say as a Scot (albeit from Glasgow not Edinburgh) but I don't think you could have picked a better country for a solo trip to because everyone you meet there will be so welcoming and ready to help with whatever you need! Hope you enjoy your trip and don't worry too much 🙂
If you are still anxious im confident it will disappear when you get here. As a Scot from the highlands but have lived in and visited cities many many times i agree with the previous comment you got. Most people want tourists to have good memories of their time here so will help you out if needs be. Also if you can, get to the western isles, ok weather can be hit or miss but people there are very friendly and some beautiful beaches. Also in the rural areas here there are quite a lot of families with loved ones who emigrated to your country, i know two and my aunt nearly moved after several visits. ive not been but i imagine there must be a lot similarities between the people of the nations.
This video feels like a hug. I never (like ever) comment on youtube videos but this one just felt so warm, so calm, so real. I went to edinburgh last summer and it is now one of my goal to live there. As you said: This city is a dream. From the buildings to the people, it just feels like home. I am so so so grateful to have found your vlog ! (Btw I am from Paris and I would love to give you some adresses if you plan a trip to Paris :) )
From Paris to Edinburgh, I wonder what could be the reason behind the shift!
As an Edinburgh resident if your a solo traveller looking to meet people to chat most locals are happy to chat but are rarely found around bars or restaurants on the royal mile.
The best places to meet people would be places like Finnegans wake, Biddy Mulligans, Oz Bar, Wash bar(right on the mound). Theres also lots of pages on facebook to help solo travellers meet
Traveling solo is so much fun! I did my first solo trip when I was 15, and my most recent at 27. You just get to see a different side of the place and of yourself. I think we anxious travelers actually make good solo travelers because we plan and prepare for every eventuality. Hope your knee trouble resolves well!
so curious as to where u went at 15
Very impressive and refreshing to see someone choosing to travel by train instead of taking an easy flight. Kudos!!
What's wrong with taking an easy flight? 🤣
@@chrissy138Im guessing shes thinking about the environmental impact...An airplanes carbon footprint is much worse than a trains! And its great if ppl start thinking about such impacts when they travel!😊
Travelling solo is the best , the most complete and authentic experience of a place you can have. I travelled solo myself to Edinburgh many years ago and it was great. I never get lonely when I am alone, I guess I am a little bit of a weirdo. Thank you Leoni for another wonderful video !!
I'm so happy for you. Facing fears and trying something new for the first time is incredible. The next time you solo travel, you'll feel even more confident and brave.
You have done so well ! If you are eating alone, bring a good book to read. Another advantage of travelling alone is that if somewhere doesn’t suit, you can just leave and go somewhere else. As you have stated in your video, you can plan your daily schedule.
Edinburgh is a beautiful city. Visited there twenty long years ago and enjoyed it immensely. I love the haircut and thanks for the opportunity to visit vicariously. 🙂
Yessss this is my absolute favourite genre of video: girl goes on a solo trip and becomes even more confident and amazing. I hope there'll be more bookish solo trips in your future Leonie because this is absolutely a dream come true for someone who almost exclusively watches videos on books and videos on solo trips!😊
congrats on conquering your fear of travelling alone leonie!!! edinburgh is such a gorgeous city to commemorate such an occasion 🥹 i travelled alone for the first time as well last year (to ireland from south africa) - it's so freeing to do what you want when you want in a whole new place with fresh eyes!
A tip for eating dinner alone: sit at the bar! That way you can converse with the bartender, and the bar is set up for solo or two-person dining anyway
The idea of traveling alone is not to "converse" with the bartender, or anyone else for that mater. Eat quickly, get out, enjoy the rest of your trip ALONE.
@@mikatu "The idea of traveling alone is not to converse" Yes it is, FOR YOU. Judging by your other comments on this point, you seem to enjoy being alone when you travel, and that's great! More power to you! But Leonie said multiple times in this vlog (that we all presumably watched) that she wanted to connect with other people while traveling, and that being alone so much gave her some anxiety. In fact, many people feel uncomfortable being a solo traveler, so much so that it discourages them from traveling all together. I count myself as one of those people. So we are here in the comments section sharing tips on how to find opportunities to connect with other people when traveling. If you prefer to enjoy your solitude when traveling, good for you! But don't smugly insert yourself into conversations where people ask for something different, and insist that their wants or needs are somehow inherently wrong because they don't match yours. We are not committing a crime for wanting a different travel experience than you. In fact, I cannot even begin to understand why you feel the need to lecture other people for simply wanting some human connection. You are free to live your own life! So quit lecturing us about how we live ours.
@@colinneagle4495 the first comment for me was also a lecturing. Or both an advice? I think what lack the first comment at the end it is ...if you want. I live in Edinburgh and I really dont like when I am eating alone and the bartender comes to ask how its going, xD. So, my tip its not sitting with the bartender.
@@Ssaidak The distinction I see is that the first comment begins with "A tip for eating alone..." while the second begins with "The idea... is not to converse." In this context the word tip is a synonym for suggestion, while the second comment uses definitive language that tells the reader that there is only one correct option for eating while traveling alone and it is "not to converse... with anyone else." Add to this the commenters many statements ridiculing and dismissing the desire many people have to not feel lonely while the travel so I felt this person needed to be reminded what the difference is between a fact and a feeling. They are entitled to their own feelings but not their own facts.
I also travelled by myself to Edinburgh recently and I too felt lonely and kind of frustrated with myself for not socialising as much as I had planned. But spending time alone and reading my book in beautiful cafes was exactly what I needed :) Edinburgh is perfect for first-time solo travellers!
I love traveling alone. I'm so glad that you learned so much and had fun. I've discovered that eating alone at dinner actually sort of opens people up to taking to you. I've had very lovely conversations with the people sitting next to me in various cities. Don't forget that most other people are shy too, so being a little awkward is normal, and it's okay to be a little foolish or whatever, they will be too.
28:42 Oh, absolutely. That's been my experience with travelling. Things go wrong and you end up having a reasonably good time, in an interesting and different way than you planned. Most of the time anyway.
I was in London recently and me and my boyfriend went to a pub to have a drink. And next to us there was this older gentleman with his pint of beer reading a book and I thought it was the nicest thing ever! I was just imagining he just wanted to have a drink and read his book or maybe his wife annoyed him and he just went to the pub and he just seemed so peaceful and that’s definitely the peacefulness and confidence I strive for😝
yeah its not strange at all for us to pop into a pub on your own and chill
Best way to strike conversation is to compliment someone or ask a question you already know the answer to. love your vibes!
I love that that's the lesson you took out of your trip. The same thing has happened to me. Every single time I've traveled a lot (which I do a lot) something always happens that should ruin my trip but I manage to figure it out and handle it and it just becomes another story to tell.
As someone who worked away from home a lot and often had to eat alone in strange places, I know it can be difficult to strike up conversations with strangers especially if you are not an extrovert or a bit shy. Most of the time we put up barriers which prevent people striking up conversations with us. Just maintain an open and welcoming posture. Burying your head in a book, or staring at the TV will definitely deter people. Use a prop, eg having a book on the table, wearing a T-shirt with a funny or inspiring message or an iconic figure on it or wearing or carrying something that might mean you are from the Netherlands. Basically anything that lets others have an opening to talk. Go through all the people in the room and do the mental exercise of spotting something about each of them you could use to start a conversation. You probably wont have to though, as while you are doing this you will naturally present as someone who is interested in the things around her, and usually someone in a busy place will be encouraged to open conversation with you. Or you could try wearing that face mask to the pub, that would certainly get people talking though probably about you rather than to you :)
Using clothes as a purposeful conversion starter when traveling is such an interesting idea! I never would have thought to do that!
I did my first solo trip to Bath in 2021. I found keeping myself busy was key to avoiding feeling lonely. However, I did notice towards the end of my trip I was really missing having conversations with people, and that's a lot for me to say as an introvert.
My tip for eating dinner solo is to research the area, some pubs are great for having tucked away corners but others are more for drinking than eating. If you can, book in advance as well - your hotel can help you with recommendations too. Or, if all else fails, go to a Japanese restaurant like Wagamama's being on your own usually means you can skip the queue!
If you ever come back to the UK I would really recommend going to Bath in the Spring or Summer, or Liverpool (anytime of year), its a great Gothic, Victorian city, though be warned the accent is thick, even I struggled with it and I am English!!
Same…I’d look at other people chit chatting and be kind of sad. As an introvert, I couldn’t make friends with random people so I was over it after a while.
Just visited Edinburgh in September. I love history and reading historical fiction and was in my element while there. Thank you for bringing back wonderful memories of my trip there. My anxiety would never allow me to travel alone so kudos to you!
Edinburgh is my favorite city to travel to in a long while! BOOKSHOPS AND BEAUTIFUL GRAVEYARDS AND A VERY SPOOKY HISTORY ATMOSPHERE!! Also so many quirky shops. what an absolute delight
Great video! I'm an extreme introvert who has traveled alone many times. In fact I've learned to love it. Good for you for tackling your fear.
One hint is to plan a couple of conversation starters. Like, "Hi, have you been here before? It's my first time." Some will respond, some won't, but as a woman alone you'll probably need to be the one to break the ice. Also, asking a question can get a conversation started. I've even been known to ask for directions I don't really need.
I will go out to dinner by myself, but often a "picnic" in my room, with pajamas, wine, and a good book can be a great way to unwind, too.
Don't recall any Edinburgh vampires and I grew up here! I'd like to see that as a native and resident of Edinburgh I've seen dozens of 'We spent three days in Edinburgh' videos and they're mostly same old, same old. Same sights, same impressions, nothing new or original. Yours on the other hand was refreshingly different and interesting to watch, capturing more of the spirit and essence of the city. I enjoyed it.
Awww. I moved from NL to Edinburgh 17 years ago and never looked back. It’s a lovely cozy place to be with amazing green spaces and the highlands only a few hours away. I even wrote a few books set here. Yes, with vampires of course!
I’ve never felt the slightest anxiety about traveling alone, or eating dinner alone etc. I find traveling with others usually more stressful because as a dutch person I like to be way more ‘on time’ than anyone else. But I can see how it can be a difficult thing to do. Awesome that you faced that fear and came out so much more relaxed about solo travel.
Love your videos and i’m sad to think you were here alone, wishing you had someone to talk to. I definitely would have said hi if I’d seen you in the pub. Either way, thanks heaps for this video. Lovely!
I spent two weeks alone in Edinburg when I was 19 for an english study, and I was never bored. Just exploring the city, slow lifestyle... I could live like that forever. I also bought like 10 books there and had a problem at the airport :D
You are a true adventurer, fearless in the face of the unknown and eager to explore all that the world has to offer. Your ability to immerse yourself in new cultures and embrace new experiences is truly inspiring. Your passion for travel shines through in everything you do, and your wanderlust is contagious to those around you. Keep blazing new trails and seeking new horizons - the world is a better place with a travel girl like you in it...
First the Elden Ring trailer and now a Book Leo Vlog. What a lovely start in the evening.
thought Elden ring has been around for awhile?
@@AstarionWifey the dlc trailer!!
Ooooooo
This was so much my vibe! Even though I've been on quite a few solo trips, I have all the same feelings. The one that gets me the most is not having someone to share that experience with. It's nice to experience things alone as well, in your own time at your own pace, but I would love to have just a friend to be around and experience it with me. For example, I've been to London quite a few times. The first two were with me ex gf, it was great to have her around and share those moments together. After we broke up I went there twice alone, and although it's a city I love and really don't mind being alone, I just wanted to have someone there with me to share that passion, that connection. Even though that is the case, I feel just as you do when it comes to striking a conversation with a stranger. I'd love to do it, but I feel very anxious about it. Last month I went again, this time with a group of friends. It was a totally different experience, and I loved every second of it.
This was exquisite. I completely agree with the awkwardness of having dinner alone, and I do have travel anxiety, but I LOVED my solo trips or solo days on communal trips.
Edinburgh is my local city so i always find it funny that people love to visit it cause to me its just the nearest city but im glad you enjoyed!
loved this video!! the few times i’ve gone on a solo trip i’ve really beat myself up over my nights in and the fact i lacked the courage (& sometimes motivation) to socialise so it’s so refreshing to watch this video 💛 a solo trip is still a success if you don’t make any new friends and just have a grand old chill time by yourself (and if you do meet new people then it’s also fun!)
On exchange in Oslo, away from Edinburgh 😢, this video is making me homesick!
Hope you had a good time :) Edinburgh is the only UK city to have 0 haters
I love the message of this video: if you're scared you should do it & even if sth goes wrong you'll be fine! Visiting Edinburgh is one of my dreams ❤
I live in Edinburgh and it really makes me happy when other people enjoy it!
I had to laugh at the hurt knee part. This happens to my friend and I EVERY time we go to Europe. We call it cobblestone knee, lol. It's that sudden explosion of walking mixed with not paying attention to where you're putting your feet because you're too excited about what you're seeing around you. I travel with those gel ice packs now to stick on the offending knee as soon as I get back to the hotel.
Cobblestone knee! Such a perfect encapsulation of such a common travel injury!
i love traveling solo!! it shows you how capable you are and also teaches you so much about yourself and what you like to do!
Leonie, you did such an amazing job stepping out of your comfort zone! It has been my dream to visit Europe to see parts of my ancestral lineage. Through this entire video, I felt like I was there enjoying the beauty of Edinburgh. I'm also an 'introvert' so I totally understand your feelings. Thank you for putting this video together. 🌼
Thank you so much for taking the train and showing your audience, so they can see that it is a great option! It is so frustrating to see other youtubers (and people in general) casually flying relatively short distances like this one.
I really loved your first travel alone travel vlog. This is also one of my fears and I appreciate you sharing your fear of eating alone, anxiety about the travel itself, and meeting strangers. It was refreshing to hear someone else voice my own concerns about solo travel. This is on my list for this year. I love your hair❤
I had visited Edinburgh once before and absolutely loved it, so last year when I was struggling with a burnout and an almost-depression I decided to travel there alone, and it was fantastic. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Now, to be fair I had travelled by plane alone several times before so that part wasn't new, but staying on my own was new, and so having to manage all the travelling, the accommodations, any issues that arose, the feeling of being alone, is a fantastic way to grow as a person, to gain autonomy and confidence, and to really to be comfortable with yourself. It was just something I found to be immensely valuable.
I think it's something one should do (if it's financially possible to do it of course) at least one in your lifetime. Just make sure that you go to a relatively safe place like Edinburgh, Prague, Lisbon, etc.
And yeah it went so well that I'm going on my own again this year for a few days, and then I'll meet up with a friend midway through the trip. Very exciting!
this is so inspiring leonie - anxious person myself, I also aspire to take a solo trip at some point too! I've taken a flight by myself to my boyfriend who studies abroad right now, but the whole trip alone would be such a good step forward myself hahaha. Thank you for the great video!!
When my ex and I broke up in 2020, I started going out and doing stuff alone. I don't really have friends that I hang out with IRL. I live in the US btw. Autumn was coming and I always love heading into the Appalachian mountains for the leaf color changes. I drove down and stayed the night at my cousins house, who lived just north a bit, in West Virginia. It was such a fun adventure. Like you said, you can stop and do whatever, whenever. I remember listening to podcasts at 10pm, eating a bowl of chili from Wendy's in the parking lot, when I was heading down. I was finding places off to the side of the road to stop and walk for a bit and take pictures. I was picking random locations to eat. I only spent two nights there but it was a fun experience. I then took the back roads (not the highway) home, heading up through Ohio. It was amazing. All the colors, the winding roads. I stopped at a state park and did some short hikes, and headed home. I highly recommend solo adventures.
I've been solo-travelling since I was 14 (so... for over 20 years?! Jeez...). Really enjoy it! Like you, I'm an extreme introvert and English is my second language, but I've met a lot of amazing people on those trips and have a ton of stories to tell. You'll get better at it, too, don't worry, practice is what you need. Scotland is insanely beautiful, would love to visit it one day.
Nice haircut🤩
When you get to Paris you should visit the Shakespeare and Company bookstore. It's amazing!
the dinner thing is so relatable. i realized I've never eaten dinner alone before.
I’ve eaten dinner alone & I agree, awkward. People who stare at a person dining alone make it worse. I’ve ordered room service, restaurant delivery, or gotten take-out for just that reason.
this is honestly the best "trip to Edinburgh" video I have seen. It captures the city's atmosphere perfectly
Did you notice less people approaching you in coffee shops with an e-reader? My sister exclusively uses e-readers in public because she said people (mostly men) would constantly interrupt and ask her what she was reading when she had a physical book. Also, loved the video!! Think I'll add solo travelling to my bucket list!
For 30 years, I have been reading (physical) books in coffee shops all over the world (and in my hometown, Edinburgh) and not once has anyone ever asked me what am I reading. I’m a man. 👍🤣😉
This was so lovely. I'm going on my first solo trip to Paris in a couple of weeks and I feel just the same as you did at the start (plus I will be flying there and I'm TERRIFIED of planes), so watching you go on adventures by yourself was really comforting. I'm really excited to be stepping out of my confort zone after years of wanting to do it and being too scared to :)
I recently had my second solo holiday and honestly I love them. I don’t want to do it all the time but sometimes I actually don’t want to talk to anyone. Well done you for trying something new and enjoying a new area 👏 🧡
Your editing and story telling capability are on a different level...great job Leonie.
So glad you went alone! I think it's really nice to do things alone because, like you said, you can do what you want and can change plans easily.
I don't mind eating dinner alone but I find that people can be weird about it sometimes and judge you for it (happened in The Netherlands even, also my home country). I find it bullshit because even if you're alone, you deserve nice food and you're also just another paying customer so there shouldn't be any problems
Omg this channel is so magical! Pure enchantment:)
I loved the vibes of the video, and you just reinstated my desire to visit Edinburgh 🧘♀
Also a thought about the knee pain
1) After a lot of walking, especially in cities with steep hills, some of the muscles of the leg get really tight with sudden overuse and start pulling on the knee, so stretching or rolling the muscles can really help and
2) after I broke my foot I struggled with knee pain and what really helped me was orthopedic soles, they were a life changer and sometimes when I have knee pain, it disappears after I take a walk in my shoes with the orthopedic soles.
Edinburgh was the first international city I travelled to alone to attend university. This vlog is bringing back so many memories ❤️❤️❤️.
Oh this video is perfect! I was always very drawn to Edinburgh, even since I was a small child (I am from Germany) and just as I was about to visit it last summer, I got LongCovid and now cant even leave my house. So seeing someone with a similar mindset (what to to, what to look for, the travel-pace,...) visit my favourite city and share your journey really made me happy today!
I still would love to visit it one day (this vlog made me want to be there even more) but for now this is also great! 😍😊
Also your new hair look amazing! 😊
Lovely video- I have a similar reaction to travel and I’m 53! I think part of it is excitement mingled with a need that everything goes “perfectly “! Of course the way to do it is to relax, enjoy every bit of it and see what happens. I hope you get to see much more on your travels.
First of all, congratulations on your first solo holiday!! It can be intimidating at first but it's such a rewarding experience 🖤 Also a trick to not feel alone (that works for me at least!) is to listen to podcasts that have a laid back enough pace to feel cozy (bonus points if it's about the history of the place you're visiting 😊)
I feel like it’s sometimes better not to force yourself to do something you’re uncomfortable with especially if you’re already having a nice time alone! The stress of worrying about wanting to talk to strangers can sometimes just ruin your alone time and it’s definitely so easy with social anxiety to feel awkward being alone in public. (I used to do it so much and haven’t been able to since quarantine.) But just being at peace with your limitations and not trying to push yourself further than you already have is healthy too :•)
Such quality made trip vlog, and I can relate your feelings so much! (also being a total introvert) Enjoyed watching a lot ❤
You definitely have a talent for travel vlogs! This was so pretty and fun to watch, and as a person with social anxiety myself (who would like to travel to so many places), very inspiring to see you try to overcome your fear and spend time alone. I honestly would watch 100 more travel vlogs made by you :)
Your talent with editing really accentuates the beauty of this wonderful place 😍
The mashup you did at the end in rythm with the music made me a little bit emotional, and I wasn't even there and never have been, that's impressive!
I hope your knee doesn't hurt anymore?
Btw I'm french and it's so cute hearing you speak french, you're doing great!
Proud of you! :) As someone who always has trouble with my knees, I'd guess it was probably the hill-climb that got you the worst, ESPECIALLY if you're not used to hills! The whole angle of your ankle changes and you have to lift your legs higher than usual. Also, just standing can hurt even worse than walking, so standing in the bookshops probably hurt too. But in your case, a single day of rest fixed it! Best case scenario, truly.
And the new haircut looks SWEEEEET!
A good tip for solo travellers would be to stay in a hostel instead of a hotel! You will definitely run into other travellers who are there to meet people and most hostels offer activities like pub crawls or family dinner which tend to be real cool plans. Plus the accommodation tends to be cheaper and some hostels have private rooms if sharing a dorm worries you :)
I rarely write comments, but! The script, the video itself and the amazing and novel-like intro 😍 incredible! And as solo traveler I can imagine how you felt going out by yourself at night. But it's fine to stay in the hotel room and have dinner there if you not feeling like going to crowded pub. And I like that you share with your feelings and emotions. Thank you for this warm vlog and now I also want to go Edinburgh too. I hope you will have more solo trips in future - it's such a great opportunity to know yourself better. 🙏🏼
If you come to France, please come to Strasbourg, there are lots of bookshops and it's very pretty!
This was such a wholesome video! I did my first solo trip a couple of years ago when I was 21. I was still living with my parents at the time, covid was very much a thing, and I really needed to get out and do something on my own. So I packed my bags and travelled to the Lake of Constance for three days. It was marvellous. Even though I didn't stay for long, it was this trip that actually made me want to be on my own and responsible for nothing but myself. (I moved to my first own little dorm appartment a couple of months later.)
I totally get that eating out in the evening can get really weird. I tend to be socially awkward, I feel like an intruder or an imposter pretty much everywhere, and I'll blush when interacting with any sort of costumer service or just strangers in general, so eating out can definitely be a struggle. But on my second evening I just sat down at a restaurant by the lake, ordered some pizza and took some notes on a story I still haven't written down, and was very happy. (Having something to write absolutely helps coping with the awkwardness of being alone.)
So, yeah, all I want to say is that your experiences really resonate with me and I appreciate you sharing your trip with us :) (And it can't be a coincidence that I was eating vegan sushi while watching this :'D) Also, your hair... chef's kiss.
My family is from Edinburgh but I live in the United States, and I have only been once, in 2019, this video was so fun I loved seeing all the places that I recognized, also YOUR HAIR IS SO PRETTY!!!
I travel alone a few times a year, and I love it. There is some much freedom to do something or nothing. Also, throw plans out the window. Be spontaneous. Blow with the wind. And, most importantly, don’t overthink.
Hello Leonie,
I just wanted to say, that you can be so proud of yourself for doing something you were scared of🤗
I went on my first trip all alone last year as well and I also chose Edinburgh as my place to go. I also visited some places in the Highlands. Somehow I felt so connected to you, because we chose the same place to go for our first solo trips😍😍
Now I'm continuing to watch your video😊
I had my first solo trip last year and it was also to Edinburgh. I loved it, it is such a magical city. I loved your vlog and I can relate so much to your struggles. Proud of us for overcoming anxiety and making it! Also, the editing, the clips, it was such a beautiful video!
Love the haircut! And I feel the beginning of the video, that anxiety for travelling is the worst
This resonated with me so much. I have always had that dream too. Something about Edinburgh is haunting me. I feel I MUST be there. I belong there. Thank you for sharing this!
I can’t believe you thought you could see the Old Town in an hour & at night! It is the most stunning & exciting part of the city with loads of independent coffee shops for chilling out in, bars & restaurants to eat in , as well as museums & galleries.
i totally relate about the pub! it was a little overwhelming and awkward going to a pub with just my friend but knowing that everyone i'd encountered in edinburgh that far was super friendly took some of the anxiety off
Your English is incredible. I couldn't tell if you were Dutch with almost no accent or an American who was starting to pick up the local accent.
I made my first overseas trip in 2006. I went from San Diego, California to Tokyo, Japan. It was every nightmare I was afraid it would be, and it was the best experience of my life.
I returned to Osaka in 2017. It was better planned and went so much better. Practice does make perfect.
I have one more trip to Japan in me, then I want to go to Florence, Italy.
The weight of the books warps gravity in bookstores. It's almost impossible to get out once you walk in.
She has an accent for sure. Yes her English is good but her Dutch is clearly heard, speaking from another Dutch (Flemish) speaker
Beautiful country, culture and people ❤ The Scot’s will always look after you
The new hair???? Gorgeous 🥰
omg it looks so beautiful 😭
so magical!
The hair - the hair - the hair is giving UNSTOPPABLE 🩵🩵🩵
Traveling alone is a 100% legitimate fear to have, especially as a woman! I don't feel comfortable going certain places alone if it's late at night, and traveling is extremely nerve-wracking at times because the types of people who would take advantage of you (in whatever way) can 100% tell if you're a tourist, and it puts you at a disadvantage. Had someone attempt to steal my friend's phone mid-day in the middle of a Barcelonan McDonalds because they knew dumb American tourists wouldn't pick up on what they were trying to do. Gotta be safe, and all that! Unfortunately, because the world is cruel, people have to fear travelling just for travel's sake, especially alone. Proud of you for working to overcome this fear, Leoni!!
You don’t need to be afraid nor do you need to make others afraid! Just be aware and yes maybe don’t go out after midnight if it doesn’t feel safe, use our brain and you can travel alone even to the other end of the word.
It's tough being on your own. Don't feel bad. Just keep trying to expand your comfort zone.
Another beautiful city in the UK with great bookshops to visit is Bath. Oxford is very gothic too.
Edit: Even native English speakers struggle to understand heavy accents like Scottish so don't worry 😅 I was speaking to a man who I thought was drunk once. Turns out he was just Scottish oops
Yes! Bath with the sandstone buildings is soo pretty, very Regency grandeur. I'm desperate to go back there - my in-laws live less than an hour away but somehow we've not got around to going.
Cambridge is lovely too, as is my local city, York. York has so many independent and curious shops.
I also do not enjoy getting dinner alone - I find people do tend to notice you more when you’re at dinner alone. I’m working up the courage to solo travel so it was lovely to see you overcome your fear of it
i never talk to anyone when i travel, but i honestly don’t want to???? i like being alone and if someone speaks to me organically it’s fine but if i TRY to talk to people it will never work out. best interaction i’ve had with a stranger was when i was just sitting alone reading and they talked to me about Kafka for a while. love that
Same, I don't talk to ppl when travelling since we'll never meet again lol
So happy you enjoyed your time in Scotland! Edinburgh has a special place in my heart and it's so nice to see others enjoy it
I loved it! Such an inspiration for my solo trip to Spain
Yes! Dinner is an intimate time of day and it does feel more awkward sitting alone when everyone seems to be in couples or groups. Perhaps breakfast and lunch feel like halfway stages where we have something to do after the meal. I have done a few long distance walks in Britain by myself and dinner time is always a bit weird. Well done for taking the trip on!
I really admire you for trying to have conversations with other travelers and socialize. My social anxiety could never. From my limited travel experience though I believe the best way to make new friends in a travel abroad is staying at a hostel: it is a more intimate setting and filled with people traveling alone from all the world, willing and eager for connections. And as far as your knee is concerned maybe try wearing shoes meant for trekking. Walking on rough terrain like cobblestone can be a big burden even on healthy feet.
That was a lovely, creative, candid, compelling story of your time in the most beautiful city. Thank you.
i'm so proud of you for travelling alone! it can be scary the first couple of times. i started travelling alone when i was still in school, so i'm accustomed to it at this point, and it is so nice! it is so freeing to do things in your own time, and not have to worry about making sure someone else is also having a good time. i hope you get to try this out more in the future!
Just reminded me of the trip I took nearly two decades ago.
The sunset view from the Arthur’s seat on a sunny day was magnificent.
Really nice video I now feel I should go there again!
"Its really extraordinary how things that feel so outside of your realm of possibilities, things that feel so dreamlike, can become so normal so quickly." 27:14
This is just one of the many wise quotes of this video (It inspired a really fulfilling journal entry of mine just now).
I really really enjoyed this video. The vibe, the atmosphere, its all just so so so nice. Your videography and filming and editing skills are just so deliciously refreshing and cozy. This video feels like a warm cup of tea, while being curled up in a warm blankie looking outside of the gothic arched window onto the brownish city landscape that is Edinburgh. Thank you so so so much for sharing this, Leonie! I had such a great time watching, its almost as if I did the trip to Edinburgh myself in just thirty minutes xD
Thanks a lot again, I love this video