An Encounter with a Lost Solo Traveler

Yesterday, I was waiting for the bus and noticed a woman who appeared to be walking in circles. She stared intently at the book in her hands and then periodically looked up, turned around, walked back and forth, and so on. No, she wasn’t one of San Francisco’s numerous crazy people, she was a lost solo traveler.

I instantly recognized and sympathized with her dilemma. I’ve definitely been there more than once, and could very well find myself there in about a week or so. I very rarely see tourists in my neighborhood unless they are visiting  family and friends so I wondered what she was looking for.

The woman saw me and approached me to ask for directions. She didn’t speak much English and she sounded like she was either Italian or Spanish. She showed me the cover of her book which revealed the purpose of her off the beaten path exploration. It was a guidebook about the walkways and staircases of San Francisco. A pretty cool concept in this hilly city which is full of delightful nooks and crannies if you know where to look.

Unfortunately the guidebook had pretty crappy maps.  She was very flustered and I was happy to help her. She asked about a particular street and I told her it was up the hill. Then she repeatedly asked about another street that doesn’t exist in my neighborhood but does exist in an adjacent neighborhood. All of the streets that run parallel to it run through both neighborhoods, but inexplicably, that one street does not. Because of the language barrier and slight absurdity of that concept, it took her awhile to understand. She then confirmed the direction of the first street she asked about, thanked me, and was on her way.

I hope she found the staircase she was looking for. It reminded me of my own wandering through San Francisco and stumbling upon staircases and other places where there is nothing really to “see”, but they are joyful places. It also reminded me of the little moments I enjoyed on past travels. Besides the monumental landmarks which rarely disappoint, some of my happiest moments were just meandering through the streets or sitting down for a cup of coffee and watching the world go by.

It’s too bad we didn’t get a chance to talk, because she most likely would have been a kindred spirit. She reminded me of how it can be frustrating to travel independently in a country where you don’t speak the language, but how rewards may await those who look to experience a place rather than just “see” it. I will do my best to remember that during my upcoming travels.