I like travelling and I like travelling alone. I also like throwing myself at the mercy of a new city's public transport.
And so, after a cheap version of the Odyssey I finally found my way to the hostel in Rio in the early hours of the morning. Disoriented and tired, my brain felt mushy. Hours until check in, I headed to the beach.
As I walked along the beach, I noticed more than a few people at the beach by themselves. I felt a quiet resonance that I couldn't quite articulate.
What is it about the sea that draws us in? Seeking solitude amidst crowds. Listening to our thoughts as the surf drowns out the extraneous noise. The endless expanse challenging narrow minds and welcoming new perspectives.
Susan Sontag speaks of photography as a defense against anxiety (amongst other things). Specially with respect to travelling and experiencing a new, unfamiliar place. I think I'd usually agree.
But that day - my mind clearing as I stared at the hypnotic swells, alone yet in the solitary company of strangers - I felt right at home.
