Look up 'solo travelling' and you can easily find a bunch of articles that will give you 71 reasons or 21 tips to travel solo. What they don't tell you, though, are the dangers and cons to travelling alone.
Facebook user Heather Bailer recently came home after a long, solo trip in Europe.
In a Facebook post, she shared her close encounter of sex trafficking during a 'seemingly normal' taxi ride in Barcelona, Spain.
As of today, the post has since received over 21,000 shares, 24,000 'likes' and almost 8,000 comments. Here's the full post:
In case you were too lazy to read the whole post, here's an easier-to-read version:
- Madrid and Barcelona is no stranger to Heather as she studied there last summer
- She headed straight to where she thought the taxi stand or Uber pick-up point was at upon arrival (no clear signs, just 'pictures' (icons, we assume) pointing in various directions)
- Group of guys standing near escalator asking tourists if they needed a taxi
- Heather followed the crowd and got into a 'taxi' on her own with the driver but another guy got in and took the front seat
- They communicated sheepishly in Spanish but Heather understood the conversation
- After checking her GPS, she came to a realisation that they were bringing her further away from her hotel
- She started conversing with them in Spanish, causing them to realise that she might have figured out what they were trying to do to her (or bring her)
- She lied to them and said that her friends were waiting for her at the hotel lobby and if she didn't get there in 10 mins they'd know exactly where to find her (a tracker in her phone?)
After some good nerve-wrecking moments and Heather trying to use reversed psychology on them, one of the Spanish guys accelerated across 6 lanes and screamed at Heather to 'get out of here' which she grabbed her bags and did so immediately of course, hence escaping unharmed.
What would you do if you were in Heather's shoes?
Girls, Heather was super lucky to have made out of this ordeal alive. Thank goodness she understood Spanish too... or how would she have 'figured things out'?
Again, travelling alone may seem fun and adventurous but don't believe the photos you see on social media. Landmarks and architecture may make a country seem glorious and beautiful but it does not hide the fact that there are many dangers lurking in the dark (or in this case, broad daylight).
As much as we want to believe that all people are good, we must never let our guard down..
Stay tuned for more travel tips! Meanwhile, share this article with a friend who's into solo travelling and warn them about the lurking dangers that may come when they least expect it.
Text by: Girlsdaily SG
