Traveling Solo - My First European Book Tour

Where do I begin? I had never been outside of the country until now. My Brown Butter book tour was taken on a leap of faith and a determined curiosity. I started in my hometown of Boston, then soared overseas to three different countries; Copenhagen, Denmark, Berlin, Germany and London, England.

Before my journey, the first question people often asked me was: are you scared to travel alone? Especially as a woman? My answer? I believe not knowing what it would’ve been like, never deciding to step outside of my comfy little Brooklyn apartment into new lands, would’ve been more unsettling. But being alone was an afterthought, because no matter where I am, God is.

Each country had its own culture, vibe, air and freshness to it. I’m going to do my best to capture my favorite moments and discoveries, but please know that living these experiences yourself is the only way to truly feel how igniting it is.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen has a vintage, classic feel. As soon as I stepped outside, it felt like I stepped inside of a film. Crisp, fresh air. Vibrant, pastel-colored architecture. Cobblestoned walkways and sidewalks. Street names plated on the side of buildings. Boats floating on the stream in the middle of town. And of course, every restaurant and cafe had its hygge.

Hygge, my favorite part of all. In a country with frigid winters and up to 17 hours of darkness per day, Danes are known for fostering hygge - an intimate coziness, comfiness and warm, dim-lit atmosphere. Some say its better felt than translated.

What Copenhagen taught me: to slow down and indulge in life’s pleasures. It’s why they’re here, and why we are too.

This relaxing energy is exuded throughout the country, even when sitting in the cold outside at Christiania with new friends sipping on mulled wine. There was no rush, only being in the moment and enjoying good company.

I was able to stay in a cute town called Norrebro with my friend and co-worker Cherie, who was honestly the perfect host to embrace me into a new world. The Danes were friendly and welcoming. She taught me how to pronounce different places, gave me a briefing of the culture, took me to ride at the front of efficient, conductor-less trains and escorted me to different parts of Denmark, like Christianshavn and the Harbor.

I performed at Books & Company, a cozy, international book shop located in Hellerup, Denmark. The room was filled and buzzing with beautiful souls awaiting Brown Butter poems. Truly, a moment that will have a home in my heart and memory. Thank you to the audience who embraced it all, asked questions, grabbed a copy of my book, and are still sending me messages about the experience until this day.

Berlin

Berlin has an edgy, artsy, contemporary vibe. I didn’t know anyone here, so everything felt like a discovery. When I got off the plane and to the train, I had to ask the man in the booth for directions. He spoke German and little English. After I didn’t understand him the first time, he kindly stood up and pointed to the green line on the ground, saying “Follow green!”

And voila! I made it to my Friedrichshain Airbnb in one swift ride. I arrived early so I had the entire day ahead of me to explore. The area was alive and bubbling with conversations in foreign languages, grafitti art splattered on building walls, radiantly hued shops, cozy cafes, indie boutiques and parks with kids on swings.

While taking it all in, I landed at Mutzenbacher Schnitzelpuff, an authentic Austrian restaurant recommended by my host. My server spoke a bit of English, but was fluent in kindness.

One of the many things that stood out from traveling abroad: love is universal. Happiness too. So no matter where you go, there’s an understanding and you’re able to connect with people without words.

As I was enjoying my beef broth stew with cheese dumplings and spaetzle (and red wine, of course), a man came in with his daughter, around 4 or 5 years young. I admired them and offered a smile. They sat at the table next me, and he struck up a conversation, “Are you on holiday?” Often the first inquiry from natives, I guess it was obvious I wasn’t from the area.

I told him I was on my book tour. He replied with congratulations, and told me he was the owner of the restaurant. He went on to describe its Austrian roots, how their food was prepared in the Alps mountains which gave life to its hearty essence. He then offered me a Vodka shot as a welcome, a custom I did not deny. Already, Berlin greeted me with open arms.

My mornings consisted of a cup of coffee or tea at the local bakeries. Followed by afternoon walks by the harbor, past East Berlin Wall, through Cassiopeia, down beautifully named streets and arriving at whichever restaurant caught my eye.

The beauty of traveling with yourself is the freedom and flow that comes along with it. You can do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it, without asking anyone for their say-so. Self-loving liberation at its finest.

On my last night, I performed a few poems at Sweetest Taboo X Poetry Meets Soul inside of a cool, red-lit bar and lounge, Night Embassy Berlin; only a 10 minute walk from my Airbnb. I didn’t know how close they were in proximity until I put the address in. And get this: the host of the event attended my book release this past May in Brooklyn, which we realized that same night. Talk about alignment and divine intervention.

Another lesson brought to life during my journey: everything works out how it’s supposed to, and oftentimes to our amazement. Trust the flow.

In Berlin, I was on my own in a new country for the first time and fully felt free. I could do anything, or not do anything, and it was enough.

London

Ah, London, my love. I felt at home here. Maybe the first two countries warmed me up so much to newness, that I felt more confident on this third escapade. It did help that my Airbnb host housed two cats who kept me in good company, and if you know me, you know I love animals.

I stayed in White City, another location surrounded by lots of restaurants, theaters, Westfield Mall (which may have been the largest mall I’ve been to, ever), double-decked buses, train stations and snug homes.

Here I was introduced to the hot water bottle, something Londoners use to keep warm at night. It’s also therapeutic to release tension and aches in the body, perfect for jet-lagged sleeps. I loved it so much I brought one back to the states.

Each area of London has its own energy. South Kensington exudes a royal, victorian aura. It’s where I performed at my first Sofar Sounds show in a quaint hostel, Astor Hyde park, on Queen’s Gate. I met a new friend who saw I was having a show on Instagram, Yael, whose name means “strength of God.” She used to live in Italy and speaks six languages; multilingualism is the norm in Europe.

My second show was in Shoreditch at a co-working space called Huckletree. This was more of modern-day metropolitan area.

Later in the week, I had dinner at an Italian restaurant in Westminster. The staff’s hospitality made me not want to leave! From there I adventured through the area, to the London Eye, inside of telephone boxes, by grand cathedrals and Westminster Abbey, where a stranger offered to take my picture; she saw me struggling to take a selfie with my 50mm lens. It’s the photo used as the cover of this post.

And it got me thinking: what is a stranger anyway? The term itself has the connotation that people we don’t know are strange, yet we’re all very familiar. We breathe, speak, feel, heal, love, have families, friends, and offer help when we see someone who needs it. There’s nothing strange about that at all.

Anyway, my most treasured place? Brixton! Brixton is very diverse and has a fast paced energy. Home of many Caribbean people and restaurants, a plethora of food markets, black owned shops, museums, live music and overall radiance. I went to Fish Wings & Tings, a Trinidadian restaurant inside of Brixton Village. The Reggae wings, plantains and homemade ginger beer left my tastebuds more than satisfied.

I then came across Diverse, a black owned gift shop, where I bought my newest magenta journal. I visited the Black Cultural Archives and Brixton library, then stopped at Ritzy Cinema and Cafe to read, write and soak it all in. I had takeout from Three Little Birds to nightcap my Caribbean adventure, a spot chosen in passing because it was my dad’s favorite Bob Marley song. And it was the best rice and peas topped with curry goat gravy and plantains I’ve had. Period. Thanks Pops.

My trip to Europe allowed me to get closer to myself. To hear my thoughts and wants, uninterrupted by another’s. It lit a fire in me at a time that needed spark, the most inspiring and inciting way to end my year. If you haven’t traveled alone yet, do it! Book the ticket and go. Face any fears, embrace all faith. And I promise, you will open your mind, world and soul to treasures waiting for you to discover.

I’ll be sharing another post soon. Stay tuned! In the meantime, catch me on Instagram, Youtube, Spotify and wherever you like to vibe to music. Sign up for my newsletter below for positive words and poetry updates.

With light,

Mel