“I am sorry senorita, but the address you seek does not exist,” said the sturdy Chilean paco (policeman), leaning against his AK-47. “You better find a place to sleep soon; the curfew starts in an hour.”

It was February 1988, a few months before the plebiscite that would put an end to Pinochet’s brutal 17 year dictatorship in Chile. The country was in chaos and I was in the middle of it.

The bus I had been travelling on from Mendoza in Argentina to Santiago, Chile was held up at the border for three hours and now the hostel in the guidebook was nowhere to be found. I had no money for a hotel and there was a curfew starting at midnight. I was alone and very scared.

At 11.30pm a couple took pity on me when I asked for directions and took me home with them. When I got there I realised I was not the only rescued youngster. There were about 15 people sleeping on the floor. Junkies’ den film scenes came to mind, but the warm welcome and healthy look of the young men and women cleared my worries.

I soon found out that since the curfew had started people were opening their houses to shelter those who could not get home in time. It was an unforgettable night, spent answering questions about life in Brazil where I am from - the latest books, films and music that had been banned by Pinochet’s oppressive regime. In the morning I left feeling thankful for the kindness of those strangers and privileged for living in a free country.

Wanderlust Bug

I would have missed out the unforgettable experience I had in Santiago if I had stayed home when my friend told me that she would no longer be able to join me on our South America vacation.

Most people don’t consider travelling on their own and when asked why not, the reasons vary from ‘I don’t like being alone’, to ‘I like to have someone to share the moments’. In most cases though, what is really behind those answers is fear.

That night in Santiago also taught me powerful lessons about the importance of planning a trip and knowing the background of a destination. But above all the experience was instrumental in building up my confidence to travel alone, my curiosity about foreign cultures and my view of the world as a fundamentally welcoming place. I had caught the wanderlust bug.

Since then I have hiked the Asian Golden Triangle, explored the Australian outback, caravanned with the Tuaregs in Niger and Mali, and much more.

In most cases I left home alone, and returned safe and infinitely richer in stories, knowledge and friends, thanks to the secret weapon I learned in Chile: planning, planning, and planning.

The Secret Weapon

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