It was a hot summer night in the steaming streets of Rome, Italy. I had just gotten into my hostel a few hours before and after sitting and drink with a few people, I decided I wanted to go explore the city. I tried to see if any of the others wanted to come along with me, and three other solo travelers decided to join me. One was actually a history professor at a University in the States, so he said he would give us a tour of some of the main attractions. We went and saw the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine and the Circus Maximus. After that, I was looking to get dinner in the city while they just decided to head back. So I decided like any self-respecting solo traveler would do… I said goodbye and went on my way to find the best pasta I could find!

Now this is where most people have to make the choice. Will I go to the touristy area? Or will I get LOST? By the title of this article I bet you know where I am headed!

Lost, according to Dictionary.com, means "no longer to be found, having gone astray or missed the way; bewildered as to place, direction, etc." That is exactly what I try to do when I went my merry way. I walked and walked and then walked some more until I was unsure in my location. From the Circus Maximus, I went the opposite direction and crossed the river. Walking into an area with less and less tourists, you can find unique art, churches, restaurants and people. You can get a sense of how the culture and ambiance of city is really like.

Out walking by myself, I found this quaint family owned restaurant owned by the same family for six generations. I got into such a good conversation with the son that he ended up giving me samples of the different pasta his family made all free. The generosity of people you can find is outstanding. Now this was an experience that definitely made the top of my “lost” excursions and that doesn't happen very often. If you never put yourself out there, however, you will never find them.

Some may ask how do you get lost?

Now, It is a lot easier when you are in a country that doesn't speak your language, but you can still apply these techniques.

1. Frame of mind! When exploring and getting lost, the best frame of mind for me was to not have a goal or a destination that I was trying to get to. You should go in with the open mindset of wandering. Pick a direction and go that way… or don’t. If you look down a street and see something interesting, go look at it! If you keep going from interesting thing to interesting thing, you might find something truly spectacular.

2. Open your eyes! This ties a lot into frame of mind, but a tad different. Open your eyes means look for the little things. Often when you are wondering these streets it will be the smallest of details that makes things unique. From people interacting with each other in a market to a small piece of street art on the wall, you may never know what exactly will catch your eye!
3. Solo or with a friend? Preferably, solo is the best, but having a friend is not always a bad thing. Especially if both of you have the same frame of mind!
4. Cut off connections to the outside world! Leave your phone at home, in the hotel/hostel, or at least leave it in your back pack and turned off! This is essential! If you are still connected you will never truly appreciate what is around you. You will never get into that true frame of mind and you will miss out on alll the glorius culture around you!
5. Safety! Some say getting lost in a country or city is dangerous and unnecessary, but it is only that way if you don't follow this simple rule: “If you would not do it at home, do not do it somewhere else.” Now, following that simple rule should keep you out of most trouble.

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From new experiences, good food, and great people that might change your life, traveling the right way can teach you so much. Just like anything else, it does not matter where you go or that you even went somewhere, what really matters is how you traveled. You can travel to Croatia, party for days, and then leave and that whole time learn very little about where you were. So, when you travel, look at how you want to and hopefully you add getting lost to your tool box as you look towards what the quintessence of travel is for you!

"The views expressed, in "The Quintessence of Travel: Getting Lost" reflect personal opinions of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Naval Academy, the United States Navy, any federal agency, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.”