There are some conversations that stay with you long after you switch off the microphone, and my chat with Christine Madeley was one of them.
She joined me on Travel with Us a While to talk about something many of us quietly wonder about, but don’t always have the courage to do — travelling solo for the first time after a big life change.
Christine found herself single again in her 60s, after years of marriage. Rather than settling into quiet routines or staying within the familiar, she decided to do something bold — book a trip overseas, alone. “It’s a frightening thought,” she admitted with a laugh. “But I just thought — I’m doing it.”
And off she went — first to Lisbon, Portugal. There she was, jet-lagged, room not ready, sipping a cocktail while trying to remember why on earth she’d thought this was a good idea. But by the next day, with her walking shoes on and the sun shining across those tiled streets, she began to feel that delicious sense of freedom that comes when you realise — you’re managing just fine on your own.
The courage to begin
Christine’s story isn’t just about destinations. It’s about the quiet bravery it takes to begin again.
She told me how she found herself communicating with the locals through hand gestures and smiles — “It’s all about the hands, Bron!” — and how laughter became her universal language.realise — you’re managing just fine on your own.
Once aboard her small French cruise ship, PONANT, the nerves melted away. Surrounded by sommeliers, Michelin-star chefs, and fellow travellers from all over the world, Christine discovered something she hadn’t expected: she loved her own company.
“The first two nights,” she said, “they just sat me wherever they could. But by the third night, everyone was waving me over — ‘Christine, over here!’ I think it’s because I was the only crazy Aussie on board.”
That, I think, says it all. When we travel alone, the world rushes in to meet us.
Discoveries along the way
From the vineyards of Bordeaux to the surf beaches of Biarritz, Christine’s journey was a patchwork of moments — trains missed, languages mangled, and laughter echoing through cobbled streets. Her travel agent (now retired, she sighed) had wisely booked her into hotels from the Luxury Hotels of the World group, sometimes upgrading her to suites with champagne and strawberries waiting on arrival.
But what she remembered most wasn’t the luxury — it was the feeling of being fully alive again.
She wandered through local markets, marvelling at the golden colour of corn-fed chickens, tried strange seafood with names she couldn’t pronounce, and learned her favourite French phrase:
“Je ne parle pas français, je suis australienne. Parlez-vous anglais?”
“It works a treat everywhere you go,” she grinned.
Lost — and loving it
Of course, no solo journey is without its mishaps.
Christine confessed to getting lost more than once — in Bordeaux, in Paris, and even later in the English countryside. But rather than panic, she learned to stop, breathe, and look around. “You’ll find your way back,” she said. “And honestly, there are worse places to be lost than Paris.”
Her tip for solo travellers?
“Don’t go out too late, and if you do get lost, don’t panic. Enjoy your surroundings. There’s beauty everywhere.”
That mix of practical wisdom and quiet humour threaded through our conversation. I could picture her walking through the streets of Saint-Germain, pausing at the Esprit Saint Germain hotel’s cosy afternoon lounge, where guests help themselves to champagne and nibbles. “When you’re travelling on a budget,” she laughed, “that’s your lunch and your afternoon tea sorted!”
From France to England — and beyond
Christine’s adventure took her next to England, where she hired a car for the first time in years — a brand-new Audi that she couldn’t figure out how to start. “I was too embarrassed to admit it,” she said, “so I had to go back in and ask someone how to turn it on!”
She drove through the countryside to a village called Madeley — her own surname — and stayed in Madeley Manor, complete with a chapel and a wedding taking place. “It was like something out of a fairytale,” she said.
The solo travel philosophy
As we chatted, I was struck by how many small, sensible tips Christine offered, all delivered with a laugh.
Don’t overpack.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Learn a few local words, even if you mispronounce them.
And if you’re driving — don’t do it on a public holiday!
But beneath the humour was something deeper. When Christine spoke about her first real solo adventure — a campervan trip across Western Australia to a fundraiser in the outback — I could hear the shift in her voice.
“That was the first time I’d ever gone away completely on my own,” she said. “I was surrounded by couples, but I realised I wasn’t lonely. I was free.”
That’s the kind of freedom travel gives us — not just the wide open roads, but the rediscovery of our own independence.
Connection, conversation, and courage
As we talked about shared stories and the kindness of strangers, I couldn’t help but reflect on how often travellers find each other. Whether you’re on a yacht, in a camper, or sitting at a Paris café, travellers always seem to recognise their own kind.
We talk about where we’ve been, what we’ve loved, and what not to miss. And in those simple exchanges — often with people we’ll never meet again — something shifts.
It’s connection. It’s courage passed from one to another.
Christine’s parting advice still rings in my ears:
“If you find yourself suddenly single, don’t be afraid to go. Just do it. Nothing went wrong for me — in fact, everything went right.”
And that’s what makes her story so special. It’s not about escaping loneliness — it’s about embracing possibility.
When I asked her what’s next, she smiled and said, “Croatia. I haven’t been yet.”
Of course, France will always be on her list — “I can’t go overseas without calling into Paris.”
I told her she has my full permission to do just that.
And I think that’s how we all should approach life — with a packed bag, an open heart, and permission to begin again.
Travel with Us a While — because every journey, big or small, begins with that first brave step.
Listen to the full conversation on the podcast by clicking here.
NB: If YOU would like to be a guest on my podcast please reach out to me in the comments. I would love to share YOUR story on my podcast and in a blog using your photos.
