How to Stay Safe While Exploring a Foreign City

I’m often a jet-legged woman walking alone in a foreign country whose language I don’t speak.

Sounds a little suss, right?  

While on the surface my solo exploring might seem as dangerous as swimming during a lightning storm, it’s more like swimming after you’ve eaten. And it’s not risky because I’ve figured out a system to be safe and blend in. This is a lot to cover in one blog so I’ve broken it into a 2-blog series.

Safety, first… 

Don’t Use Your Phone for Directions

Do you know who is clueless about where things are? Dumbass tourists —  so not the look you’re going for. However, unless you’ve been to your destination many times, navigation assistance is necessary. I usually need help with directions, and even if I don’t, I still like to have directions in the background in case I veer off course, which I frequently do since random street art and architectural details often catch my eye. So yes, I am using my phone for directions (did you think I was going to tell you to print off MapQuest directions like it was 2002 or something? No way). I walk with my phone in my hand, glancing at the screen occasionally to check for the distance until my next turn and the street name. However, I’m not studying the screen. I look at my phone as if a text notification popped up and it’s a boring one, like an appointment reminder text from your dentist. Not even worth unlocking the screen to read the full text. I won’t look at my phone again until I make the next turn. That way, I’m not standing on a street corner, whipping my head back and forth, debating right and left, and cross-referencing my phone. A local would never do that, so I won’t either.  

Case the Joint (aka Pay Attention)

Despite appearing like I’m bored and unbothered, I’m in high surveillance mode. I don’t text or listen to music. If my AirPods are in, it’s as a decoy. I take note of what’s going on around me at all times. What do the streets look like? Are they lined with cute shops and restaurants or garage doors of automotive chop shops (the latter is a red flag to get the fuck off that street btw)? What are the people around me doing? And who are the people? Are there any other solo women or kids around?

Mind you, I’m the daughter of an Army helicopter pilot, so I’ve gotten a lecture or two (or hundreds) on situational awareness from my dad. My approach might seem a little paranoid, but I can assure you it’s not overkill.

Once, I was walking to scope out a bakery in Barcelona. My next work flight was on a passenger’s birthday, so I wanted to give her a decadent chocolate cake. On my way, I became aware of a presence behind me. You know when someone’s really close to you, and you feel them before you see them there? I HATE that feeling, and I especially hate it when someone walks too close behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, and my spidey senses were on point — a man was walking only a step behind me. Because I’m all about an extra large personal bubble, I’ve developed an immediate fix for this scenario: I step off to the side, kneel, and pretend to be adjusting my shoe. Every time, the person walking close enough behind me to be my shadow walks right on by, taking no notice of me. That didn’t happen this time. Instead, the man whipped his head back to look at me.

That’s fucking weird.

I finished my fake shoe adjustment and resumed walking. The man was about ten feet in front of me. I slowed my pace to ensure I didn’t close the gap between us or, even worse, end up walking in front of him again. But the guy did something unexpected… he did MY step-aside-shoe-adjustment move.

Oh, hell no. 

I was back in front of him, and I didn’t like that shit one bit. At the next crosswalk, I crossed to the other side of the street. He followed. I crossed back over, and he followed again. I stopped to (pretend) read a sign on a street post, forcing him back in the lead. Then he did the same thing to me. This was getting dicier by the second. I wanted my next maneuver to be the one that ditched the trailing creeper for good. Half up the block, I spotted my salvation — a women’s lingerie store. I made a sudden 90-degree turn into the door and tucked myself behind a row of lace and satin camouflage in the belly of the boutique. 

I peeped over the corsets, watching the street through the windows. The creepy fucker walked by, peering through the glass, his eyes darting all over the store. He kept walking. I stayed in the store for another ten minutes. Cautiously, I stepped out onto the sidewalk, scanning my surroundings. The man was nowhere to be found. I abandoned my quest for chocolate cake to go in a different direction than the creeper. 

I don’t seem so paranoid now, do I? 

Things I Don’t Do but Probably Should

Despite being all G.I. Jane about my surroundings, I don’t do a damn thing for gathering intelligence before I set out to explore. A few times, I’ve wandered into an area that seemed like a great spot to get mugged. In those instances, I immediately redirected myself back to a safe neighborhood. I also never go out alone after dark unless I feel very comfortable with my surroundings. So if I do find myself on a street lined with creepy garage doors and a homeless man relieving himself in front of one of those doors, the sun is still high in the sky. I can easily see I need to GTFO.

Another thing I’ve never done is share my location with my pilots. I’m the most adventuresome, can’t sit still of my crew. While I’m racking up miles hoofing it all over a new city, they’re usually chilling at the hotel. I’m not against sharing my location — it honestly never occurred to me… until I found myself in a truck being driven out of town toward the woods with a guy I’d only met the day before.

When the reality of my situation hit me, I took a deep breath. I left my hotel without a word to my pilots and only some loose plans to meet up with them later. This is kind of dumb, Claire. He didn’t give off murder vibes, but what good murderer does? I weighed my options.

“You’re not gonna murder me out here, are you?” 

The guy stared at me with his piercing blue and yellow eyes. His stare had the intensity of a Zoolander Blue Steel, minus the pouty lip pucker. Maybe he meant to be funny, but the joke made me nervous and squirmy.

“I’ll have you know, I may not look like much, but I’m scrappy.” 

“I believe you.” A crooked smirk played at the corner of his mouth. He was a gentleman, and lucky for me, no murder was attempted. 

Later over ice cream, I turned my misstep into an anecdote for my pilots. Both of them laughed and shook their heads

Then Toni got a serious look on her face. “Claire,” she leaned in over the table, a plastic spoon poised over her vanilla bean ice cream. You gotta file a flight plan with us next time you wander off.” Her blue eyes were wide and stern.

“You’re right.” I nodded. “I’ll start sharing my location.” 

Let’s Make It Fun

Walking around a foreign country and observing your surroundings like you’re a secret military operative makes it easier to be safe. But security surveillance can get intense, which isn’t fun at all. The whole point of travel is to have fun, right?! Fortunately, one of the most important things you can do to stay safe is also the most entertaining: blending in like a local.  

Stay tuned for next week!