Surprised that friends would never travel alone?

[OnTheOpenRoad]

Had to travel to Paris last week for a work meeting, but thankfully actually got to see the city too. I caught the Eurostar there and used the metro, had a fab time.

My friends were shocked that - firstly I dared to get the Eurostar by myself and secondly that I used the metro - again by myself.

I remember them being surprised that I wasn't bothered about getting a train to London by myself and using the Underground.

At least 3 of my friends were shocked and said "I could never do that" - and before people say it's to do with anxiety it really isn't, they would just never dare do something like that.

I'm not saying "wow look at me I'm so confident" - because I found it a struggle to but I like to challenge myself. Then again it's really not hard to get to a train station, look at the huge departure board and then find the platform.

It just makes me a bit sad that some people would pass up good opportunities purely because they would never do it alone even though they more than capable of doing so.

Obviously there are exceptions.

I've come across that attitude before, it is sad, also infuriating the look you get as if you're Ranulph Fiennes..

My mother once met a lady on the train to our local city, who looked clearly terrified, asked if she could help, and the lady had never been to that city on the train before (had driven in loads though, so she knew the city) - and was really worried she wouldn't be able to find her way from the central station to John Lewis

I get this alot. Last summer I took 4 children to the Manchester Science and Industry museum by train. I had my eldest, my 7 yo, a 5 yo and the baby in her pram. (I should add that this for me was a round trip of about 40 miles plus getting from the station to the museum).
Talking to my MIL that night she damn near gave me a medal for bravery! Half an hour of how brave I was, how she could never manage it alone, why didn't we go with DH (he was at work) it got a little ridiculous. Its not even like she's a nervous woman, she goes all over the place on her own, books weekends away all over Europe and really enjoys just getting in the car and going somewhere but when I did a day trip you'd have thought we had climbed Everest...
Am planning to take the brood to London this year at some point for the day. That will probably be without DH too, I may not mention it until the day after..