When traveling solo, there’s something unique about meeting strangers abroad. In a group, you may be friendly with locals and other travelers, but you’re there to have fun with your own crew. As a solo traveler, there’s a refreshing openness to connect to someone you might never have noticed back home. Conversations feel lighter, but somehow more honest too.

Earlier this month, I went to Mexico City on another solo trip. I had a few plans (Lucha Libre experience, Xochimilco canal tour) but left a lot of downtime for spontaneous excursions (like a mixology class!), resting, and taking my time around the enormous city. It’s such a great place to visit, and when I came back I already missed being immersed in the language and culture.

The first evening after I arrived, I snagged a last-minute reservation for the Handshake Speakeasy (one of the best bars in the world) and ended up sitting next to 2 other solo travelers at the bar. We surreptitiously eyed each other, but no one made a move as we stared at our respective menus.

If I’m being honest, this was a bit of a sad girl trip, even though my whole experience there was a blast. So as I sat there on day 1 deciding which cocktail to get and secretly assessing the people around me, I felt my desire for connection pushing me to say something.

After we had all received our drinks, I leaned over to ask, “What did you get?” Classic one-liner. My simple “pick-up line” opened up a whole evening of trying out cocktails, exchanging travel stories, and learning about different ways of life. I left the night feeling so happy and grateful. They had no idea I felt lonely going into it, and no idea that a mere conversation helped me feel confident and happy again even for a few hours.

It’s been a few months of ups and downs, and in the downs I’ve been really thankful for the friendly strangers who pop into my life by happenstance. It can feel liberating to meet someone who knows nothing about me—there’s no baggage, expectation, or judgment. There’s no pressure to perform or play a role in front of them. I can tell them all of my joys or woes over a drink and discover people share similar experiences no matter how different our lifestyles may be.

In some ways, I love the anonymity. I like talking without the need for introductions—we can skip straight to what we’re actually interested in. It might just be me, but there’s something about names that makes things feel more intimate to me, even with strangers, so I usually don’t ask until the end while exchanging niceties (i.e. “I had a fun time,” “you’re cool”). We can just have a good time, share travel stories and recommendations, and then go our separate ways. (Is this akin to a one-night stand? I can see the appeal.)

I’m not usually the “strike up a conversation with every stranger” kind of gal, but traveling does bring it out of me. I become bolder because people are interesting, and I love expanding my view of the world through the eyes of others. And even if I never see them again, there’s something special about sharing moments, especially moments in a foreign place, with another person.

These interactions give me a solid kick of dopamine to help me trudge through the hard times. It’s like walking through a blizzard and finding a bit of warmth and shelter before trudging forth back in the storm. When I feel rejected by people I love or have a hard time connecting with those around me, these strangers inadvertently remind me I am an enjoyable, lovely person.

I guess the moral of the story is: be open to meeting new people, especially when you travel. You never know who might need your conversation to feel less lonely in this big, wide world.