Perpignan
One of the delights of traveling solo — or perhaps one of the compensations for the occasional moments of loneliness — is that it opens you to meeting people you might otherwise be tempted to leave alone. Leaving people alone is not my strong point in any case, but there have been times that my natural gregariousness has been rewarded. I stopped in for a couple days in Perpignan, France in early spring of 2024. Perpignan is a small city, not far from the Spanish border, in the Catalan region shared by both countries. It has an amazing, rich heritage, and a bright, sunny disposition that warranted a return visit. My phone battery was at rock bottom, but I found a pub who let me charge it behind their bar, as I hydrated out front. A young couple arrived and sat near me with their baby. I was bored, without even my phone to entertain me, and the baby was looking for a little distraction, as Mom and Dad spoke among themselves....