Andrea Brillantes just shared an ~*intimate*~ vlog of her first-ever solo trip abroad. She visited the beautiful attractions in Spain.
At the beginning of her vlog, Andrea emphasized that it was a meaningful *solo trip* for her. She explained that she was supposed to explore the country with her friend, Bea Borres, however their schedules did not match. Andrea then decided to push through with the trip alone mainly because she needed it.
She disclosed that she was going through a rough patch in her life at the time and thought it was a perfect opportunity to do some soul-searching in a new place. During the vlog, it was mentioned that the trip took place sometime in late May to June of 2023. It was in June 2023 when news of her breakup with ex-boyfriend Ricci Rivero surfaced.
Traveling alone wasn’t just a decision she made on a whim, instead, it was something she had been aiming for. “Experiencing solo travel had always been a dream of mine, so I decided that this was the perfect time to do it kasi I needed this time for myself, kasi nga may pinagdadaanan ako that time,” Andrea said in the vlog.
Aside from sharing her full itinerary in Spain, she also opened up about her fear of flights. At the beginning of her vlog, she can be seen overwhelmed and in tears.
“I had mixed emotions during take off. Besides being nervous about flying alone, I was also anxious about what was to come. I had never done anything this extreme—alone—for myself,” she explained. “I was excited and also scared. With what I was going through at that time, I felt all my emotions all at once.
Some of the cities she visited were Granada, Toledo, and Madrid, Spain. Andrea enjoyed the beautiful tourist spots, sceneries, and of course Spanish cuisine. She also watched a flamenco show as recommended! But more than the touristy stuff she did, she highlighted one of her breakthroughs during the trip which was to party alone.
Andrea shared her one-of-a-kind experience of partying alone, absorbing the vibrant nightlife of Spain. She also showed photos of her enjoying the music and meeting a group of girls who happily took pictures of her! Needless to say, she had the time of her life.
Andrea was ecstatic and emotional about it—so much so that she even encouraged others her age to try some alone time in bars or nightclubs. She even put out a firm disclaimer that no one came back to the hotel with her. She left alone and came back alone again.
“I think I can survive anything now that I have partied alone. There’s something liberating about it,” Andrea noted.
In addition to partying alone, Andrea felt emotional holding an umbrella for herself, as if it was really her first time to do it. During a rainy day in Madrid, she appreciated the moment she got to hold her umbrella. She narrated how she was used to having the production crew hold umbrellas for her since she was an actress ever since she was a kid.
With that, the rain did not even ruin her outlook throughout her trip. She even appreciated the misty weather for letting her be more independent. “Holding the umbrella and experiencing those movie-like scenes where you have to find cover because of the heavy rain meant a lot to me. I was just truly enjoying the simple things and the feeling of being a normal person even just for a short while,” Andrea proclaimed.
Leading up to her last days in Spain, she went to a rooftop bar where she met some strangers who automatically became her good friends. She recalled that she didn’t know that the rooftop bar required reservations before dining. Luckily, the strangers helped her and gladly bonded with her for the night. It was an instant girls’ night for them!
During the latter part of the vlog, Andrea showed a very personal moment. She cried happy tears, complimenting herself for surviving and enjoying the trip alone. “This trip was all about experiencing things on my own and trusting myself that I can handle things independently,” Andrea strongly stated.
2023 has been a whirlwind of controversies for the young actress. But watching her vlog shows that she has been trying to manage and brave through the difficulties. Her vlog might also be a sign for us to try solo trips soon!
Andrea ended her vlog with a message to everyone saying, “If kaya ko, kaya niyo din! It’s really worth it. Don’t be afraid to be alone. Huwag kayong matakot mag-isa. At the end of the day, all we have is ourselves.”
