Wanderlust

Within seconds of pulling over, Jason had installed his own spare tire on our car. He then escorted us to the garage he owns, ordered a new tire for us, and drove us back to our hotel. My girlfriend and I invited him for a beer at the hotel bar and spent the rest of the night learning about his family, how he started his garage, and the difference between a P205/50-15 and P196/60-15 tire.

Picking up my repaired car was the last time I saw Jason, but he left an impression.

As a travel writer, I’ve learned the key to understanding a new destination is to meet and interact with its residents. And as a single woman in my 30s, I’ve realized that interacting with men from different countries teaches me relationship lessons I carry back home.

Stateside, I’ve had my share of Match.com nightmares and blind dates gone bad, and I’ve sworn off dating while I mended the wounds of miserable breakups. But the one thing that gets me back on my feet is meeting a new man in a new city.

I’ve had a number of romantic encounters during my travels, but they have always been innocent. I stay in public places and -- Jason’s ride back to the hotel notwithstanding -- never go home with someone I’ve just met. My encounters have helped me figure out what I am looking for in a man: He must be chivalrous and make me feel wanted long past dinner and drinks. The men I’ve met abroad remind me that when you’re not looking, someone new and exciting will appear -- you just have to be open to the conversation.

I encountered Antonio during one of my solo trips. He was tending bar at Rome’s Hotel Hassler, located at the summit of the famous Spanish Steps. Legend says a kiss at the top brings true love forever. Antonio was the type of bartender who served everything with a wink and a smile -- not the kind of flirting that would make a woman uncomfortable, but enough to provoke the confidence in you to make the first move.