An unexpected adventure
Or why it’s worth traveling with two phones or an extra device.
Lviv, Ukraine
One day in the Kyiv metro, I unexpectedly spent 30 minutes without my phone. Not by choice.
It simply fell under the train tracks...
And that was the moment I realized how attached we are to this small gadget that now carries almost everything: contacts, photos, messages, plans, work, and even that feeling of being "connected."
I got into the train and stood by the doors because I was getting off at the next station.
The doors hadn't even started closing yet when suddenly my phone slipped out of my hands and somehow flew perfectly into the gap between the train and the platform.
The chances of that happening were probably tiny — but apparently not zero.
It landed under the tracks, in a spot where I could still see it. It was lying there completely calmly.
While I just froze and stared at it for a few seconds, not understanding what to do next.
Then a man standing behind me said:
"Get off, you'll get your phone later."
And he literally pushed me out because the doors were already closing.
I jumped out of the train, went to a metro employee and explained the situation.
She told me they couldn't get it immediately and that I would need to wait for other staff.
So I sat down on a bench. And then I remembered my headphones. I put them on just to check whether the music was still playing.
Before that, I had been listening to relaxing music on the train. I put on the headphones... And I could still hear the music. I sat there smiling, not believing this was actually happening.
Trains kept passing one after another while somewhere under the tracks my phone was peacefully continuing to play relaxing music for me. And somehow... I relaxed too.
Eventually they brought my phone back.
And I still don't understand how even the screen survived. Only the case got a few scratches.
This story once again reminded me why traveling with two phones is actually important for me. It simply gives me peace of mind.
Because when you travel solo, you know you're mainly responsible for yourself.
And somehow that can feel both scary and freeing at the same time. For me, a second phone is like a small backup plan that brings a feeling of ease and confidence.
We often think nothing will happen to our phones.
But they can get lost, stolen, run out of battery, break, freeze, or stop working at exactly the wrong moment.
And I've had that happen twice already.
Once in Munich — right before boarding a train.
And once in Brussels while walking around the city using Google Maps.
Both times my second phone saved me. In one case I could still show my electronic ticket. In the other, I could find my way.
Since then, I stopped thinking of my second phone as "just in case." Now I think of it more as peace of mind while traveling. Because travel already loves surprises.
We've successfully moved almost everything into our phones: tickets, maps, documents, bookings...
But being left without a phone while traveling is a very real possibility.
So I usually travel with two phones and a tablet that I use for writing travel stories and relaxing during long journeys.
Although... the more gadgets you carry, the more carefully you need to watch them.
Especially don't leave them on the bed in a hotel room before going to sleep.
I know that from experience too.
Even though I always have a habit of making the bed before leaving, early trains sometimes change everything.
One time in Lviv I was rushing to an early morning train to Kyiv. I packed quickly, left the room, and calmly continued my trip.
Only later did I realize: my tablet was still lying on the bed. Luckily, that story ended well too.
It eventually made its way back to me on its own
Thank you for reading!
Lviv, Ukraine
The road home.
