They are neighbors, but they didn’t know that until they went on a solo trip around half the world together.
Annaliese Cunniffe and Lauren Brown live across the street from each other in an apartment complex in Washington, DC, but didn’t meet until they took a 3,000-mile trip to Iceland.
And it only dawned on them that their apartments were opposite each other when they got back.
Now they’re good friends – and they’re urging people to ‘get out more and talk to strangers’.
The couple’s first meeting was at the airport, thanks to the tour operator for the trip, Here & Now Travel, who set up a WhatsApp group chat a week before departure.
Lauren Brown (left) and Annaliese Cunniffe (right) in Iceland. They didn’t know they were neighbors before the trip
Lauren, a supply chain consultant, discovered that Annaliese was from DC and on the same flight when they exchanged messages in this group.
Then they coordinated each other at the gate.
Lauren, 24, told MailOnline Travel: ‘Despite living opposite Annaliese, I couldn’t have picked her out at the airport when I first met her.
“I had to text her and tell her what I was wearing so she could find me.”
Within fifteen minutes of meeting, they realized they lived in the same apartment building and on the same floor, but assumed they lived far apart.
After the six-day trip came to an end, they shared an Uber home and got a shock when they walked to their respective apartments, right across from each other.
Annaliese, 27, a mechanical engineer, said: ‘Who would have thought I would have to fly around the world to meet my neighbor? I’m so excited I did that.’
It wasn’t until Annaliese and Lauren realized their apartments were opposite each other when they returned from Iceland
Lauren and Annaliese at their apartment complex in DC
So how come they missed each other before traveling together to the wilds of Iceland?
Lauren said, “During the first few months of living in the apartment, I tried to make friends with neighbors by attending monthly resident events such as dinners and ice cream socials. Unfortunately, these events turned out not to be a success, with many residents quickly grabbing the free food and heading out.
“I heard similar stories from friends outside my building and accepted that this was the status quo. As life became busier, resident events fell out of my schedule and I preferred to see friends rather than interact with my neighbors.”
Annaliese had similar experiences. She revealed: ‘I’ve spoken to a few people at the pool and attended a community event but never made a lasting connection.’
Did the experience change their outlook on life?
Annaliese said: ‘Traveling through Iceland reinforced my thoughts that the world is so big and there is still so much to see. So it was quite a conflicting experience when Lauren and I realized that we had been traveling with our neighbor for the past few days. Suddenly the phrase ‘the world is so small’ rang true! This experience has taught me to take more time to say hello and appreciate the people around me in my daily life.”
Contrary to what our parents told us growing up, I think our generation needs to go out more and talk to strangers because that’s the only proven way to meet new people.
Lauren said, “In an increasingly fast-paced world, especially in a city like DC, this experience was a reminder to slow down. It reminded me of the importance of human interaction. Slow down, smile at strangers you meet in the hallway, on the street.
“Contrary to what our parents told us growing up, I think our generation needs to get out more and talk to ‘strangers’ because that’s the only proven way to meet new people!”
And what would they say to anyone who is hesitant about solo travel?
Lauren said: ‘Book the trip! I can’t emphasize it enough. I was super nervous when I booked my trip, especially since it was about a year away, but the closer it got, the more I realized that everyone going on the trip would have the same mentality as me: wanting to make friends and see the world to see. with cool people!’
Annaliese and Lauren with their solo travel group, enjoying the wilderness of Iceland
Annaliese added, “Solo travel helped clear my mind of the stressors that come with everyday life. I especially enjoyed traveling with Here & Now because it was so easy. The hardest part was figuring out how to fit my wardrobe in my suitcase!’
Does the couple have plans to travel together in the future?
Annaliese said, “We haven’t planned any trips together yet, but we have discussed what other Here & Now trips are on the agenda! And we were able to leave the apartment and explore DC together.”
Here & Now Travel said: ‘This is high on the list of coolest stories from Here and Now and an example of why we started H&NT in the first place.
‘Life is getting so hectic. Working more than forty hours a week, commitments to friends and family, exercising, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and the list goes on. It all piles up and pushes meeting your neighbors so far below your priorities that it doesn’t happen, or you simply don’t have enough capacity left at the end of the day to make it happen.
“That’s where travel comes in: It takes you out of the whirlwind of your daily life, slows you down and allows you to connect with others.”
Visit for more information hereandnowtravel.com And www.instagram.com/hereandnowtravel.