The Craziest Place I’ve Ever Been

A Single Step Led Me Straight to a Living Room Volcano

You never think your travel adventures will land you, quite literally, in the belly of the earth—especially not via a trap door behind someone’s couch. But there I was, standing in a small Chilean village, half-scared and half-laughing as our guide handed me a hard hat and said, “Welcome to the underworld.”

Yes, folks, I’m talking about the time I unwittingly agreed to explore a lava tube, a subterranean tunnel carved out by ancient molten rivers. My friends insisted this little excursion would be “educational”—an innocent hike, perhaps? What they failed to mention was the part where we’d wriggle through spidery caverns that could collapse (probably) at any moment.

Spoiler: I survived. But the experience cemented one truth about me—I’ll do just about anything for a good story.

From Cozy Dating Spots to Lava-Filled Death Traps

Let me set the stage. It was an overcast morning, the kind that makes you think, “This is perfect for sipping coffee and texting someone cute, maybe planning a second date.” But no, I was hundreds of miles from the nearest cozy café, roaming a coastal stretch of southern Chile known for its hidden lava tubes. Let me tell you—this was no dreamy, hand-holding, Instagram-worthy date locale.

Instead, the air reeked faintly of sulfur, which gave it the ambiance of a really bad Tinder date—awkward, surprising, and a tad bit unpleasant. The terrain? Uneven volcanic rock, as unforgiving as that one ex who just cannot let go.

I couldn’t stop picturing what dating analogies I'd use if someone brought me here as a romantic gesture. “Carmen,” I thought, “this is the place you take someone when you’re trying to escape the sparks, not create them.”

What I Learned Underground About Risk and Relationships

Descending through those narrow, claustrophobic lava tubes taught me a lot, but not just about volcanoes. It taught me something profound about human connection. Here's how my descent mirrored some unforgettable lessons about dating and love:

  • Know When to Lean In (or Out)
    Just like I had to lean against jagged walls to squeeze through narrow passages, navigating relationships requires you to read the room—and sometimes, step back. Not everyone is a match for your emotional lava flow, and that's okay. Force it, and it’ll blow up like Pompeii.

  • There Are Always Unexpected Twists
    Life underground isn’t a straight line. Suddenly, there’s a cavern. Then a dead end. Then a surprising decked-out chamber with crystals that make you gasp. Relationships? Same. They’ll suddenly open up and sparkle when you least expect it—or lead you face-first into a wall, metaphorically speaking.

  • Prepare for Darkness Before Finding Light
    In the deepest part of the tube, the guide switched off all the flashlights. Complete pitch black. Dating goes through similarly disorienting phases. Maybe you're in between relationships, in an awkward ghosting phase, or feeling like you’ll never find “the one.” But just like underground exploration, the light eventually returns—and when it does, you’ll see things with newfound clarity.

Lava Tubes Aren’t Exactly Sexy, But They’re Symbolic

Let me be clear: I'm not suggesting you scramble through volcanic tunnels as your next date idea (unless both of you are professional spelunkers or adrenaline junkies, in which case, go nuts). But what struck me about this wild underground jaunt is how much it made me confront myself.

As I squatted to avoid hitting my head on an outcrop, I thought of past relationships that required me to bend—sometimes too much. When I felt the pressure of crawling through a narrow crevice, my mind wandered to all the times I’d put up with emotional tight spaces that just weren’t worth it. Lava tubes are nature's way of humbling you, reminding you that navigating the wild unknown (be it romance or molten rock) demands some grit, self-awareness, and maybe a helmet.

Could You Survive a Relationship ‘Lava Tube’?

Would you crawl through the dark, revealing your rawest self, and risk the tight squeezes for the thrill of discovery? Not if the vibe screams “red flag,” you wouldn’t. But here’s the kicker—if the other person makes you feel safe (even when everything around you is dark and weird), then maybe, just maybe, it’s worth the risk of climbing deeper.

Here’s how to decide if someone’s worth the plunge:

  • They’re Your Rock (and Not in a Magma-Heavy Way)
    Imagine you’re trapped in prehistoric lava. Not ideal, but hey, if the person beside you can stay calm and help you problem-solve without full panic mode, they’re solid.

  • They Bring a Flashlight
    Relationships need illumination—clarity, honesty, and a shared vision. If they’re constantly leaving you in the dark, it’s a bad sign.

  • They’ll Laugh, Even When the Ceiling Falls (Figuratively)
    My group joked about everything as we stumbled through those endless tubes. Laughter is glue, and if someone can’t find humor even in the dark, good luck lasting long term.

Leaving the Tube: A Final Breath of Fresh Air

When I finally surfaced from the earth’s underbelly, sunlight never felt sweeter. I was sweaty, dusty, and had a newfound respect for plants growing out of lava fields. They thrive on inhospitable terrain, because they don’t resist the challenges—the scorching heat, the barren land—they adapt.

Dating and relationships are exactly like that: unpredictable and occasionally suffocating, but full of moments that make you stronger. The real magic happens when you step into the unknown, not to get lost, but to see how far you can go (and maybe gather a hilarious story in the process).

Sometimes love, like the subterranean world, will crumble your expectations, test your courage, and scare the living daylights out of you. But if you’re lucky, it’ll also leave you breathless when you finally climb back into the light.

So here’s to surviving both lava tubes and modern love! Always keep a metaphorical hard hat handy—and maybe steer clear of sulfur-scented date spots, unless you’re looking for something extra spicy.