It sounds like the author has a bit of a double standard; she wants to be left alone, but is admittedly "challenged" by situations in which the people around he

It sounds like the author has a bit of a double standard; she wants to be left alone, but is admittedly "challenged" by situations in which the people around her are, in accordance with their own nature, indisposed to talk to her even were she want to them to do so (the scene at the cafe in Linz). This sort of reminds me of some of the discursive space surrounding flirting and sexual behaviour in public. "I want them to want me - but only at a distance, not for real," or, "I just want to feel sexy, not actually get into anything," or, "Look, but don't touch." Same sort of logic, minus the arguably prurient focus. In other words: look, lady - shit or get off the pot. You want to be an introvert? Fine. In that case, don't subconsciously demand to be fighting off eager companions with an umbrella all the time so that you can feel "besieged" and whine about how you wish people wouldn't be so presumptuous about your purpose in traveling. If she's an introvert only comfortable among extroverts who won't go away, there's a deeper psychological issue here.