Tuesday, July 15 (Northern Ireland) – The northernmost tip of Northern Ireland offers an entire day's worth of activities.  I was all set to go to Giant's Causeway - the area filled with hexagonal basalt columns and formations, caused by a volcanic eruption - when my friend Helen suggested we tack on a trip across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and sip some whiskey at the Bushmills distillery, all within a few minutes drive from each other.  So we did, and this ended up being one of the best days and a great way to come to the end of my trip!

The current carrick-a-rede bridge is a lot more secure than the rickety rope bridge that once stood in its place.  Originally built by salmon fisherman who wanted to catch salmon on their migration from the rocky island, the bridge allowed for a safe crossing from the mainland.  But after becoming more of a tourist attraction, the bridge has been renovated for safety and isn't much of a fete to cross.

For me, the best part was the scenery.  Views along the hike to the bridge as well as from the island itself are incredible.  Most people don't just cross the bridge and go back, they spend time exploring the island and taking photos of the natural beauty around them.

Ireland is filled with beautiful natural wonders, but I highly recommend a trip to Northern Ireland to see something very special:  Giant's Causeway.  The shape of the rocks in this area is so unique and it's amazing to think these rocks are the result of an ancient volcano that erupted millions of years ago.  If you listen to the audio guide that is included with the price of admission, you will learn about the legend of the area which makes it fun for kids as well as adults.  But to be honest, I was too excited to see these stones and pillars to listen to the full audio guide!

TIP:  Bring your good camera, good walking / climbing shoes and art supplies if you are a creative type - the imagery is so inspiring!

I love whiskey, but I've never really had Bushmills before, so I was excited to get a taste.  We signed up for a tour of the distillery even though it happened to be their 'silent season' where the factory workers are on holiday and there is no actual whiskey being produced.  I didn't mind because I could still see where the whiskey is made and learn about the process, but as an added bonus, the distillery offered an apology in the form of an airport-sized bottle of their newest honey whiskey!

I've been on a distillery tour before, but it was a couple of years back so I was happy to go through the tour to be re-educated.  Our tour guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable and made the 40-minute tour fly by.  I wasn't allowed to take photos, but we saw the rooms where the different stages of creating the whiskey take place from mashing to bottling.  Then, we were led into the tasting room (aka the best part).  I tried the 10-year single malt which I really liked and the distillery reserve which I didn't like - it wasn't smooth enough for me.

Monday, July 14 (Belfast, Northern Ireland) – From one set of friends from my Morocco trip to another! Yesterday I flew from England to Belfast in Northern Ireland to spend two of my final three days with Helen and Justin, another great couple I met on my Moroccan tour.  I had wanted to visit Giant’s Causeway and was bummed I didn’t get a chance on my first stint in Ireland, so the stars aligned when I realized I would have the chance again.

After watching three World Cup games in the country of the team playing (Switzerland, Germany and Portugal), I knew I had to watch the final in good company.  So I was thrilled to hear that Justin wanted to watch at a local pub with a bunch of football fanatics.

The pub we went to is the pub in town, clearly filled with locals.  In fact, when one of them (holding a beer in each hand) asked me a question twice and I did nothing but stare at him blankly because I couldn't understand his accent at all!  (I still have no idea what he actually said to me.)  It is so interesting how some accents in Northern Ireland sound like a completely different language.  

Here is a bit of a dictionary for anyone who may be journeying to Northern Ireland in the near future:

• Aye (pronounced "I") = Yes
• Bake = face / mouth
• Craic (pronounced "crack") = fun, a good time
• Dead on = alright, no problem, good
• Mucker = friend, mate
• Wee = small (used ALL the time)
• Keep her country = keep things simple, don't overcomplicate matters

Sawers Belfast

One of the best gourmet food stores I have come across, Sawers is in the heart of Belfast and features a variety of packaged and prepared food.  They have a lot of local goods like jams and chutneys, but they also have specialty goods from around the world, including some I have enjoyed on this trip (e.g. Turkish delights, paella ingredients and kits, my favorite Turkish apple tea, etc.)!

This is a great place to stop off to get some snacks, buy gifts or just poke around.

Titanic Museum

The famous Titanic was built in Belfast, so this is the city with the largest and most elaborate dedication to the ship.  The museum is relatively new, nine-gallery exhibition that covers the ins and outs of the Titanic, its creation, its passengers, and more.  

The museum clearly took a lot of thought, time and money to build, but it falls a bit short in certain areas.  For an entire museum dedicated to the Titanic, there are surprisingly few actual artifacts or photographs of the ship.  Also, the 'ride' is an extremely poor attempt at showcasing how the ship was built.  The 'factory' sounds in the background overpower the explanations in the speakers overheard, so it is impossible to know what you are looking at.  I definitely recommend going even with the above in mind.  There is a lot to see in the nine different galleries, but there's a great museum cafeteria for a snack when you are done!

Crown Liquor Saloon

The Crown Liquor Saloon is one of the most notable pubs in Northern Ireland.  It has a long history of being a public house and was officially renovated and renamed in 1885.  The pub is known for its intricate Victorian design including stained glass, individual private booths and mosaics.

While the service left much to be desired, the clientele, decor and clover atop my Guinness made this pub a must-see!  Plus, it is across the street from the train station so it couldn't be more convenient to travelers.

*Sorry this is out of order!

Tuesday, July 8 (Mallorca & Casares, Spain) – Today was a relaxing day at the pool and traveling from Mallorca to Casares, Spain, so not too much to report on.  So I thought I'd make today's post about something really unique and potentially helpful to anyone interested in traveling around multiple cities in Europe:  Busabout.

WHAT IS BUSABOUT?
Based on the geography of Europe, there are a couple of traditional 'routes' backpackers and travelers take.  Whether Paris to Prague or Venice to Valencia, there are certain stops that tend to come with the itinerary.  Finding a good accommodation and getting from place to place can take a lot of time to plan (as I am well aware).  So I'd like to introduce you to Busabout, the company that takes away these moments of stress or uncertainty, and replaces them with a safe and easy form of transportation, recommended housing, and dozens of new friends.

HOW BUSABOUT WORKS:
Busabout offers a variety of packages for different types of travelers based on where they want to go and how long they plan to travel.  You sign up for a flexible trip or one of the loops (or even one of the specialty tours like one that follows music festivals around Europe), and don't have to worry about transportation along the journey.  

When you get to a city, you can choose to stay at the recommended / partner hostel or go somewhere else, and you can stay as long as you would like, knowing that the bus to the next stop along the journey comes every other day.  You can even veer off and do another city if you'd like, and then come back to get the bus when you are ready.  It is a flexible, convenient and innovative way to travel while meeting likeminded travelers and making the most of your money!

MEET WILSON NG... a 28-year old youth worker / martial arts instructor from Sydney, Australia.  We met at The Treehouse in Grunau Im Almtal, Austria - a popular stop for Busabouters between Vienna and Salzburg.  As someone who is traveling Europe with Busabout, he was happy to chat with me about his experience, the organization, and his general travel tips.

STACYTAKESFLIGHT:  What is your travel story? (Why?  Where?  How?  How long?)
WILSON NG:  I'm 28, I've have travelled for three months through the Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, France, Spain, and Turkey.  This has been a dream of mine for a long time and it has been such a rewarding and eye-opening experience. Nothing but respect and love has come out of this.


What Busabout program are you using and why did you decide to travel with them?
I did the West Loop (which covers France, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain). I decided to do it because it appealed to me and I'm not into super regimented activities.

What is a typical day like in a Busabouter's life?
Wake up, get dressed and ready, have brekky, work out the day's activities, and see if anyone else is keen.  Then go out and eat, come back and hang out, and see who else is keen to party!


What kind of person should consider using Busabout?
I'd recommend B'usabout to someone who wants to a have a little bit of a plan or outline of where to go, but doesn't want much more than that.


What is the most random / cool / unexpected thing you have done so far on your travels?
The most unexpected thing for me, was going on a massive bike ride by a lake and up through mountain trail, hiking through forests and finding a waterfall up a mountain!


After traveling for three months, what are some tips or advice for newby travelers that you wish you knew when you started?

• Save your money where you can
• Always be ready to have to change your plans or try new things 
• You never know when or where that next life-changing adventure will be
• Smile and meet new awesome new people
• Don't trust cab drivers
  
• Couch Surfing is an awesome way to save cash and meet potential new best friends!

**Apologies for posting out of order!

Thursday, July 3 (Mallorca, Spain) - In New York, I tend to be pretty active.  I enjoy going to the gym, love my boxing, and I am pretty set in my fitness routine.  But traveling is a different story.  I've been on plenty of hikes, bike rides and jogs over the past three months, but I'm sure many of you gym rats will understand that it doesn't quite feel the same.  

So when I went to Mallorca for the more relaxing part of my trip, I found an incredible personal trainer - Sam Bloomfield - who came to my hotel and kicked my butt!  Most of the exercises we did are bodyweight exercises that don't require any special equipment, so they can be repeated just about anywhere on the road.  Sam gave me some great ideas for working out on the road that I am excited to share!

An Englishman in Mallorca getting locals and tourists in shape… how did that come to be?
So I moved out here in 2005 and worked in hotels as an entertainer for several years.  My job was to keep the hotel guests entertained, so I would do all kinds of sports i.e. football/soccer, aerobic & water aerobic classes, spinning classes, etc., so I was always active. 

In the winter months when the hotels were closed, I went to Thailand to become a scuba diving instructor and then spent a few years doing this around the world but I was always drawn back to Mallorca.  So here I am!  But in order to work here [in a very seasonal/holiday island] all year I needed to change professions so I became a personal trainer and fell in love with it.


How do you keep people motivated to work out?
I try to keep my clients coming back and motivated by listening to them and tailoring the training session on their targets, as well as keeping it varied and fun.  I also like to get to know my clients and have a friendly relationship with them so they feel more comfortable and are more likely to relax and tell me the truth about their nutrition and any possible pain or injuries they have.


What is your best advice to travelers who are moving around from place to place and may not have a gym in their hotel (or access to a trainer) but want to stay in shape?
My best advice for those on holiday who don't have access to a gym or a trainer would be try to be active as possible.  You can go for walks, rent a bike, swim in our (Mallorca's) beautiful clear waters, etc. 

But, if you want a harder workout, here is a go-to routine that requires no equipment, can be done anywhere and hits the whole body!  Repeat the round of exercises below five times and boom, there is your total body travel workout!

• 20X BURPEES

• 20X SQUATS

• 20X PUSH UPS

• 20X TRICEP DIPS (ideally off a bench or chair)

• 25X CRUNCHES          
  

I highly recommend training with Sam if you find yourself in Mallorca (and I also highly recommend Mallorca!).  Visit his website to get in touch!

Sunday, July 13 (Dorset, England & Belfast, Northern Ireland) – When it comes to the professional world, I have always pushed myself to work as hard and strategically as possible.  I have made great contacts and collected strong bullet points for the resume, and I am pretty confident that I could find a job in the marketing / sales development field upon my return, if that's what I want or if I get stuck and need some cash.  So I wasn’t going to let myself stress about it.  

But, the number one question I get from anyone I come across is about my job and what I will do when I get back home.  This continuous question has forced me to think about work a little more than I would have liked to, and I’m still not exactly sure what my ideal job would be or what I will do upon my return.  So, I have come up with the following thoughts to help guide me to whatever I will do next to *happily* make up some of the money I have spent in the past three months!

Random thoughts to help me figure out what to do next in the professional world:

• Marketing / Advertising: my field, my comfort zone, but a very big world and many skills are transferable
  
• Travel, fitness, horses:  areas/industries I am most interested in and passionate about
  
• The thought of sitting at a desk all day: gives me anxiety!  Maybe I would prefer being able to go to clients or external meetings or even travel for work occasionally?
  
• I need to truly believe in a brand or product in order to be happy in my day-to-day
  
• How do I become a consultant or a freelance marketer?
  
• I kind of want to work with small businesses like niche gyms, travel apps and fitness/health professionals to help develop their brands 

Thoughts, anyone?

Saturday, July 12 (Dorset, England) – One of the highlights of my trip to Morocco in May was meeting Kathryn and Dave.  They are a fantastic retired couple who kept me in stitches throughout the tour from laughing so hard.  They currently live in Waymouth in Dorset, England and invited me to come for a visit before my travels take me back to the States.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect or what our plan would be when I came to town, but I definitely wasn’t worried – sitting in a room with them talking about world travels and cracking jokes can entertain me for hours.

On our first – and very busy – day together, we started with a hike through the mountains.  At the top we had incredible views of the port, town and beaches, and could almost make out their home.  We even saw some hang gliders flying over the cliff, just a few yards away from us.

We worked up quite an appetite on the hike so we took a drive to the town of Wareham.  A quaint, small town with a handful of pubs and shops, a small market and a river.  We stopped for lunch at The Salt Pig, a small café where the chef cooks a small selection of relatively-healthy options that you must choose from.  We all went for the tomato, zucchini and basil quiche, but picked different salads and sides.  It was very tasty and the perfect amount of food for the warm afternoon.

We continued a few more blocks to what is really the end of the small town, and turned around to come back.  But we saw a sign that a pub next to us called The Kings Arms was awarded “pub of the year” and we poked in to check it out.  It looked like someone’s home in that there were four or five different rooms, all with different feels to them.  The front room had the bar where I tried some of the local ales like the Ringwood Brewery’s “Best Bitter” (note: they don’t serve ice-cold beer that people like me are used to, because they prefer to actually taste the beer and think it can’t be properly tasted when too cold… I prefer ice-cold).  We enjoyed the brews outside in the backyard / garden where a bunch of tables were set up.  

The highlight of this little town was the river where dogs were swimming, boats were floating by and we were exploring on foot.  There was a path along the river, which turned out to be the perfect way to walk off the lunch and beer.

Even though we were already getting a bit tired (well, at least I was), we weren’t finished quite yet!  We drove over to the Corfe Castle and neighboring town of the same name.  The castle is from the 11th century and now lays in ruins after an attack in the mid 1600s.  From the top of the castle we were pretty lucky to see a steam engine train come to the station, bringing me back to Thomas the Tank Engine days!

It was a really fun and packed day, so we went home to my favorite tradition – afternoon tea!  Homemade Victorian Sandwich (white sponge cake with jam and clotted cream in the middle) and a cup of tea, yum!  We then spent an hour or two reminiscing over our Morocco trip, looking at photos and then enjoyed a delicious home-cooked meal before passing out.  I am so lucky to have met these great people and I HOPE they can fit a trip to NYC in soon, somewhere in between their other fabulous upcoming travels!

Friday, July 11 (Casares, Spain & Dorset, England) – I have spent about a third of my travels in Spain.  34 nights to be exact.  Even though I visited about 14 different regions and cities and never stayed in one place long enough to truly settle in, Spain feels like home and I am sad to leave. 

I already wrote a post about Taking experiences home with me from this trip, and a big part of that is continuing to practice my Spanish.  I also plan to add some Spanish influence into my cooking which leads me into the next of my three areas of thought before coming home:  new projects and goals.

I've realized a bunch about myself during my travels, such as different activities that I enjoy, what I would like to learn and what makes me calm and happy.  So instead of checking these off some kind of list, I want to make sure that I take care of myself by taking part in these projects, activities and goals when I return home.

• Cooking - From paella to pulpo, I have tasted so many delicious local delicacies on this trip, many of which I would love to attempt to recreate at home.  I have also been inspired by different flavor and ingredient combinations that I haven't seen before.  As someone who lives alone in a studio apartment, I have been subject to too many take-out meals because of their ease and variety.  But my first goal when arriving home is to learn how to cook properly, healthily and diversely.  I have even collected recipes from different people and places along the way and want to post them as a new section within the blog!  If you have any easy, tasty, healthy recipes to share - particularly those from other cultures - please send them my way and I may post them!  Stay tuned.

• Apartment cleanse - If I was able to live for three months out of one suitcase, I certainly don't need all the stuff that is filling my closet and drawers at home.  I didn't buy too many souvenirs, but I did get a couple of things that require hanging - on walls or hangers - so I will need to do a bit of redecorating when I come home.  But more than that, I want to dedicate some time to going through everything in my closet (luckily it isn't very big) and get rid of half of my stuff.  Clutter is not good for my sanity and I would like to make sure my home is a place of calm and comfort!  So, if anyone is interested in a clothing swap or NYC-style garage sale, let me know and maybe we can get something organized!

• Even more active activities - We already know how much I love horseback riding and boxing (both of which I was able to take part in on this trip), so part one of this goal is to do more of that.  Riding is particularly challenging because it requires a big time commitment and is not cheap.  But while I am in between jobs, I will actually have more time to spend in transport to and from the barn, so I would like to make this a priority.  Also, on this trip I tried flying a glider, hiking, hot air ballooning, and camping.  I loved some of these more than others, but overall I loved the thrill of trying something new and exciting.  I'd love to continue this with different activities, and some that come to mind are rock climbing and maybe sailing!  Anyone care to join me?

Thursday, July 10 (Casares, Spain) – Not sure how it happened so quickly, but my final week of travel is underway.  This time next week I will be in steamy NYC with a sack of laundry and nothing but memories of the most incredible three months of my life.

How do I possibly go back to normal life after this?  I’ve had a little bit of time to reflect and I keep wavering between being extremely excited (Iced coffee!  Friends & family!  Sushi and Thai and Mexican food!) and being extremely depressed about leaving this experience.

So, I’m trying to turn this bipolar-ness I’m feeling into something constructive and positive.  I’ve narrowed my anxieties and feelings into a few categories:  taking experiences with me, finding the right work and new projects/goals.  In this post, I’m going to talk about taking experiences from my trip with me, and I will cover the other two themes in future posts.

On one hand I feel like I am the same old Stacy coming back to New York, but on the other hand, I have had so many meaningful experiences, situations and conversations that I must have changed at least a little.  I think a lot of this will unfold when I get home and perhaps do things a little differently – from the food I buy and cook to the afternoon tea or siesta I may enjoy.  But there are a few things I have done that I consciously want to take with me to JFK and beyond.

My original three goals for this trip were to gain a higher understanding of the Spanish language, to become a better photographer and to have lots of fun.  I was able to accomplish all these and want to maintain them after the trip:

• Spanish - I really love the language and the culture.  I find it fascinating how different the accent, dialect and slang can be in different parts of the country (not even including central or south America!), and I feel accomplished when I am able to communicate with someone who doesn't speak English.  I owe a lot of my learnings and confidence to the people I met on this trip throughout Spain, and I owe it to them - and to myself - to keep it up.  So if anyone wants to practice, let me know!  Otherwise you can find me reading Spanish online newspapers, listening to Spanish music or maybe even at some conversational Spanish meetups!

• Photography - While I definitely did not become an expert photographer (in fact I rarely had the time to take the settings off of 'auto' to figure out the best manual shot... or I resorted to the iPhone for quick pics), I do feel like I have a better sense of composition, and I understand the mechanics of photography better.  Since I haven't had room to buy many souvenirs (in my suitcase or in my studio apartment), photos are my true souvenirs and capturing the moment the way I want to remember it is important.  I coincidentally received an email about some upcoming photo courses in New York that aren't too pricey and could be a great way to work on my skills when I come home.  And then since I will have a bit more time, I can take that time to play with the settings so that I'm more comfortable doing that on my next trip instead of resorting to 'auto' when I'm short on time.

• Fun - Obviously I had a lot of fun on this trip, and much of it came from unexpected places.  Some of my favorite days and nights started with a friendly manicurist, the inability to drive stick shift/rent a car or passing by a club of glider enthusiasts.  I was more open to meeting people and trying things and saying 'yes' when I was in a new country all by myself, but this is something I could carry over when I go back home.  Sometimes it is easy to get sucked into the corporate world and work mindset, but it is important to step back and do things that make you smile!  Seems silly to even have to say this, but it is important and worth a bullet point in my opinion.  

Wednesday, July 9 (Casares, Spain) – Neil and Dawn are two cousins who I don't get to see very often.  (Neil is my dad's first cousin and Dawn is his wife).  They have been living in Vienna for years, so when I passed through a few weeks ago, we all got together for a delicious dinner.  As if the gelato wasn't enough for dessert, I was invited to stay with them at their holiday home in Casares, Spain a few weeks later!  

Casares is a village in Malaga, about 25 minutes from Marbella, and their home is a beautiful beachfront property from which Morocco and Gibraltar are visible on a clear day.  Of course I couldn't say no to spending time with family or relaxing in Andalusia, so I was excited to come down for my visit.

One of the first things we did after my arrival was go to the local beach bar, the Chiringuito.  This is a very special place with very special mojitos.  Mojitos fantasticos!  The entire staff at the Chiringuito knows my cousins and knows to bring extra delicious - and extra strong - mojitos to the table as we sit down.  I don't know what they put in this refreshing and tasty delicacies, but I swear you feel a buzz after just a few sips!  Throughout my stay in Casares, the mojito fantastico became the mascot, the catchphrase and the theme song - yes, song.

After the mojito fantastico buzz was leveled out, the three of us went to the Riding Fun in the Sun ranch to go horseback riding - something I had somehow convinced them to do for their first time in over 30 years.  In fact, the last time my cousin Neil was on a horse, it spooked and there was a bad accident that left him with a broken shoulder.  So I was feeling extra proud and excited to share my favorite pastime with them... and they loved it!  The three of us were lucky to get a private hour-long ride through the mountains on wonderful horses, and now they both want to go back and go faster next time!

The barn has a lot of animal friends, such as Squiggy, the potbelly pig who thinks he's a dog!  Squiggy comes when called and rolls on his side for belly rubs.  Forget a pony... can I get one of these?

Monday, July 7 (Mallorca, Spain) – This morning was particularly hot and humid, but it still came as a surprise when the sunny sky opened up while I was relaxing by the pool.  A bunch of people ran for cover while a handful jumped in the pool to go for a swim in the rain.  I stood under my sun umbrella and then decided to go inside and try to get some writing done from my covered balcony.

In the three minutes it must have taken me to get to my room, the rain went away and the sun was out.  Since I was wet from the phantom downpour, I decided to change into workout clothes and go for a run in the newly fresh air.  Port d’Alcudia, just under 5km away, seemed like a good place to go.  It is a popular tourist area with a beautiful beach next to a port, tons of restaurants, and plenty of shops.  

Mallorca is the kind of place that makes you want to work out, because there are so many fun ways to do so.  It is a haven for cyclists and triathletes, so the tourism is highly tailored to people in the active mindset.  The gym in my hotel even had a mini spin room set up and had its own bike repair shop and bike rentals.  Also, all kinds of water sports are common from windsurfing to kayaking to parasailing and more.  Rock climbing, trekking and horseback riding round out some of the more popular activities on the island.  Something new every day of the week (if you have the time… and cash!).

Anyway, about halfway through my run (actually, my jog), I felt a drop and then the sky opened again.  At first it was actually kind of nice and refreshing, but then I couldn’t see with the drops on my sunglasses, and I couldn’t see with the drops in my eyes without my glasses.  So I stopped for a few minutes to wait for the sun.

Finally the sun came out again and I continued along my route, passing strings of locals’ houses followed by vacation homes and hotels.  It was pretty interesting to pass these neighborhoods so close to one another and imagine what it must be like to live here full time.  The island apparently shuts down in the winter months, even though it never gets very cold.  There is simply no interest from tourists so hotels, restaurants and other establishments have a seasonal schedule.

The Alcudia Port was beautiful and I had a delicious lunch of fresh sea bass.  I’m glad I saw it, but to be honest I don’t think I would stay there if I return.  Playa de Muro, where I am staying, is a lot quieter and feels like more of a vacation than the bustling row of shops and cafes by the port.  I would, however, go to the port for a meal or two.  

There is so much left to see and do in Mallorca, and I hope I have the chance to return one day!