*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!

Saturday, June 28 (Madrid, Spain) – In 2005 I visited Madrid for the first time with a friend from high school.  Nearly a decade later (wow), I am back for round #2.  While I did a bunch of the main attractions the first time, I wanted to revisit some while learning more about the history and culture of the city.

So I started my time in Madrid with a free walking tour through the company Sandeman’s New Europe, which offers free tours in 18 cities!  The tour was particularly crowded (about 250 people) so multiple tour guides arrived and split us up into smaller, manageable groups.  Throughout the tour I saw a lot of the key sites with the proper context, and I learned some interesting things...

Madrid is home to the oldest restaurant in the world, Botin Restaurant, which opened in 1725 (fact)

Tapas were originated to prevent poor farm workers from getting too drunk during lunchtime to be productive in the field in the afternoon.  Since they had little money, they couldn’t afford to eat and drink at lunch, so they often chose to drink… on an empty stomach.  So a rule was set that each alcoholic beverage served must be accompanied by a small plate of food.  (legend)

The name ‘tapa’ means cover and originated because people would cover their beers with their small plates of food so that the wind would not blow dust and sand into their beverage.  (legend)

The symbol of Madrid – a bear leaning against a tree reaching for berries – was originated because bears used to roam the streets and eat the berries from this particular kind of tree (madroño tree).  The berries would ferment in the bears’ bellies, and would ultimately make them very drunk.  

Madrillenos – who love to drink wine – saw a bit of themselves in the bears, so decided to use the image in their coat of arms. (fact or legend?)

I happened to walk by the world-famous art museum, the Reina Sofia, around 1:15 in the afternoon (on Sunday), and there was a bit of a crowd growing in the massive courtyard by the entrance.  To my surprise, (TIP) the doors opened for FREE at 1:30 as they do each Sunday, saving adults eight Euro each!  I was on my way to Retiro Park, but I had a change of heart and decided to go to the museum.

The Reina Sofia is famous for its collection of work from Picasso ("Guernica" in particular) and Salvador Dali, among many others.  I started in one of the current exhibitions about Playgrounds.  It was an interesting portrayal of the evolution of public play spaces as art.  It also showcased the common struggle between the need for free time and the need to work - something I know many of us are faced with!

After being inspired by the Playgrounds exhibit, I resisted the urge to find a swing set and made my way to the museum's holy grail:  Guernica.  Although I am not an art buff by any means, I got really excited knowing I was approaching this extremely impactful and important piece of art.  I even got the chills when I finally walked into the room and saw the 25ft painting against the wall.  One of my favorite parts was actually the wall opposite Guernica, where a companion of Picasso's had taken photographs of the painting throughout its stages of being created.  It was very cool to see how he worked and get the slightest glimpse of his process.

Ok, definitely saving the best for last.  The main reason I decided to stop in Madrid on my way to the eastern coast of Spain was to visit Mr. Shaw (ok, I guess it is "Oliver" now).  Oliver was my Spanish teacher in high school - 8th or 9th grade actually - and was one of the reasons I have become so obsessed with the language.  He moved to Madrid about ten years ago, and I haven't seen him since.  After reconnecting on Facebook, he graciously invited me to stay with him in Madrid, and it was such a great reunion!  I had a blast with him and am so glad I was able to stay in a real home and neighborhood.  


I was excited but nervous to speak Spanish in front of him, but I think (hope) he was proud of my skills over a decade after taking his class!?

Saturday, June 14 (Vienna) – Most of my friends didn’t grow up listening to classical music or watching operas.  Like playing bridge or watching soap operas, opera sort of died out for my generation.  I was lucky enough to be exposed to opera from a young age because my cousin is a professional opera singer and I would go to see him whenever he performed at the Met in NYC.  Still, I never got all that into it and didn’t think much of it.  Then I arrived in Vienna.

Vienna is the land of classical music, and opera in particular.  My opera-singing cousin lives here, and there are performances any given night at the multiple opera houses in the city.  Since it is such a rich part of the city’s culture, I was thrilled to be invited to a premiere of an opera called “Feuersnot” at the Volksoper while I was in town. 

The show was semi-staged which means that there is no scenery, very simple costumes, and not much movement on stage.  At first I felt like I was at a rehearsal, but then I realized this is the official production and I kind of liked it.  With less attention to staging, more attention can be focused on the singing and the story.  Unfortunately for me, the opera was in German, and the lyrics were printed (in German) on a screen above the stage, so I am not quite sure what the story line was!

After the opera there was an after party where the director of the opera house spoke and acknowledged the performers who were all present – including about 30 kids ages 8-14 from the children’s chorus who did an amazing job in the show as well!

Tuesday, June 3 (Rome) - Rome wasn't built in a day, and you certainly can't see it all in a day, but in the past 24 (actually more like 30 hours) I came pretty close!  I highly recommend spending more time in this great city if you can, but in case you only have a day, here is an action-packed, but doable itinerary.

There's no better welcome than a sweet, creamy, delicious gelato!  Some of the best in Rome:

• Ottaviani Antica Cremeria dal 1913 (near the Vatican)
• Il gelato di San Crispino (near the Trevi Fountain)
• Gelateria Valentino (near the Trevi Fountain)

New Rome Free Tour offers just that - a free tour of Rome.  Every day at 5:30, you can find a tour guide at the base of the Spanish Steps who is ready to walk you through some of the highlights of the city.  Andrea, our tour guide, was particularly passionate and interesting, and it was one of the best free tours I've been on!  Tour highlights include:

• Trevi Fountain
• Pantheon
• Saint Ignatius Church
  

One of the must-see's in Rome is the Colosseum, but sometimes people forget about the other sites that are included with the Colosseum ticket:  the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.  TIP:  Start at the Roman Forum and buy your ticket there as the line is much shorter than at the Colosseum itself, and it is the same exact ticket.  Also, if you DO happy to get on the line in front of the Colosseum, cut the line and go to ticket booth #10 to buy your ticket and the audioguide while everyone else waits in line.

Campo de' Fiori is a great outdoor market where you can find fresh fruits, olive oil and other Roman specialties.  The square is lined by restaurants, and I recommend a little panini shop on one of the corners called Aristocampo Campo de' Fiori that has a restaurant around the corner with big, delicious salads.

The Vatican is another must-see in Rome.  It is also another long-line to wait on, but like the Colosseum there is a bit of a shortcut.  TIPS:  If you enter through the Vatican Museums, you will likely have a much shorter line.  Also, make sure to have a scarf or sweater to cover your shoulders or you will not be allowed in the Sistine Chapel, the main site in the Vatican.  My favorite parts of the Vatican:

• The Sistine Chapel
• Padiglione delle Carrozze (aka the Popemobile museum)
• Pinacoteca (painting gallery)

The Spanish Steps are a good meeting point to walk around the upscale shops, do some touring or get a bite to eat.  After the Vatican I used this time to see all the remaining sites that I had missed and to walk around my favorites once more.

By now you've already had your gelato and your spaghetti, so for your final meal, it is pizza time!  I went to Grazie a Dio e'Venerdi (Thank God it's Friday) which is a small, low-key pizza shop by the Cavour metro.  They have a big variety of pizzas, starting at 5 Euros.  My pizza and local Birre Moreti was the perfect way to end a great 24 (or 30) hours in Rome.

I recently finished my first true guided tour in Morocco, and it was a great experience, but a bit different than expected in terms of pace, participants and activities.  When looking for a tour company, the most important factors to me were the tour dates, the places covered on the tour and the budget.  I ended up choosing an inexpensive tour with Explore Worldwide who has many Morocco tours, but the “Highlights of Morocco” trip I selected was brand new.  Looking back, there are a few other factors I could have looked at more carefully as well as things I wouldn’t have known to ask about.  So now that I’ve had the experience in Morocco – as well as after speaking with many people on my tour who have been on similar trips in the past – I have put together a list of tips to help you select the right tour to get the most out of your holiday.

I wrote out the pluses and minuses of taking a guided tour that could be helpful in answering this question.  A few other thoughts… For me, the extensive hours on the bus took away from the experience at times.  When we stopped it was often for short tours or photo breaks and didn’t balance the time spent on the bus.  But on the other hand, Morocco is a big country and there is really no other way to get around and see it all.  Also, there were drives where the scenery was stunning and was part of the tour experience. 

Additionally, some of the organized stops we made included some kind of shop (carpets, leather, etc.) where we were told about the craftsmanship and cultural importance of the items… but then we were given a hard sell to buy.  I was not happy with that technique.  

There are a couple of well-known tour companies that have different reputations, and then there are smaller, more niche companies that may be lesser known.  For example:

• Contiki – Geared to 18-35-year olds
• Intrepid – Quality tours at a higher price 
• G Adventures – Attracts younger crowd but also offers family tours at a cheaper rate
• Explore Worldwide – UK-based, budget-friendly
  

But in order to find out if a company is “good” for you, I think it is important to get two types of reviews – the company you are looking at and the specific tour (or a similar one) that you are interested in.

Since everyone has a different experience on these tours, we are lucky that in this day and age that there are reviews for everything.  I recommend looking at the reviews on tour company websites with a grain of salt – often those reviews come from the evaluations filled out at the end of a trip and are taken out of context (or the negative ones are not used).  Instead, TripAdvisor is a great resource for reading reviews and forums about tour companies as well as posting a question to expert travelers.  Also, Googling reviews of your tour or tour company will likely bring up some responses.

• Luxury (comfortable coach bus or train, expensive hotels, etc.)
• Mid-range (basic hotel with limited amenities, small bus) 
• Roughing it (hostels, budget hotels, camping and basic transportation)
  

And finally, my biggest recommendation is to contact the tour company by email and/or phone and gauge their knowledge, customer service and answers to your questions.  You can ask things like the age range of people who are signed up, male-to-female ratio, how many hours on the bus per day, etc.).

Tuesday, May 27 (Cinque Terre) – A lot of friends ask me what it is like to travel alone, if I get lonely or if I find myself missing out on experiences without having people to ‘go’ with.  While I certainly have those moments or days when I feel lonely or maybe a little bored (or church-ed out), they are far and few between, especially now after traveling for a few weeks and getting used to it.

But I also make a conscious effort to talk to strangers, and to be nice to them – whether they ask for directions, I inquire about what to order or we simply ask each other where we are from.  You never know if the couple sitting next to you at dinner will open their home in Zurich to you (true story) or if the cool girl on your walking tour is also going to Cordoba on Monday by herself (true story).  At the same time, you never know if you can be that special reference or advice-giver for someone else, and I believe in paying it forward and offering / giving even more than taking. 

In Morocco, my tour group had a meeting on the first night so everyone could meet each other.  As we went around the room to say our names and where we were from, I will admit it: I judged.  Most of the people in the room were much older (I’ll put it this way: there seemed to be more grey and white hair in the room than blonde or brunette!) and I was wondering if they would hold the tour back or if I would have anything to talk about with them over the next 9 days.  Long story short:  I ended up getting close with just about everyone on the tour, especially a retired couple from England who made me laugh harder than I have since I started my travels!  And I plan to visit them towards the end of my trip!

I’ve been pretty lucky in my travels in terms of the people I have come across.  Whether on a tour, at a restaurant or through Airbnb, I have met people who I now consider friends, people I will be staying with later in my travels and people who gave me tips and advice that will stand out as highlights of my 100 days of travel.

I guess my belief and recommendation for future travelers is to go against what we were told growing up about not talking to strangers, and to be open as you truly never know from the outside what a person has to offer – or what you have to offer to them.

Sunday, May 18 (Marrakech) – When I was in college at NYU, I became fascinated with the architecture, design and culture of Morocco.  I bought travel and interior design books and thought about visiting.  But over time things got in the way and Morocco was swept to the back of my mind.

Fast forward to when I started planning my 100 days of travel.  I knew I wanted to spend a good amount of time in the south of Spain, and while I was researching, I realized just how close the coast is to Morocco (about 15km!).  So I knew it was finally time to see the country.  But instead of a day trip from Spain to Tangier, I wanted to make the most of being in that part of the world and see more of the country.

I mentioned it to my friend Lainie (who has traveled just about everywhere you can imagine), and she said that Morocco was one of the (few) places left on her bucket list and that she would be able to join me in May.  So we started talking about the trip and ultimately decided to choose a guided tour – something I’ve never done before in this capacity.

Ultimately we felt that a tour of Morocco would be the best way to see the most of the country and that it would make our parents happy in terms of our safety.  We looked at a lot of tour companies and routes, and finally selected the “Highlights of Morocco” tour from Explore Worldwide.  See how it goes in my next few posts!

Thursday, May 15 (Cadiz & Sevilla) – The Euro is stronger than the US dollar, so it is easy to go over budget in the EU.  After traveling Spain for two weeks, I’ve uncovered a few tricks to save, which I wish I knew about when I began.  These tips can most likely work throughout Europe and beyond, but the companies and examples I have are from Andalusia.

I get it.  When you are in a region, you want to make the most of it and see as many cities, towns and sites as you can because who knows if and when you will be back.  For me, this consisted of visiting 10 places in the span of just over two weeks (count them:  Marbella, Ronda, Malaga, Nerja, Frigiliana, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, Jerez de la Frontera, and Cadiz).  I didn’t sleep in Frigiliana, Cordoba or Jerez, but of all the places I visited, I have been on many trains and buses.  And then, at the end of my visit in Spain, I learned about Bla Bla Car.  

Bla Bla Car is a company that allows people to list their upcoming car trips and charge people for tagging along for the ride.  It is much cheaper than a bus or train, you get to meet new people, and there are often more convenient times than with other forms of transportation.  I used Bla Bla Car to find someone driving from Cadiz to Sevilla for my final night in Spain, and not only was the journey quicker than a bus or a train, it was half the price! (7 Euro!).  I was able to practice my Spanish and get dropped off exactly where I needed to be.  In terms of safety, there are reviews for the drivers so you can rest assured that other people have had safe trips.

Feel the City and Pancho Tours are two of the companies that offer free city tours in Spain and throughout Europe, respectively.  They have popped up in recent years because the Spanish government shut down the exam people can take to become official tour guides (since tourism has slowed dramatically during the economic crisis), but there is still demand for tours.  The idea behind these companies is that you don’t pay anything up front; instead, you tip at the end based on what you think the tour was worth and what you can afford.  

Some tours are definitely better than others, and I would recommend Feel the City in Granada (ask for Tere or Nono), and Medi in Sevilla (he is the slender Moroccan tour guide who congregates hostel-goers in Plaza Nueva at around 10:45 in the morning and again at 5:30 in the afternoon for two different free tours that anyone can join).  I wasn’t a huge fan of the Pancho tour in Cadiz as the guide wasn’t particularly engaging, but it was free and only about an hour and a half (12PM outside of City Hall).

If you’re in Spain, you’re in luck if you are in search of cheap food because it is the culture of tapas!  Tapas – small plates of all different types of food – are more prevalent than full size meals or ‘raciones’.  Some restaurants will offer dishes as a tapa or a racion, but others are purely tapa shops.  The best part?  The most common price of a tapa is around 2.50 – 3 Euros!  Add two tapas to a $1 or so caña (a smaller-than-a-pint beer that you will get if you simply say ‘cerveza’) and you can eat a full meal in many places for around 6 Euro!

Tapas are also great to share with a big group as you can then try a whole bunch of types of food.  Some must-haves in Spain include tortilla (Spanish omelet with potato), potatas bravas (roasted potatoes with a bit of a spicy tomato sauce), boquerones fritos (a small sardine-like fish that is fried, or any fried fish), anything with jamón (ham, generally cured), and whatever the house specialty or recommendation is.

Another recommendation for Spain is the chain restaurant 100 Montaditos (which recently opened up on Bleecker street in NYC!).  They are known for their inexpensive menu of montaditos (small sandwiches) ranging from 1-3 Euros, and their beer and sangria menu at the same price.  TIP:  on certain days (Mondays and Wednesdays I believe), the menu is two-for-one, meaning you can get two sandwiches that come with potato chips for one Euro!

My first choice of accommodation is usually a hotel, but obviously that can be expensive and often a bit impersonal.  So I've learned about and dabbled in some of the newer options for budget travel, and have nothing but positive things to say!

Airbnb is an inexpensive way to get an authentic experience in a city.  I document a lot more about Airbnb here, but overall it gives you access to a room in someone's house (sometimes their entire home) as well as personalized advice for things to do, from the perspective of a local.  I like this option because you can read reviews and pay for your stay directly through the site, so no money needs to be transferred in person.  

The other company that is extremely popular for budget travelers is Couchsurfing, which is like Airbnb but completely free and sometimes you get a bedroom, but sometimes you just get a couch to crash on.  I haven't used this service for a place to sleep, but there are other benefits.  On my way from Sevilla to Cadiz, I stopped in Jerez de la Frontera for the day - but knew I was going to have a problem if I had to carry around my luggage (and I knew the train station had no lockers).  So I jumped on the Couchsurfing website, looked through reviews of friendly locals willing to lend a hand, and found Javier, a very nice guy who offered to take my luggage for the day so I could enjoy his city!  Couchsurfing is also a forum where travelers can meet one another and where you can check out events and activities organized in different cities.  So while I can't vouch for them as an accommodation website (although I know people who have used it and loved it), I highly recommend it for other uses!