Whenever you travel to a new part of the world, you will inevitably experience something different than home.  That's why we like to travel, right?  But while every place you visit is different, there are five questions I like to ask before leaving home.  Questions that a quick Google search, a visit to a travel blog (like StacyTakesFlight.com) or a Facebook post to friends and family can easily answer. 

One of the best parts of traveling is trying some of the unique cuisine that different regions are known for.  From empanadas in Argentina to Turkish delights in Turkey to pulpo a la feira in Galicia, Spain, my tastebuds have been pleasantly (and sometimes unpleasantly) surprised on my travels.  Getting a sense of the local flavor by knowing what - and where - to eat can give you a much more authentic sense of a place.

I've talked about free walking tours before, but they are worth bringing up again.  What better way to get to know the layout, history and fun facts of a city than by walking around town for an hour or two with an enthusiastic guide?  (Especially a guide working for tips who is genuinely interested in showing you a good time!)  Some of the best free tours I've been on were Feel the City in Granada, New Rome Free Tour in Rome and Sandeman's New Europe tour in Madrid (they operate in 18 cities!).

TripAdvisor is my favorite resource for uncovering the most popular and obscure attractions, and reading a few reviews (especially if you filter by the type of traveler whose opinions you would like to see) will quickly tell you if it is worth your time.  Some must-see sites like the Alhambra or Colosseum may require tickets in advance or are less crowded at certain times of day.  It will save a lot of time (and stress) to know these tips in advance so you can plan the rest of your trip around them.

On a recent trip to Disney World, a stop at the Coca Cola "Club Cool" at Epcot Center introduced me to a new world of soft drinks.  Instead of the usual Coke, Diet Coke and such, the fountain dispensers were full of the most popular soft drinks from countries across the world.  If you are lucky enough to travel beyond Orlando, think back to Disney and try to taste the local drinks wherever you end up.

Sure, you can always order a craft beer or glass of wine from a nearby vineyard (which I definitely like to do), but there is often a lot more to local beverages than what may initially come to mind.  From Turkish coffee to Moroccan tea; Valencia's horchata to Switzerland's Rivella, there are drinks hot and cold, sweet and refreshing that are unique and deserve to be tasted... be sure to ask your waiter / bartender / taxi driver!

As a sports enthusiast, I love finding out about the local favorites wherever I travel.  Soccer (or football), for example, is extremely popular outside of the US, and I was lucky enough to be in three countries during the 2014 World Cup where I cheered for the home team alongside bars full of locals!  I have yet to catch a soccer game in person, but there's always next time! 

Aside from local sports, music and art are among my favorite cultural things to explore when traveling to a new place.  I've been to the opera in Vienna and a traditional music 'session' in Ireland.  I've even been to a rock concert in Buenos Aires to see a great band that never made it to the US charts.  Taking a look at event calendars on city websites or in free magazines found in many shops and restaurants are great resources for finding out what is going on while you are in town.

*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!

Sunday, June 15 (Vienna) – I like museums, and sometimes I think they are a great way to learn about and explore a city.  But when I arrived in Vienna, and saw how beautiful the city is from the outside (architecture, parks, cafes), I thought I would try to make the most of my stay outdoors – or at least outside of the endless row of museums.

A Journey Through Time

I came across Time Travel Vienna while I was walking through the city.  I was intrigued by their interactive and fun approach to the city’s history, so I signed up for a short 45-minute tour.  A guide leads you through different rooms where 5D films, talking historical figures or waltzing seats bring to life the history of Vienna until the present day.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was a really well-done exhibit and a much more interesting way to learn about the city than by reading plaques.

A Biking Tour of the City

Since there are no free walking tours in Vienna that I could find, I immediately opted for my other favorite type of tour: a biking tour.  I signed up for the Classic Vienna Tour with the company Pedal Power, and we took a three-hour ride throughout the city with plenty of stops to learn about what we were seeing.  I really enjoyed this, but a few things could have been improved upon.  There were no helmets, instructions on how to use the bikes or checks of the seat height before we began.  I was also the only English speaker in my tour and while the tour was bilingual, I felt as if the guide was sometimes skimping on her descriptions to me and that everyone was just waiting around for her to stop speaking English.  It ended up being okay but it was a bit uncomfortable at first and I’d recommend checking with the company ahead of time to see if it is a German-dominated group or if there is an English-speaking tour you can join.

The World's Largest Amusement Park

Vienna is home to the Weiner Prater public park which is twice the size of Central Park!  In it, you can find green areas, cafes, sports fields, and "Wurstelprater", the oldest amusement park in the world.  The amusement park has a few notable landmarks including the giant ferris wheel and the Praturturm, the world's largest high-flying swing!  There are also beer gardens and plenty of spots for eating and drinking in and around the amusement park.

An Endless Market (in a good way)

For fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and more, the Naschmarkt is the place to go.  It is a huge market (that also has a flea market on Saturdays) where people-watching from a cafe is as much fun as tasting the delicacies and looking at the region's specialties.  It is walking distance from the main ring downtown so it is a good place to start your touring.

A Horse Show

The Spanish School of Riding is the oldest classical equitation institution in the world, and a must-see for anyone interested in horses, dance or culture in Vienna.  (The ‘Spanish’ comes from the breed of horse which is a mix of Spanish, Arabian and Berber).  There are a variety of activities you can join from a stable tour to see the famous Lipizzaner stallions to a performance in the beautiful arena (which I did). I signed up for standing room tickets because they were much cheaper, and I definitely couldn’t see the full arena, but the riders are good about moving around the ring so everyone can see.  I enjoyed watching the riders on their extremely fancy and talented horses, and it made me want to ride and even learn dressage!  However, to be honest I think I preferred the performance in Jerez de la Frontera better.  I thought the show was more interesting and the seats had better views.  That said, I still think it is worth spending 90 minutes watching the incredible precision and grace of the horses and riders at this show.

The Opera

Vienna is a world hub for opera and classical music, so it is definitely the place to see a show.  There are so many venues that it is actually quite easy to secure tickets, and I heard you can often get tickets to a show at the main opera house for under 5 Euro if you stand in line the day of a performance!  I was extremely lucky to be invited to a premiere of the “Feuersnot” opera at the Volksoper, one of the other opera houses in the city, so this is another venue to keep in mind when looking for a show.

Saturday, May 31 (Florence) – After being a bit turned off by the crowds on the first day in Florence, I wasn’t sure I had the strength to brave them once more and enter some of the world-famous museums like the Uffizi.  But I tried anyway, and everything just seemed to fall right in place into my favorite day in Florence! Here are some of my favorites ... "Stace's Places"!  

We toured the Gucci Museum which is in the center of town but somehow not very crowded.  It was surprisingly interesting… I didn’t know that Guccio Gucci got started after working in a luxury hotel and being inspired by the types of travel cases the guests would use.  I loved seeing the evolution of his work in the world of travel luggage, cases and accessories.  I can’t imagine carrying some of those massive wardrobe cases on my travels, but they were extremely innovative at the time.


TIP:  Walk over to the cafe and take a look at the sugar made into Gucci logos!

The Uffizi is the museum in Florence that features famous works such as Botticelli’s  “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera” paintings as well as hundreds of other prominent Renaissance pieces.  It is one of the places that requires a reservation in advance in order to guarantee entry, but it is much better to do with a guide so you make the most of your visit.  As I was about to stand on line to try my luck at a day-of ticket, a woman announced there would be an English guided tour in ten minutes.  My mom and I thought the price was right and the tour company seemed legitimate so just like that we skipped the line, got right in and had a wonderful guided tour of the Uffizi. 

The museum is packed, mostly with tour groups but a few people on their own here and there.  TIP:  I definitely recommend booking a tour to get a good backstory of what you are seeing in the museum, but when you are booking, find out how many people are on the tour.  Unless your guide has a microphone, it is impossible to hear your guide in a group larger than about six.  I am not an art history aficionado and as much as I enjoy art, I don’t know much about the different styles.  But one thing that stuck wit me about Renaissance paintings is that it introduced three new things to the art world:  perspective, movement and landscape.  Learning that, I was able to understand the importance a little more and appreciate some of the great works of the time.

If you cross the river from the center of town, such as the Ponte Vecchio bridge, and turn left, you will walk along the river for a while until all of a sudden there is a small beach!  Complete with sand, beach chairs, hammocks, and a bar, the beach on the Arno River was a perfect place to relax for a half hour after the museums to soak in the sun and have a cold beverage. 

Walking along Via San Niccolo, I came across a workshop / gallery / store(?) of Alessandro Dari, a sculptor, pharmacist and goldsmith from Florence.  His specialty is creating extremely unique rings that look to be large enough to weigh your hand down.  The work is beautiful and intricate, albeit a bit impractical.  The artist was in his small workshop off to the side while people walked in and out to get a good look at his displays.  This was the most interesting and unique place I found in Florence for sure.  The whole surrounding area was actually really nice and quiet, filled with galleries and workshops.

Thursday, May 29 (Florence) – After hiking through Cinque Terre, my mom and I found out that there would be a train strike the following day and that we wouldn’t be able to make it to Florence where we were headed.  We didn’t want to risk not getting there, so we made the decision to forfeit that night’s hotel deposit in Cinque Terre and race over to Florence to beat the strike.  Our hotel in Florence was completely booked for the night before our scheduled reservation, but Lorenzo – the owner of our little hotel – was able to find us a great accommodation nearby!  So we had an extra day in Florence and everything seemed to be working out for the best.

Then we started walking.

I am a New Yorker.  I have seen my fair share of tourist stampedes and crowds, but I have never seen anything like the crowd in the center of Florence.  When our walking tour began, I don’t know what was more difficult:  being able to find our tour guide as he walked through the crowds (think: the hardest level of Frogger) or being able to hear him speak!  It was complete madness, particularly by the Duomo, and it made it difficult to connect with the city or get a proper introduction to its history, art and importance.

Regardless, we enjoyed our 5 Euro walking tour with MyTours which gave us a better perspective of the layout of the city as well as which museum was which.  We also had a chance to snap obligatory photos of the Duomo and the (reproductions) of the statue of David and Lorenzo Ghiberti's golden doors.

I’ve learned that many tour guides can be a bit stiff and are used to just going through their script, but as soon as you ask a question and show real interest, they open up and show character.  This is what happened in Florence.  As soon as we started asking questions about the city and what we were seeing, our guide became a person instead of a recording and was very helpful and insightful. 

I know I've posted a bunch of things about my trip to Morocco, but like I've said before, it was such a crazy nine days of moving around that it is kind of hard to remember where I was and what I did!  So here is the official map from Explore Worldwide that shows where we went.  We covered about 1,500km by bus!!

DAY 1:  JOIN IN MARRAKECH
Join tour Marrakech. Depending on the schedule of your flight, you may wish to start exploring the 'Red City' independently. 


DAY 2:  MORNING SIGHTSEEING IN MARRAKECH; DRIVE TO BENI MELLAL
Morocco's famous 'Red City', Marrakech is the spiritual heart of the country, a cultural melting pot of the mountain Berbers and the desert peoples of the south. Blessed with some of the most stunning architecture in Morocco, its mix of tradition, colour and history makes for a fascinating guided walk through its medina this morning. We'll wander through its bustling souks and pay a visit to the remarkable setting of the Bahia Palace, a fusion of Moroccan and Islamic styles that was intended to be the greatest palace of its time. Following our tour we then depart Marrakech, for the beautiful Cascades of Ouzoud, before continuing on through Azilal and on towards Bin el Ouidane Lake. Our final destination today is the city of Beni Mellal, lying at the foot of Mount Tassemit.


DAY 3:  DRIVE TO FES, SIGHTSEEING TOUR OF MEKNES EN ROUTE
Today we drive along the northern slopes of the Middle Atlas Mountains, stopping off first in Azrou to take a short hike through the Atlas Cedar Forest, home to endangered Barbary macaques. From here we then continue into the Oued Boufekrane River Valley and on to the city of Meknes, once the heart of the Moroccan Sultanate. Built by the tyrant, Moulay Ismail, the city was once filled with palace and grand gateways and although much of Ismail's capital has crumbled to dust, it still exudes a sense of its former regal grandeur. In the company of a guide we will visit the old granary of Heri es-Souni and the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail himself. In spite of the sultan's infamous blood lust and cruelty, many still see his reign as a golden age and the tomb is held in high regard. From here it is just a short drive on to Fes, where we will spend the next two nights. 


DAY 4:  CITY TOUR IN FES; OPTIONAL TRIP TO VOLUBILIS AND MOULAY IDRISS
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fes el Bali is probably the oldest of the great imperial cities and certainly the most complete medieval city in the Arab world. This morning we enjoy a tour of the city that has long been regarded as Morocco's 'artisan capital', taking in the medina and the souks and paying a visit to the Royal Palace (Fes El Jedid). Craftwork made and sold in the Fes medina is considered amongst the finest in Morocco and a wander through its artisan districts reveals an array of weavers and brass workshops, coppersmiths and tanners, producing beautiful pieces much as they have for generations. We also take a drive out to the North Borj (tower) for some great panoramic views of the city. This afternoon is then free to perhaps visit the holy city of Moulay Idriss and the ancient ruins of Volublis, once the capital of the Roman province of Mauritania Tingitana.


DAY 5:  DRIVE OVER THE MIDDLE ATLAS MOUNTAINS TO MERZOUGA
Today we have a long, but very scenic drive over the Middle Atlas Mountains to Merzouga. These are the lands of the fiercely independent Berbers, the "Lords of the Atlas", whose timeless traditions still hold sway up here in their mountain strongholds far away from the cities. The road takes us through Ifrane and Azrou, into the Gorge du Ziz and across the broad plateau towards the desert settlement of Erfoud. Following the meandering course of the Ziz River we then head into the dunes of the Sand Sea, the traditional homeland of the Alaouite, who ruled this region for some 300 years. Our final destination today is the settlement of Merzouga, lying on the edge of the Erg Chebbi, an area of high dunes that are amongst the most spectacular natural landscapes anywhere in Morocco.


DAY 6:  OPTIONAL CAMEL RIDE; DRIVE TO TINERHIR AND HIKE THE TODRA GORGE
This morning we have the option to take a camel ride into the dunes to watch the sunrise.The word 'erg' is Arabic for 'great sand dune area' and although many people imagine the Sahara as an endless sea of rolling golden sand dunes, they actually cover only about one-fifth of its surface. Leaving mid-morning we then drive along the southern slopes of the Atlas towards Rissani and from there continue on to the town of Tinerhir, set amongst the dramatic ochre-coloured cliffs of the Todra Gorge. This afternoon we'll take a hike through the narrow gorge, wandering through a landscape of towering, sheer sided walls that in some places are up to 300 metres high and little more than 10 metres wide. We spend this evening in the canyon.


DAY 7:  DRIVE TO BOU THARAR VIA THE 'ROAD OF 1000 KASBAHS'; VISIT A BERBER VILLAGE
Returning to Tinehir this morning, we then drive along the famous 'Road of a 1,000 Kasbahs' to Boumaine-Dades. The Dades Valley can boast some of the most authentic Berber settlements anywhere, with each of the oasis towns offering up its own distinctive charm and character. Many of the original kasbahs lie in ruins now, but enough remain to provide a real flavour of Morocco's ancient heritage. Our journey today also takes us via the town of El Kelaa Mgouna and the famous Valley of the Roses, before finally arriving at the Berber village of Bou Tharar, located at the entrance to the wonderfully scenic Mgoun Gorge. This afternoon we'll take a hike through this stunning area, paying a visit to some of the local Berber villages that lie scattered amongst the desert landscapes. 


DAY 8:  DRIVE TO MARRAKECH VIA OUARZAZATE AND THE TIZI N'TICHKA PASS
Leaving Bou Tharar after breakfast this morning we drive on to the oasis town of Skoura, where we pay a visit to the kasbah. From here we then continue to Ouarzazate, a desert outpost lying to the south of the High Atlas, sandwiched between the high mountains and the expansive sands of the Sahara. Driving over the Tizi n'Tichka Pass we then make our way back to Marrakech, where we have a free evening to enjoy the many delights of the city. Marrakech is a city like no other, a place where trade and barter still renders its centre a delightful chaos of noise and colour and at its heart you'll find the spectacular Djemma-el-Fna, a site not to be missed.


DAY 9:  TOUR ENDS MARRAKECH
The tour ends today in Marrakech. Depending on the schedule of your flights, you may wish to spend some additional time in the souks or in the Djemma el Fna Square before departure. 

Monday, May 26 (Milan) – My mom arrived in Milan this morning to spend a week with me in Italy! Our plan is Milan – Cinque Terre – Florence and then she heads back to Milan to fly home to NYC, while I continue on to Rome and then Turkey.  I’ve been to Milan once before and don’t remember it being too memorable, so I only allotted one day and night in Milan while my mom was here.  But we ended up having such a great time in this city, that I kind of wish we had more time to stay!

My mom’s flight landed in the morning so by the time she arrived at the hotel we were both ready for breakfast.  We started walking in the direction of the Duomo and stopped off at a cute little sidewalk café for a brunch of tea, a shared veggie panino and a café gourmand, which was a coffee that came with a teeny tiny ice cream bar that came in foil like butter. Delicious!

We detoured a bit after eating and found ourselves walking up and down the streets with the most high-end stores like Fifth Avenue.  Many of the stores were familiar, but some I had never heard of, and we enjoyed window shopping (and I almost bought a leather jacket, but I couldn’t buy something like that in the first store I entered in Italy… could I?).

As we approached the Duomo, the sky started to open and luckily the line was short so we got inside the massive cathedral before getting soaked.  Entry was free, but it costs two Euros for a wristband if you want to take pictures inside.  It was beautiful with detailed stained glass windows throughout, but to be honest, I thought many of the cathedrals in Spain (particularly in Malaga and Sevilla) were even more stunning.

Being Monday, many of the museums were closed, so we opted for walking around (luckily the rain was short-lived) and eventually had lunch at Antica Focacceria San Francesco, a delicious café serving Sicilian specialties mixed with international cuisines and filled with locals on their lunch break.  Then, we had our very first gelato (of many) - yummm!

I then allowed my mom to rest a bit (after walking another mile or so to our hotel) by relaxing in our hotel spa.  We each got a massage which was very nice except we had to walk through the hotel lobby in our bathrobe and slippers – awkward!  I wouldn’t let my mom go to sleep or take a nap and succumb to jet lag, so we kept moving and arrived at the Navigli district just in time for my favorite Milan tradition:  aperitivo.

Aperitivo (the Italian version of happy hour) is common throughout much of Italy, but only in Milan is it customary to have a free buffet with your drink.  Kind of like ordering a drink in Granada, Spain and receiving a free tapa, except more food to choose from!  We enjoyed a sampling of all kinds of Italian food and drink while looking out at the canal and people going in and out of bars and restaurants.

Finally, we ended the night with some live music outside the Duomo where the philharmonic was performing.  Two friends of a friend back home were nice enough to take me (and my mom) out and we enjoyed cocktails on the rooftop bar of La Rinascente, the famous high-end department store.

It was a long, fun day and a great way to kick off our stay in Italy!

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!

Saturday, May 17 (Marrakech) – Marrakech is a very interesting place.  Divided into two main parts – the old city and the new city – the landscape is generally dull, with all buildings looking the same with a red clay façade.  I think I was expecting the city to be intricately designed with tile work and detail, but it’s actually quite bland.  That definitely does not mean that the city is boring, as there is always something going on, particularly in the main square.

THE KOUTOUBIA
The Koutoubia – the prototype for Sevilla’s Girala (where I was just a few days ago) – is the main monument in Marrakech, and the largest mosque in Morocco.  It is a modern mosque built directly next to an older mosque, which has been mostly torn down.  It is a good starting place for a day of touring the city.

BAHIA PALACE
A ten-minute walk will bring you to the Bahia Palace, which is where the Prime Minister used to live (named after his favorite wife).  Some fun facts about the palace:  slaves were used there until 1958; only part of the palace is open to the public as the majority of it is still used to house the king when he comes to town; the prime minister had four official wives and 24 concubines.  

LAZAMA SYNAGOGUE
Around the corner from the palace is the old town’s only synagogue.  (When facing the entrance to the palace, take the road on the right, turn under the arch, turn right under the rectangular arch and it is the first (unmarked) door on your left.)  Ask for Hedvah to give you a little background on the Jewish history in Morocco (and how there went from being 36 synagogues to 3 in Marrakech) and take a look around the small but beautiful premises.

HAMMAM BATH & MASSAGE
If you back up to the Bahia Palace once again and turn left, you will find the Hammam Ziani on your right, about 2 minutes down the road.  This is where I went for my first Hammam experience, and I recommend it!  Make sure to ask for Ziani, talk about NYC and ask to meet the puppies he has upstairs!

EL BADI PALACE
The last attraction I’d recommend in this neighborhood is the El Badi Palace, which was a bit under construction as I visited, but there is still a bunch to see.  It is a giant palace inspired by the design of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. TIPS:  Be sure to look up and see the dozens of stork families in their large nests lined across the top walls of the palace!  Also, across from the entrance to the palace there is a photography exhibit highlighting Moroccan artists and Morocco as a subject.  I really enjoyed this and it was free!

DAR SI SAID MUSEUM
Another stop in the same area is the Dar Si Said Museum, which shows artisanal works of Morocco from intricately designed wooden doors to leather work to metalwork.  It is interesting to take a quick walk through if you have the time, but is not a must-see if you don’t.

JEMAA EL FNA & THE SOUK
The obvious next stop in Marrakech is the souk maze.  There are many souks (markets) in the city, but the main one starts at the Jemaa el Fna square, and can keep a tourist occupied and entranced for hours.  I went on my own my first day in Marrakech and was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of shopkeepers talking to me and trying to woo me in.  But the second time I went, I was with a local guide and my tour group and we were left alone to explore the market without being bothered.  We got to take a look at everything from the fruits and vegetables to leather and metal goods to spices, shoes, artwork, and more.  My favorite part was exploring the back area where the artisans can be seen working on their crafts to then sell at the shops in the front of the souk.

OTHER THINGS TO DO IN MARRAKECH
Some other highlights include the Jardin Majorelle (used to be Yves Saint Laurent’s garden), the photography museum and the museum of Marrakech.  Note:  I didn’t have a chance to visit those two museums, but if I had one more day I would have gone.  The garden is pretty but was very crowded and small.  It had plants such as trees from all over the world, but not many flowers.  I enjoyed it but don’t think it was a must-see.

Saturday, May 17 (Marrakech) - I made a realization this morning as I waited for my next-door neighbor and good friend Lainie to arrive in Marrakech:  without realizing it, my 100 days of travel are broken up pretty evenly into three phases, and I have just finished the first one.

The first month of my trip was a whirlwind of going from place to place almost completely on my own (spent a weekend in London where I got to stay with Marta!).  It was a true test of my ability to adapt and handle being in new places without knowing anyone.  It was a time of trial and stepping out of my comfort zone from trusting strangers with Airbnb to sitting by myself at a pub.  And it was an opportunity for me to really do the things that I wanted to do (horseback riding, speaking Spanish, spending time with locals instead of just the travelers in the hostels).

Today, I am thrilled that Lainie came to meet me in Marrakech for our nine-day tour of Morocco!  (Lainie and I are next-door neighbors and we met in the dark hallway of the 7th floor during hurricane Sandy)  This trip kicks off the second phase of being joined along my travels by friends and family – which just so happens to be grouped together in consecutive weeks.  It will be a little slower paced and I will be less concerned with seeing everything and meeting new people (although I’m sure we will!).  I am looking forward to sharing some great experiences with my friends – probably those of you who are actually reading this right now!

The third phase of my travels is where I want to take a bit of a step back from all the running around to a different city every night or two.  I want to find one or two places that I can call ‘home’ for a week or so, where I can actually unpack my suitcase, cook a meal and have a local pub.  With less to worry about in terms of travel logistics and fitting all the sites into a few days, I will have time to actually relax and enjoy the end of my trip.  I will also take this time to reflect on my 100 days and maybe even get some clarity on what happens when I get home!