Thursday, July 17 (New York City) - Dear:  Hannah, Tali, Lainie, China, Dennis, Andrew, Aaron, Al, Lucy, Patrick, Neil, Dawn, Allyson, Allie, Nikita, Julie, Marta, Kathy, Eugenia, Nacho, Kathryn, Dave, Jacqueline, Martin, Helen, Justin, Gaby, Mike, Kike, Maria, Tati, Eva, Sam, Val, Anthea, Mark, Sophie, Becki, Anna, Nono, Victoria, Kali, Kay, Ashley, Lorenzo G, Lorenzo M, Paola, Oliver, Marcos, Wilson, Priscilla, Anu, Monte, Ilene, Kenny, Gul, Rena, Mom, and Dad (and anyone I may have missed),

Thank you.  Thank you for being a part of the adventure that was the most amazing, insane, important, and surreal experience of my life.  Whether you were a sounding board when this crazy idea first came into my mind, a connector of things to do or people to see in foreign lands, a friend I met along the way, or a reader / commenter on my photos and blog posts, your contribution – however big or small – shaped my experience which would not have been the same without you.

You don’t know how much your support meant and still means to me, and I sincerely hope that this blog and whatever is engrained in my memory can help you out in your future travels.

As you know, I am always happy to talk about travel from money-saving tips to what to do in different areas of the world, and everything in between.  So please know you can always reach out to me (same with your friends and family) and I hope I can be of help!

Thank you again,

Stacy

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?

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.  

Saturday, July 5 (Mallorca, Spain) – Although I had been planning to take it easy the final month of my travels, to unpack my suitcase and spend a full week or two in a few select places, I have found myself on the move like before.  There are just so many places to see, and the more I think about going home, the more I want to pack in before I have to leave. 

However, I am spending six full days in Mallorca and I want to treat myself at the last hotel I will be staying at on my travels.  (I will be staying with cousins and then friends from my travels for the remaining week and a half after Mallorca!)  My first hotel, on the southern coast of Mallorca about 20-minutes (driving) from the city of Palma was not much of a treat.  It was fine, it was clean, it was literally on the beach.  But my room was teeny tiny, I looked into other peoples’ windows, and it didn’t quite feel like the relaxing atmosphere I had envisioned (except when I snuck into another hotel’s beautiful pool area).  The place was definitely budget-friendly, and at any other part of my trip it would have been perfect, but no.  I deserve a little bit of luxury!

So today I made a move.

Some people I have met throughout my travels recommended Alcudia to me.  It is a region in the north part of the island with incredibly beautiful beaches and a mountain range.  I did a lot of research and finally settled on the JS Alcudi Mar hotel, which is on Muro Beach.  It is only a little more than an hour away from my last accommodation, but it feels like a different country.  As I walked into my room and saw the sea through the sliding balcony door, I couldn’t stop smiling.  THIS is it, my time to relax and recharge and do all the mental rest and exercise that I have been wanting.  It will only be three days, but in Stacy’s world, that is more like a week anyway.

And it’s not as big of a splurge as you may think… For under $100 a night, I not only have a nice, clean room, I have a balcony overlooking the sea, a 2-minute walk to the most gorgeous beach, a big pool, helpful concierge, oh, and FREE breakfast AND dinner!!!  On top of that, there is a gym, a 1-Euro laundry machine, and a spa – and I am treating myself to a massage in 20 minutes (only 45 Euro for an hour!).  Yay for Alcudia!!

Oh, and I have a fridge so I picked up some provisions at the supermarket including a bottle of Spanish white wine.  Salud!

Monday, June 16 (Grunau im Almtal) – One month from today I will be home in New York.  I can’t believe that and I have very mixed feelings about it.  I’m having such a great time and feel so lucky to be experiencing this, and I don’t want to go back to reality.  At the same time, summer in NYC is my favorite and there are a bunch of people I miss a lot.  What am I going to do when I get back to New York?  What have I learned about life? About myself? 

These questions and more are questions I have been putting off until now.  I really wanted my first two months to be about travel and having fun and experiencing everything without reality holding me back.  But month #3 is going to be a bit different.  I plan on staying in the places I visit more than just a night or two, to unpack my suitcase and feel like I am somewhat settled.  I want to use this more relaxing, less action-packed month to really think about me and what the heck I’m going to do come July 16.  I’m not going to over-analyze or stress about it, but I’m going to let my natural thoughts come up since I haven’t made time for them in two months!

Today is the beginning of this third phase, and without even realizing the date, I had booked myself at a little B&B in the middle of nowhere for some relaxation and nature.  I am in Grunau im Almtal, which is about halfway between Vienna and Salzburg, Austria.  See more about this highly recommended town and B&B in my next post.

I’m currently sitting on a chair behind the hotel (“The Treehouse”) with a stream flowing just in front of me and a mountain with trees densely packed together just beyond the stream.  There is something comforting yet unsettling about the juxtaposition of the ever-flowing stream and the trees that are forever in the same place.  The water gets to travel and see the world, but the trees get to see how the world evolves from one place.  I could get super philosophical right now, but I’ll stop here and leave you to your own psychoanalyses.

Wednesday, June 4 (Rome & Istanbul) - Somehow my '100 days of travel' posts got a little messed up over the weeks, so today is actually day 51 (even though my last numbered post was 48!).  That means I am more than halfway finished with my 100 Days of Travel!  It is a bit crazy to think that I have been on the go for so long, without staying in any one place more than a few nights.

I have definitely learned a lot - about myself, about traveling and about the world - and I thought I'd share some random thoughts, lessons and highlights from the last 50 days.

Cross-country riding clinic in Ireland

Hiking the Cinque Terre with my mom

Feria de Abril in Sevilla

Celebrating the Europe League champions, Sevilla

Riding a camel and camping in the Sahara Desert

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 25 (Morocco & Milan) - One of the things that struck me the most throughout my tour of Morocco, was how the country seemed to be very traditional and what a westerner may consider 'old-fashioned' in its development and customs.  Although there are new parts of some cities like Marrakech – that house Starbucks, Zara, and the like – the vast majority of the country seemed to be decades or centuries behind.  Because I was on a guided tour, I am not sure if what I saw was the norm or if it is what the Moroccan government wants tourists to see, but either way, real people were living vastly different lives than I am used to.  It was a humbling and interesting experience for me, and I wanted to share some of the difference that stood out most.

TRANSPORTATION
While there are cars driving down many of the streets in Morocco, riding donkeys, mules and horses (in order of prevalence) is not abnormal.  Some animals pull carts, some carry men or boys and others are put to work carrying goods while the owners walk alongside to steer. 

For those who get around with a motor, scooters are extremely common and will often be seen carrying entire families, pets or colleagues.  These bikes are very dangerous for pedestrians as traffic laws seem not to apply, and I witnessed one crash into a local woman who was crossing the street.

HOUSING
Kashbahs, ksars and riads are common forms of housing with slightly different definitions.  The variations were a bit difficult to understand, but from what I gather, a kasbah is a multi-room house (or building or palace), usually for one large family.  A ksar is more of a village of houses (multiple families) that are inside a high wall for protection.  Riads are like kasbahs but they have a garden in the center, and the rooms are often rented out to guests. 

Traditionally, these are all made out of earth – clay, straw, rock – and take on a dull red color.  I visited a few of each of these types of housing, and some had tiled floors but others had the same clay-based floor as the walls and ceiling.  There was seldom much furniture, and not all of the homes had running water.

MARRIAGE
A very small percentage of people in Morocco marry for love.  Many marriages are arranged by parents as more of a family alliance or agreement.  For the younger generations, there is a split between seeing this type of arrangement as tradition to embrace and wanting to be in control of finding a mate for love.  I heard a story from someone on my trip of a Moroccan man leaving his country and family for Europe so he could find his own wife out of love – whereas his younger sister stayed in Morocco and expects her marriage to be arranged and wouldn’t leave with her brother. 

Additionally, in Morocco it is allowed by law for men to have more than one wife (as long as the first wife gives her consent!).

And finally, if a man from one village wants to propose marriage to a woman from another village, his entire family needs to go to the woman’s village with offerings such as sugar, tea and an animal as part of his proposal.  While this tradition clearly represents that he and his family have the means to take care of his bride, it is pretty interesting that it still exists and hasn’t been modernized over the years.

Friday, May 16 (Marrakech) – I saw spas known as Hammams (Arab baths) throughout Andalusia, but I never really had the time or interest to try one, especially knowing I would have more opportunities later on in Morocco and Turkey.  So when I arrived in Marrakech a day before Lainie would be joining me from NYC to start our guided tour, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity.

I was referred to the Hammam Ziani by someone who hasn’t personally used it (she doesn’t like extreme heat/steam rooms) but she has heard good things since she works nearby.  It is located just down the street from Palais Bahia and the Synagogue, so a tourist-safe neighborhood.  I went in and was given a tour of the facility before I agreed to try it out.  The owner Ziani (who used to be a dancer at Palladium and live in Flatbush!) showed me the prices (270 Moroccan dirhams, which comes to close to $27) which includes the Hammam bath with a full body scrub and a massage.  I hadn’t eaten yet and knowing the Hammam includes a hot steam room, I asked him if I should eat first or after, and he said afterwards and brought me bananas and an apple along with a bottle of water before my treatment!  Now, here is what happened next…

First I was asked to change into paper underwear and wrap myself in a towel/robe.  I locked up my belongings and followed one of the estheticians into a room with two tables and two stools.  The next thing I know, she took the towel/robe right off of me in a single swift movement and I was left in the paper undies that maybe cover half of each cheek!  I was told to stand as she turned on a faucet and started filling buckets with water and dumping them all over me.  Next came some red substance that I think was a kind of soap… rubbed it all over and then washed it off with the buckets of water.  While this was happening, another topless woman was brought in and went through the same procedure next to me.  She had clearly done this before and wasn’t shy at all, so at least I felt like I wasn’t being taken advantage of in some foreign country!

I was then led into a steam room where the floor was visible but the steam blocked out everything eye level.  I was seated and then left alone… almost naked… not speaking a word of French or knowing what was going on.  I tried to relax and just enjoy the steam until about 10 minutes later, I saw feet walking towards me and then through the steam I saw it was my esthetician coming to retrieve me for the next part of the treatment: the scrub.

Going back to the first room, I was asked to lie on the cement table on my stomach (not too comfortable and the germaphobe in me felt a little uneasy).  Next came the scrubbing.  As she rubbed her gloved hand over my back, the first pass felt nice but then it felt like sandpaper scratching my whole body, back and front.  I was imagining walking out with my sensitive skin covered in red splotches.  After my back and front, I was asked to sit up so she could get my arms and I opened my eyes to see all my dead skin around me and coming off where she was scrubbing – eww!  I closed my eyes again because it was gross and because it made me less uncomfortable that I was naked in front of this stranger.  After my top layers of skin were gone, buckets of water were again thrown at me to wash them away, and then I was taken for my massage.  I got to a room with four tables side by side and a woman laying topless on the table next to me getting a massage.  I asked for a towel to lay on because I don’t think the plastic-covered tables are cleaned that often.  The massage was great – especially on my feet that are so tired and sore from a month of sightseeing.

Back to the main room to be washed off once again, this time the massage oil came off with a loofah and sudsy soap (which I guess also cleans the table I was laying on).  Then she washed my hair (no conditioner!), wrapped me in a robe, and left me without instruction to change into my clothes as the treatment was complete.  What a whirlwind!  My skin definitely feels soft and fresh now (and I didn’t lose my tan with all the skin that came off!), so it was a positive experience, but I do have some advice for anyone experiencing a Hammam for the first time.