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.

Google Maps is my best friend when organizing a trip.  If you are going to Bangkok, for example, chances are you have some ideas of where you want to go, but no idea where they are in relation to one another.  I love plotting out the must-see's in a new city to get an idea of which attractions, neighborhoods, shops, or restaurants should be visited in the same day because of location.  

I also like to make notes for each pin in advance such as hours of operation, a recommended meal or metro stop.  Doing this bit of research and organizing in advance can end up saving you a lot of time and confusion on your trip.

To me, there is a difference between vacation and a trip.  Vacation is the relaxing and lazy beach time that I almost never have, but a trip is the often exhausting exploration of new cities and their cultures.  So whenever I am taking a trip in a new place, and especially when my time there is limited, I make sure to set my alarm and/or get a wake up call so that I can maximize my day and not sleep it away (which has been known to happen!).  

The first few minutes may be rough but once you're up and look out the window, you will be glad you have those extra few hours to enjoy a local breakfast, skip the lines at the famous museum or fit in that one activity you didn't think you had time for.

Costs add up quickly when traveling, so being smart about how you spend is as important as what you're spending on.  The best exchange rate is generally when you take money out of an ATM, NOT when you exchange cash at the airport kiosk.  But your bank many charge a fee for withdrawing in a foreign country.  So depending on how long you will be away or how many countries / currencies you will face, either sign up for a fee-free account or estimate how much cash you will need and only stop at the ATM once so you're not hit again and again with fees.

While everyone needs some cash in their pocket, I am actually a big supporter of using credit cards whenever possible.  Using a card gives you valuable points which lead to rewards like flights, hotel rooms, gift cards and more - all freebies to enhance your travels.  And while you are away, having a card without foreign transaction fees can end up saving you a lot on all the little purchases that add up.

Finding the right credit card is very important for travelers, so some things to look for include: no foreign transaction fees,  a large sign-on bonus and rewards that are in line with your travel style (e.g. affiliations with certain airlines / hotels, etc.).  A great resource for finding the right card is Credit Card Insider - they have an entire section dedicated to helping travelers find the card that best suits their needs!

Free walking tours are popping up in cities everywhere, and for a good reason!  The volunteer tour guides are passionate about their town and want to share it with visitors, regardless of their financial situations.  With these tours, which generally last an hour or two, you get a great overview of the city, its cultural and historical background, and some personal anecdotes and laughs.

The guides are working purely for tips so they are usually animated entertainers who make the tour a lot of fun for everyone.  At the end, you may give any monetary amount that you are comfortable with and think the tour was worth.  These guides are also great sounding boards for your plans while in town, and they are more than happy to offer suggestions or advice.  

This flows nicely into #5 "Talk to strangers" because I have actually made a lot of friends on free walking tours - both travelers and guides.  After walking around for a few hours, you are probably hungry so why not invite some of your new friends to that cute local cafe the guide pointed out along the tour?

Many cities across the globe have adopted bike share programs which allow people to hop on and hop off at different docking stations throughout town.  These are cost-effective ways to get around while seeing a lot more of a city.  Also, they are one of my favorite ways to stay fit while traveling.

The bikes are easily adjustable for your height and they generally have decent gears to help you up and down any hills you may come across.

If you want to pedal for exercise, check out bike paths in the local tourist office or on apps / sites like MapMyRide where users document their routes along with notes and levels of difficulty.

Whether it is tasting octopus in Spain, flying a glider in Switzerland or camping out in the Sahara Desert, there are new experiences to be had everywhere you go.  

Make your trip memorable by stepping outside your comfort zone and trying something new that is a part of the local culture.  You won't be disappointed and you will have stories for the rest of your life.

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

*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!

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.).

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!

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.

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!

Granada, the history-rich university town, and the home of the world-famous Alhambra.  I immediately felt at home in this city and loved its atmosphere (and food).  While it is hard (if not impossible) to do it all in one day, I put together a packed itinerary suggesting what to do in Granada.

**Going to the Alhambra is a priority in Granada and the itinerary below will have to be modified based on what time your entry is for.

Morning:  Visit the Alhambra - get your tickets in advance and try to get entry into the 8:30AM time slot so you beat the crowds and the heat.  Then enjoy breakfast away from the main square where the prices are extreme

Late morning/early afternoon:  Depending on when you visit the Alhambra, you may be able to take a free Feel the City tour at 10:30AM to get an overview of the history, layout and legends of Granada

Then enjoy a cold cervesa and some tapas followed by walking around the city center and checking out some of the shops before siesta

Afternoon: While the residents sleep their siesta, it is the perfect time to grab an ice cream (or a horchata with a pionono) and go for a walk in the Parque Federico Garcia Lorca

Early evening:  Catch a flamenco show – even if it is geared towards tourists, it is generally a good introduction to the art form and the performers will put on an incredible show

Evening:  Go tapa-hopping at bars around the Albayzin and the city center by the Cathedral.  The free tapas will be different each time you order a drink so the variety and volume may fill you up, otherwise order another tapa or two.  TIP:  Try the moussaka at Meridional and the salmon with avocado tapa at Bodegas Castaneda.

Wednesday, May 7 -  The Alhambra.  One of the world’s largest tourist attractions that brings in up to 6,000 visitors per day!  I liked it.  It was certainly beautiful.  But I wasn’t overly impressed.

I will preface by saying two things:  1)  A few days ago I visited the Alcazaba in Malaga which is considered a ‘mini-Alhambra’ and I was wowed and spent a lot of time there (and the Alhambra was very similar so it wasn’t as shocking).  2)  I somehow missed the booth to get an audioguide so I was walking through the sites without a tour or a guide to explain anything.  While I thought this would be fine, I was wrong.  There are NO signs that explain anything about what you are looking at, so ultimately you are walking through a bunch of empty rooms and gardens.  Also, there is a ton of construction going on so areas are closed and your visit is a bit disturbed by the constant drilling noise of all the work being done.

The detail in the decoration throughout the Palacios Nazaries was incredibly beautiful, and the sheer size of the premises and how well preserved it is adds a lot of points in my book.  But what I mentioned above, coupled with a lack of information getting to the Alhambra (which way to walk, where you are now, etc.) made it a bit of a frustrating experience.  So, to ensure you don’t have the experience that I had, and that you can be wowed and amazed by what is a truly breathtaking site, I have put together a cheat sheet.