**Apologies for posting out of order!

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

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

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

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


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


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

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

• 20X BURPEES

• 20X SQUATS

• 20X PUSH UPS

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

• 25X CRUNCHES          
  

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday, July 6 (Mallorca, Spain) – When I arrived at my hotel in Playa de Muro, Mallorca, I spoke with my concierge about finding a place to go horseback riding.  There were books with offers from different tour companies, but he told me that last summer he went on a ride at Rancho Can Picafort and that it was really nice, so I trusted him and signed up for a three-hour late afternoon ride.

I was picked up at my hotel and then we made another stop to pick up two French girls at another hotel.  When they walked towards the car, I couldn’t believe what I saw – one girl in short shorts and the other in some kind of skort…. For a three-hour horseback ride!  Ok… so when we arrived at the ranch, I was happy to see an area where guests could borrow helmets and half chaps, so I snuck a photo of the French girls in their ridiculous ‘riding’ outfits and half chaps.

So after getting situated with my gear, I realized there were five other people already there, and we were all going on this ride together.  Eight people on a three-hour ride which is supposed to be advanced… that seems like a lot.  Anyway, the owner asked if I know how to ride and of course I said yes, and that I’ve been riding for a while.  So the next thing I knew,all of the other riders on my trip were all mounted on horses that had been patiently waiting out front, but two workers were running towards me with a beautiful grey Andalusian mare trotting beside them.  A problem horse? A fancy horse?  A crazy horse needing some schooling by ‘someone who says she knows how to ride’?  

Anyway, I noticed as riding crops (whips) wre handed out to each of the riders (I have NEVER seen that on a trail ride, especially with people on a horse for their first time), but when I reached for one, I was immediately yelled at that ‘No!’ my horse does not need a whip… oh boy.

It was a little after five in the afternoon and the sun was blazing, but the horses seemed to love it and were forward, active and happy to be on the move.  We walked through some beautiful forest areas with green leaves against a bright blue sky.

Then we turned and emerged on a beautiful secluded beach.  There were only a handful of people there - clearly locals as no tourist could have found this spot.  We were then invited to gallop if we wanted and about half of the group moved up.  I am always curious about why some barns outside of the US (as American places would never risk the liability) will skip the 'canter' and instead go for a full gallop without knowing anything about the riders.  But I'm not asking questions because was SO much fun.  The first gallop was a bit scary because all of a sudden we went from a standstill to a full out gallop.  It felt like in a cartoon when the horse starts moving really fast and the rider is still in the same place as if the horse ran out underneath him.  Yup, that was me.  I soon found out why my horse was 'special'.  She not only clearly loved to run, she immediately passed all the other horses in the group (including the guide's horse) to be out in front.  I didn't feel like I was on a runaway horse, it was actually a very adjustable, comfortable gallop once she got ahead of the pack.  By the second time galloping, I knew what to expect and we went for it - SO much fun.

By now you're probably wondering about the nudist beach part of the story?  Well, you know how I said I saw a handful of locals on a secluded beach?  They were the only clothed ones I saw.  The rest of the time on the beach, the only people I saw were naked!  I tried to snap a photo but we were moving pretty past and I didn't get it.  But the images are forever in my mind.  Sorry I can't share that with you!  But here are more pictures of the amazing ride!  (Trust me, these are must more attractive pictures).

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!

**Note:  I know I haven't posted Day 80 yet.  It is coming, I just don't want to hold up all the other days so it will just have to be a little out of order!  :)



Friday, July 4 (Mallorca, Spain) – I’m pretty sure I’m the only American on the entire island of Mallorca.  It is the 4th of July and my red, white and blue bathing suit is the only USA pride I can see.  Of course, why would an island filled with Germans and Spaniards acknowledge Independence Day!  But still, it felt weird not to be at a BBQ or watching fireworks.  (But thank you to all my friends in the states for waking me up in the middle of the night with photos and videos of fireworks... it was allllmost like I was there too... sort of.)

So since I can't celebrate my country, let's celebrate the country I am in, and specifically the island:  Mallorca (or Majorca in English).  It is a small island, but it feels big since I am not very familiar with it.  So these are some of the local delicacies that you should be able to find in any part of the island.

Tuesday, July 1 (Valencia, Spain) – Valencia is a very interesting city in Spain.  There is the cobblestoned old city, the more modern area, plentiful beaches, a river-turned-park, and an architectural haven.  There is a lot to do in this city - known for originating paella - but here are some highlights, especially if you're short on time.

EAT:  

• Paella Valenciana - the original paella, as it was originated in Valencia.  This specific type of paella has a meat such as chicken and sometimes rabbit, as well as beans and green vegetables.
• Fartones - log-shaped donuts with a funny name that are often eaten with horchata
  

DRINK:  

• Horchata - a cold, refreshing beverage made from tigernuts, water and sugar.  It tastes like a sweet milk (but there's no dairy at all).  Note:  the horchata you may have seen in Mexico is different - it is made with rice instead of tigernuts.
  

Monday, June 30 (Valencia, Spain) – One of the most unique parts of Valencia, Spain is the area called “The City of Arts & Sciences” which is a cultural complex that encompasses an opera house, science museum, aquarium, and 3D movie theater.  What makes this area so special is that the buildings have architectural nuances that makes you feel like you stepped into the age of the Jetsons!

The aquarium is said to be the largest in all of Europe, and I can’t remember the last time I visited one, so I thought it would be a fun thing to do (and so did my new Aussie friend, Wallace, who came with me).  It was a bit later in the day when I went, so the place was eerily empty, and maybe that is why I was able to cover as much ground as I did (so it didn’t seem as massive as I had thought).  

I started with the flamingo-esque bird enclosure that looks a bit like the Epcot ball.  You are able to walk inside and right up to the birds who appear to have gone through a color run where the only colors were orange and pink.

Half of the attractions are inside and the other half are outside, like the birds.  I ventured into one of the indoor enclosures and this is where I got to ‘swim’ with sharks!  There is a tunnel built into the aquarium surrounded by fish and sharks who swim leisurely by, sometimes appearing to play with the visitors.  When you look straight ahead and see a shark swimming overhead, you really feel like you are in the water with them!

We also saw some really pretty fish and guess who I found… NEMO!

Then I was ready to sit back and watch a show, so I went to the auditorium surround a big pool of dolphins.  Already I was excited just watching the dolphins jump around on their own, but when the emcee showed up, I felt like a child again.  As people were getting seated, the emcee asked if any of the kids had questions about dolphins, and I had a good test of my Spanish understanding by listening to the Q’s and A’s.  Dolphins generally live about 30 years but can live up to 50 in captivity.  They don’t sleep because they need to breathe, and they can jump up to six meters high.  That all may be false, but that is what I remember from what I heard in Spanish!

What a fun-filled afternoon at the aquarium!  The one part that I wasn’t able to capture good photos of (because of lighting and netting) was Mr. Walrus and his friends.  These guys were HUGE and so fun to watch.  I will definitely be checking them out the next time I go to an aquarium.  Anyone want to join me at the Coney Island aquarium when I’m back!?

Sunday, June 29 (Madrid, Spain) – By now you can probably tell I’m a huge fan of markets.  Whether food, crafts, clothes, or anything in between, I think markets are a great way of getting to know the culture of the city you are in.  What type of food is popular and fresh?  What kinds of fruits are endemic to this region and aren’t sold in the states?  What is a truly special souvenir that can’t be purchased in a souvenir shop?  Generally markets are also one of the few places filled with a good mix of locals and tourists.  So in Madrid, I visited three, very different markets.  

Mercado de San Miguel is the place for fresh food in the heart of the city.  From fish comparable to what I saw in Galicia, to fresh mozzarella tapas that look like pastries, to just-picked, delicious fruit, there is enough to come back every day for a month and have something new each day.  Of course you can’t forget about the ham (jamon) which Spain is known for.  I think the Spaniards have thought of every possible way to cook, cure and prepare ham, and this is the place to get it.

Dosde Market is a small crafts market in Plaza del Dos de Mayo.  I happened to go on the last day of its two-month run, so some vendors had already packed up, but there was still a variety of hand-made jewelry, art and other knick-knacks that were fun to browse.  

Although this market has closed, the area it is in is definitely worth walking through.  You can start on the popular shopping street Calle Fuencarral and then veer off on side streets like Calle Velarde for more local boutiques, unknown brand names and vintage and thrift shops.


On your way to this area, I highly recommend stopping for a snack and a coffee at La Tita Rivera.  They have a beautiful outdoor garden and a unique type of tapas - 'casis' which are little bread bowls filled with different kinds of deliciousness.  From fish to meat to vegetables to cheese, there are dozens of choices and they are tasty and fun to eat!

El Rastro is the popular Sunday market that reminds me of a typical street fair in New York.  They have clothes, pashminas, random electronic accessories, hats, and jewelry.  Nothing I saw was all that unique.  However, there are a few areas of the market that are special and worth checking out.  One street is solely for pets, primarily birds.  You can here the tweeting a block away, and when you go into the shops that spill out onto the street, you see people actually buying pet birds of all kinds, sizes and colors.  

There is also a street where artists – primarily painters – display their work.  And finally, there are two antique areas that I saw, one of which is in a small courtyard just off the main road of the market, and when you walk in, there is a quiet sense of calm that lends itself well to the type of products being sold.  

I recommend starting early and then stopping at Martina Cocina an Argentinian café, for breakfast when the crowds get to be too much for you.  The yogurt parfait is a healthier (and well-presented) option, but there are also empanadas, tostadas and pastries.