Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Try picking just ONE (Photo by Slightly Everything on Flickr)

Once upon a cold day in Frankfurt, I was miserably bogged down by a 40lb backpack and a 15lb shoulder bag while scaling a steep hill questing for a hostel. I took massive pity on myself and imagined myself as a Sherpa hauling heavy supplies up Everest (something tells me I was really just acting like a big baby) and let my grumpy mood develop accordingly.

If you’ve ever packed an uber-heavy bag, you know what a burden taking the stairs, changing hotels or checking bags can be. You also might know how many t-shirts you have to unpack to lose any weight in your luggage. However, there is one heavy item that almost all travelers pack that you can use to dramatically change the weight of your bag. Books!

At an average of .75lbs each, books can quite literally weigh you down! Here are a few travel tips for lightening your load while still having the chance to read on vacation (because when else do you have the time to catch up on  your reading!).

1. Grab an e-Reader. A Kindle or Nook are the most obvious options for saving weight in your bag, though you should be aware of international downloading restrictions before your vacation.
2. Only bring a book you think you can finish. This is not the time to start a hard-covered copy of War & Peace. The extra 500 pages are probably not worth the weight–it’s not much of a beach read anyway.
3. Consider buying books in-country. While not all countries have English bookstores, they will often have a small section of English books mixed in with the local offerings.
4. Leave behind books that you finish for other travelers. You can read while you’re there and cut the weight on your way out. Plus just think of all the bonus karma.
5. Swap books with traveling companions… just don’t get too pushy after you’ve finished your first read and they’re still leisurely thumbing through theirs.
6. Read newspapers or magazines instead. If you don’t think you’ll be reading a lot on the trip, but want something casual to pass the time, newspapers and magazines are a great way to pack light. In flight publications are usually free and interesting, or pick up a paper or magazine to stay up on current events or industry happening while on vacation.

Ever made the mistake of bringing a book on vacation that you wouldn’t even touch at home? What was it? Tell us about it on Facebook or in the comments below! (Click here if you can’t see the comments)

Podcasting in the Park. Photo by Author.

Travel is usually mentally stimulating enough, but sometimes you might find yourself bored with relaxing and completing basic tasks. After more than a week of real relaxation, I am eager to learn anything, whether it be numbers, news, vocabulary, or science.

Of course, on vacation, your best option is to head out to a historical site, cathedral, or to simply take a walk down the street. However, if you’re bound to a resort, recharging for a day, or just looking for a more structured way to learn, and you’ve got an iPod or other mp3 player, here’s your boredom solution:

The Podcast

While most people have heard of Podcasts, most people also don’t realize how to use them to their full potential. If that sounds like you, read on!

What is a Podcast? Podcasts–like those available on iTunes–are FREE audio or visual “channels” available on nearly every subject. From yoga to computer programming to Arabic to biology to French history… there’s a Podcast for that. You can pick almost any topic that interests you!

How to Download iTunes Podcasts? Go to the “iTunes” store, and type in a keyword in the upper righthand corner to browse your options. Find the channels you want, then “subscribe” to the channel.  After you’ve done this, the channel should appear in your Library on the left hand side of your iTunes under the “Podcasts” tab. Click through the episodes and download the ones that most interest you. Sync ‘em up with your iPod, and there you go!

Next time you’re bored on the beach (yes, it is possible), pull out your iPod for a lesson on natural resource depletion or a video on the history of the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza for a little bit of education to re-engage your uber relaxed brain.

Do you use Podcasts? What channels do you recommend? Tell us about it in the comments section below! (Click here if you cannot see the comments for: Learning on the Road with Podcasts)

The Streets of New Delhi, India. Photo by Author.

Traveling in India is as taxing as it is inspiring, as frustrating as it is easy, and as intriguing as it is overwhelming. Laden with a deep culture that cannot be observed and that is never talked about, its hard to understand what’s going on around you as a traveler in India. So how do you get to the bottom of it? Read!

Indian authors with experience abroad or expats that have spent years in India are often best able to convey these complex themes in the form of literature. Whether you’re about to embark on a journey to India, have always wanted to, or are simply looking for a good read, here are 5 books about India for you to dive into:

1. The White Tiger - by Aravind Adiga: The White Tiger is a tragic yet humorous tale of one boy’s rise in India’s impenetrable social hierarchy through hard work, perseverance, and… murder.
2. The God of Small Things – by Arundhati Roy: In The God of Small Things, the author sheds light on the country’s adoration of Western values through the story of one Indian family. The novel traces the evolution of the family structure as the family grows apart after a tremendous loss.
3. Life of Pi - by Yann Martel: The son of a zookeeper is set adrift on a life raft with wild animals when their trans-oceanic ship sinks. Though the majority of the story is set at sea, the reader is exposed to various elements of Indian culture through stories from the protagonist’s childhood in India and how life circumstances changed.
4. Holy Cow! - by Sarah Macdonald: A cynical recount of one young woman’s return to India after a miserable Indian backpacking experience in her youth, Holy Cow is interesting if not the most serious of reads. While the tone is often sardonic and a bit harsh, Macdonald doesn’t hide any of the details or critiques of modern India.
5. Shantaram - by Gregory Roberts: Shantaram depicts one man’s moral development in India after escaping from an Australian prison. This book is SUCH a page turner that it won’t take you as long as you’d think to read its 900+ pages.

Have any great books about India to recommend to other travelers? Tell us about them in the comments section below or on Facebook! (Click here if you can’t see the comments: Trying to Understand India: 5 Best Books about India)

Check out Plaza Mayor in Madrid! Photo by Author.

Free Madrid!

And I don’t mean it in a “Save the Whales” kind of way. I actually want to tell you about free stuff to do in Madrid.

Madrid’s architecture is an eclectic blend of various centuries and influences, the art scene is both progressive and nostalgic, and the historical sights are extravagant and carefully preserved. The city of Madrid is an essential stop on any European vacation.

Madrid is the last extended stop on my year-long adventure, I’m pinching centimos as this point…  Whether you’re on a tight budget or simply looking to check out some of the city’s best, this is a guide for getting the most out of your Madrid vacation without overspending! (Please Note: This article was written on 7/28/12. Prices and hours of availability may change.)

• El Museo del Prado for Free European Art: Housing Las Meninas, a famous work of Velázquez, El Prado is regarded as one of the most important museums in the world. Tickets are always free for kids and students (with proof), but there are certain times that adults can check it out for free too! El Museo del Prado is free for adults on Monday-Saturday from 6-8pm, on Sundays, and on holidays from  5-7pm.
• Museo Reina Sofia for Free Modern Art:This super-funky modern art museum has a lot of new exhibitions from contemporary artists but also displays the works Dali and Picasso’s Guernica. If you want to visit for free, the museum is free of charge on Monday-Friday between 7-9pm, on Saturday from 2:30-9pm, and on Sunday from 10am-7pm.
• El Tigre for Free Tapas: The once local secret, El Tigre, is now packed out with people who heard the news. At El Tigre, any drink purchase earns you a plate of free tapas. I repeat, FREE TAPAS. While the tapas are occasionally just a greasy plate of patatas bravas, you can also get jamón serrano and tortilla española amongst other Spanish favorites. You might want to seek out tapas elsewhere if money is not an issue, but if you want a sangria and some snacks, you really can’t beat the price at El Tigre.
• Madrid Free for Free Current Activities: Madrid Free is a website that delivers exactly what you would expect… listings of free things to do in Madrid. The site advertises everything from art expositions to film festivals to outdoor concerts to hiking trails. Whatever you want to do, Madrid Free probably has something for you. *While the site does have an “English” option, it filters out the majority of current listings. Translate the page or try to read in Spanish for the most info.
• El Sol for Free Going Out: Madrid stays up LATE. If you’re interested in free drinks or free admission into any of the hundreds of bars and clubs near the city’s heart, head out before midnight. Promoters hang out near El Sol metro station, and with a flyer, you can get anything from free chupitos to mojitos depending on the night.
• Around Town for Free Sights: The outdoor wonderland of former royal families, Parque de El Retiro (Retiro Park) is always a free place to hang out, play, or picnic. Another must see in Madrid is the Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace) although you’ll only get to check out the outside free of charge. You can always hit El Rastro on Sunday to scour through secondhand wares, or just go for a stroll and check out the scene. Furthermore, the Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, and GranVía are all outdoor marvels that won’t cost you a dime.

Have you ever visited Madrid? What recommendations do you have for other travelers about free or inexpensive things to do in the city? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook!

View of Barcelona from Park Güell

Big bonny boulevards bend around Gaudí’s grand Güell and grandstanding Gothic genius. Museums, Monserrat, Modernisme and mosaics create a Catalonian cloud nine.

Now I’m no poet, but Barcelona just lends itself to alliteration.

It’s a city engrossed by the sea, settled along the hills, filled with history and bustling with modernity. To put it simply, Barcelona is almost perfect. Whether you’ve got a couple of days or a couple of weeks to explore this Catalonian capital city, there are more than a few things that you shouldn’t miss. Here are the 6 best things to do in Barcelona:

El Dragon at Park Güell

1. Experience Gaudí: Two of  the most famous works of Antoni Gaudí, Park Güell and La Sagrada Familia, are among the most impressive sights in Barcelona. Their grandeur alone demands a visit, but their appeal extends past their size alone; the works of Gaudí are not only innovative and quirky, but quintessentially Barcelona.
2. La Boqueria at La Rambla: Though it is deemed the main tourist drag, Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria is a comprehensive–albeit a bit inauthentic–way to experience the cuisine of Barcelona. La Boqueria serves up a visual smorgasbord of fresh fish, gourmet tapas, dried fruits, cured meats, aged cheeses, and other Mediterranean favorites.
3. Montserrat: The mountaintop monastery at Montserrat, just outside the city, is a fascinating way to spend a day. Save your breath by making your ascent by bus or cable car, and lose it again as you look out across the sprawling city of Barcelona. For the views alone, this day trip is well worth the trek.
4. Tapas y Bebidas: As a food lover and wannabe Sangria connoisseur, tapas are probably my very favorite part of Spanish culture. Eating these bite sized appetizers–typically composed of a toasted piece of bread and some configuration of cured meats, fish, cheeses, and tomatoes– is probably one of the most delicious (eh… important) activities for any traveler in Spain. Check online ahead of time for special promotions like 1€ tapas on certain nights of the week!
5. Visit a Museum: You didn’t think  I was going to let you leave Barcelona without visiting an art museum, did you? Museu Picasso is the most popular museum in Barcelona and houses many of Picasso’s early works. If Picasso’s sketches are not your style, there are plenty of other museums for every interest like el Museu del Futbol Club Barcelona for “soccer” enthusiasts or el Museu de la Música for instrumentalists and music lovers.
6. Hit the Beach: Perfect sand, perfect waters… no further explanation required. Go.

Image provided by Rick Romancito

Summertime always makes me nostalgic for my hometown of Taos, NM.  Taos is one of those places that lingers, sticks to you, gets under your skin. They don’t call New Mexico “The Land of Enchantment” for nothing. There’s something about the never ending blue skies, the smell of chamisos (sagebrush) and the protective gaze of Taos Mountain that seduces the senses. There really isn’t a bad time to visit Taos, but if you’re looking for a cultural experience like none other, time your visit during the Taos Pueblo Powwow.

Taos Pueblo is the oldest still inhabited Native American community and is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a National Historic Landmark. The Red Willow people of Taos Pueblo have been living there for over 1,000 years. To say this site is historically rich is an understatement.

This weekend from July 13^th – 15^th you can experience the culture of Taos Pueblo while being introduced to the music and dance of different Native people from all over the nation.  There will also be booths from which you can purchase jewelry, pottery and many other mediums of arts and crafts. While there, be sure to eat some fry bread and red chile for me – seriously, you will never find red chile like this anywhere else. It is the best! Yes I said it, the best!

While you may not want to leave the Pueblo grounds, take some time to walk around Taos. You may just happen across the many murals that were done by the father of yours truly . . . here is a hint.

Have you seen this mural? Where is it located?

For more details on the Taos Pueblo Powwow, click here.

Image provided by Flickr Rob Sinclair

What do you think of when you hear the words Rocky Mountains? Jagged mountain ranges? Big open skies? Breathtaking views?

What if I told you that not only could you get all of the above, but you could also throw world-class entertainment into the mix? Pack your bags, you now have another reason to visit Colorado, aka the Rocky Mountain State. What is it? Well, Red Rocks Amphitheater of course!

What is Red Rocks Amphitheater? It is a geologically formed amphitheater that provides acoustic perfection! It is the only one of its kind in the world! Based on that alone, it’s not hard to understand why we Coloradans are obsessed with Red Rocks. You can literally fulfill all of your summer needs here.

• Exercise: This is one of the best places to get your fitness on. Once the weather starts to warm up there are so many Boot Camps that you can partake in. Join a group or go alone–running the stairs at Red Rocks is no joke. Best part is as long as there isn’t a show or festival going on the park is free!
• Hike: Walking around the Amphitheater can be a trek in itself, but the area surrounding contains some great hiking trails.
• Film on the Rocks: Wait, what?! Yes, during the summer Red Rocks Amphitheater, the Denver Film Society, and the Arts & Venues Denver collaborate to bring iconic movies to the masses at an affordable rate.  You can find me this year at the showings for Spirited Away and (ahem) the Notebook – Ryan Gosling – I’m just sayin’.
• Concerts: I mean hello! Red Rocks is a favorite place to play for so many artists. And I am going to say it; there is no such thing as a bad show at Red Rocks. Seriously, Yanni, would be amazing here – no offense to the Yanni fans out there. You have: your favorite bands, the massive, awe-inspiring sandstones that give the venue its name, panoramic views of Denver and guaranteed amazing sunsets!

I can go on and on but it won’t do you any good. This is something you need to experience for yourself.  Trust me, one show here and I am certain you too will prefer to spend your summers on the rocks.

Check out their website for more information about the history, geology, and events at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

Who would you love to see at Red Rocks? Better yet, what was your favorite show at Red Rocks?

Enjoying The Denver Chalk Art Festival

I love festivals. My kids love festivals. I admit it – we are the festival kind of people. We love themes and all that people do to embrace and celebrate them.  I’m also not embarrassed to say that kitschy equals better in the rating of festivals. The joke in our family is if there is a crowd, my husband deliberately goes the opposite way. I, on the other hand, run towards it to see what all the excitement is about. That many people can’t be wrong!

Our community seems to have an abundance of festivals. I’m positive yours does too – you just need to uncover them.  A quick Google search for our state + festivals led me to multiple sites with calendars full of festive celebrations.  We have paid tribute to dragon boats, peaches, chalk art, apples, summer, fall and multiple nationalities and cultures just to name a few.

If you are new to the festival scene, this summer is the perfect time to get acquainted. The lazy days of summer combined with long daylight filled hours make them super easy to enjoy.

When I travel, I like to see if the trip coincides with any celebrations big (or small) in our destination.  If you are like me and love a crowd celebrating, then a festival might be just what the doctor ordered to enhance your connection with the community you are visiting.

I’ve rarely met a festival that I didn’t love. There’s a certain sense of camaraderie that develops when strangers get together to celebrate a common (or random) interest.  But then again, that sums up travel and why many of us love to explore our world.  Common experiences and settings often breed alliances and friendships that make this a small world after all.

Do you love festivals? What unusual festivals have you experienced? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

The Raj Mandir Theater. Photo Taken by Paula Anderson, friend of Author.

It’s glitzy, glamorous, and rhymes with Hollywood… it’s the very dramatic, very Indian, and very fabulous Bollywood!

After a hectic venture to the train station, we arrived at the infamous, enormous Raj Mandir Theater in Jaipur, India for a screening of House Full II. Though we may not have been in the actual Bollywood, the big screen and buzzing crowd was enough to make it feel like the real deal.

We bought snacks of Samosas, lemon sodas, and chocolate bars. When I asked if he had change for a 100 rupee bill in the changeless Jaipur, he responded “No Problem!”, yet administered my 5 rupees change in the form of cheap candy. Oh well…

The lights faded in the lobby 15 minutes before the screening and the illuminated theater revealed a crowd dawning silk saris and traditional tunics. We slid into a row amongst Indian teenagers and families, and by the number of stares, soon recognized that we were the only foreigners at this screening. We found refuge from the attention as the lights dimmed, but then the true ridiculousness began.

Imagine a story of trickery and deception encompassed in an extravagant display of physical comedy, enormous group dance numbers and a Hinglish script.

The Big Twist Revealed at the Wedding. Photo by Friend of Author.

We were able to work out the bits about an arranged engagement that sours when the man finds a new woman to love. Then, in attempt to seek revenge on another family, a series of staged engagements converge on an island, in a house divided, and eventually in a palace for a wacky yet tremendous eight person Bollywood wedding.

Don’t get it? Probably because even after watching it, the movie made just enough sense to be terribly confusing.

Though the finer details of the twisted plot were lost in translation, plenty of drama, some shoddy special effects and the occasional English “What have you done?!” served as an illuminated walkway to eventual understanding.

So my very first venture to a Bollywood film was altogether better than expected. It was crazy but genuinely funny, well produced, and filled with elaborate song-and-dance numbers that were as catchy as the slightly modified Western originals.

Only the truly stoic could have left without breaking a smile and that’s more than I can say about most Hollywood romantic comedies.

Not interested in going to a Bollywood movie anytime soon? You can also check out some of the wacky movies coming out of the enormous cinema industries of the United States (Hollywood), Nigeria (Nollywood), Indonesia, Hong Kong & Egypt.

Have you ever had a funny experience in a foreign movie theater? Let me know in the comments below! (If you can’t see Facebook comments, click here: Raj Mandir and Mid-Day Adventures with Bollywood)

Photo by John Cooke

If you happen to know the way to Sante Fe, New Mexico, you may want to head there. And I’m talking ASAP. An 80 year old Vietnam veteran and former art gallery owner named Forest Fenn has buried a hidden treasure chest near Sante Fe that is estimated to be worth between $1-2 Million USD.

Here’s the catch. You have to find the treasure. That’s the complicated part and it has proved elusive for many. There are entire blogs, facebook pages and social media groups dedicated to finding this treasure and so far no one has found it. The treasure,  rumored to contain gold, jewelry and artifacts, is buried in the mountains near Sante Fe and Mr. Fenn is not talking. Actually he IS talking, but the talking he is doing is more code filled clues. The clues are found in the form of a book he authored and poetry he has written. So, if you are a super detective, clever and an adventurer, this rich treasure trove could be yours. So what are you waiting for?

Would you go in search of buried treasure? Have you ever gone on an adventure of unknown outcome? Do tell! (If you can’t see the Facebook comments section, click here: Do You Know the Way to… Santa Fe?)