Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Gray Line Hop-on Hop-off Bus Cruises down one of Madrid's Wide Boulevards

A few weeks back, I had the chance to take a Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour in Madrid and write about for Gray Line. Cool, right? (To read my write up about the full tour, click the link: Hop-On, Hop-Off, Hop Into Madrid). However, by the time I wrote the piece, I was already in a rainy Moroccan mountain town typing from a touch screen phone, so I had to skimp on the pictures. But have no fear, the photo blog is here! Now to avoid showing you the Madrid photos you’ve probably seen 100x before, I decided to amp up the contrast to make the pictures more interesting:

Step #1: Pick up your tickets and hop on a bus outside of El Museo Nacional del Prado (or other location)

El Museo Nacional del Prado - Accessible via Banco de España and Atocha metro stops

Step #2: Select your language option on the audio tour… I know you speak at least one of these.

Step #3: Alright…. let's go!

Step #4: Enjoy the Ride Around Madrid!

What’s your favorite spot in Madrid? Tell us about it in the comments below! (Can’t see the comments? Click here for a link to the full story: Photo Blog: Color Saturated Highlights of Madrid)

Sunsets at El Arco de la Victoria in Madrid. Photo by Author.

It was 2 months into my stay in Madrid when I first realized I had spent way too much of my time underground.

The metro had whizzed me to Sol, Argüelles, Plaza de España, Tribunal and La Latina so effortlessly that I hardly realized I had no idea where I was, really. And what was more, the feeling of comfort had begun to set in as it does when the novelty of a thing wears off, and my desire to move on to a new city had started to burn. I felt like I had done most of the things I wanted to when I first arrived in Madrid, but I decided I shouldn’t leave the city without taking advantage of my super cool job with Gray Line… So I hopped on a Gray Line bus for a day-long tour of the city I thought I knew.

Rather than utilizing the hop off feature of the tour to revisit places I had been inside more than a few times, I instead took a front row seat, plugged in my headphones, traded off between two of the 14 language options, and spent the day watching Madrid sprawl out before me.

Route 1 began on the curb outside El Museo del Prado (a stop on it’s own, housing the works of Goya and Velázquez). The city tour took us along the lively Plaza de Colon and past the walls plastered in political graffitti and other thoughtful street art of the grungy-hip Fuencarral. We breezed along the roads just outside of Plaza de España where theater companies decorated entire buildings with enormous advertisements for upcoming shows. Our bus swirled us down the ritzy Calle de la Princessa, and through the university neighborhood of Argüelles where students sipped coffee at roadside cafes while reading chemistry textbooks. We passed the absolutely enormous El Palacio Real and cruised the wide boulevards of Plaza de Isabel to Calle Mayor. Curving steadily around the city’s many roundabouts and looking up at the should-be-famous buildings lining nearly every street, I watched how neighborhoods evolved into one another, transitioning sometimes smoothly and sometimes abrubtly into new ‘hoods and often entirely new scenes. The tour finally dropped us back at El Prado where I hopped off to start Route 2–a route showing an entirely different sector of the city–without much of a wait at all.

So it was atop a Hop-On Hop-Off bus amongst first time visitors to the city that I really learned the city I had been wandering for weeks. The rich history of war and reconstruction gave the city’s sights new meaning and I discovered a renewed enthusiasm for the classically charming, yet edgily modern Madrid.

I was never sure that I was the open top bus type, whatever that means, but my city tour in Madrid made me a believer. The hours I had spent browsing museums, strolling alleyways and munching on tapas all came together to form a mental street map. And rather than viewing Madrid as a fragmented city of destinations, I felt like I finally appreciated it for its atmosphere… I liked the feeling of Madrid and that’s something you can’t really get bored of. I suppose sometimes all it takes is a new vantage point to make you look at a place in a whole new way.

Stay tuned for a photoblog from my tour!

Want to take your own Hop-On Hop-Off Tour of Madrid? Check out the Madrid Hop-On Hop-Off City Bus Tour from our guys at Gray Line Spain!

In your opinion, what city has the best vibe? Is it quickly identifiable or does it take time to grow? Let us know in the comments below! (Can’t see the comments? Click here for a link to the full story: Hop-On, Hop-Off, Hop Into Madrid)

"...Counting Cows as I Drift Off to Sleep." Photo courtesy of public-domain-image.com

Despite my professed apathy for a straight cup of cow milk, I truly love cheese, ice cream, yogurt and all other milk byproducts. That’s what made my transition to the travelers diet quite heartbreaking. In spite of spicy noodles, savory stews and tangy stir-fries, I couldn’t stop thinking… where’s the cheese?

October 20th, 2011 - Indonesia: “…Amazing! I love Asian food. Dumplings, sate, and fried rice galore. Saw some American guys eating hamburgers at McDonalds… heh. What a cop out! I could eat this kind of food forever.”

January 3rd, 2012 - Thailand: “…I’m slipping. I have reverted to my old ways of yogurt and cereal for breakfast even though it has nearly doubled my daily food budget. Yesterday, I bought a block of cheese that tasted more like salted plastic and grass than cheese–I ate it anyway. My idea of a diet is only having one Chocolate Royale cone a day. I also ate from a block of goat feta that my friend’s family carried to Thailand in a suitcase on a 17 hour flight. Desperate times have already fallen, and 10 months remain.”

April 27th, 2012 - India: “…Paneer is cheese! But it’s spongy and wet. Hmm… this isn’t too much like cheese after all. Where’s the cured cheese? The ice cream is usually freezer burned and the yogurt sits in unrefridgerated pyramids with the excess dripping down the bottles… I tried my luck with the ice cream. I got sick. I guess now I really have to wait”

June 30th, 2012 - Israel: “Yogurt and spreadable cheese wedges! Ice cream is still outlandish, but I think we’re definitely moving back into milking territory. Staying with a family friend that buys REAL cheese. Life couldn’t be better.”

August 8th, 2012 - Spain: “Milk, gelato and cheese, woohoo! Cream soup, cream cheese, cream sauce, oh no. I think I’m going to be sick.”

October 20th, 2012 (Prediction) - USA: “Checking out at the grocery store with a cart full of ingredients to make Pad Thai… my bottle of fish sauce costs three times more than my block of swiss cheese. Oh, how things change.”

Alright, foodies. What food do you miss the most when you travel? Give me your most vivid description in the comments below or on Facebook. (Can’t see the comments below? Click here for the link: Dairy Diaries of an International Traveler)

Baking cookies is also in the job description. Photo by author.

Puppet shows, hair braiding sessions, and sing-alongs are all in a day’s work. I feel like I’m living the life of a modern day Maria… Maria Von Trapp, that is.

I’m an au pair for three little girls in Spain, but I feel more like a very involved big sister. What else do I do? I hang out at the pool, enjoy Spanish style three course meals, and create far more crafts than the average twenty three year old. I also help with English homework and speak English while playing pretend and reading aloud. I spend my days living in and learning about Spanish culture, my evenings taking a language course, and my weekends exploring a foreign city.

Who knew this was a job?

What is Au Pairing? Au pairing is a cultural and language exchange for young adults. In exchange for board, lodging and a small weekly stipend, the au pair helps the family with childcare and light household tasks. Au pairing is not the same as nannying or housekeeping.

Who Should Be an Au Pair? Becoming an au pair is a great opportunity for young people to learn another language and experience another country through living with a local family. Au pairs should be kid loving, patient, open minded, willing to teach their native language, and relatively free of additional financial responsibilities. 

Where Can I Au Pair? There are families seeking au pairs in nearly every country in the world. While the hours, pay, and responsibilities vary slightly and the experience varies significantly, you can work as an au pair almost anywhere. Check out some of the listings on Au Pair World.

Why Should I Au Pair? If you want to live abroad, gain childcare experience, or study a foreign language in-country, there is hardly a more affordable option. Along with valuable life skills, you learn a lot about how real families function around the world, and it can be a great experience to fully integrate yourself into another lifestyle for a period of time.

What are your thoughts on this kind of cultural exchange? Do you have any questions? Have you ever done anything like this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! (Click here if you cannot see the comments: Au Pairing Abroad)

To Shake, or not to Shake? Photo from photozoujp.com

If you’re more comfortable with the distant wave or firm handshake, traveling often requires you to get closer and more personal with people you meet along the way. I am, of course, talking about cross-cultural greetings. A cheek kiss or a bow feels a bit unnatural and rigid at first, but with a little practice, you’ll be initiating kisses and nodding first to new friends without looking awkward. Though the greetings vary significantly depending on the familiarity and formality of the setting, you have to start somewhere. Whether for work, travel, or fun at home, here’s a brief guide to international greetings:

Greetings in Asia: While the bow varies in style from country to country, it is a very typical greeting throughout Asia. How do you bow? Well, the Thai wai looks best with elbows in to your sides and your hands just below your chin, and the Japanese ojigi is typically a bend initiated at the waist rather than at the hips. It seems simple, but I’ve found the bow to be one of the more difficult greetings to master. It’s probably worth asking a local friend for some tips.

Greetings in Europe: Europeans love their kisses–sometimes just one, sometimes three, some beginning on the left cheek, and others on the right. Typically, its more of a cheek to cheek touch with a “smooch” sound rather than a drooly lip plant on your new friends cheek. Spain’s two cheek kisses usually go from right to left while the faire la bise varies in number by city.The best guide to European kissing is to just watch it happen in the streets a few times, then go for it.

Greetings in North America: North Americans are well-known for their excessive grins and firm handshakes. There are entire books on the art of the perfect handshake, but here’s a quick overview United States handshake rules: always use your right hand, apply enough pressure, make eye contact, and don’t let it linger too long. My advice is to practice it on a few people, feel their grip, and try to apply it on your own shake.

Greetings in South America: Many countries in South America have a visibly touchy culture, so it only makes sense that the greetings would be a hug and a kiss. Typically, Argentinians give one kiss on the cheek, while Brazilians give between one and two kisses depending on the region. As always, watch and learn, then go for it.

Ever had an awkward greeting abroad? Tell us about it on Facebook or in the comments section below! (Click here if you can’t see comments: French Kissing and Other Casual Greetings)

Photo of La Tomatina Festival courtesy of www.arteyfotografia.com

It’s the last Wednesday in August. You know what that means!

What… you don’t?

Today is the day for La Tomatina festival! What is La Tomatina? Well, more specifically than “the most epic food fight EVER”, it is a festival in Buñol, Spain where people gather to throw over 50 metric tons of past-ripe tomatoes in the streets. It’s messy, its crazy, and most of all, its just really tomato-ey.

Originating in 1944 or 1945, this messy brawl has mysterious origins but a strong modern presence. La Tomatina is held annually and attracts anywhere between 20,000-40,000 tourists there to participate in a week of fun leading up to the tomato fight.

On the final Wednesday in August, the Palo Jabón event, in which people try to climb to the top of a greased pole to collect a ham–yes, a ham—prefaces the tomato fight. Around 11am after the ham is dropped, water cannons signal the start, trucks dump the load of tomatoes into Plaza del Pueblo, and the chaos begins.

But it’s not all unbridled fun. Of course, there are a few rules, like the banning other projectiles and a mandate that tomatoes are squashed prior to throwing… and other than that, its pretty much a free for all for one hour where alliances mean nothing, acquaintance is unimportant, and the only thing of significance is to hit as many people with tomatoes as possible.

If you are lucky enough to be near Buñol, or even Valencia, for the final week of August, make your way to Buñol for one of the strangest festivals you may ever attend.

Ever been to La Tomatina? How about another super messy festival? Let us know about it in the comments below! (Click here if you have trouble loading the comments: Gettin’ [Tomato] Saucy at La Tomatina)

Gazpacho Photo by rusvaplauke on Flickr.com

If you’re hungry for a Spanish summer vacation, but a holiday is not in the oven, there are still ways to enjoy the Spanish lifestyle with some time off at home. Sleeping in, eating relaxed three-course meals, taking siestas, and staying up late characterize the Mediterranean routine. With some minor adjustments to your day-to-day, you too can be living this dream.  By changing up your menu and your eating schedule a bit, you can change the feel of your break from the office altogether… without even leaving the house.

If you’ve ever been to Spain, you understand how quintessential gazpacho is in the Spanish diet. Served cold and full of summer vegetables, it is the light, fresh, quick, and easy first course option at nearly every meal. Want to create an authentic gazpacho soup at home? Here’s a delicious gazpacho soup recipe for you to try out in your own kitchen. Enjoy!

Gazpacho Soup Recipe*

2 lbs Ripe Tomatoes
1 Garlic Clove
1/2 White Onion
1 Green Pepper
1 Cucumber
1/4 tsp Ground Cumin
3 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 tbs salt
3/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Piece French Bread

Rinse, peel, and slice your vegetables into large chunks. Soak the bread in water for a minute, then squeeze out the excess. In a blender, add tomatoes, garlic, onion, pepper, cucumber, and bread. Add remaining ingredients and turn blender to highest speed. Chill in the fridge before serving.

*Recipe adapted from “Real Spanish Gazpacho from Spain” by MumofJuan on Food.com

What’s the best summer recipe you have from abroad? Tell us about it in the comments below or on Facebook!

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!

Photo courtesy of Cachemania

Are you still a Muggle? Or have you caught the Geocaching bug yet?

Geocaching seems to be everywhere. Literally everywhere. Currently there are over 1.8 million locations worldwide and that number is growing daily. I kept hearing about geocaching but wasn’t sure what it was so I decided it was time to do some investigating into this new pastime.

In a nutshell, geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game for adventure seekers of all ages around the world. Players have hidden millions of “caches” for you to find literally in every corner of the world. A cache is a small container (not always small – they do vary in size) which contains a log sheet for you to record your team’s arrival and the date that you found the cache.  If the cache is big enough it may contain a small treasure. You may take the treasure as long as you trade it for something that you have brought with you of equal or greater value.

Players find the hidden caches by using GPS coordinates and often additional clues to narrow the search further at the location. With a GPS unit or GPS enabled smart phone players navigate their “team” to the hidden spots and try to locate the cache. A team can be one or more people – it’s totally up to you.

Once you locate the cache in its secret hiding spot, you put it back exactly where you found it for the next team to discover and leave a note online for the cache owner detailing your visit for them and future visitors to read about. You can also leave notes indicating if you could not find it, if the cache needs maintenance or anything else that might help future players.

And the best part? It’s free. You can sign up for a free account on geocaching.com,  create a user name and start locating treasure near your current coordinates (there is also a premium service available for a fee).

Keep in mind that you definitely need a GPS enabled device. I also decided to download the Geocaching App for my phone and that made things super easy on the go but it’s not mandatory. As a novice player, I would also recommend tennis or hiking shoes (no flip flops!), bug spray, a pencil and maybe even a hat as you are definitely outside and some of the terrain may require you to tromp off trail. We have also learned to read the description of the cache you are seeking carefully as some are out in the open and easy to find making them great for younger seekers and others may require that you hike off trail or though difficult terrain which make them a better fit for those without small children.

You can also plan a trip using geocaching to break it up along the way. So far my family has found caches along a roadtrip we have taken though the middle of America to great success and new experiences. Kids and adults have both enjoyed the “game” as we have played it. It’s a nice way to see your own destination in a new way or experience a destination in a way you may not have expected. You may also meet other players along the way which is a great additional benefit we have discovered.

Have you tried Geocaching yet? What’s the most unique cache you have found so far? Share your experiences in the comments below or on the Gray Line Facebook page. (Click here if you can’t see comments: Geocaching Fever)

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.