Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

How Much Would you Pay for a Turkey? Photo by Edsel L

It’s Thanksgiving time again, and while family gatherings, turkey, pumpkin pie, parades, and American football are the staples for most, the holiday takes different forms for everyone. Sometimes it can even take the form of watching cricket and eating pumpkin curry if you’re not in the United States.

Some celebrate Thanksgiving by flocking home, mashing potatoes and putting on the T.V., while others flee family obligations for the islands and pretend that it’s just any fourth Thursday. However, there is also a group in between–the people that are away from home for the holidays, but really wish they weren’t. They will spend November 22nd seeking out an American sports bar and roasting a “turkey” (or any bird-shaped meat for that matter) to be shared with anyone who’s interested.

Last year, I fell into the latter category during a teaching contract in Thailand, so this Thanksgiving, I’m especially grateful to be home and with my family for the celebration. It did make me wonder, though… how do people who live abroad permanently celebrate at this time of year? Is Thanksgiving abroad depressing? …unimportant? …better than at home?

NPR had the same question last year and surveyed travelers, expats, and service members about how they plan celebrate Thanksgiving from abroad. One contributor writes that roast ostrich might be on his dinner table in South Africa while others vow to recreate the full experience with expensive imported goods. While most have the food down, it seems as though the hardest part for many is figuring out how to catch the game… Check out NPR’s Interactive Map of How Travelers, Expatriates And Service Members Spend Thanksgiving.

How do you plan to spend your Thanksgiving this year? And, how much would you pay for a turkey to make your Thanksgiving abroad authentic? Tell us about it on Facebook or in the comments section below. (Click here for a link to the full story if you can’t see the comments below: Cricket Games and Pumpkin Curry: Celebrating Thanksgiving Abroad)

An Especially Untimely Visit to Bangkok during the Floods of '11. Photo by Author.

The mistake of visiting Southeast Asia during monsoon season or Northern Europe during winter is one that you only make once. You may not even realize just how much the weather can affect a vacation until you make a serious misjudgment. Traveling during unfavorable times of year can affect anything from opening hours to availability to comfort, but there are some advantages to visiting during the down season. Before you travel next, at least check this list, then check the weather to make sure you’ll get what you’re looking for from your vacation:

• Stuck in the Hotel Room - In some countries, the changes in season are so severe that even the locals head to the hills (or the beach) for some refuge. Be sure to check online for drastic weather conditions in the country you’ll be visiting to ensure that you time it right.
• Is Anybody Home? - Certain countries take what seems like a nationwide vacation during the “bad” seasons of the year. If you visit Spain in August, you can expect the majority of stores to be vacant or the hours of operation to be cut short so the vendors can escape the heat. Check in advance that the activities you want to do are actually available during the time you plan to travel.
• The Jumbo Suitcase - Traveling light is an amazing thing. The first time you travel with JUST a 10kg bag for your week long vacation, you might never lug a huge bag again. However, weather conditions mean the difference between packing winter parkas & rain boots -vs- tank tops & flip flops. If you want to pack light, it’s best to travel during times where no jacket is required!
• Your Crystal Ball – Check out BestTimetoGo.com for comprehensive advice about… well… the best time to go to your vacation spot.
• Finally… forget all my other advice - There is a good part about traveling during “unfavorable” times of year. NO tourists. Imagine yourself wandering alone through world wonders that are normally packed. Sure, you may be covered to your knees in mud, sweating profusely or unable to feel your toes, but it’s still kind of awesome.

Ever been trapped in a tropical storm or caught underdressed in a blizzard? Tell us about your most ridiculous weather story from your travels in the comments below or on Facebook! (Can’t access the comments? Click here for a link to the full story: The Highs & Lows of Traveling with the Weather)

Carb-o-loading Abroad. Photo by Dave Pullig on Flickr

I’m not an addictive person for the most part. I’ve never seen the allure of cigarettes and I usually find a good moment to stop when alcohol is involved. I do, however, suffer from one serious addiction.

I am a snacker.

Even if you feed me a filling five-course meal after Thanksgiving lunch, you’ll probably still find me rummaging in the cereal box or digging through the fruit bowl before bed.

Sometimes this can be a problem, but for the most part, I swap out large meals for small ones and snack healthily to accomodate this compulsion. But, this also means that my supply for a snack bag on any bus/plane/train journey exceeding 2 hours is enough to supply a 1950′s fallout shelter.

On my travels, I have found that shopping in foreign markets can be confusing and that offerings aren’t always the same. Granola bars can be sparse while cookies, chips and overpriced in-flight meals are plentiful and tempting. So if you’re a snacker like me and panic before a long journey on vacation, here are a couple of healthy snack items I have found almost universally available to get your snack fix on the road:

1. Bread: Though the shape may differ from loaf to bagel to pita, nearly every culture integrates bread into the diet. Bread is easy to store, easy to pair and good to have around if you want a snack between meals.

2. Fruit: The variety of fruits available in foreign countries is perhaps one of the most fun food-related things to observe. Swap out your usual apple for a rhombutan or pomegranate, and enjoy!

3. Nuts: Nuts are high in protein and healthy in small portions. They are portable enough to keep in your bag on day trips or long journeys and sold almost everywhere.

4. Yogurt/Spreadable Cheese: While dairy is not a central part of the Asian diet, I have found that nearly everywhere in the world you can find yogurt or spreadable cheese wedges readily available. It’s not the most practical for long journeys, but if you want some protein, try to find some dairy.

5. Local Snacks: Look no further than the streets for the greatest variety of snack items. From momos to samosas to baklava, local food vendors are often cooking up interesting snack foods right under you nose. Walk slowly, browse the offerings and buy bravely.

What are your favorite travel snacks? Tell us about them in the comments below! (Can’t see the comments? Click here to link to the full story: The Traveling Snacker’s Guide to Long Bus Rides)

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)

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!

Part of the Author's Geocaching Team

Ok, I’d admit it. I was late to the Geocaching party. Fashionably late but still, I was late. I’d heard people talking about geocaching and didn’t understand the language they spoke. They wrote things like TNLN, TFTC and FTF? Their Facebook pages seemed alive with interesting activity. Intrigued, but still confused, I wondered if I too could be one of these treasure-seeking players?

The truth is anyone can go Geocaching. It’s great for travelers of all ages and it can be enjoyed almost everywhere.  It’s free and easy to figure out and requires very little in terms of knowledge or equipment. In other words, it’s perfect for my family! I recently took my 3 kiddos, my mom and my nephew geocaching in rural Iowa. It was a huge hit. Our first find was an easy one, which built confidence in our newly formed team. With a successful find under our belt, we headed near my childhood home where the website boasted 2 nearby caches. The terrain was too difficult (think no trail, waist high foliage and 4 kids) so we abandoned those finds. We were not to be discouraged and headed out again to a new destination.

Everyone had such a great time; we are planning our next adventure and have gained participants who want to join us and get in on the action too.

If you haven’t tried Geocaching, you should give it a try. Try it on a trip, try it in your own hometown, but definitely give it a try. If this entire post seems like a foreign language, start by checking out our recent post about Geocaching to get the basics of this fun-filled adventure game: Geocaching Fever.

Are you a Geocacher? How many finds do you have under your belt? Share your experiences in the comment section below or on the Gray Line Facebook page. (Click here if you can’t see comments: Catching the Cache)

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)

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.