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)

Coney Island

I just got back from a trip to NYC. I hadn’t been to the city in a while and was really excited to catch up with old friends, eat some great food, and of course see a show. With those 3 things in mind, I’m happy to say it was a successful trip.

I got to see Once the musical and if you have an opportunity to see it, DO IT! It’s easily one of the best shows I have ever been to and the venue is a gem. If you happen to run into Paul who works security, be nice to him. He is THE MAN! Seriously though, he let my friend and I leave during intermission to make a bathroom run, despite the fact that we lost our tickets! Not only that, there is literally a bar on the stage(!) that you can order drinks from!! They may be expensive, but they come in Once sippy cups (adorable) and they don’t skimp on the pours…

My last day in the city, I was invited to go to Coney Island for a friend’s birthday. I’ve never been and I was eager to get my hands on a Nathan’s Famous hotdog and stroll down the boardwalk. Little did I know that the highlight of my time there would be a roller coaster – The Cyclone!

Image Provided by Flickr User: Loozrboy

Heard of it? Of course you have! If you haven’t, well now you know. The Cyclone is a national landmark and was the first wooden roller coaster in the US.  It’s THE standard to which all rides are held. Here are some facts:

• The Cyclone made its debut in 1927 and is one of the oldest roller coasters still in operation
• Height: 85 feet
• 1^st Drop: 85 feet at 53 degrees
• Top speed: 60 mph – feels faster
• Number of Drops: 12(!)
• Changes in Direction: 16
• Number of 180 Degree turns: 6
• Number of Elevation Changes: 27
• Duration: 1 minute 50 seconds

There was something so terrifyingly wonderful about this ride. Don’t let the fact that it doesn’t look too intimidating from the ground fool you as it did me. I was not expecting so many steep drops. You know how most roller coasters are, they start you off with the steepest drop and then it’s smooth sailing from there. Not the case with the Cyclone. Once you have recovered from the last drop, you are jerked to the right and you find yourself falling again – lifted out of your chair – stomach in your throat – holding on for dear life. They say if you’re sitting in the back car you can actually feel the coaster lift off the tracks!

Once the ride was actually over, the #1 comment everyone made was how long the ride felt! Regardless of length, I can honestly say my equilibrium was off and I couldn’t hardly stand, as you can see in the photo:

If you are in the city, you should really take some time to hop on the train and head out to Coney Island to ride the Cyclone – it would also be a good idea to wait to eat your Nathan’s hot dog until afterwards… jus’ sayin.

And seeing as how New York is known for its food, here’s a plug for a restaurant you have to try. If you are in the East Village, check out the chic new restaurant Ducks Eatery at 351 e 12th street, New York, New York, and tell them Sonja sent you. Great food (especially try the jerky, pig ears and wings), great drinks and great people. I may be a little biased on the last one, seeing as most of the staff is from my hometown of Taos. And finally, here’s a shout out to Alie Valerio for providing the uncaptioned photos !

Have you been to Coney Island? What was your favorite ride? What did you think of the Cyclone? Share your comments below! (Click here if you can’t see Facebook comments: We All Know About the Twister But What Do You Know About the Cyclone?)

Image provided by Flashpacking Life

Every good traveler needs to expand their vocabulary every once and a while. Whether it’s learning a few phrases of a foreign language or mastering a local dialect in your own language, expanding your vocabulary is generally a very good thing.

I recently expanded my vocabulary to include the word funicular. A cable railway where a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other. Plus it offers great bragging rights to those who ride one.

Implemented throughout the world where steep inclines make transportation difficult, the funicular comes to the rescue.

Have you ridden a funicular? Have you encountered any other interesting modes of transportation with names as fun as funicular? (Click here if you can’t see Facebook comments: Funicular Friday Blog Post)

Cloudy Sunset in Cabo Polonio, Uruguay - Photo by Author

Sometimes you just have to run away to the nearest beach. You know, get away from it all.

One of the best places in South America to do this is Cabo Polonio, Uruguay.

This bohemian, come-as-you-are hippy town is famous for it’s lack of electricity and subsequent amazing star gazing. During my recent vacation to Uruguay, I decided it was finally time for me to check this place out.

Located on a rocky point surrounded by Cabo Polonio National Park, this is not your average vacation destination.

The only way to get here is to take one of the 4 x 4 shuttles that run hourly through the sand dunes. I recommend sitting up front.

My ride

Wooohooo!

Cabo Polonio is simply amazing. Travelers come from all around South America to rent a rustic cabin on these special shores. The most common activity is relaxing, closely followed by beach exploring, sitting amongst candle light and playing the guitar.

Fishing Boats + The Sea = Lucky Me

Lighthouse, Cabo Polonio, Uruguay

When was the last time you got away from it all? Tell us your story in the comments below. (Click here if you can’t see the Facebook Comments below)

Sunset in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Hold on to your hat, because I’m about to make a bold statement. ‘Costa Rica is home to the best sunsets in the world’. Don’t believe me? Well then check out these pictures I snapped on my last trip to Costa Rica.

To preface, my friend and I had just wrapped up an invigorating day of hiking and monkey-spotting in Manuel Antonio National Park. We decided to make our way over to the public beach in the heart of Manuel Antonio, with a cold Imperial (or 2) in hand, to catch the sunset. In my 33 years on Earth, and some 12,093 sunsets, this still goes down as one of the most awe-inspiring acts of nature that I’ve ever seen. We were so mesmerized that we stood on the beach, watching the evening surfers carry their boards in and out of the water under the purple sky, for over 2 hours.

Sunburned and Satisfied

Next time you’re in Costa Rica, allow Gray Line to show you around this amazing country.  Visit Tabacon Hot Springs in Arenal, zip line through the Monteverde Cloud Forest, or go white water rafting in Guanacaste.  The things to do in Costa Rica are as endless as the horizon!

Where do you think the best sunsets in the world are found? Share in the comments below! (click here if you can’t see Facebook comments)

“Sonja wake up, we’re going to be late!” Jory violently shook me from the best sleep I’d had since I arrived in India four days prior…

It was 5:30 am and we had one hour if we were lucky, to get through the gates to watch the sun rise behind the Taj Mahal. Everyone had expressed to us that this was the only way to experience it. They would swoon saying, “the lighting… THE LIGHTING!” I quickly threw some cold water on my face, collected my things, and ran out the door.

“Hola, Hola, Coca Cola!” greeted Omar, the rickshaw driver we had commissioned the day before. Amazed by his enthusiasm at such an early hour, we climbed in and relayed our desperate situation. The spicy, sweaty, floral scent of Agra attacked our senses as we flew through the eerily silent city. Dawn began to break and a sense of panic started to seep in, “what if we miss it?!”

Once we arrived we quickly bought our tickets, fought off beggars, peddlers, and even monkeys – only to discover we were not the only ones to have this stroke of genius. The line moved slowly as the horizon began to lighten. After being searched by four different guards, a precaution taken in thanks to the attacks in Mumbai a few months prior, we finally crossed the gates as the sun kissed the sky. There she stood white marble veiled in a pale pink glow, blushing, as if someone had drawn the curtains too soon. The water in the pool guiding you to the entrance blinked as the light hit the surface. We stood in awe, and being a hopeless romantic, I began to tear up, not only because of its striking beauty but because it was built as a monument of love. After a moment of standing in silence I looked over at Jory and was relieved to see that she was just as moved by the experience as I was.

“They were right” she whispered.

I smiled and responded “the lighting…!”

What travel experiences have you had where timing really was everything? Share with us in the comments below! (if you’re having trouble viewing Facebook comments, click here)

Midnight Sun | Iceland from SCIENTIFANTASTIC on Vimeo.

And why would you ever want to go there? Simply click on the four-minute movie above for your answer. If this video doesn’t make you want to instantly look up flights to Iceland, then check your pulse. Filmed during a period of 24 hours of sunlight, a.k.a. Midnight Sun, SCIENTIFANTASTIC captures exceptional images of black volcanic beaches, heaving geysers, ice blue lagoons and ever-moving glaciers. A visible organic wildness flows throughout this ferocious island’s scenery and geological forces ensure that this unruly terrain will always be ever-changing.

Main point: Iceland looks like the coolest place on earth (That’s my one and only cheesy ‘ice’ pun, promise).

By now you’re probably thinking “This place looks amazing, but when will I ever have a chance to go to Iceland?” How about on your next transatlantic flight? Icelandic Air offers competitive rates for flights between Europe and North America with options for stopovers or layovers in Reykjavik. For budget flights between Europe and Iceland, check out Iceland Express. Even if you just have several hours in Iceland, many tour companies offer transportation to or from the international airport.

When to go: Summer, specifically June through August. While there are things to do in Iceland all year-round, some tours and attractions are only available during the summer months for logistical reasons. The downside is that everyone else goes during this time and prices are higher.

What to see: The Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik, Northern Lights and much more depending on the length of your itinerary.

What to pack: Warm clothes and your camera. Weather can change rapidly in Iceland, so pack smart!