Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

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)

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)

Author Teaching English in Thailand. Photo by Will Hoberg

Travel addicts usually have seen a long and impressive list of cities and sights. Whether Machu Picchu or the Eiffel Tower, it’s hard to uncover a world wonder that some people haven’t seen. So, the question is, after many years in the business of international travel, what’s next? Long-term travel! Whether for just a couple weeks or an entire year, staying and living abroad is perhaps one of the most satisfying life experiences that someone can give him- or herself. If you’ve got the time and the interest, here are five ways to keep busy during an extended journey abroad!

1. Work: If the bad economy paired with student loans or a mortgage are holding you back from fulfilling your international wanderings, working abroad could be a viable option. Remember that great trip you took to Costa Rica, or the wonderful experience you had in Vietnam? Live it out all over again in a whole new, extensive way, all while still earning an income and having a purpose. Examples: ESL Teacher, Hotel Receptionist, Camp Counselor, Freelance Writer, Au Pair, Web Designer, International Business(wo)man, Piano Teacher, etc.

2. Work Exchange: Work exchange is a relatively popular trend emerging amongst budget travelers around the world. How does it work? In exchange for answering phones or milking goats, hotels or home stays will hook you up with a free place to stay and meals. If working on a farm just isn’t your thing, get creative! If you’re willing to lend your professional skills, create a persuasive cover letter and send it out to some hotels in the city of your next destination. They might just be looking for a web designer or consultant around the same time you’re planning your trip! Examples: Farm Hand, Hotel Receptionist, Nanny, Barista, Bartender, etc.

3. Volunteer: An issue you’re passionate about becomes much more real and powerful when you spend some time working in the field. Arrange in advance, or if you’ve got extra time, just show up and get the feel of different organizations upon arrival. Whether you volunteer in a new city, state, or continent, volunteering is undoubtedly one of the most meaningful ways to dedicate your time and connect with local community. Examples: Health Clinic Worker, English Tutor, Editor, Orphanage Volunteer, Trail Cleaner, Guitar Teacher, etc.

4. Learn: Yoga enthusiast? Cooking wiz? Salsa dancer? What better way to hone your favorite skills than to practice them at their point of origin? Jump into an intensive week-long course or get your professional certification abroad. Often, the course itself is cheaper, and allows you to step out of your normal life and focus your efforts closely on your new trade. You’ll come home with a newly developed talent and knowledge of the local context. Now that’s expertise! Examples: Learn Yoga in India, Study French Cuisine, Get your Scuba Certification in Indonesia, Study Spanish in Argentina, etc.

5. Document: Whether you consider yourself a creative or not, everyone can wield a point-and-shoot digital camera, a FlipCam, and a pen. If you want a memorable way to document your vacation for friends and family, or even the world, spending some extra time abroad can be a fun opportunity to create a final project. Pick a topic, get to capturing moments and be prepared to work until it’s finished! Examples: Make a Video, Create a Slideshow, Print a Photo Book, Keep a Blog, Freelance for Magazines, etc.

If you’re planning your next short-term vacation or hoping to get away for a while, keep in mind that there are always opportunities to connect with locals and learn, no matter how long you have! Start off with some fun Gray Line sightseeing tours to get the lay of the land, enjoy the local food, explore the museums, experience the natural beauty, and then set aside some time to learn a new skill or volunteer your time, even if you only have a day. It will give you an interesting new perspective on a place and make for a vacation you’ll never forget.

And that’s a vacation worth my time and money!

What’s the coolest job abroad you’ve ever heard of? Let us know in the comments below! (If you can’t see Facebook comments, click here: Live & Learn [Abroad]: Five Ways to Live and Work Abroad)

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)

Photo by Author. Spicy, Crispy, Street-Side Samosas in Myanmar

Crispy empanadas stacked and sprawling emit fragrances that could make even the most finicky of travelers scarf down a plate. Pad Thai is twice as flavorful and half as expensive in Thailand, and street Kebabs after a night out in France have a higher turnover than their restaurant counterparts anyway!

Traveling offers an abundance of opportunities to sample local favorites and imported flavors. How could you turn that down? As long as you have a discerning eye, you can sample some of the best food in the world like a mad man without even losing a day to stomach grumbles.

Wondering how to eat street food without getting sick? Here are 4 essential tips for eating smart on the street:

1. Choose your Food Wisely: Sure a street ceviche and an already-cooked pork skewer look tasty, but only if you’re willing to gamble upon the food’s freshness. Typically, a smart street-eater might steer clear of meats and fresh fruits and vegetables in favor of something fool proof– fried, boiled, and seared are always good! Pick something that is stored and cooked to order for the least chance of contamination.

A couple options include Vegetarian Pad Thai, Churros, Chow Mein, Samosas

2. Follow the Crowd: Step down trendsetters, this is the time to do as the locals do. If a crowd of Mexican diners are vouching for a burrito stand, chances are it’s not only safe, but delicious. Also, the more people blowing through, the quicker the food turnover… which means less chance of a yucky stomach bug for you.

Eat at the standard local breakfast or lunch time to see the most popular places in action.

3. Screen for Sanitation: Food cleanliness is part of a huge realm of subjectivity and you’ll have to set your own standards when you see it– flies are a serious reality in many parts of the world and a quick rinse is considered “washing” at particularly busy food stalls. Use discretion and ask questions about water or cooking methods if necessary. Soon enough, you’ll develop a new standard for “clean” and knowing what to look for will make is not so scary anymore.

Watch them clean up the previous order to see if they’re using clean water and soap.

4. Eat it Anyway: Sometimes the best food comes from an establishment that looks flat out shady. If you’re brave, it might be worth taking a risk on a mango lassi or an agua fruta, as long as you know basic precautions (ie. purified water) have been taken. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and enjoy every last sip. Usually, you’ll have no problems at all!

Theres too much to sample in the world of cuisine to always stick to restaurants. Flavors emerge in an entirely new way and the breadth of local food is broadened significantly if you’re willing to experiment. If you’re new to street food, take it slow, but I’m confident your first trip won’t be your last! Enjoy!

Interested in experiencing the local cuisine? Check out one of Gray Line’s foodie tours on GrayLine.com!

Where and what was the best street food you have ever eaten? (If you can’t see Facebook comments below, click here to go to the full version of the Street [Food] Smarts: Traveler’s Guide to Eating Street Food Blog Post. 

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)

View of Granada from Bell Tower - Photo by Author

To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes;

to hear it is to see it with our ears.

Octavio Paz

There is no better place in the world for an international poetry festival than Granada, Nicaragua’s stunning cultural capital. Think of Granada as a well-dressed woman, color coordinated down to her perfectly painted fingernails, sipping on a glass of hibiscus juice under the shade of a Ceiba tree. In one word, classy. With its colonial architecture as well as its yellow and white bell towers overlooking Lago de Nicaragua, it is the perfect place to inspire poetry.

With this backdrop, Granada’s International Poetry Festival takes place every year, enchanting poets, artists and literary aficionados alike from around the world. It is an exceptionally international mingling of passionate writers, with over 115 participants from 59 countries including destinations like Australia, China, India, Morocco, Egypt and Switzerland.

For the week of February 12^th to 19^th, artists will spill their souls onto the uneven cobblestone streets as warm breezes blow the poetry into the air for your listening pleasure. There are also live musical performances, theater and a festive carnival procession, providing you with all the reasons you need to travel to Nicaragua!

For more information about Granada’s International Poetry Festival, including a complete lineup of poets and writers, please see their website.

In celebration of this wonderful event, Gray Line Nicaragua is offering 10% off the Colonial Granada + Lake Nicaragua Island Cruise Tour when you book before February 29^th!

Bucket lists are trendy these days, especially for travelers. And while I’ve never gotten around to making one (it’s on my to-do list), I know that seeing the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico would definitely be on it. Every year, the day after North Americans trick o’ treat themselves into a tummy ache, Mexican families invite the spirits of their deceased relatives to venture back into our world, luring their ghosts with offerings of sugary skulls, sweet bread and the necessity for any séance, blankets of candles.

Why would this be on my bucket list? Well, maybe it’s for the chance to see an ancient Aztec celebration that accessorizes with folk art, eerie altars and colored smoke rising into the air like lost souls. Or it could be those creepy skeletons dressed as mariachi singers, trumpet players and lonely brides grinning with full sets of teeth as painted flowers protrude from their eyes. Or perhaps because there is nothing more appropriate for a “things-to-do-before-I-die” list than a celebration that invites death to a party to drink tequila with friends and family.

Whatever the reason, not all festivities are created equal and here are the top three destinations on my itinerary.

1. Mexico City, D.F.

Home to famous artists such as Diego Riviera and Frida Kahlo, art roars through this megacity like rush hour traffic. The Zocalo, or central plaza, hosts larger than life displays of papier-mache skeletons laughing at themselves and the eternal joke of death. Visitors should also visit displays at the Museo Diego Riviera, Museo de la Ciudad de México, Museo de las Culturas, and UNAM. If you are looking to pick up souvenirs or just take photos of markets (my personal favorite travel shots), don’t miss the flower market at Mercado de Jamaica or the witch’s market at Mercado de Sonora.

For more traditional experiences, Mexico City is an excellent jumping off point to Mixquic and the floating markets of Xochimilco. Both are within the city limits of D.F. and can be easily accessed in a day trip.

2. Oaxaca City, Oaxaca

Magical by its folkloric nature, on the Day of the Dead Oaxaca is a city full of song, art and sand painting. Encouraged by an annual competition and artistic perseverance, offerings are made to lost loved ones with boldly colored sand in patterns of skulls and patron saints. Orange marigold petals are then spread across graves to create pathways for the dead, ensuring that they find their way home.

No trip to Oaxaca would be complete without visiting the nearby pueblos of Xoxocotlan and Atzompa which provide excellent glimpses into small town celebrations. Warning: Locals can be very weary of photographs and make sure to ask permission before taking any photos.

3. Lago Pátzcuaro, Michoacán

With church bells ringing all night long, candle light vigils and small wooden boats illuminated by torch-light, La Noche de los Muertos in Lago Pátzcuardo is the best place to summon ghosts–locals believe that the lake is thinnest barrier between living and the dead. On the Isla Janitzio Pátzcuaro, a special altar is held for those who have lost their children years too soon. While this is a very personal moment for the families, the locals welcome foreigners to observe their ceremonies and do not mind being photographed. The uniqueness of this celebration draws droves of visitors ever year but this supposedly does not diminish the celebration’s character. For those travelers wishing to avoid crowds (i.e. me) it is advised to go late at night, around 3am.

Sunset in El Salvador

I am having visions of sunsets across the Pacific Ocean, brilliant colors reflecting off rolling waves as surfers shuffle their feet to the sounds of a distant reggaeton beat. This is El Salvador. Long tarnished by the images broadcasted during its civil war in the 1980s, this tiny country is a surfing mecca often overlooked by the average traveler.

Surfers are lured to this coastline by promises of solitude in secret surfing spots as well as the warm waters that make wetsuits unnecessary.Just south of San Salvador lie the best surf spots. The closest is La Libertad, home to the longest right point break in Central America, Punta Roca. But as you head westward along Highway 2, you’ll also come across Playa El Tunco, El Zonte and Zuncal.

Beginner´s Surfboards

Sounds like the perfect place for me to take my first surf lesson, right? I sign up for an early morning lesson and my instructor greets me with sleepy, bloodshot eyes, evidence from last night’s party.  We head down the rocky beach and I fumble with my beginner’s long board which isn’t heavy as much as awkwardly huge. On the beach, he shows me some tips about how to stand on the board, paddling techniques, yadda yadda. Instead of paying attention I am envisioning myself impressing everyone as I effortlessly pop up on my board, riding a huge break towards the shore. In my mind’s eye, I look cool.

“Ready?” My instructor inquires as motions me towards the sea.

I instantly realize just how delusional my day dream is as I struggle to paddle out. My giant board is impossible to maneuver through the incoming waves and my upper body strength has picked the perfect moment to abandon me. Luckily my instructor stays by my side, encouraging me to push through the crashing surf.

Not me.

Once out of the impact zone, I spend the next hour in the water, paddling and falling off my board in the most unflattering positions imaginable. My pride is impatiently waiting for me on the shore but I could care less. It is hard work, but it is awesome. I feel much more confident with the support of my instructor, as he tells me which waves to go for and even gives me a little push to help me with my timing.  My heart races every time a wave creeps up behind me and I giggle with absolute delight just at the fact that I am surfing in El Salvador. I do manage to catch a few waves, not the epiphany moments that everyone else describes but more the “Eeeek! Stay on the board, stay on the board” mantra. All that matters is that at the end of the day, I am exhausted but stoked that I decided to surf El Salvador.

Costa Rica is truly wild. It is a nature-lover’s paradise, and one of the world’s great destinations for travelers in search of an up-close-and-personal interaction with the outer, exotic end of nature’s spectrum. Its biological diversity is nothing short of stunning. Hundreds of species of birds, scores of the world’s most exotic and unusual mammals and reptiles, thousands of strange and extraordinary insects, and countless tree and plant species are spread across the country’s diverse ecosystems.

Dense and flourishing jungles, pristine sand beaches, explosive volcanic ranges, dry seaside landscapes dot the nation. Rainforests, mangroves, reefs, cloud forests are all easily accessible to tourists because of the country’s unique geography. Living elusively among all of these dynamic ecosystems are human beings’ closest evolutionary cousins, monkeys. They are often at the very top of tourists’ wish lists when it comes to spotting natural wonders in the Costa Rican wild. Here are some hypothetical sighting possibilities:

Possible simian encounter #1: You’re hiking a trail in a dry, tropical forest near one of the beautiful beach towns that dot the Guanacaste coast. In the trees above, you hear a rustle, a rumble, and then some of the strangest, most haunting bellows you can imagine. Calming your nerves, your eyes then follow your ears in the direction of the eerie calls, and you catch a glimpse of Costa Rica’s largest, and loudest, monkey species, the Howler Monkey. Scary as they sound, Howlers’ aggressive calls belie the fact that they are, for the most part, docile and strict vegetarians.

Possible simian encounter #2: From a seemingly suspended volcano observation deck, your gaze turns lower to the rustling tree tops below. Swinging tree to tree, the distinctive white-streaked fur of a colony of White-throated Capuchin Monkeys catches your eye, albeit briefly because they move so quickly from treetop to treetop. Alternately curious and aggressive, the cute but conniving Capuchins are often the face of Costa Rica’s wildlife. But try to retrieve a banana one has co-opted from your fruit basket, and you’re likely to see their sharp teeth and sometimes obnoxious behavior on full display.

Possible simian encounter #3: Along the edge of one of Tortuguero’s jungle canals, the fast-paced arm-over-arm swinging of a long, slender Spider Monkey is hard to miss. They’re especially eye-popping when they take to the air in spectacular fashion, crashing noisily through the canopy, or when they dangle delicately with their prehensile tails. Their intelligence is unmistakable, but their numbers are diminishing because of their value to poachers.

So where can you turn these possible encounters into the realm of the probable?

You’ve got a good shot at seeing any of these species at Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s most popular destinations for wildlife travelers. White sands meet the Pacific Ocean just south of Quepos, and a lush rainforest backs right up against a series of spectacular beaches and bays, offering visitors lots of different things to do in Manuel Antonio. Another one of the more popular activities is sightseeing in Arenal due to the towering active volcano with sprawling rainforest surrounding its base. Monkeys can be found in abundance.

Other Costa Rican destinations with known monkey populations: Barra Honda National Park, the Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve, Juan Castro Blanco National Park, Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge and Guanacaste National Park.