Salem, MA

A few pictures to go along with my adventures in Salem. Mostly walking around, the Salem Witch Museum, the amazing food from Gulu-Gulu Cafe, and the lovely scenery. What a great town!!!

Dunkin Donuts

Apparently this is the place to get coffee. Not Starbucks. I'm all for Starbucks having competition. In Seattle we have Starbucks everywhere but also lots of independent coffee places that are amazing. Boston seems to mostly have Dunkin Donuts. And I'm not a big coffee drinker but I've been almost every day of my trip for an iced coffee to pick me up. And they are really good. I've also been on two commuter rail trains to different locations back to back and the train stations have Dunkin Donut stands so it was easy to stop. They have good muffins too. Probably donuts as well but I haven't tried one (yet). Funnily enough there's a Dunkin Donuts not far from where I live but it's more of a joke place, not really taken seriously, and also we have Top pot. Mmmmm top pot donuts. If you are in Seattle consume as many of these as possible.

Thursday: saving money

This post is applicable to my life RIGHT NOW. as I am currently in Boston for 5 days. I arrived early this morning and even tired from the red eye I am having a great time. The city is cold and feels like an older Seattle. I compare everywhere to Seattle, Los Angeles, and London where I have lived.
The airport is perfectly laid out and even with little sleep I wasn't confused on where to go. One of my favorite things about the metro and Charlie ticket is that when you swipe into the metro IT TELLS YOU YOUR CARD BALANCE. this is nothing short of genius. Oh, only $1 great, I can reload before I get on again. No need to get denied and all that awkwardness. It's perfect.
Ok Thursday. Saving money. I'm actually using this tip while on this trip so get ready!!! TIP: Splurge on one decent/nice meal a day. Keep the other 2 simple. Seriously. That's it.
When I was studying in Europe we had "family dinner" every Wednesday night and that was probably the only real sit down meal most of us had that week. It's expensive eating out all the time! And staying in a hostel has a kitchen so you ca cook but that's not practical in a hotel. My friends and I were NOTORIOUS for taking advantage of the free continental breakfast. As in, eat a lot of free breakfast and then go back for more and stuff it in your bag for lunch. Usually, in Europe, this meant cereal and yogurt for breakfast. And then grabbing a roll or two, meat and cheese (a staple European breakfast buffet) and making a couple sandwiches. They would be eaten later, while we were out, a little squished but FREE.
That's essentially what I'm doing here. I have a continental breakfast. I'm not hoarding food for later though. I will however grab a cheap sandwich, granola bar, or bread and cheese from the store for a meal that day. Just barely a few bucks. And then a meal that day be at a cafe or restaurant or market stand you have really wanted to try or that sounds really good.
TIP: I also really try to use my meal out for something I wouldn't normally get. Or something I couldn't make at home very easily or have ever tried before. ESPECIALLY if it's local to where you are. You can hardly go wrong there. That's why they are specialties!
So today, I had some free stuff on the plane, I went out to lunch, and will probably have a granola bar ( I packed a few) or something simple and cheap for dinner. And it will be a good reasonable healthy and cheap way to eat.


Also. I'm going to rave about where I had lunch today. It's in Salem, MA on the corner of Washington & Essex. It's called Gulu-Gulu Cafe. I had déjà vu at the corner when I saw it. I get déjà vu a lot but I knew it was a sign. I walked in, sat at the counter, and stayed for almost 2 hours. Don't worry I tipped well haha first they have a ton of fancy and unique beers and drinks. I ordered a cranberry iced tea that was delicious. Then after going over the entire menu I chose the Barcelona panini. It was smoked turkey, some fancy cheese I can't remember, spinach, apple butter and Dijon mustard. I chose it bc I wouldn't make it at home and it sounded unique for sure. IT WAS SO GOOD. I almost died. Amazing. It came with a little salad and potato chips too. And bc it was warm and cozy, with an INCREDIBLY friendly staff, and I had a fav book on my kindle I hung around over one of their specialty coffees: white chocolate raspberry latte. OMG. HEAVEN IN YOUR MOUTH.
If you visit Salem or live there TRY the Gulu-Gulu cafe. You won't be disappointed!!

Dear bloggers

This day being Wednesday is a look into future travel plans. I'm going to look very shortly into my future because I am currently sitting at the airport.

I LOVE TRAVELING.

I'm on my way to Boston. Firstly I'm going because my close friend from graduate school is getting married on Saturday. We haven't seen each other in 3 years. I can't wait for all the wedding stuff! It's going to be a blast.
Secondly I'm going because I have only been to DC on the east coast. Such a shame. There are so many amazing cities and I can't wait to explore this one
Thirdly, I love history and while I'm a total west coast girl we just don't have the same history that I crave. And yes that is one of the reasons I wanted to first visit and later study in Europe. The history. So I'm excited to go back in time a bit and walk the freedom trail, go to the salem witch museum, and stay at a hotel built in 1877.

I promise a few posts on this adventure in a hopefully timely matter. Time to board!

Monday: Pre Travel

Quick post for pre travel info: Take along copies of your passport....also keep them separate from your passport. i didn't bother with a money belt while i was in europe, it has a lot of mixed reviews and i don't like them. so my purse had my passport and i had copies of my passport (2) in my backpack. pretty simple.

ALSO. keep copies of your passport with someone who isn't on your trip; a roommate, parent, friend. someone you trust. also make sure they have access to your online banking if they are paying them for you. For that matter, set up automatic payments while you are gone. But i left my info with my parents JUST in case something would happen, it was 3 months after all. They had my online banking info, my credit card/debit card info, and copies of my passport.

It's just good knowing that you have that stuff if something were to happen.



PS. Let your bank know that you are leaving the country. Travelers checks are pointless now. we all have debit cards. But, your bank will try to close your account if it suddenly turns up with charges from a foreign country. ALSO let your bank know because they may have a sister bank where you are going. For example,  I have bank of america. Barclay's is a sister bank to BofA so i could go to any Barclay's ATM and withdraw   money without a fee. that was AMAZING because bank fees are expensive AND Barclay's are all over Europe (esp UK).

When I studied abroad, we had an account with a separate bank that linked all of us together for money dispersal at different locations. We also had a budget for the week. I used that account for the budget only, things related to the student side of my trip.  A lot of people i traveled with put all of their money into these accounts for use on the entire trip. This might have worked out well except the bank we worked with made an error with a bunch of the account (like 12 out of the 30 people traveling) which caused their money to go away. all of the money they brought with them. so while we were traveling through a bunch of countries for 1-2 weeks, our bank was trying to catch up with them. Needless to say they were very frustrated. Eventually it worked itself out but i felt much better about having money in 2 separate accounts so i wasn't stranded without, and that i hadn't put all of my money with that bank!


Finally, go with a little local money if you can. i mean, it's not a requirement, but for tipping or buying a bus pass it makes things easier. Or find an ATM at the airport but you can find the same rate or better if you go into your local bank before you leave.

Sunday: Living Abroad

No one ever tells you how hard it is to live abroad. Even in an English speaking country. It's hard because EVERYTHING is different. No, really, EVERYTHING.

But of course I have to say that it's totally worth it, if you are considering it then GO. GO GO GO. I miss London every day and sometimes wish i could snap my fingers and be back, for a few hours or for good. I'm 99% sure I will live there again. I can't get enough. (I was named after two people in the British royalty for what it's worth---it's my destiny!)

My first day in London was....interesting.  I had been once before for 2 weeks. Therefore I felt confident I could find my way around the tube and luckily I am very good with directions. My mom came with me to move me into my new life in London, this was her first time. She stayed for 10 days. I already knew I wanted to stay in Earl's Court. I stayed in Ravenscourt Park the first time, and it was a good experience but residential and far from the city center. Earl's Court may be about the same distance but it has a fantastic High Street with lots of restaurants and shops. A perfect place to stay. TIP: look at a map of a hotel before you book to see how far from the metro it is. ALWAYS. It's ok in the middle of your trip but being in a foreign place and with luggage is a pain to walk and walk and walk. We stayed 3 blocks from the tube. On a major street with lots of bus lines. It was perfect. Because I was moving I had 4 giant suitcases. (I'm pretty proud of myself for getting everything I would need for at least a year in 4 suitcases; at that point the end of my stay was not decided yet.)

TIP: In London, only a few tube stations have elevators, most large ones have escalators, but there are TONS of stairs. TONS. Which is not great for carrying a lot of luggage. With me moving we ended up taking a cab from the airport to the hotel in Earl's Court. Yes, it was expensive, but completely possible unlike the tube would have been. Also, black cabs in London are great, there are two seats that sit face to face, perfect for lots of luggage (in the trunk/boot) and at your feet.

TIP:Cars drive on the left side of the road. You know BUT the signs on the ground say look left or look right. take them seriously. If you are from the US PLEASE LOOK. There are buses, cabs, cars, lots of people walking around. Wait until you get used to looking the correct way before taking off. It can be dangerous in highly populated tourist places like Piccadilly Circus.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel, checked in, and dropped our stuff we sat for a few minutes. Got acquainted with the room and the hotel. It was small but comfortable. Then, since I already had a meal in mind, we headed out. Taking our map with us. TIP: We walked up and down the high street once before we ate, it helps to know what's near you; restaurants, shops, doctors office, parks. We just gave it a quick up and down before ducking into Nando's for dinner. Ahhh Nando's. South African chicken. Definitely a cheap option in London, lots of locations, and DELICIOUS.

Since we had a late flight into London, we got in about 7pm, we mostly ate dinner, walked around, and headed back to the hotel. TIP; game plan. once you are fed, sit around and talk a little. NOW i'm SURE you have a game plan, but make a realistic one. are you really tired? do you want to go out that night? how about the next one? I spent the first three days looking for a place to live which was very stressful (despite my best efforts to find something before i left). So my game plan was more long term but get an idea of what you want to do the next day. So you can wake up and be ready to go.

TIP: go to bed local time. If you flew 9 hours from Seattle to London and don't sleep on planes very well like me, you will be tired. especially after also dragging luggage all over the city, walking a lot, and everything else those first few hours.If you get in at 9 pm, get settled and go to bed. however, if you get in at 10am, stay up all day and go to bed around 10pm. it may suck, it may seem like a long time, it may be exhausting but it will be worth it. FIRST, you won't lose the time spent in a new city sleeping and SECOND you will have an easier time adjusting to the time change. I'm great at adjusting forward to the new change (going East) for me it's hard to go back (West). but that's something i know and plan for. Jet lag can be a drag but here are simple tips (I will have more later): drink water or 7up, try to sleep or at least rest, and really try to get on a schedule when you get there.

I love talking about my time living in London and I hope my thoughts and tips are helpful for people thinking of living in England or abroad. I've got so much to say, check it out next Sunday too!

Blogging out of order: Saturday

ISIC cards. It's called an International Student ID card. There are a few versions. It costs maybe $15 and has your picture. Supposedly it helps you save money.


I did not use mine ONCE in three months across 12 countries. Complete waste to get. Maybe someone else had a different experience but I asked wherever I went if they helped or got a discount and never once got one. Fortunately it wasnt a huge expense but that's my tip, don't bother. I carried my student ID too just in case and that was recognized a lot in England when I lived there for discounts. I would call that good enough. Save your money. Say no to ISIC.

Today s my 26th birthday. I can't help reflect on some of the amazing opportunities that I have had that have brought me to who I am today. If I imagine my life differently, even with some of the frustrations I go through day to day, I am still relatively happy with where my life is. I'm happy I have the family I do. Lucky to have the friends I've made. And grateful for the moments that have changed me.

That I moved away I college and had to make tough decisions that have shaped my figure. And the good memories of college mixed in with the all the moving, hard decisions, ups and downs, and regrets. Everything is there for who I am today. And ultimately I would change vet little. And I have so much to look forward to. So many plans.

For Wednesday future travel it's pretty simple. I want to travel. Everywhere. To find a place to call my home for a week or a few years. To be happy in the moment. To lose myself in a culture and find myself again and to be content with what I have and what I want. To be happy.

And as my fortune cookie said today: life is about the journey, not the destination

Truer words about my life, my 26th birthday and this blog about travel have never been said. Enjoy the journey.

Tuesday Travel Tip

Journal!


No, seriously, JOURNAL.


It's the best thing you can do to remember your trip and look back on it for years to come. I journal in my normal life anyway, in a past life I was a good writer. And maybe got paid to write. But in this life I work a boring uneventful job.

JOURNAL.

You may think I'm crazy. Or it's not worth it. But it's the best thing you can do. I've taken several trips and have notebooks for each one and have filled them with stories of my adventures. They are AWESOME to look back at now. And yes for the most part I'm sure your travel info and pictures are on Facebook, twitter or Instagram. But there is still something about making a little room in your purse or backpack and sticking in a little notebook and a few pens.

I've sat in some incredible places and journaled. I've sat in a cafe in London writing about my week, in a chalet in the Alps, with a view of the pyramids from the roof of my hotel. It's worth it to have this physical proof that your trip existed and you sat somewhere amazing to take a minute to catch up, relive what you have been doing, and truly experiencing life.

I kept this blog while i was living in London and yet I had a personal journal I kept too. I would jot down a few things before class or on the bus. I would buy a chai tea and sit in a park and write. Anywhere I caught a few minutes.

And it doesn't have to be a novel. I love writing so my entries were lengthy. But just a few sentences. About what you did that day or how you are feeling. What you want to do next or people you have met. While moving across Europe for 3 months it was handy write hostel info, where the Internet cafe was, internationally calling codes, etc. it might seem weird but fun to look at now. Studying with people I got to know I jotted down inside jokes, favorite places, funny words and phrases. That's the stuff I like to look at now even as much as my thoughts and feelings at the time.

So get a journal. Take it with you. USE IT. find a cool place to write and catch up. Talk about jet lag, and changes in plans, and adaptability, and how you feel day to day, how expensive things are, an unplanned weekend trip, a new friend and their contact info, and where you stayed, favorite piece at a museum, or that you just sat in a park and people watched whole casually reading/writing and having a relaxing afternoon in a new place.

Trust me. You will be glad you journaled.

Seattle

Isn't Seattle GORGEOUS!?!? I love this city. not just because i live here. Because it is so beautiful, perfect seasons, nice people, and fun things to do. I grew up in a suburb of Seattle and have always taken the opportunity to go into Seattle for something to do. And there is SO much to do when you are here. I'm going to highlight a few things here. Fridays are local days which may also extend into the rest of the US because i haven't been very many places in my own country. But for now i will be ultra local and show you just how awesome Seattle is!

Transportation: It's pretty easy to get around Seattle. We've got buses, like everyone else. They are pretty thorough, easy to maneuver, fairly reliable. You can always take a taxi too. If you are heading outside of downtown Seattle (think Capital Hill, Queen Anne) there's lots of hills. So plan accordingly. It's a good hike, nice if the weather is good, but consider another travel option for a backup.

Weater: It doesn't always rain! I promise! It's usually cloudy. But we get sun breaks. And if you are local you understand weather terms; sprinkle, shower, downpour. They mean different things. Just make sure you have an umbrella (although we will know you are a tourist) and lots of layers. It can be rainy and humid. It can be cold and sunny. Wear lots of layers, bring a good heavy coat, an umbrella, and know that we have amazing cofee shops to duck into when the rain gets going to wait it out. And not just Starbucks, there are so many other amazing choices. Consider Stumptown and Cafe Fiore.

First things first, where everyone goes, and has a great time: Pike Place Market. It's open year round. it's got every fruit and vegetable you could imagine. It's filled with fresh flowers. Yes, there are fish throwers and it's fun to watch. there are little shops that sell almost any food product you can think of. The original Starbucks is there as well. You can spend hours, with the sea on one side and the city on the other. It's a must do and it's well worth it. Plus, it's free and there is so much to explore. It's worth spending an afternoon before moving onto something new.



Look at all of that amazing produce! Seriously, it's beautiful to look at and the food is fresh and delicious. The vendors are very knowledgeable and happy to talk about their stocks.


Go to the gum wall. It's under Pike Place Market. It's covered in gum. seriously. It's one of the greatest things us weird Seattle people have done. People love the gum wall. I try to contribute regularly haha People use the wall for backdrops in prom pictures and wedding photos. It's fantastic. Stand far away or get up close, there is a lot to look at for just being gum.


Space Needle. Everyone thinks of the Space Needle when they hear Seattle. It's pretty fantastic. It's beautiful, a good land mark, fun to visit. Definitely worth it. Although it can be expensive. The ride up on the elevator gets you to the observation deck, with fantastic views of the city. You can eat at the restaurant too, but it's a separate price for dinner, needs reservations and nice dinner clothes. It's expensive too. I've been once and I barely remember the food, it was just cool because it rotates, you can see the whole city slowly spinning around you while you eat. Close to the Space Needle is EMP, or Experience Music Project, which is an awesome music museum with interactive exhibits. For kids, the Pacific Science Center has everything a kid could imagine for a day of fun and science. Plus a great IMAX theater.

Parks: Seattle has great parks. A lot of them around the water front. It can be beautiful in Seattle and that's when all of the locals are outside. Flocking to parks with a picnic lunch, trying to tan our pasty white skin, or a long walk with our dog. Everyone in Seattle has dogs. And one of the coolest parks is Gasworks Park. It's an old gas building, they have left the equipment that you can walk around near. The dangerous stuff is fenced off but you can get pretty close and the views of Seattle are amazing. On a clear day you can see really far. There's a sundial on top of a hill that's worth visiting. You can relax, see kayakers go by, watch sea planes land, it's really lovely.

Museums: Seattle has FANTASTIC museums. Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Frye Art Museum, etc There are great exhibits going on all the time and it's worth checking a few of them out. The Seattle Library is a wonderful building with one of the greatest designs known to man. We have incedible THEATER. Check out a local paper and you will find a ton of great concerts and shows going on that are worth checking out. We've got national artists coming to town all the time but incredible local artists that we hold as local treasures and are definitely worth finding and seeing. Theater is good too, check out places like the Comedy Underground, Chop Suey, Showbox, Moore Theater, Paramount, Neptune, McCaw Hall. Great things to see and do.

FYI Seattle is beautiful at Christmas time. It's got beautiful hotels close to downtown. West Lake Center, part inside/outside mall is completely decorated and charming. 5th Avenue shopping is glorious, beautiful window displays and decorations. There is the Nutcracker at McCaw Hall, a must see. A giant tree on top of the Space Needle.

That's the jist of Seattle. There are so many great things to say and do and I'm sure I will have more to say about this city later. Check out the theater, a show, a park, and our awesome cofee. Enjoy!

Thursday: Saving Money

It's so hard to save money. it's soooo easy to spend money. it's practically in my nature to spend money. or at least culture to spend money. and it's hard to save money, even for something i really want. I've written about budgets before and i will write about them again but they are so so important. and it's important to remind yourself why you are saving money. Traveling can be cheap but depending on where you go or unexpected costs you can be out a lot of money too. the rule is true: bring half the clothes and twice the money.
I work a normal 8-5 job. i'm not at a computer all day. but i am super busy. And i don't make much over minimum wage. if i want to travel i need to do everything i can to make it happen within my limits. i have bills and student loans like everyone else but if i work hard to make travel a priority then i can have what i want, to add more stamps to my passport.
Make a budget. seriously. if you don't have one start right now. it's the one thing that is going to kepe you on track and focused on your goals. it's the only thing that really helps me stay on top of my expenses. Also, actively stick to it. i'm tempted by everything when i walk into a store, things i maybe need or will need someday. but it's about the here and now. i don't really need the latest movie that just came out. and if i really want it i can wait a few months until it's discounted. that's how things go. they will always be discounted eventually.
After i pay all of my bills my next step is put money toward my savings. it's usually 10% of my paycheck so that's twice a month i'm putting money into savings. Then I have a separate account i use for travel expenses. i put about 5-10% of each paycheck in there as well. that's the equivalent to a tithe if i was a religious person haha It's important to actively save for your upcoming trip.
Commit to sticking to your budget. And after a few weeks/months you will have the amount you need for a trip that just seems like "extra" cash you had lying around. Start your adventure!

Future Travel

It's a day late but let's talk future travel! I could go on and on with this subject. There are SO many places I want to visit someday! There is so much to see! So many adventurest to be had! I get a little old fasion about the whole idea of travel, I tend to believe I have a lot of money and free time and can fly off wherever I want with a moments notice. That's what I want to do with my life. Travel. And future travel is a good place to start.

So today's future travel idea: Three weeks off work. Three cities. Two I've never been, one that feels like home. Itinerary: SEA-NYC. Four days in the big apple. Then from NYC to Amsterdam. A week in Amsterdam. Then ten days in London. Before flying back home to Seattle.

I would be tired from the trip. Jet lagged, exhausted, and would have had the time of my life. I want to go to New York City. I want to see a Broadway show, see the Statue of Liberty, walk around Times Square, go to the Met. To sit in Central Park for hours. Basically cram as many touristy things into a few days as possible. I know I could go back at some point for a really deep tour of New York but I want to be a tourist in the one of the easiest places to be a tourist. To get caught up in the lights, crowds, beauty of the city. The reason people travel from far away places for a few hours in a big city.

Then I want to visit Amsterdam next. My usual reason for visiting a new place and the activities I spend doing while I'm there revolve around history. I'm a huge history nerd. I have loved every history class I ever took, read historical non fiction and fiction for fun, and plan trips around museum opening/closing times. Amsterdam has the charm of Europe. And I've missed that continent. I want to walk along canals and admire old buildings. I want to go to the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum. I want to wander through old churches. Ride a bike like a local (and fall a lot I'm sure.) It seems like a lovely small romantic European city and I can't wait to someday be immersed into the magic.

Finally, London. I dream of London. I dream I'm there, walking down familiar streets, stopping at my favorite stores, walking through the best museums in the world. London has a certain feel, it's comfortable for me, like an old sweater I left in the back of my closet and I want to find it again. I still have moments where I curse myself for ever leaving. I also tend to idealize. It wasn't a perfect year there but it held so much possibility and I learned so much about myself. I met amazing people, fell in love with an ancient city, and dream of a chance to visit again. Ten days would be perfect for a quick visit. It would fly by. And then I could plot my next trip there, and the next, and then the possibility that I could live there again one day. I would give anything to live there again someday. I could stay with my friends and relive the adventures by walking around my university, pubs, parks, and museums. When I first landed and dropped my stuff off where I'm staying, I would head to central London, walk through the London School of Economics, where I graduated. It's been three years and I can still see each corner in my mind. The students walking by, reading, hurrying. I would take in the library, go into the Garrick cafe, have a pint (cider and black for me) at the graduate pub (there were 2 on campus, one for undergrads and one for grad students). I would walk to the British Museum, then down Oxford Street, end up in Covent Garden with unique coffee shops and book stores. I would buy tickets for Les Miserables that night and grab a bite to eat at a pub. I'd spend the evenings catching up with old friends and taking in new sites, from the view of a pub haha. While my friends worked I'd head to Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Hyde Park, and do a few touristy things I missed. And not forget to visit my old apartment building, the small Ethiopian restaurant I ate at way too often, the elephants on South Bank, and my favorite chai from cafe nerro. It would be PERFECT. completely blissful. London is my happy place.

And then of course I'd have to leave eventually. Back to Seattle. Back to the real world. But that's ok because I had this amazing adventure and I know I will have another one too. And maybe someday I will actually get to live in London again.

If you've been anywhere I've talked about in future travel then I would love to hear your tips on where to stay, what to do, and anything else you got!

Tuesday Travel Tip

Honestly I feel like I have so many tips from the places I've been and things I've learned that this section might be all over the place. I may talk about pre travel stuff, things that happen while you travel, or even at the end, in no particular order. They can all be accessed by the tags at the end to find all of them together. I feel like the topic for the day is about as specific as I want to get and it would be too complicated (and also I'm not a Type A personality AT ALL) to go from beginning to end in terms of everything you need to do and remember. So it's going to be a bit random but I hope you stay with me because I feel like I have good tips to offer.

Like today's tip: FREE WALKING TOURS

Seriously. This tip is specific to Europe (at least I think so) but it's invaluable. Completely worth it. Look around your hotel or hostels for info. go online. ask around. check out fliers are tourist places and/or internet cafes. You will find someone has posted something about this awesome experience. Walking tours are THE BEST. There's usually info on the flier about when/where they meet. it's pretty simple really. You just have to show up. I've gone when there is only a group of five and then I've been on them when you have to pick another time to meet because there is a huge group waiting and lots of tour guides. They are the best way to dive right into a city. It's a first or second day activity. It drops you right into the middle of the city, with someone who knows the city, and gives you first hand look. It can be a great opportunity to meet people, give you an idea of where you want to go later, and ALSO a sense of direction in a new place. I find that to be really important. I'm not going to sit at a street corner with a map, I'm going to try to look like a local. And while the tour itself is a little "touristy" and you may stick out a bit, it's a good chance to retrace your steps with a sense of familiarity.

Every single guide I've had during a walking tour is totally awesome. They are friendly, full of information, and easy to talk to. They have a script that they've memorized but it doesn't come off as boring or rehearsed. They walk all over the city and may know a pub nearby you should check out, or a day for discounts at a museum. They like when you ask questions. It's more of a conversation than a tour. Most of the guides have been really funny and genuinely interested in giving you a glimpse of the city.

It's a good opportunity to get a feel for a city. You don't have to stay with them the whole time, you can wander off into a market or park. It's nice to know that the tour is always there to join later in the afternoon or the next day. There are always so many ways to see a city but mostly, for a lot of tourists, it's big buses with no roof and a guy with a microphone. Don't get me wrong, those are fine, I've taken many of those. But you can get the same info with a guidebook, a free walking tour, and an afternoon to wander around a city.

So. Take the free walking tours. Get to know the city you are in. Talk to a local. See the big sites before finding out the stuff you really want to see or revisit. AND tip the travel guide. Because they have one of the coolest jobs in the world (big city, no cubicle) and if you liked the tour then you want other people to have an awesome experience too.