All That Glitters (and all That's Tarnished) at the Golden Nugget

My guy and I just got back from a long weekend in Vegas. While weekends there are always on our regular travel rotation, we've never spent a lot of time in the downtown section of the city, so we decided to mix it up this time and stay on Fremont Street rather than our usual Strip hotels.

We booked our stay at the Golden Nugget Hotel, a downtown staple and one of the oldest hotels in Las Vegas. It was originally built in 1946, and has since undergone major changes and renovations, making it one of the top hotels on Fremont Street. It ended up being a mixed bag of good and bad, mostly good but there were a few incidents that left me thinking that The Golden Nugget might have a few spots that are just gold-plated.

We checked in and were given a room right away, which was much appreciated. We were put in the Carson Tower, an older section of the hotel. The room was "fine", nothing special, nothing terrible.

The next morning, we got up early to check out the gym and grab coffee. When we returned to the room, we were immediately hit with a strong and horrible odor as we walked in. I'd noticed a bit of funk the previous day, but chalked it up to smells from whatever cleaning products the housekeepers used.  But now it was much, much worse, like raw sewage. What was even more horrible was when I realized the smell was coming from the bathroom sink! So we called the front desk and asked if we could be moved. They were very accommodating and professional about it, and said to come down to the front desk whenever we were ready to move. B had a couple of appointments that morning so I decided to go to the pool for a bit, with the plan that we'd move to our new room later in the day.

The pool at the Golden Nugget is really kind of fabulous, at least as far as the layout. The lower level has a big pool area, and there is a "shark tank" with real sharks! A water slide takes you right through the thick of it, which looked to be pretty fun although I didn't use it. Here's a view of the large fish tank in the evening:

The pool area also has an upper pool, which is adults only. When I went there, I was informed that not only did every single chair there cost money, all the normal lounge chairs were booked and all that was left were the large round chaise loungers. Cost for that day (a Thursday) was $75 in food and drink. I decided to go for it, since $75 in food and drink all day for the two of us didn't seem unreasonable. It did bother me, however, that we weren't advised at check-in that there were additional costs for the Adult Pool. I'd assumed our resort fee would cover at least a basic chair at the upper pool, and it would've been nice to know in advance that we needed to book space there. I found out later that it is listed in the small print of their check-in information, but it felt like they didn't make much of an effort to make sure their guests knew of this policy.

I did end up talking to the front desk about it, and the manager there was very helpful.  He offered to upgrade us to a better room for no charge, since we were already moving rooms, and put us in the Rush Tower. These rooms are MUCH nicer, beautiful view of the city and a lot was put into the decor. If you stay here,  I would definitely see about upgrading to one of these rooms if possible.

So, our first day at the pool was nice, service was good, food decent, all in all a nice afternoon. We enjoyed the Fremont Street sights that evening, had a great dinner, did some gambling (I lost, as per usual!) and watched all the craziness go down.

Unfortunately, our second pool day is where it all unraveled.  We went to the upper pool again, planning to just go ahead and rent another round chaise for the day.  Because it was Friday, we were told that now the cost would be $125, not including food and drink. Sigh. But, same as the day before, all the regular chairs were reserved so it was either take it or try to find a spot on the lower pool (which I will say is stacked with people and by late in the day is incredibly crowded.) We decided to roll with it and got our chaise, which was on level two, an area that consisted of about 10 chaise loungers and some cabanas.

When we got to our spot, we noticed that the two chaises next to us had about 30 people hanging around (these are smallish round loungers, room for maybe four people!) Apparently, when you rent a chaise at the pool, you are not restricted as to how many "friends" you can have with you. So we endured an afternoon of watching this group get increasingly drunk, smoke weed, vape, and invade our space. At one point one of them even tried to sit on the edge of OUR lounger. We started talking to another couple who'd also rented a chaise on the same level but a few doors down. They said there was a bachelor party group next to them who was doing the same thing- super drunk, obnoxious and loud. By now we'd moved away from our old chaise to one closer to the stairs, as those people had left for the day and our server said it was fine.

The couple decided to complain to a manager about it, and the wife was particularly upset at the treatment she witnessed the female server dealing with from the group of drunken bachelor party boys. She said they'd spent the afternoon catcalling, harassing and making inappropriate comments. The server was a young, very pretty girl who was also working really hard to make sure everyone was happy, and certainly didn't deserve to be treated like a piece of meat. When asked about it, she simply shrugged and said, "It happens all the time."

The manager, whose name was "Jordan" I think, came to talk to us and I have to say, he really didn't handle things well.

Having worked in customer service and in the hospitality industry for many years, I think one of the worst things you can do when dealing with guests is to have a chip on your shoulder. Jordan came at us with a very defensive attitude, told the couple who was complaining that "if they'd said something this morning he could've done something then" and was very sharp-toned and dismissive. He ended with a sarcastic "Well what exactly is it you want at this time?" and ended up agreeing to take $50 off the couple's rental. He completely ignored us, however, and stalked off before I could even say a word. Obviously, Jordan was having a very bad day, and I'm not sure management is his life calling.

Even worse, when questioned about the verbal harassment that the server was subjected to, Jordan seemed to shrug it off. And I think that's what bothers me more than anything. Here was this young woman, who was working her ass off and just trying to do her job, and a group of drunken blowhards thought it was okay to treat her with zero respect and that it was permissible (because, hey it's Vegas) to let loose with their most misogynistic behavior, all with no consequences.  Never okay, and especially not okay in today's social climate. I'm not sure what the solution is, because I do understand that it isn't always within managements control, but it concerns me nonetheless.

There are a lot of positives I can cite with our stay. Front desk service was exceptional, Rush Tower rooms were great, plenty of nice restaurants, and the gym and spa area were all well-appointed. The casino was nicely laid out and the tables tend to be a bit less expensive than The Strip, which makes it fun for low-level gamblers like me (did I mention I never win? Ugh!)

The location of being right on Fremont Street is also a huge plus. I loved the vibe of the downtown area and everything about the Fremont Street experience was a blast. Easy walking, lots to see (lots of things to see that are NOT child-friendly though entertaining for the grownups. Don't bring your kids here, just don't) some really cool bars and excellent food.

I think we would stay at the Golden Nugget again, but I would go into it knowing that we don't want to stay at the Carson Tower and we want to reserve our chairs for the Adult pool WAY in advance. Despite the issues with the management poolside, our overall stay was good and I'd recommend this hotel if you're looking for a bit of old Vegas with some modern touches.

Happy and Healthy Travels

It's been a minute since I last blogged (crazy how life gets in the way!) but I wanted to share one of my latest articles. I write content regularly for a few different sites and I recently wrote about how to avoid getting sick when you travel, an issue we've all worried about and all dealt with at one time or another. You can find the full article here, and I've provided a short recap below:

Wash your Hands and Wipe Down Airplane Trays, Armrests etc.
It might seem like a no-brainer, but washing your hands regularly and disinfecting areas where other, unknown hands might have touched is one of the most effective and easiest ways to avoid illness.

Be Careful of the Water
Contaminated water is one of the top causes of illness for travelers. There are often pathogens in the water in other countries that our bodies simply aren't used to, so it's best to stick to bottled or filtered water. Or be like me, and stick to cocktails. Much safer!

Stay Active

Keeping on track with your fitness is an important part of staying healthy when you travel. Walking, biking or making use of hotel fitness centers are all great ways to stay in shape, which in turn helps keep your immune system at its peak. 

Watch for Bug Bites and Get Vaccinated
Mosquitos are more than a pesky annoyance, they can be carriers for illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever. Use bug spray to keep them at bay, and make sure you are aware of any outbreaks in places you're visiting. Also, check with the Centers for Disease Control on whether or not you'll need vaccines for your destination.

Wear a Mask
I know it might seem kind of crazy when you see people wearing surgical masks while traveling, but doing this can help prevent some airborne illnesses. If a mask is too much, consider a nasal screen, which fits right inside the nose and helps filter out contaminants.

No matter where you're going, staying healthy during your travels is a very important part of having an enjoyable and memorable trip. Reasonable precautions, common sense and maybe an extra tissue, and you're good to go!

Out With the Old, in With the New!

I have to say, I'm not sorry to see 2017 go. It felt like a crazy year to me. So much upheaval in the political arenas and around the world, so much unrest and many horrible events that left people devastated. And while my own little corner the world remained miraculously untouched, I'm still happy to be welcoming a brand new year. New Year's has long been my favorite holiday, with fresh starts and new beginnings all around. The possibilities seem endless and I can never wait to see what unfolds!

Despite the overall craziness of 2017, I had some really wonderful and unforgettable moments. From new chapters such as my son graduating high school and my nest officially becoming empty, to amazing life events like getting engaged in Venice, Italy. I wrote a lot and got a few new gigs, as well as making the decision to go back to college and finally (finally!) finish my degree!

Here's a quick year in review of my life:

I started out January staying pretty close to home. We'd enjoyed a Hawaii vacation in December, so I wasn't really wanting to travel much. That didn't last too long, however, and I took some smaller jaunts in February, March and April. I got to visit my daughter in Southern California, with lots of laughs and a great hike to Escondido Falls. And we launched summer with an epic trip to see Jack Johnson at  The Gorge Amphitheater, a graduation gift for my son.

         

                                                           
                                       

We try to spend most of our summers exploring our own backyard in Alaska. It's easy to forget that we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and that it's actually a much sought-after vacation destination. So, we spent some time in Homer,  went day-tripping along Anchorage's Turnagain arm and I saw my son off to college in Fairbanks.

                                               
                                   

B and I were all set to travel to Oaxaca, Mexico at the beginning of October. as a screenplay we'd written together was selected as a finalist in the Oaxaca Film Festival. Sadly, a series of earthquakes hit Mexico City and the Oaxaca region in September, which led to the cancellation of the festival events. While we were disappointed that we wouldn't be able to see Oaxaca or attend what looked like a really fun party, we totally understood that it wouldn't be right to have this kind of celebration while so many people were suffering. We pray that Mexico City rebuilds and offer peace and love to its citizens.

The end of October brought our much anticipated and planned-for tour of Europe. Neither of us had traveled internationally for a few years, and surprisingly. we'd never traveled abroad as a couple! It culminated with the magical moment of B proposing to me as we rode a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs (check out my Instagram for the whole story on that one!)

 

                                      

We got back from Europe in early November and the rest of the year was a whirlwind of family, holidays and fun.

2018 is setting up to be the best year yet for me, both personally and professionally. My kids are both thriving, my family is all healthy and I have a wedding to plan! We probably won't be doing any international trips this year, but that's okay. I'll still be traveling several places within the U.S. and you never know what the year can bring. Right now I've got trips to Vegas, Oakland, LA and Hawaii lined up, and I'm trying to figure out how to fit in a trip to Nashville with my dad! More on that later!

That's why I love the New Year. No matter what kind of struggles you may have had the year before, there's a promise in a new year. A feeling of hope that overflows into our hearts these first few weeks of January. My wish for you, and for all of us, is that all the hope we feel right now transcends into peace, love and purpose. Welcome 2018, I'm ready for ya!

Home Away From Home with Airbnb

Because we travel so often, and because hotels can get expensive very quickly, Airbnb has become our go-to when it comes to finding lodging. For our recent Europe trip, we knew that being gone almost three weeks meant we had to balance our budget and not stay in hotels every night. Plus, when you're traveling for long periods like that, being able to stay somewhere that's a bit more home-like and offers the ability to cook a meal or lounge on a couch is really nice. And we love the way staying in an Airbnb apartment or house puts you right in a local neighborhood, giving you the feeling of living like a local and being much more personal than a cookie-cutter hotel.

Founded in 2008, Airbnb is a collaborative hospitality service, offering worldwide rentals. Whether you're looking for a long weekend getaway or months-long rental, you can find it here. The homes are privately owned, and each host sets their own rates and rules for their place. It can actually be a little overwhelming, especially if you're staying in a big city. So I thought it might be helpful to share a few tips on my own methods of finding that perfect Air BnB for every vacation.

Research:
Once you've figured out your destination, do a little research on neighborhoods and where exactly you'd like to be. You can google "best neighborhoods in X city" and find out a lot, with info on things like transportation, shopping and crime statistics. You might want a certain part of town based on sights you want to see, or something close to the airport if you just have a quick layover. Websites like Trip Advisor, Yelp and Travelocity can provide reviews of certain areas, things to do and the best restaurants in any given city. It just depends on what you want for your particular visit. When we were in Rome, we knew we'd only be there a couple days and we wanted to be close to Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps,  two sights I really wanted to see. So we made sure to look in neighborhoods that were within walking distance of these places. The apartment we chose was so cute, and in a great location. We were also literally steps from the Pantheon!

 

Set your price point:
Like most of us working peeps, we travel on a budget. I try to keep our nightly rental costs as low as  I can, without it meaning we'd have to sleep on some strangers couch. Depending on our destination, I usually set my maximum price between $100-150 a night. I've also found that sometimes it's worth it to nudge that price point up to the next level. Increasing your budget by as little as $25 a night can sometimes make a huge difference in the caliber of rentals that open up. On our recent trip to Barcelona, we were having a tough time finding a place we liked, so we bumped the price point up and ended up finding a place just $10 more per day than the original price range we'd been looking at:

 

Look at that view! In regards to price points, keep in mind that prices can fluctuate and even the price you see when you first look on the website can vary. Always click on the link to a place you're interested in, because the price shown tends to be an "average" price. When you click on the link to a place, the actual rental price is often at least a few dollars cheaper than the "average" price shown on the main page.

Set your filters:
Do you want a one bedroom or two bedroom? Apartment, condo, house? Certain amenities you can't live without? Do you want to share space (yep, you can rent a room, super affordable and a great option for solo travelers!) or have the entire home to yourself? You can select a myriad of filters to accommodate your individual preferences. We aren't co-habitators by nature (well, except with each other!) so I always make sure to set my filter to "entire home or apartment". Depending on where we're going, I also might set perimeters for things like a pool, full kitchen, washer-dryer, etc. Each rental will have a list of amenities, including things like kitchen supplies, bedding and hair dryers. The place we chose in Madrid, another really nice, central location, did mention that guests should be able to climb stairs. What wasn't mentioned was that these stairs were kind of the stairs of death...

But look at the adorable balcony and amazing view we got!

 

 

Check out host reviews:
While I don't base my decision 100 percent on travelers reviews, I definitely read them and consider them when booking a place. Having worked in the travel and hospitality industry for many years,  I totally get it that you can't please everyone and sometimes people are going to complain no matter what. But I do take note of those reviews that might say a host was very hard to communicate with, or a place that was less than clean, especially if there are multiple reviews that say this.

Follow the Rules:
Be sure to read all the rules and regulations as listed by the individual hosts and abide by them. It's important to remember that you're often in an apartment building, and there are other people living there. If a host says no noise after 10pm, that's what they mean. If they ask you to please take the trash to the curb when you leave, show respect and do so. We always try to make a point of leaving a place as clean as when we went in (sometimes cleaner!) and as an Airbnb guest, you should also remember that those reviews go both ways. Hosts can review their guests and if a host leaves YOU a bad review, other hosts might not want to rent to you.

Airbnb has opened up a whole new world for travelers, making accommodations more affordable and convenient than ever before. While we love our stints at great hotels, using Airbnb helps us keep our travel costs down, which means more money for our other favorite things in life; wine and food!!

Gondolas and Grandeur in Venice

Visting Venice, Italy has long been on my short list of "must see" places. I'd been to Italy once before, but didn't make it to Venice on that trip. Oh, and I've been to Venice Beach, California lots of times! Much as I love it, not the same, folks, not the same. LOL.

Anyway, when B and I were planning our big European adventure for this fall, I knew Venice had to somehow make it on the itinerary. I had to see the canals, explore the cathedrals, experience the art and find out if all my romantic dreams of the city were really true. Little did I know, B had even bigger plans (more on that later!) I was really excited when he told me we were staying at the hotel Ai Cavalieri, which is located just off the Grand Canal. The website assured luxury and privacy, while still offering the convenience of being near the major tourist sights.

We arrived in Venice via the train from Rome, and it was initially a bit chaotic as we made our way from the train station to the taxi stands. Of course, being Venice, taxis are really water taxis, which is pretty much one of the coolest things I've ever seen. The only unfortunate part of the water taxi ride was the cost. I think it was about 70 Euros, or about 82 dollars U.S., which is a big chunk of change! There are also water buses there, but we were tired and just wanted to get to our hotel, so we opted to bite the bullet and spend the cash.

As we journeyed along the canals, I was already overwhelmed by the beauty of the place. My first view was of the art installation by Lorenzo Quinn. Titled "Support" and created for the 2017 Venice Biennale, this giant pair of hands makes a statement about the effects of climate change and rising sea levels on the city.  I'd seen some pictures of it before we arrived, but seeing it in person took my breath away.

Our taxi dropped us at the entrance to the hotel, and we walked in, immediately immersed in opulent, yet classy decor. Chandeliers led us to the front desk, all of it making me feel like I'd stepped back in time and in this time period, I was royalty. Rich red carpets, beautiful Murano glass lighting, I couldn't stop looking around and we hadn't even seen our room yet!

 

The front desk staff checked us in quickly and professionally, patient with our questions about the city and offering us a map to help us get around. To be honest, I'm not sure a map in Venice is even worth carrying. You will get lost. Yes, even with your phone and google maps. Venice is a twisty, turny and downright confusing city, so just accept that if you go there, you will end up lost somewhere in a narrow alleyway. Hopefully, it will be an alley with a wine bar, because that became our go-to solution when we got lost. Just have more wine!

Anyway, back to our lovely hotel. Just like the review and website information promised,  Ai Cavalieri is located close to all the major attractions while being far enough off the main drag to be quiet and peaceful. Our room was, quite simply, incredible. Beyond incredible.

Lush bedding, marble bathroom, more beautiful Murano glass everywhere, my true princess self came out in full force and I probably would have been happy to sit in the room for the entirety of our stay.

 

 

The hotel has a small, exclusive bar, called "The Bat Bar", where you can enjoy tea and cookies in the afternoon and receive a complimentary appetizer plate with your drinks. It was never crowded there, and we found it a really nice space to relax in the afternoons and evenings after being out and about.

 

They also serve a complimentary breakfast, and I am happy to say this is nothing like the bagels and coffee breakfasts of other places. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, toast, yogurt, cereals, fruits, there are options for everyone. You can even purchase additional breakfast items from a separate menu if the free stuff doesn't suit you (although I can't imagine why anyone would do this!) I had two delicious cappuccinos every day (yes, complimentary!) and ate way more breakfast than I usually eat! The staff at the bar and daily breakfast were top notch, never letting a dish sit on a table or a coffee get cold.

While the hotel itself is phenomenal and the location was perfect, it was really the service that made our stay so memorable. Friendly, helpful, yet never intrusive, from the front desk to the bar to the housekeeping staff, every person working there took obvious pride in their job, and never made us feel like we were asking too many questions or bothering them. They helped us arrange a trip to the Murano glass factory, made restaurant suggestions and went over directions repeatedly to help prevent us from getting lost (we still got lost...)

The pinnacle of all this was the surprise B had up his sleeve. With help from Olga at the front desk, he organized a gondola ride for the two of us that took me places I'd never imagined. You see, ever since I saw the movie "A Little Romance" when I was 14 years old,  I'd dreamed of Venice. Legend has it that if you and the one you love kiss while riding a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs, just at Sunset, your love will be eternal. My romantic heart has always loved the idea, and now that we were in Venice, I really wanted to take that gondola ride.

The weather was iffy and for awhile it didn't seem like it was going to happen. I went up to the room while B talked to the front desk about it, figuring my gondola ride might have to stay in my imagination at this point. Then B came up to the room and said, "The gondola is coming in 10 minutes, get ready!" I quickly got dressed and we went down to the lobby, where our gondolier for the night, Nic, was waiting. B had asked the hotel if we could purchase a bottle of prosecco for the ride, and it was waiting for us in the gondola on ice.

Nic took us around the city, chatting with us and telling us some of the history. An eighth-generation gondolier, his love for both his job and the city of Venice was apparent as he told us about the history of the canals, took us by Marco Polo's house and talked about daily life in Venice.

Just as I'd hoped, we came upon the Bridge of Sighs near sunset. As we started to go under it, I was snapping pictures and gazing up at the wonder of this beautiful piece of history. B nudged me. "Aren't we supposed to kiss?" he said. "Oh!" I laughed, "yes!" I kissed him and told him I loved him. He said he loved me too, then paused for a moment, reaching into his pocket.

"I thought this might be a good time to ask you..." he said. And that's all I really heard, because I was blinded by the gorgeous diamond and aquamarine (my birthstone) engagement ring that he was holding up!

When I stopped crying long enough to say "yes" I saw that there was a crowd of people standing on another nearby bridge, watching the whole thing. They all started shouting "yes, yes yes!" cheering when B shouted back "She said yes!" and Nic started singing an Italian love song for us. I don't know that I've ever had a more perfect moment in my life, or felt more loved. To have someone create this just for me, based solely on my childhood memories and dreams, knowing that B had and does listen to everything, hears me, knows me, how could I have said anything other than a resounding yes?

We returned to the hotel where the staff was waiting and Olga breathlessly wanted me to "tell her everything" about the proposal. They were all genuinely thrilled for us, and it felt like we were coming home rather than just coming back to a hotel. B had also talked to them about a celebration dinner (he was pretty sure I'd say yes!) and they had set up a reservation for us following the gondola ride for dinner at a nearby restaurant that was amazing!

Hotel Ai Cavalieri not only made our stay in Venice even more perfect than it already was, they touched our lives on a personal level that I won't soon forget. We're already planning to return to Venice for our anniversary at some point, and there's no doubt in our minds as to where we'll stay.

Venice is a beautiful, magical kind of place. It's forever become part of our story. Hotel Ai Cavalieri is part of that story too. And for just a little while, I was able to feel like I'd stepped into one of my favorite fairy tales, finding romance under the Bridge of Sighs and the stuff of dreams in a hotel fit for a princess.

Windmills and Wine in La Mancha

When we decided to include Spain in our recent Europe trip, I knew that I had to figure out a way to see the historic windmills of La Mancha. Like most high school students, I'd read the book by Miguel de Cervantes and I've always wanted to stand in front of those windmills and see if they were really the "monsters" that Don Quixote thought they were.

Since windmills alone weren't going to be enough to convince B to make the long trek from Madrid, I decided to set us up with a wine tour as well. I came across the Winebus tours via TripAdvisor. They were highly rated and had dates available for the time we were going to be in Madrid, so I decided to go ahead and book the tour.

We met up with Ignacio, the owner and our guide for the day, at a nearby hotel lobby. He said we had ended up being the only ones to book that days tour, which he assured us was a good thing as it gave us a bit more time and the chance to expand the tour a bit if we wanted. I should add that many tour companies charge an additional service fee if the tour ends up being smaller than planned, which Winebus did NOT do. We were charged 140 euros each and there were no hidden or additional charges tacked on.

Our first stop was not part of the planned itinerary. "Since it's just the two of you, would you like to see a castle?" asked Ignacio. Our answer was a resounding yes and we stopped in at Castle Belmonte for a few minutes. This is a well-preserved site, chock full of history. Built in 1456, the castle was a fortress during the Castilian Civil War and takes you back in time the minute you step inside. We only had a few minutes for photos before we had to move on to our next destination, but this is a place I added to my list of "must come back here" places the next time we are in Spain.

Back on the road, we headed to our first winery, Finca Antigua.  Located in the town of Los Hinojosos, between Cuenca and Toledo, Finca Antigua is the perfect blend of modern winery and natural landscapes. The owners have worked hard to make sure that the natural vegetation and animals in the area aren't disturbed (we saw several varieties of birds and some adorable wild rabbits!) while each vineyard section is cultivated to make the most of the grape varietals. We enjoyed a walk through the vineyards and a very informative tour of the winery, culminating in a wonderful tasting at the end! Of course, we couldn't walk away without a purchase, and all the wines were very reasonably priced.

 

 

After all that lovely wine, we need sustenance! Ignacio took us to lunch at Las Musas Restaurante, which features mediterranean food and sits at the very feet of the giants I was seeking...windmills! I was entranced with both the windmills and the delicious food, as well as the views all around us. We even got to take a little tour of the windmills themselves, many of which have been restored to their original working order!

 

Lunch was leisurely and relaxing, and soon we were ready to check out another winery. So we hopped back on the highway and made our way to El Vinculo winery. Featuring limited-production fine wines, El Vinculo is one of the premiere wineries in the area. We enjoyed a tasting of several wines and again, walked away with a bottle for ourselves!

 

 

As we made our way back to Madrid, Ignacio said he had one more thing to show us. The amazing windmills of Consuegra. These windmills highlight some of the best examples of the windmills of La Mancha, sitting on a hill just outside the town and offering a breathtaking view. The sun was just starting to set as we walked around these immense beasts, and I could see for the first time just why Don Quixote thought they were worth battling.

Ignacio's tour was very informative and I was impressed with his knowledge of both his home city of Madrid and the surrounding townships. The Winebus tour was one of the more professional tours I've been on, yet was also always casual and friendly, never stuffy or boring.  It's definitely something I'd consider again when we return to Madrid someday.

Don Quixote never conquered the windmills. Time and disrepair didn't conquer them either, and they stand today as a testament to Spain's history. If you ever want to go tilting at windmills while sipping a bit of wine, consider the Winebus tour during your stay in Madrid! As Ignacio said, "It's an adventure, with a glass of wine in hand!"