A Tourist Angel? 

Well, That’s What I Called Him

COVID slowed us down for a couple of years, and now a few health issues challenge us.  We're still traveling if not writing about it quite so much. Our goal in 2022 was get to all seven continents in one year... and we did it.

Going forward health issues may not allow us to travel.  No one can take away those memories though.  We hope all of you are well and staying safe... and that you find some inspiration here for YOUR future travels. 

Have you ever encountered a tourist angel?  They’re out there.

We say you should accept that good things will happen when you travel.

What does that mean? 

It means to look for the positive things that happen when you travel. 


A little editorial comment here....

We have met people who say that Murphy travels with them. 

You know… the travel version of Murphy’s law…. if something can go wrong when they travel it will. 

I’m thinking that just sets you up to think negatively…. to look for things that aren’t quite right.


That's not how we travel... We always expect things to go well. 

Plan For Problems, But Don’t Expect Them

We think if you expect things to be good and people to be friendly and helpful… that’s what you get.

Let me give you a recent example…

Our Spanish Tourist Angel

We were driving into Granada, Spain… on a Saturday in May.  We try not to drive in big cities, but sometimes our plans just call for it. 

One wrong turn and we were lost. 

We were still driving towards “Centro” and following signs towards the Alhambra, but we were clearly not exactly where we wanted to be. 

Mark was carefully negotiating the roundabouts and watching all the traffic signals when he noticed a fellow following us on a motor scooter.  His uniform and badge made Mark nervous that he may have done something wrong….

So we pulled over.

A hotel with parking in central Granada - what a reliefA hotel with parking in central Granada - what a relief

This very official looking fellow approached the car, and in perfect English told us that he worked for the Visitors Bureau and that we looked lost.  If we wanted, we could follow him and he could take us to our hotel.

If you don’t know by now, we most often travel with no reservations, and this time was no exception.  When we told him we didn’t have reservations, he said, “But it’s Saturday night in Granada!”

We know….

Then he pulled out his cell phone and found us a hotel only a couple of blocks from the old town… with parking… and he had us follow him there.

A tourist angel… That’s what I call him.

 If Your Plans Don’t Work

If you are planning on an activity, and it looks like you might not be able to do it… don’t give up.  There might be a way to work things out….

After checking in to our hotel, the hotel staff told us that there were no tickets left to visit the Alhambra for the whole weekend… maybe even for the rest of the month.

Tickets to the Nasrid Palaces in The AlhambraTickets to the Nasrid Palaces in The Alhambra

Now, for popular sites like this, any good guidebook will tell you to get advance reservations online.  We didn’t… and we often don’t because we don’t have a set itinerary. 

So what were we to do now?  Visiting the Alhambra is the main reason for going to Granada… right?

Once again, we expected things to work out. 

We asked at the Alhambra bookstore, and they told us that there were tickets for a night tour to the palace… not the whole tour, but enough. 

We had to hike up to the ticket office, and we got tickets… for 10:30 at night! 


We would never have planned a visit for that late at night, but you know, it was very pretty seeing the carving and arches and fountains at night…. and it was definitely cooler!

Much of The Alhambra Grounds Can Be Strolled Without TicketsMuch of The Alhambra Grounds Can Be Strolled Without Tickets
Nasrid Palace, The Alhambra at nightThe Palace at night had a romantic quality

Be flexible… and look at the bright side.  We took in an early Flamenco show with tapas AND toured the Alhambra palace… just not in the order we had expected to...

Ice Cream on the street in Granada

And we kept saying, if that tourist angel hadn't helped us get a hotel so quickly, none of it might have worked out... but he did find us... and good things happened.

We were so happy on the stroll back to the hotel that we grabbed an ice cream cone.  Problems easily solved all day long… travel may keep you on your toes, but it’s just so much fun!

Look For The Good Things

And that’s what I’m talking about when I say to expect that good things will happen.  That was early in our trip, and somehow it made driving into other cities easier. 

Even though we didn’t encounter another tourist angel, we did find many friendly and helpful people.

There will be times when you’ll be tired and cranky as you travel.  I think that’s to be expected… Travel is fun, but it can be hard work.  Just don’t go looking for the bad things… 

Look for the good and the fun and the funny, and more often that not… that’s what you’ll get.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark

Curious about what else we've written about?  Search our site for a destination or travel tip.

But... We'd love to have you share this page or comment on it…
Thanks, Judy and Mark

Go from Tourist Angel back to Travel Stories
Home Page

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Did it help with your travel planning and preparation? Eager to leave on that next vacation? Please leave your tips or comments in the box below.

Timely Tips

Summer Vacation
Travel is fun in the Northern summer... but don't neglect the Southern Hemisphere at this time of year.
Yes, it's winter in South Africa, but that's their dry season. It's a good time to travel there.

Lions stop traffic in Kruger NP South Africa

Sometimes you need to watch rain patterns instead of just seasons to figure the best time to travel...

Whether you're taking a road trip close to home or traveling abroad...

Whether it's summer or winter in your part of the world...
the way you pack can make it all more pleasurable.

Check out all our Packing Lists and Tips.

Need travel ideas?
Things to See in Europe
Africa Calls!
Travel In America

Don't just dream about it...
Start making plans!

Custom Tour Planning List
International Travel Planning Tips
Foreign Is Fun - Not Scary!
Get Your Passports and Visas

And Expect Good Things
There Are Tourist Angels

Search

Search MouseToursTravels
Travel questions or destination info?
Find our answers faster..
.

Translate

We want you to feel comfortable out in the world and on our pages - so surf away in your own language...

Updated Tips & New Travel Stories

  1. 2022 Travels To All Seven Continents

    After COVID, all seven continents in one year was a worthy goal for our 2022 travels..

    Read More

  2. 2021 Travels - Another COVID Year?

    Our 2021 travels were only domestic. COVID kept us close home. Road trips and a cautious flights but still fun.

    Read More

  3. 2020 Travels - What Travels?

    Our 2020 travels were slim. COVID kept us home too. One trip to the Three Guyanas, but dreaming of travel next year.

    Read More

Two Ways To Like Us!

Like Our Site Top Left
Like Our Fanpage Below
Thank You!

Navigate Our Site

Related Pages
on
Trip Planning

Guide Books
Why Travel With A Guidebook

How to Choose A Travel Guidebook

Travel Agents
A Travel Agent - Do You Need One?

Choosing Destinations
Best Time To Go

What Kind Of Trip Do You Want
More Than Throwing Darts

Some of Our Ideas
Stories About Europe
Why Not Africa?
North America
International Travel Tips

What Kind of Vacation?
Group Tour

Independent Travel
Driving Vacations
Adventure Travel
Active Travel - OK, How Active?
Multigenerational Vacations

Eco-Travel and Volunteering
Green Travel Tips
Sustainable Tourism
Volunteer Vacations - Are They For You?

Plan For Safety
Travel Advisories - Plan A Safe Trip

Don't Let Travel Worries Get To You
Keep Traveling

Planning Itineraries
A Custom Tour?
Custom Tour Planning List
Custom Tour Ideas
Top Ten Lists - Helpful, But…
Balance Your Itinerary - Mix It Up
Avoid Museum Sensory Overload
Hobbies for Trip Ideas
Where To Get Trip Ideas

Preparation
Get Passports and Visas

Travel Documents
Vaccinations and Meds 
Travel Preparation

Checklists So You Don't Forget
Travel Document Checklist

Travel Preparation Checklist
Home Departure Checklist
Pre-Departure Checklist

Ready For A New Adventure?

We escape by traveling…
But there are more ways to escape. 
Work on something you LOVE…
With A Website
SBI Teaches You Everything

First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life