Did you know that the Lord of the Rings author, J.R.R. Tolkien, was inspired by folklore found in Nordic countries? With stories of trolls and Icelandic folk tales, Tolkien studied and translated many stories from the Old Norse during his education. He drew upon Echoes of William Morris's Icelandic Journals. With a land enveloped and… Continue reading Lord of the Rings Inspiration in East Iceland
I was determined to see everything in Lake Myvatn. There were so many hikes, it was a massive task to take on. And while we didn't get to see everything, here is a quick highlight of a few hikes you can do in a day. I call it our "Hole Hunting Hiking" because everything around… Continue reading Take a Hike! Big Hole Hunting in Lake Myvatn, Iceland
I started my small obsession with Australia really young. I kid you not, it may have been completely due to the Rescuers Down Under - but that doesn’t negate the fact that it sparked a little fire inside me that I haven’t been able to shake for almost 20 years. So I have my little… Continue reading Our Take on Things to do in Sydney, Australia
You can smell it the moment you happen across the volcanic fields. It hits your nose like a punch in the face. Sulfur. Somehow I thought I would have already been used to it seeing as all the hot water in the country is heated volcanically. Sure, we may smell like it a bit but… Continue reading Sulfur’s Up! Riding the Lava Wave in Iceland
"The only way that you can see the aurora borealis (northern lights) this early in the season is to have a freak temperature drop and the skies open up for you. And well, you have seen Reykjavik, so I'm not sure that is going to happen for you. But you can always hope!" Signy from… Continue reading Light ‘Em Up! Our Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) Miracle
If you search "top restaurants to eat at in Reykjavik", you will certainly find the well known local gastronomic pleasure of Dill. Not only has it been reviewed by the New York Times but is a gem in the local's eyes. Chefs Gunnar Karl Gíslason and Sommelier Ólafur Örn Ólafsson had returned from a trip… Continue reading Weekend Review: Dill Restaurant Reykjavik
One of my favorite things about Iceland: Reykjavik and the unique architecture found around town. Hallgrímskirkja (a Lutheran church) is a must see when making your way around Reykjavik. It was designed to reflect the nature of Iceland - namely the basalt lava flows that you can see in various waterfalls around Iceland. A stoic… Continue reading Photo Friday: HDR Church in Reykjavik Iceland
The land of fire and ice is known for its magnificent natural beauty and there are no shortages of waterfalls in Iceland. We even had a running joke that all waterfalls coming out the sides of mountains close the the highway have amazing little colorful houses near them. During our awesome Iceland Ring Road roadtrip… Continue reading We Went Chasing Waterfalls in Iceland
Being an expat abroad seems to be on the top of my bucket list these days. It just seems so incredibly glamorous. And what city is at the top of our list? London. And while getting there can be a bit difficult for us, right now we're just going to be happy about staying for… Continue reading Why We Want to be Expats in London
Don’t be fooled by the name of SAD cars. While these babies are over 10 years old, they pack a punch in personality. Sure, they may not be the most attractive car on the road there were a few strips of - but seriously, do you want that pressure while driving down dirt/rocky roads? I… Continue reading Takin’ the Long Way – Road Trippin’ with SAD Cars
If you guys saw our last weekend review, you had the chance to check out how awesome Kex Hostel was. And if they couldn't get any more awesome- they have their own fantastic restaurant inside their place- Saemundur. Every bit of food is locally sourced and in season- a concept that I love and is… Continue reading Weekend Review: Saemundur, the Kex Gastropub
“They call it Silfra - which means Silver in Icelandic - because all the bubbles make it look like silver rising to the top.” I’m not sure I entirely believe that but I was captivated by our DIVE.IS guides nonetheless. I was about to participate in one of the biggest boasting notches in my belt… Continue reading SCUBA Diving Silfra or How to Flounder in a Dry Suit
Even some of the cowboys back home would have been jealous with the Land Rover we were about to get into in Reykjavik. Jacked up as all hell we scrambled inside giddily, feeling as though I’m a little kid crawling into a POW-POW-POWERWHEELS! If I was excited about anything, it was this. We were spending… Continue reading Nature’s Playground: The Golden Circle with Superjeep.is
Somehow we had managed to fly over 9 times zones or so in a matter of 3 days from Anchorage, Alaska to Reykjavik, Iceland - the land of renewable energy, where sheep outnumber people, and the Prime Minister's phone number is listed in the phone book. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief as we landed.… Continue reading Things to Do in Reykjavik, Iceland
Anyone who knows me knows that I have a small obsession for anything vintage. If you looked at my wardrobe at home, it is horribly apparent (you can't tell by my backpacker clothes). So you can imagine the delight I found when we walked into Kex Hostel. Kex, the Icelandic word for cookie/biscuit, is a… Continue reading Weekend Review: Kex Hostel in Reykjavik, Iceland
