Iceland: The Land of Extremes
A brisk 5.5 hr flight whisks you from a concrete jungle with 8 million inhabitants to a different kind of island, sprinkled with volcanoes, fjords, glaciers and a mere 320,000 people.
The most striking thing on the drive from the airport to Reykjavik was the lack of anything. That is not to say there is nothing to admire on the route. Contrary, the vistas are stunning and captivating. The landscape changes what seems like minute to minute.
Iceland is a country of contrasts. It is referred to as the land of Fire & Ice, as it showcases both extremes and everything in between. The scenery is unbelievably picturesque and it all changes in a flash before your eyes. You will navigate endless lava fields of dark jagged rock covered in soft green and yellow moss. Rugged mountains erect out of vast fields and farm land. The north boasts grey dusty plains, reminiscent of the moon's surface.
As we anticipated our trip, news was stirring about the Bárðarbunga volcano, located under one of Iceland's most extensive glaciers, Vatnajökull. A volcanic fissure appeared and threat of a full eruption, which could cause massive amounts of ice from the glacier to melt, was looming behind the excitement of our trip. Thankfully we did not experience a full blown eruption before, during or even after our trip. what Bardarbunga did offer us was some spectacular red glowing hues at the horizon while driving in the north.
On our 8 hour drive from Rejkyavik to Akuyeri, we took a 2.5 hour detour just to see a rock.
Folklore and magic
The Resort Named Vegetable.
Planeta Winery
Agrigento
Cooking class
The Land Down Under.
Do toilets flush the opposite way? Do dingos really eat babies? Are people technically standing upside down if we stand right side up on the other side of the planet?
Australia has always held a great deal of intrigue for me. As a teenager I assumed that because it was so far away, it had to be the most exotic of places. If a destination takes two whole days to get to, while losing a day but still ending up in the future, it must be pretty opposite of what home is to me. My first trip to Australia, I was a bit underwhelmed. It felt like America, and I was surprised at how "western" it felt. Yes, the inhabitants had that amazing accent, but I quickly realized that they lived lives very similarly to Americans.
it wasn't until I met my husband, who is from Sydney, and I started traveling to Australia almost once a year that I started to understand the differences and appreciate the culture. The first thing you will notice about Australia is the people. Australians are famously friendly. They welcome you as if you have always been best mates. They are passionate about traveling and maintaining a great quality of life.
The Birth State of My Niece: June Doucette
Hot air balloon
Game Drives
Punk
Ngorongoro Crater
Serengeti
