Chronicles of a Wandering Music Fan
Akureyri is Iceland’s second-largest city, and despite the large population jump (~150,ooo in Reykjavik to ~20,000 in Akureyri), the town has quite a lot to offer. Though many of the nearby attractions and activities, such as whale watching or a visit to the Myvatn spa, can tend to be quite pricey, there are still plenty of things to do for travelers on a budget. [Read more…]
Iceland has the highest rate of per capita mobile phone ownership in the world. This reflects in their incredible level of coverage: most towns and cities have 3G or 4G coverage, and even very remote areas, you’ll get at least a bar or two. For travelers in Iceland, this means that it’s very easy to stay connected. [Read more…]
Next in my series about plus size travel gear for women’s site Her Packing List is a post about one of the most useful items of travel clothing: Leggings.
I love leggings. Oh MAN do I love leggings. Since I’m not much of a pants gal, I wear leggings almost every day, and not only do they help me keep my legs warm, but they also help prevent the dreaded “chub rub” on days where I do a lot of walking. They’re a female traveler necessity, as they’re light, compact, and dry pretty quickly.
There are two routes to go, price-wise. There are either super-cheap leggings, or pretty expensive technical leggings, unfortunately without much middle ground. I’ll give some examples of each, so you can find what works best for you!
To read more, click here!
Hailing from Seattle, finding a good coffee shop is pretty high on my list of priorities when I travel. Not just for my much-needed caffeine fix, but also for the great comfort and workspace that comes from a really good coffee shop. Though quite a small city, Reykjavik is certainly not lacking in cosmopolitan comforts, and coffee is no exception. Though there are many great shops to choose from, these are my favorite coffee spots in Reykjavik. [Read more…]
via Bæjarins Beztu’s Facebook Page
When you think of the “national food of Iceland”, you may be thinking of cod, skyr, or lamb…but you’d be wrong. Turns out, the ultimate Icelandic food is the pylsa, or hot dog.
Icelanders really, REALLY love hot dogs.
…and for good reason! Pylsur are fantastic and super cheap, maybe even the cheapest cooked food you can buy in Iceland. A pylsa comes with ketchup, raw onions, crispy onions, a sweet Icelandic mustard, and a remulade. You can make them at home (ingredients are widely available at grocery stores in Iceland…you may even want to bring some back with you for when the pylsa craving takes over at home. It will.), and they’re available at a lot of different places, but the very best hot dogs come from the famous Bæjarins Beztu stands, the most popular of which is right by the harbor, and conveniently located next to several downtown bars for optimal drunk munching. [Read more…]
On my recent trip to the Faroe Islands, I spent a foggy Saturday afternoon wandering the beautiful island of Nólsoy. One of the easiest day trips from Tórshavn, Nólsoy is the closest neighboring island to the capital city. The ferry ride is only 30 minutes or so, and affords spectacular views of the capital and surrounding areas from the small boat. At only DKK 20 (about US $4) each way, it’s a great way to get out of the city and explore one of the Faroe Islands’ most picturesque villages. You can catch the ferry at the terminal in the harbor, and clear signage will point you to the right place. The schedule is available here. [Read more…]
Seljalandsfoss, on Iceland’s south coast.
Iceland is one of Europe’s newly-very-popular tourist destinations. Between airfare deals from their biggest airline, a recent addition as an EasyJet destination, and huge festivals like Iceland Airwaves drawing in foreigners by the thousands, there’s been a steady increase in backpackers and budget travelers visiting this beautiful volcanic rock.
As I embark today on a 2-month trip to Iceland (my third visit in two years…I think I might be kind of addicted), I’m again thinking about ways i can keep to my budget and save money in this rather expensive country. Here are a few of the easiest ways to save some serious kronur, and make the most of your time in this amazing place. [Read more…]
Switzerland has a lot to offer a traveler: It’s spectacularly beautiful (tons of mountains and lakes? Yes please!), easily accessible from its many bordering countries, and has ridiculously good chocolate. What more could you ask?
Unfortunately, Switzerland is incredibly expensive, which can deter a lot of budget travelers. Worry not! there are plenty of ways to save money, making a trip to Switzerland quite feasible for those traveling on a budget. [Read more…]
Hostel traveling has a lot of benefits, with the low price and heightened sense of community being the most prominent. I much prefer hostels to hotels as a rule, but the more I stay, the more I realize that the same types of ‘bad neighbors’ seem to present themselves over and over again. The following are, in my experience, the nine worst and most common offenders, whose obnoxious behavior can detract from the generally positive experience of staying in a hostel. Don’t be these people! [Read more…]
1. Skip the Space Needle.
I know, I know, I’m telling you to skip the most iconic icon that has ever icon-ed in Seattle. By all means, when you go to Seattle Center to visit the Experience Music Project or to see a sweet laser show at the Pacific Science Center, definitely check out the Space Needle…from the outside. Otherwise, you are paying $18 to ride in an elevator, and that is just tooooo ridiculous.
Instead, try going to the Columbia Tower, where admission to the 73rd floor observation deck is a much more reasonable $12, with unlimited re-entry all day–perfect to come watch the sunset from one of the highest points in the city. The Columbia Center observation deck provides a 360-degree view of Seattle, and then your cityscape shots can include the Space Needle. [Read more…]
I’m Katy, a Seattleite quitting my normal life to pursue my two greatest passions: travel and music. I’m documenting my general travel adventures, as well as great record stores, labels, festivals, and music I find around the world.