The Golden Circle Part 1

Day 2 of our Iceland trip starts early. We’re being picked up for our tour of the Golden Circle. When I originally booked this, it was one of the only tourist sites I knew about (aside from the city and the Blue Lagoon), so it seemed like a must-do. As time got closer to our…

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Snorkeling the Silfra Fissure

I’m going to try to not inundate you with too many photos in this post, but it’s going to be hard. I photographed nearly every inch of the Silfra Fissure and choosing which ones to share is a little like choosing between my children. You know, if I had children. Maybe dogs would be more…

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Sliding Down a Lava Cave

I’m so excited to finally be heading to Iceland! Emma and I have been planning and talking about this trip for so long, it’s hard to believe it’s finally here. I spend the morning working (a 5am conference call means I’ve worked almost a full day by the time we leave at noon) while Emma drives…

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Snowy, Amazing Iceland

As some of you probably know, I went to Iceland a few weeks back. Well, it’s finally time for me to share my photos with you! Emma has literally been bugging me about this since before we even landed back in Seattle, so I’m happy to get this posted and her off my back. Only…

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Bulgaria & Turkey Breakdown and Travel Tips

Bulgaria is a fascinating country with thousands of years of history and so much to see and do. If you’re looking for an off the beaten path destination, Bulgaria fits the bill to a T. It may not be the first place to come to mind when most people think “European vacation” but in my…

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The Tsarevets of Veliko Tarnovo

After our quick jaunt to Istanbul, we return to Bulgaria and Varna to spend more time with Maggie’s grandma and other extended family. I think they find me very odd. To say thank you for letting me stay with them, I cook dinner one night and choose chili as a sort of American meal –…

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Misadventures in Asian Istanbul

Here’s a list of things I knew about Istanbul before I arrived. Istanbul sits on both the European and Asian continents, separated by the Bosphorus The Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque are my must sees My friend Adrienne visited the year before and raved about this city (and the entire country) Turkish Delight is tasty Yep,…

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The Blue Mosque and Topkapi Harem

After a well earned a rest and some lunch, we head over to the Blue Mosque. From the outside, this is the building people often think is the Haggia Sofia. It’s definitely more impressive looking. However, while the Hagia Sofia is a museum of both Christian and Islamic art and architecture, the Blue Mosque (real name…

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The Hagia Sophia

After our tours of the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market this morning, we make our way towards the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. We arrived in Istanbul with no plan and only a map from the hotel, so we have to follow a few signs and other tourists to get to the right spot….

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The Bazaars of Istanbul

Whoop whoop! We’re going to Turkey! This isn’t part of the original plan, but when I mention to Maggie that Istanbul is an 8 hour overnight bus ride from Varna, we decide to check it out. I think she’s ready for a bit of a break and I always love a new adventure, even if…

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Nessebar – The Pearl of the Black Sea

Nessebar might be the most adorable town in Bulgaria. To me, it’s the Cape Cod of the Black Sea. It has a ton of charm, lots of cute little shops and is infinitely photographable. As such, this post is heavy on the pictures, light on the words. The town of Nessebar is over 3000 years…

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Varna on the Black Sea

Reunited and it feels so good! After spending the day visiting the ruins of Perperikon, I hop back on the bus to continue my journey to Varna. Maggie and her mom are waiting for me at the bus station, and it’s nice to be able to easily speak to people again. As an introvert, I…

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