Yay! Today we finally get to relax a bit! After 2 hectic days of being shuffled around the Icelandic countryside, we’re finally exploring Reykjavik. We get to sleep in after our previous early mornings, eat a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and head out for a nice morning walk along the waterfront. I love the…
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Remember in my last post where I said that I had heard the Golden Circle tour was maybe not as exciting as its rich name might lead one to believe? And how that had reduced my expectations? Well I’ve thought a lot about this part of our trip, whether I would recommend it here on…
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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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