5 Things Anthony Bourdain Taught Me About Traveling

1.       Get off the beaten path. Sure, the Eiffel Tour is beautiful, and you’d certainly be remiss if you didn’t acknowledge that the tourist traps are famous for a reason, but don’t make the mistake of hitting only the highlights. The real beauty of a place comes in the unexpected surprises that come with a little risk taking—crawling to the bottom of an Egyptian tomb, an evening of Bohemian Rhapsody under the stars with local Mykonians, playing in a local jazz club in the Parisian underground, rolling cigars with a German-speaking Cuban national, and scurrying through hidden passageways in Dubai to buy knock-off watches and handbags aren’t exactly what you had in mind when you were planning your trip, but these are grout that cement and shape your experience into place. Sure, these moments aren’t instagrammable, and your watch might say Bowflex instead of Rolex, but they aren’t cookie-cutter prefabricated dime a dozen experiences. No, these are the raw revelations that can show both a city’s charm and underbelly in ways that are hard to forget.

2.       People are generally the same. Sure, they may look different, speak different languages, and god-forbid, vote for a different political party than you, but deep down we all want the same things—to live peacefully, to provide for our families, to be proud of where we come from, and to belong to something. The more people you meet, the more undeniable it is that the barriers that separate us are figments of our imagination.

3.       Ask the hard questions. It was over a vegetarian meal in Munich, with a friend of a friend, and coincidentally a Green Party Politician, that we found ourselves tiptoeing around political correctness and thanking our hosts for the amazing meal when her husband blurts out, “Well, I didn’t really want you to come if we are being honest.” What followed was a surprisingly refreshing, albeit straightforward, discussion about misconceptions we all had of each other as Americans and Germans. We left with an incredibly different understanding of one another than we would’ve had without such an incredibly German conversation starter.

4.       Home is where the heart is, and no, not your own home. Anthony Bourdain taught us the importance of sharing a meal in someone’s home. When you’re home, your guard is down—conversation flows more naturally in a safe space. If you stick to restaurants, you miss spontaneous living room concerts, Icelandic local handicrafts, and cute little granddaughters teaching you “the floss.” Go out of your way to find opportunities to organically connect. You never know what you’ll uncover. I wouldn’t have found out about the award winning French film “Three Colors: Blue” if it hadn’t been for the movie poster hanging in Giampaolo’s tiny half-bath—I also wouldn’t have met the winner of Top Chef Sweden if it weren’t for taking a risk on an invitation to dinner with a new acquaintance in Milan. When an opportunity presents itself to meet people where they are their most comfortable—jump on it.

5.       Travel is not a luxury. There was a time that travel felt like a privilege for the elite. Maybe it feels that way for you still. But the truth the way I see it is, travel is a responsibility and a constant opportunity to learn. It’s an eye-opening lesson in empathy to be the foreigner for a change—to be required to cover your tattoos in a mosque or your shoulders in a cathedral, and to discover just how handicapping it feels to have to have the menu read to you like a child because not everyone caters to English speakers, are all humbling experiences—experiences that make you much more tolerant. Collect the beautiful things you see, learn from the struggles, and bring them all back home and put them into practice.  

What To Pack (Iceland Edition)

Headed to Iceland in October to check out the infamous Northern Lights? Or planning to take a rejuvenating dip in the Blue Lagoon? Do a little whale watching? You know what you want to see, but like so many others you may be absolutely lost about what to pack. Not to worry, we’ve got your back!

Fall in Iceland can be tricky, weather-wise, temps are fairly cool, and it's known to rain a lot, making packing an overwhelming task. To help you out we’ve compiled a list to make this daunting task a little easier, so you can get back to your Northern Lights countdown and stop stressing about forgetting something essential.

The first key is to pack light! Since you’ll be carrying your luggage on and off the plane, the bus, and the hotels (which may or may not have lifts), you should try to condense what you need into one small suitcase and a carry-on.

Packing essential items into a carry-on has other advantages too! You will basically eliminate the risk of your bag getting lost or delayed. Win! Just make sure your bag meets the dimensions required for the airline you're flying. 

If you're traveling with Land + See, you can check out Delta's carry-on baggage weight and dimension requirements by clicking here.

Here is a list of essential items you won’t want to forget to pack.

Travel Aids

·         Chewing gum

·         Meds for motion sickness and sleep

·         Travel Pillow

·         (The airplane will likely supply earplugs, headphones, and a sleep mask so you can leave those at home unless you are partial to your own).

Clothing and Accessories

·         Comfortable walking shoes

·         Waterproof shoes with good grip (Iceland’s terrain can be hard to navigate)

·         Shirts (short and long sleeved) Think layers!

·         Socks and underwear/bras (thermals too!)

·         Watch

·         Jewelry

·         Pants/jeans (bonus for waterproof items—it’s rainy in Iceland in October)

·         Pajamas

·         Glasses/contacts

·         Sunglasses

·         Belts

·         Bathing suit (Bear in mind silica residue from the lagoons can stain your suit. It's rare, but it can happen)

·         Dressier outfit

·         Raincoat and/or umbrella 

·         Warm waterproof jacket/fleece

·         Jackets/Gloves/Scarves

·         Collapsible tote/duffel bag for dirty clothes, souvenirs (if only using a carry-on)

·         Luggage tags

·         Journal (if planning to document your trip)

·         Backpack or daybag

Toiletries

·         Toothbrush

·         Toothpaste

·         Floss

·         Mouthwash

·         Shampoo/conditioner

·         Soap

·         Deodorant

·         Hairbrush/comb

·         Hand sanitizer

·         Straightener/curling iron (If you have wattage converter--Iceland wattage is 220V)

·         Hair styling products

·         Hair accessories

·         Cleanser

·         Moisturizer

·         Shaving Cream

·         Razor

·         Perfume/Cologne

·         Makeup

·         Makeup Remover

·         Feminine Hygiene Products (if applicable)

·         Nail clippers

·         Nail File

·         Hand wipes

·         Tweezers

·         Cotton swabs

·         Tissues

·         Lint Roller

·         First Aid Kit/Band Aids

·         Lip Balm

·         Washcloths (not standard in European hotels)

·         Any medications (in addition to a copy of any prescription)

·         Spare set of contact lenses/glasses (if applicable)

·         Saline Solution (if applicable)

Money

·         ATM card (Call your bank prior to departure to alert them of the trip; foreign purchases sometimes result in a hold on bank accounts.)

·         Personal credit card (also make sure to notify lender of your travel plans)

·         At least $50 converted to the currency of the first country that you’re visiting

·         Pouch for storing money and passport under clothing

Electronics/Technology

·         An alarm clock (Many hotel rooms won't have one.)

·         An adaptor/converter (Iceland uses type C and F outlet plugs. More info here.)

·         Camera with extra batteries or charger

·         Cell phone and charger (external chargers are worth the investment too!)   

Documents

·         Passport—(Remember to leave one copy of it at home and bring a couple more copies on tour, in case your passport gets lost.)

·         Emergency contact information

·         A copy of your medical insurance card (and trip insurance if you’ve purchased it)

·         A copy of the tour itinerary

·         A list of important phone numbers 

·         Addresses to send postcards home

·         Copy of any prescriptions (Customs officials may want to verify that a container's contents match its label, so all medication should be carried in its original container.)

·         List of medications/prescriptions

Carry-on bag

Here’s a short list of things travelers might need on the first day of the trip. These should be packed in your carry-on in case your checked luggage is delayed:

·         Passport

·         Money

·         Money Belt

·         Airline boarding pass

·         Toothbrush and toothpaste (Check tsa.gov for current security requirements.)

·         Hairbrush

·         Contact lens case/glasses (to sleep comfortably on the plane)

·         A change of clothes (in case luggage is delayed)

·         Medication

·         Any valuables

* If traveling with Land + See, the Blue Lagoon is our first stop, so pack that swimsuit in your essential bag :)

Hopefully this helps ease the burden of knowing exactly what to pack. You know yourself and what you need so if you see something on the list you know you just won't need, skip it! Now that you're done packing, let's get back to our countdown! If you're like me, you've got this itinerary pinned already and you check it daily, but I'll throw it on here anyway so you can get in the Icelandic groove!

Let the countdown begin!

Iceland Itinerary

Iceland Day 4 - The Golden Circle (With Pictures)

We’ve broken down the exciting first few days of our tour to Iceland. Whale watching, the blue lagoon, and the entire Snaefellsnes Peninsula to name a few. You can peruse our Day 2 and 3 itinerary here. With Day 4 comes a new Mary Poppins bag of tricks. On Day 4 we explore what is arguably one of the most iconic Iceland excursions possible, the Golden Circle.

Tectonic plates

We will depart Reykjavik in the morning for our first stop at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the tectonic plates of both Europe and North America.  Those who haven’t seen an image of the tectonic plates are in for a surprise. These giant, diverging crevices are actually where Iceland emerged from. Iceland itself is divided by the mid-Atlantic rift—half of Iceland on the North American tectonic plate, and the other half on the Eurasian plate. You can literally walk between the continental divide while exploring this park. We will also visit the breathtaking Þingvallavatn lake whose volcanic origin can be seen in the lake itself.

Lake Thingvallavatn

From there we will explore the scenic lakeside village of Laugarvatn, famous for its lake heated by hot spring allowing bathers year-round. The area has beautiful panoramic views of the lake below and is an ideal spot for hikers and horseback riders.

Laugarvatn

In the afternoon we will make a stop to the famous Strokkur Geysur—the most famous hot spring in Iceland, which spouts water up to 100 feet high into the air every few minutes. The name itself literally translates to “churn”—likely due to its reliable and frequent spurts. Throughout the centuries this geyser has been blocked due to earthquakes. It wasn’t until a few decades ago that the conduits were cleared by local workers allowing Strokkur to erupt so regularly.

Strokkur Geyser

Next comes the beautiful waterfall Faxi. This lesser-known falls is fed by water from the glaciers  and has a Salmon ladder adjacent to it.

Faxi Waterfall

From here we will head back into Reykjavik for some hearty Icelandic eats before heading out on our hunt for the elusive Aurora Borealis.

Prime viewing season starts in early September and runs through April, so we will be hitting it right at the start of the season. This natural phenomenon is only visible in a few select parts of the world, making Iceland a prime viewing location for locals and tourists alike. The ribbons of green that dance along the sky are one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders of the world and I can’t wait to see this with my own eyes. They say the photos don’t do it justice, but I’ll let you  be the judge.

Aurora Borealis

From here we will head back into town for a good night’s sleep before hitting the Southern Shore on Day 5.  

Photo Journal of Day 3 in Iceland

It’s no secret that Iceland is a hot destination right now. It’s completely understandable. The country has it all: whales, geothermal lagoons, the northern lights, volcanoes, glaciers. The list goes on and on. If you haven’t had a chance to see the exciting events of Day 2 in Iceland, check it out here. But on to day 3!

On this day we are headed up to the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the North West of Iceland. This place is an Instagram dream, in fact, a lot of the iconic photos associated with Iceland come from this region. It’s a little off the beaten tourist path, which gives it such a special appeal in my opinion.

We will start with a visit to the charming seaside town of Stykkishólmur. It is a small fishing village and is known as a gateway to the western fjords of Iceland. Aside from being extremely adorable and quaint, the town was the first town in Iceland to be awarded for its eco-friendly efforts. Fun pop culture fact, Stykkishólmur is where Chess champion Bobby Fisher planned to move before his untimely death.

Stykkishólmur

From there we will head to the famous Kirkjufell, the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Below it flow the beautiful split waterfalls of Kirkjufellfoss. This gorgeous mountain not only juts out of the wide open landscape, it is surrounded by sandy beaches, which make it a truly beautiful spectacle indeed.

Kirkjufell

Later on we will leisurely stroll the black sand beach of Djúpalónssandur created by lava. Black sandy beaches dot the coastline all along Iceland due to its high volcanic activity. It is truly breathtaking to behold. From there we will explore the seaside settlement of Arnrastapi, with its famous cliffs of Londrangar. There is great chance of catching some Icelandic wildlife while here as this area has been a wildlife preserve since the late 70s. Visitors can walk along the rock archway along the beach and snap a truly one-of-a-kind photo.

Rock Archway

From here we will visit the town of Búðir, famous for its beautiful black church. It is believed that commercial ships and fishing vessels have been making their landing at Búðir all the way back to when Iceland's first inhabitants made their way there across the ocean, and commercial activity started there very early in recorded history. 

Black church of Budir

After touring we will make our way back to Reykjavik for dinner. Iceland is famous for its fish soup, so we suggest giving that a try, or if you are more adventurous, Iceland is one of the only places in the world where it’s legal to eat minke whale. Never considered an endangered species, this ‘delicacy’ can be eaten either raw or cooked. If eating mammals isn’t your thing, you can always stick to fish soup.

For anyone wanting to experience live music, Austur Bar is a great place to get a night cap and hear local musicians play in downtown Reykjavik before calling it a night.

Get a good nights rest because it is on to the Golden Circle on Day 4!

You can learn more by checking out our detailed itinerary here. Enrollment closes on April 30th, so don’t miss your chance to join us.

An in-depth photo journal of Day 2 on our Iceland tour

Alright guys.. I’m literally geeking out over this Iceland trip. I’ll be honest. As I told you before in my previous blog, I initially planned this trip because of its popular demand, and not from some burgeoning inner desire to visit Iceland before I die, but holy junk! The more I’ve come to learn about Iceland the more I kick myself for not having this at the top of my bucket list. Here’s a deeper look at Day 2 of this ridiculous tour. You can check out the full itinerary here in the meantime.

Just like every tour on magical day 2, we will hit the ground running. We will leave straight from the airport and head out on a Reykjavik city tour. Starting with the old town center. Imagine if Norway, Sweden, Bavaria and Amsterdam’s architecture had a baby. Pretty quaint right? That’s Reykjavik’s old town center. Colorful buildings in unique Icelandic style, back-to-back lining both sides of the street. There are street performers, cold weather shops, Viking paraphernalia, and infamous Icelandic sweaters. I don’t know about you, but I plan to take a few of those puppies home with me.

Reykjavik architecture

Infamous Icelandic sweaters

From there we will check out the Parliament house in Reykjavik aka Althingi, one of the oldest parliamentary institutions in the world, dating back as far as 930 ad. My favorite fact about the parliament house is that it was founded by a group called the thingmenn. Best name ever am I right? It also has a super Icelandic façade made out of hewn Icelandic Stone. It’s a pretty rugged and intimidating building if you ask me.

Parliament House

We will also check out the Reykjavik harbor, a vibrant and colorful scenic spot showcasing beautiful views of the snow-capped peak of Mount Esja. For those that are going on the optional whale-watching tour on day 3, you will actually leave from here. Besides the beautiful view, there is a killer Viking maritime museum nearby, cycling tours and puffin tours available from right in the heart of the old harbor.

View from the Harbor

From there we will check out the Hofdi house, which is not only stunningly beautiful, it is actually the spot where President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbatsjov officially ended the Cold War—so I’d say it has some pretty rich historical significance as well. The house overlooks the water and is a breathtaking man-made structure.

Hofdi House

This next one has me SO excited. I’ve long wanted to visit the Hallgrimskirkja Church. It is the very symbol of Iceland. Because of it’s massive height, the steeple of the church can be seen from almost anywhere in Reykjavik, making it synonymous with the city itself. It was actually designed to mirror the basalt columns native to Iceland, making it not only functional and beautiful, but it mimics the very landscape of Iceland.

Hallgrimskirkja Church

We will also be checking out the Northern Lights Center on this day. This place is amazing. It has a digital display of the Northern Lights, along with folktales and stories surrounding the Aurora Borealis, the history of the northern lights and a photography section. Word has it that the Northern Lights can be elusive, but thanks to this awesome museum, there’s no way we will leave disappointed.

Northern Lights Center

Another building I’m stoked to visit is the Harpa Concert Hall. I’ve seen many a travel photo taken from this bad boy and I can’t wait to snap my own. This building is relatively new, opening it’s doors in 2011. It’s a fully functional concert hall and conference center and has won numerous architectural awards and was voted best performance venue by Travel + Leisure.

Harpa Concert Hall Exterior

Harpa Concert Hall Interior

After the city tour we will check into our hotel for the evening. Let me tell you too, the hotels are ridiculously fancy. I can’t wait to experience the luxury and comfort that Iceland has to offer. For dinner, I suggest being a little adventurous and trying some Icelandic specialties, like fermented shark. Okay, this may or may not be a tourist trap of epic proportions, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to try it none-the-less. There is also a signature drink called Brennivin, aka “The Black Death” that is said to have a licoricey aftertaste and burn as it goes down. True Vikings could handle it, and it is a must try for those with an adventurous spirit and a taste for all things authentically Iceland.

After dinner I suggest taking a short snooze because later that night we will go out on our Northern Lights tour. The Aurora Borealis is one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the entire world. I planned this entire trip around prime Northern Lights viewing times, which is smack dab in the middle of October. We will actually embark on a chase this evening—attempting the best view from various vantage points. Weather in Iceland can be tricky, so if we miss prime viewing tonight, rest assured, we will head out later on other evenings in the tour as well. It’s said that the Aurora Borealis can be viewed in the night sky from the hotel too, so we very well may have multiple nights of Northern Lights viewing. Seeing the Northern Lights in person is high at the top of my bucket list. I can’t wait to feast my eyes upon this natural wonder.

Northern Lights Tour

After this we will retire to the hotel for some much earned rest and relaxation before hitting the streets again tomorrow. Be on the lookout for our Day 3 summary soon. Again, you can check out this killer itinerary here and enroll straight from this link. Make sure you enroll before Dec. 24th to look in the early enrollment discount before it expires.

Iceland here we come!

Ice, Ice, Baby... Iceland, that is!

Why Iceland, you're asking yourself? Well….

It all started with a bet. Jordan said more people were interested in going to Iceland than Israel. I disagreed. I may have even guffawed. He couldn’t believe someone that traveled as much as I do could be so unaware of the cultural goldmine that is Iceland. I couldn’t believe that anyone within a stones throw of the Bible belt could ignore the fact that Christians essentially exit the womb with a burgeoning desire to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. So like the logical people we are, naturally, we took to our Facebook page to settle the debate. We created a poll with several hot destinations including Iceland and the Holy Land and attempted to unbiasedly manipulate our friends and family into voting on where the most appealing travel destination was. Maybe you even innocently participated in it.

As much as it pains me to admit defeat, Iceland won out by a landslide. I was shocked with the results, but I’d be lying if I said that this was the first time Iceland had piqued my interest.

A couple years earlier my friend and fellow travel enthusiast, Ashley, had visited the good ole Land of Fire and Ice and his pictures left me speechless. Whale watching, the blue lagoon, volcanoes! How had I so mistakenly assumed that this beautiful country was nothing more than a big floating Iceberg?! It turns out, that was the point.

Legend tells that the earliest settlers, the Vikings, literally named it “ice-land” to trick their enemies into thinking they hadn’t stumbled onto the natural treasure trove that they in fact had, and using the ole grass-is-greener switcheroo, insisted they instead head to “green-land,” which is in fact, an actual floating iceberg. Genius move. (I also read that this is a bogus account of how this island got its name, but since I moonlight as a literature teacher, I’ll wink at its historical inaccuracy since it makes for a good story).

Now that Iceland was back on my radar I started to see it everywhere. More and more friends were visiting and sharing their pictures, I would read articles about it in magazines and on Facebook, heck even the Real Housewives of Orange County went there, not to mention its repeated appearances on Game of Thrones. It was after overhearing a couple of students gush about Iceland that I decided I was sick of being a bystander. I wanted to see this mythical land for myself.

It took me a few months of nonstop research to decide where exactly in Iceland we should go, what time of year would be best suited for our purposes (prime northern lights viewing times, for example), and how long to make the trip, but I finally did it. Since starting Land + See one of my favorite things is diving head first into a new destination and learning its nuances—hand picking each little nook and cranny of the tour and trying to uncover all the hidden gems along the way. I’m a little obsessed with not feeling like a tourist. Authenticity is always my focus.

I hope you like what I planned. I put my heart and soul into this tour, and while I’m generally a pretty cold-natured person, I couldn’t be more excited about this “hot” destination.

Be on the lookout as I’ll be updating you with day-by-day details periodically in my blog, but for now, here’s a little taste of how our Iceland tour came to be. You can check out the full itinerary by clicking HERE. Iceland here we come!!