Notions Of Change

Iceland, Day 3

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Woke up this morning to dark gray skies, which made the now familiar landscape look new again. Jón made an amazing breakfast for all of the B&Bers, mostly with either ingredients he and his wife grew/raised or from other local farmers. Homemade bread, smoked lamb (delicious…and I don’t even like lamb) and other meats, scrambled eggs, smoked fish, jams, vegetables, fruit, coffee, yogurt, and skyr (Icelandic dairy product). It was so good! We all sat at the table and tried to fuel up on caffeine so that we would feel somewhat conscious and be able to continue sightseeing. It was a contented tired after a late night gazing at aurora borealis and talking.

Jón and I discussed the weather report and it became more and more clear that it was NOT a wise choice to continue traveling east to the glacial lagoon with a big storm coming, especially because my flight is tomorrow in the early morning. It was definitely disappointing but experiencing two of three (aurora borealis, black sand beaches, Jökulsárlón) must-sees is pretty good in a country that the weather changes moment to moment.Continue Reading

Iceland, Day 1

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The flight to Iceland was awesome. Iceland Air gives their clients all the little touches that put them miles ahead of other competing airlines: free wifi, movies, music, travel documentaries, several complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, blankets and pillows, footrests, extra legroom, and aurora borealis led panels gently lighting the plane’s interior. Their airport is equally well thought out. The car rental process was relatively painless. All good. Now what to do at 6AM?

Sunrise in Iceland
Sunrise in Iceland

Even though most of the passengers, including myself, hadn’t slept much during the flight, I thought it would be great to soak away the pains of too long a time in one position. Off to the Blue Lagoon it was! Driving in a unfamiliar country can be a little intimidating at first, especially as you learn what the different traffic signs mean and acclimate to kilometers per hour versus miles per hour. Even with studded tires, four wheel drive, and cautious driving, I nearly slid off the road at one point. Black ice—definitely not fun stuff.Continue Reading

NYC, Days 3 and 4

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Day 3

Today was another big walking day. I had a work related meeting with two lovely ladies and was to meet them on Broadway near Times Square, so I decided to leave early enough to have time to walk through Central Park on the way there. It was beautiful! The architectural features of some of the park structures are masterful. And having a natural area in the middle of a metropolis is genius.

Following lunch in a Japanese tea house called Radiance (definitely recommend), it was time to head to Times Square to purchase discount Broadway tickets from the Theatre Development Fund’s TKTS booth. I scored tickets to Matilda, at fifty percent off, after a chilly forty-five minute wait. So worth it to see my first ever Broadway production! (Sooo many more people in the square on a Thursday than on Tuesday!)Continue Reading

NYC, Day 2

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Today was another absolutely fantastic day. Though the morning started off with the dulcet sounds of teenage girls screaming at each other and their mom (grateful I don’t have to deal with that on a daily basis), I headed over to bakery Le Pain Quotidien for breakfast. It was delicious—absolutely recommend this place.

First thing on the itinerary was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (When you go, keep in mind the suggested amount for admission is $25, but you can choose to give however much your budget allows. It’s an all day/multiple day/week long experience.) I LOVED it and managed to pack in most of the museum between 10:30am and 4:30pm, but it was a push sometimes. And the art featured is from all around the world, from Africa to the Middle East to Asia to North and South America.

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New York City, Day 1

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*Note: Since I’m traveling, these posts are only lightly edited for obvious spelling errors. It’s more important to experience the trip than to edit thoroughly, so hopefully you can forgive the bloopers!*

Well, the first part of this adventure has commenced! The day started at 4AM and I wouldn’t trade it—along with travel meals consisting of airline peanuts, pretzels, and a Kind bar—for anything in the world.

On the plane between Minneapolis and JFK, my awesome row-mate, Tom, and I discussed the finer details of New York’s history and appeal, editing, and being a closet writer (which he is). A New Yorker from birth, Tom agreed that folks wanting to experience the city as it truly is should not only focus on the major attractions but also walk around a good deal. Here are some of his suggestions for things to do, besides the obvious ones like Times Square:

  • Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan and grab a slice of what he called the best pizza known to man.
  • Take a walking tour through Free Tours by Foot, which he said are some of most informative in the city.
  • For bookworms like me, check out the Strand Bookstore. Multiple stories of stacked books, ripe for the picking.
  • Take the Staten Island Ferry, a free service that takes visitors past the Statue of Liberty.

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