ICELAND

I remember back in grade school when I found out that Iceland is more green and Greenland is more icy. My little mind was so confused and blown away that someone could officially name a country whose geographic features did not fit the name! Okay, so it was not exactly with those words (geography, features) but you get my jist. Of course, there is ice and snow in Iceland but generally speaking, it tends to be greener than Greenland. 

So, Iceland, eh? This country is known for it's Blue Lagoon, whale watching, incredibly breath-taking northern lights and grass/moss covered homes. Iceland is a Nordic island in the continent of Europe surrounded by the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. There are about 319,000 people (national language is Icelandic) living on the island. The capital is Reykjavik and the currency is the Icelandic króna. If you visit Iceland and speak to the locals, they will probably ask you where you are from. What do you say?! Halló ég er frá ___. You are probably trying to say it out loud now, right? Me too...

If you are a fellow Pinterest addict, you have probably stumbled across pins of the beautiful Blue Lagoon or Gullfoss that Iceland boasts. These are two of Iceland's main attractions, so when you go, or if you have already gone, those are two places to go/you have gone to. Another lagoon that Iceland is famous for is the Jökulsár Lagoon.

When in Reykjavik: 

1. Take a break from sight-seeing to go shopping at the Kolaportio Flea Market.

2. Cleanse yourself in the Laugardalslaug Geothermal Pool. 

3. Spend a few hours inside at the Reykjavik Art Museum, National Museum, Reykjavik 871+2, Culture House or the Vikin Maritime Museum. 

4. Buy a pidgin stuffed animal or just see a live one!

5. Hot dog-lovers, you are in luck! The fast food restaurant Baejarins Beztu is every hot dog-lovers heaven.

6. If you aren't a fan of hot dogs, try some other favorite food spots, such as: Vio Tjornina, Babalu, Indian Mango, Saegreifinn, Tapas Barinn, Hereford Steakhouse, Kaffi Solon or Vox. 

7. Drink some brew and jam to live music at Celtic Cross or Cafe Amsterdam.

8. Got kids? Head to Family Fun Park & Zoo.

9. Feeling spooky? The capital offers an 'Original Ghost Walk of Reykjavik'. 

10. Watch some whales!

11. Hang with the locals at Austurvollur- the main square in the city.

12. Book an afternoon of 'Viking Horse-Riding Tour' (My dad would love the Viking part of this!)

Elsewhere in Iceland: 

1. Visit the Askja, which is a stratovolanco.

2. Eat at Perlan- a cool, futuristic looking restaurant.

3. Go to a concert at Harpa concert hall.

4. Attempt to drink some water from the Dynjandi or Aldeyjarfoss waterfalls. 

5. Breathe the Icelandic air at Vatnajokull National Park.

6. Visit the Imagine Peace Tower, built by Yoko Ono, on the island of Videy.

7. If you visit the city of Akureyri, be sure to visit the incredible architecture of Akureyrarkirkja (Church of Akureyri). 

8. Take some Instagram pictures of the Sun Voyager (a sculpture in Reykjavik). 

9. Go skiing, just slide down the mountain or pull a Jon Snow in Game of Thrones at the mountain of Hlidarfjall. 

10. If you love whales, go to the Husavik Whale Museum, in the town of Husavik. 

11. Have your breath taken away at Arnarfjörður.

12. Visit the home of a 1955 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Halldór Kiljan Laxnes', home. 

Now, if you have ever dreamed about going to Antarctica but rejected the idea in fear of sinking with the icebergs (likelihood is slim to none, but some people fear it), well you are in luck. Tourists from all over the world come to Iceland to participate in a glacier adventure/trek. 

The next post will be on: Czech Republic; the one and only and my motherland (well half of my motherland)!

Keep pushing through this Monday (I have an eternal list of things to do/finish for university) and travel on wadnerlusters!

ECUADOR

Ah, Ecuador, or the Republic of Ecuador, home to almost 15 million people and on the western side of South America. Ecuador borders Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean (canoe from California to Ecuador? Me thinks yes!) The capital is Quito and the national currency is the U.S. dollar. Todo el mundo habla espanol.

 Head to Ecuador's main city, where the excitement is-- Quinto: 

1. Like Prague, Quinto has an Old Town!

2. Spend a few hours in the Museo Guayasamin, Museo del Banco Central or the Museo Etnografico de Artesania de Ecuador (looks extremely interesting- it's about the indigenous peoples of Ecuador). 

3. Munch on some authentic South American cuisine at: La Briciola, Hasta La Vuelta, Cafeteria Fabiolita.  

4. Start the day at one of the many breakfast cafes: Kallari or Magic Bean.

5. Visit the extravagant Basilica del Voto Nacional. 

6. Breathe easy at the Cotopaxi National Park, Parque El Ejido or Parque la Carolina.

7. Visit several of the surrounding volcanoes: Ilalo, Cotopaxi, Atacazo and Rucu Pichincha.

8. Throw your hands up on a roller coaster at Vulqano Park (an amusement park).

9. Wander around Plaza Grande for a while and take some tourist photos.

10. Drink a little, eat a lot and be fabulous in the La Mariscal neighborhood.

11. Spend a few hours gazing at the Colonial Homes.

12. Visit the Mitad del Mundo/Middle of the World Monument...literally, the middle of the world and then see the pretty animals at the Quito Zoo!

Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador is located in the Azuay Province:

1. Cave in and let someone guide you around a tour of the Inca Ruins of Ingapirca.

2. Spend a lazy day slowly walking around Museo Pumapungo or the religious museum, Museo de las Conceptas. 

3. Grab some souvenirs for your favorites back home at the Plaza de San Francisco Market. 

4. Snap some photos at Rio Tomebamba & Calle Large.

5. Grab a meal at: El Maiz, La Barraca, Cafe Austria, Tiestos or Moliendo Cafe. 

6. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Tutto Freddo. 

7. Get holy at the New Cathedral of Cuenca and Mirador de Turi...or get holy old-school at the Old Cathedral of Cuenca.

8. Visit the El Cajas- the national park in Cuenca.

9. Wander around Plaza Abdon Calderon. 

10. Smell the South American flowers at Ecuagenera.

Bored of the city scene? Explore the rest of beautiful Ecuador: 

1. Rent a car or take a bus for 3 hours to the Otavalo Market- South America's largest market. 

2. Breathe in the fresh rainforest air for 3 days on an Amazon Rainforest trip- starting at just $100. 

3. Venture for 3 to 4 days on the Quilotoa Loop.

4. Visit the Valley of Longevity and Vilcabamba.

5. Forget land, go to the Galapagos Islands!

6. Go to the middle of the world...literally, the middle of the world: the Equator (Mitad del Mundo). 

I am so excited to be moving to South America (Uruguay) in a year- I will definitely be making a trip over to Ecuador during my stay. The country and it's nature all looks so beautiful and refreshing. It's officially on the list for spring 2014 travels!

The next post will be on: Iceland.

Travel on wanderlusters!

P.S. I came across this article last night and I loved it. I will write a post about my thoughts/experience and opinions on this but here is the article for you to give a read. How beautiful is she? Gorgeous.

HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH

It is true, heaven is a place on Earth. There are actually 18 'heavens on Earth'...and I live in one of them :) I was browsing through the website Fantastic View Point and found some pretty interesting articles.
If you are work currently like I am, here is the list and a few pictures to get you through the next few hours:

1. Laguna Beach, California

2. Matterhorn, Switzerland

3. Mount Fiji, Japan

4. Gullfoss, Iceland

5. Florianópolis, South Brazil

6. Honolulu, Hawaii

7. Prague, Czech Republic

8. Nirwana Bali Golf Club, Indonesia

9. Lake Garda- Alpine Region, Italy

10. Tahiti

11. Baku, Azerbaijan

12. Cenote Ik Kil, Mexico

13. Lake Moraine- Banff National Park, Canada

14. Portofino Resort- Ambergris Caye, Belize

15. Vermillion Lake, Banff National Park, Canada

16. Yoho National Park, Lake O'Hara, Canada

17. Palawan, Philippines

18. Hallstat, Austria

I'm dreaming of these places...can summer come sooner so I can travel?! Only about 3 or 4 more weeks now. Seems almost too far away. 

The girls and I have decided to make our fall break trip to St. Petersburg, Russia. We have to of course buy plane tickets and get the visas sorted out but we are really looking forward to going! Fingers crossed! 

Back to work and writing the Italy post (I made an oopsie at the end of yesterday's post).

Travel on wanderlusters!