Situated in northern Iceland about an hour and a half drive west of Akureyri, is the old “capital of the north”, Hólar, Iceland. This tiny town, which today has a population of about 100 people, was once the religious center of Iceland and served as its northern capital for over 700 years. Today, to those curious travelers, it serves as a window into the past and there is so much to see.
Northern Iceland is a dream for the adventurous traveler (well, really Iceland as a whole, to be honest!). The Hverfjall crater, or Hverfjall volcano, in northern Iceland gives people the chance to walk the rim of an ancient volcano. It is one of the best preserved ancient volcanoes you can see today. Walking the rim of this huge crater gives visitors a sense of the immense size and dramatic explosion that must have occured when the crater was created between 2,500 and 2,900 years ago.
Dimmuborgir is one of Iceland’s most well-known tourist attractions. The interesting formations, the walkable paths, the close proximity between the lava fields, Lake Mývatn, and the Hverfjall volcanic crater, and the fact that it was featured prominently as part of the lands beyond the wall in Season 3 of Game of Thrones make it a must see destination if you ever find yourself in the northern part of the country.
With Christmas quickly approaching, I decided to visit the old folktales of Grýla and Leppalúði that harkens from the frozen lands of Iceland. Here in the States, naughty children receive the threat of coal from Santa, but in Iceland, naughty children might be used as the main ingredient in a winter soup! If you are still unafraid after reading this, you can visit Grýla and Leppalúði in person on the streets of Akureyri in northern Iceland. But for now, read along to learn about Grýla, Leppalúði, their Yule cat, and the Yule Lads.
Located in the coastal city of Pula, Croatia, is the well-preserved ancient Roman triumphal arch, the Arch of the Sergii. It stands at the entrance to the old town, providing visitors with the perfect introduction to this beautiful part of the city.
Nestled within the coastal city of Pula, Croatia, along the Adriatic Sea, is the famous Pula Arena. This ancient Roman amphitheater is truly one of a kind. It is the best preserved Roman amphitheater in the world and the best preserved archaeological site in Croatia. It is the only Roman amphitheater to have all four side towers with the three original Roman architectural orders (the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns) still extant.
The Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, Georgia is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. The ornate statues, unique architecture, and olds roads lined with live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss take visitors into a more peaceful and serene state of mind. This place is absolutely breathtaking and worth a trip in and of itself. It’s quite large so allow yourself plenty of time to take it all in.
The Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, is the oldest standing church in the city. Over the years, it has changed hands, from Viking kings, to the Irish Church, to the Anglo-Normans, to the English after the Restoration. As the official seat of the Church of Ireland, it is busy with services and church activities, but is quite accessible for those who just want to peek inside this majestic building.
With the end of fall approaching, we took what might have been the last beautiful, sunny, and warm day and headed out west to hike the Vroman’s Nose Loop Trail just west of Middleburgh in upstate New York. The leaves brightly displayed the glorious fall colors only seen in this part of the country at this time of year, and the sun warmed us up to allow us to focus on the beauty that was all around.
A warm fall means lots of outdoor time and this time round, we went to the Schiffendecker Farm Preserve in Bethlehem, New York. We got to traverse over several small bridges, see some water rush by, hear the birds, and spot an old apple orchard. Overall, we had a lovely time, and we were wearing shorts in October; a relatively new phenomenon for us here in upstate New York.
