This is part 2 in my travelogue series on Italy. The first part on the Amalfi coast is here. :)
Mike and I went to Florence on our 2010 trip but didn’t really get to explore the Tuscany country side. Florence was beautiful, not to mention the world class Uffizi gallery and the Academia Gallery where Michelangelo’s David is. Better go early for both of these otherwise the lineups are unbelievably long. You can also buy tickets ahead of time at a smaller tourist attraction for both of them and skip the ticket line. Oh there are two lines: the ticket line, and the security line. Yea, have fun with that :) If I sound a little bitter, it’s only because we got yelled at by one of the gallery workers at the Uffizi, for both sitting on a bench (which mind you was perfectly capable of seating 2, if not 3 people). And no, there wasn’t a sign saying you can’t sit on it. I think she was just having a bad day. And yes, 4 years later I still remember that incident. What can I say, I’m a Scorpio, I hold grudges. ;)
To be honest, I thought the Academia wasn’t that exciting besides David, if you want to see other amazing works by Michelangelo and Bernini, don’t miss the Borghese Gallery in Rome. That was my favourite museum in Italy.
I think two of my favourite things in Italy besides the beautiful scenery and culture were gelato and focaccia (both food related of course haha). Gelato is pretty self explanatory. Focaccia is too I think. But they make it a bit differently in different parts of Italy. The Tuscan variety tends to be thinner and simpler, usually just seasoned with a bit of olive oil, salt and a bit of herbs. It’s so delicious. When we were in Tuscany in 2012, I think I ate the bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner. :D Gelato was pretty much a twice-a-day exercise; not eaten right after focaccia, that’s just weird.
Our 2012 visit brought us to Siena, then onto the Tuscany countryside from there. We rented a little Smart Car for 3 days. We had to get an automatic since neither of us could drive manual at the time. But the car wasn’t a true automatic and man it was fun getting up those little hills. Two tips for driving in the Italian countryside:
1. Unless you drive like an Italian, better get used to the impatient gesturing of the driver behind you, the honking and eventual passing. I don’t know what it is, but these friendly people turn into a completely different species when they get behind the wheel.
2. Get a detailed road map before you drive off! Ask me how many times we drove around Siena while trying to figure out how to get out of the city without a map. I think it might have been 3.
This is Siena’s Duomo. They started building it after Florence built theirs. The competition was fierce!
It’s not as grand as the one in Florence because they never finished theirs in Siena when the Black Death hit in 1348.
I have a really funny memory of this place. I was in line for tickets and after getting two tickets, I walked towards Mike,
looked back at the ticket booth, and burst out laughing. Mike asked me what was funny.
I said I just realized why I felt so strange getting the tickets:
the ticket booth was ridiculously low, I had to bend down and crane my neck to
speak to the ticket seller. Everyone else was doing the same thing.
I should have taken a photo of this ticket booth, but I was too caught up in that moment.
here it is: Il Campo. Europe’s most beautiful square. Well, minus the construction crane.
Wooden shutters are the best, no?
The next 3 photos were taken from the old city walls, which is a must visit at dusk.
The rolling hills of Tuscany. It really is as pretty as the postcards.
a vintage Fiat! They are so cute.
Wheat fields always remind me of that scene in The Gladiator where Maximus is walking through one, his hand sailing through them.
Me reading our Toscana map: it was bigger than me when completely unfolded :D
It’s so fun going through old photos and finding ones you’d forgotten about.
Next up in the Italian travelogues: the charming Cinque Terre.
Whenever I travel (except if we are going to a resort), I always bring just one backpack and another smaller day pack such as a messenger bag.
But why travel with a backpack instead of a rolling suitcase with wheels? Wouldn’t it be easier to roll your luggage than carry a 20 lb pack (mine at its heaviest) on your back? Personally, I like the freedom a backpack allows me. While it can seem easier to roll your suitcase at times, traveling with one just doesn’t suit my travel style as an independent traveler. With everything I need in just two bags that can both go on my shoulders, my hands are free and I don’t feel tied down by the things I have. There have been countless times where I was very glad I had a backpack: going up and down stairs where there is no escalator or elevator (such as smaller hotels in Europe and elsewhere), walking to hotel or train station on cobblestone streets, walking in crowded places such as train or metro stations, traveling on a crowded local bus etc.
M and I enjoy traveling independently, so no organized tours (not to say there is anything wrong with tours). Having just a backpack and a day pack each provide us with the ability to move faster and be more nimble. Basically we travel Amazing Race style :) minus the fanny pack. There is something liberating about having everything you need on your back. You are not weighed down by your things; they don’t own you, you own them. And it’s amazing to know you really don’t need all that much stuff to survive or live comfortably.
Packing light for travel is easier said than done though. It’s even harder as a photographer when you want to bring every lens and camera body you have. In the past, I always ended up with more things than I actually needed or used. Which meant I ended up with a pretty heavy backpack, usually heavier than M’s haha. Although I’m by no means a well seasoned traveler (have only been to 14 countries to date), I’ve finally come up with my own system for packing lightly through trial and error.
Since I’m going to Stockholm and Iceland in a few days, I’m using the items I’ve packed for this trip as an example.
Here’s a breakdown of what goes into my backpack:
1. The backpack itself: a 50 L Gregory Jade backpack that I’ve had for a few years. I think I spent about $200 but it’s important to get a good quality backpack because it will be well built, durable and provide better support for your back and hips. I think I can easily get another 5 years out of this bag even after all the rough handling by airport personnel :D
2. Soft Lug travel pillow for those redeye flights and long distance train travels. Speaking of travel pillows, have you seen this new J pillow? It seems way more comfortable but a bit bulkier. Or this?? I don’t think I’d ever use this. ha.
3. Toiletry bag with all the essentials: personal hygiene items including face cleanser, moisturizer, tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant, makeup, mostly all travel sized or under 100ml; face cloth; medications including Gravol (since I get motion sickness), cold/flu meds, tylenol or similar, bandaids, tums; tissues; cotton pads
4. 2 sweaters. The one on top is my Icelandic wool sweater which is the warmest thing I’ve ever worn! It’s really thick so I wear it on travel days. If I’m traveling to warmer destinations, I only bring 2 thin cardigans.
5. Light weight & waterproof rain jacket. I pretty much bring this with me on every trip now. It’s super light weight plus it has a hood so saves me having to bring an umbrella. Once while in Scotland, M and I (M has the same jacket but the male version in blue) walked in the rain for over an hour to our B&B after a hike . When we got back, we were still dry inside. Since I’m traveling in early March, it will still be fairly cold so I’m bringing a hat and mittens as well (not pictured).
6. 4 shirts/tops: 1 short sleeved t shirt, 2 long sleeved shirts as base layers and a denim shirt to layer with. If traveling to warmer destinations, I bring 4 short sleeved t shirts and 1 or 2 long sleeved ones plus a dressier top.
7. 1 pair of cotton pants, 1 pair of jeans (which I will wear on travel days) + wool tights to wear as base layer if really cold. If traveling to warmer destinations, two pairs of shorts + 1 pair of cotton pants.
8. 3 pairs of socks; usually I only bring 2 pairs but since it’ll still be cold I’m bringing my merino wool Icebreaker socks. My friend Kristen introduced me to these, pretty much warmest socks around.
9. A bathing suit. I might not use these but in case I visit the Blue Lagoon or a hot spring.
10. Tripod for those beautiful night photos. This is probably one of the heavier things in my bag, I might get a lighter version next year.
11. Hiking shoes. These are a bit bulky and not so stylish but I’m past the point in my life where I sacrifice comfort for style too much. ;) They are sturdy, warm, water resistant and really comfortable. If traveling to warmer places, I add a pair of Birkenstocks as well.
Not pictured here: mittens, a scarf and under garments
Additional things: 3 – 4 dresses + a skirt and a straw hat for warmer climate travels. Oh and sunscreen!
I find with this list, no matter if I’m traveling for 1.5 weeks or 5 weeks, or indeed 2 months, they are more than enough. The key is to pack clothes that will mix and match well and are versatile. Wear bulkier items on travel days if possible. Beyond that, the trick is to wash your clothes while traveling. Laundromats can be found almost everywhere.
Things that go into my day pack:
12. The bag itself; a leather messenger bag I’ve had for years. It’s roomy, sturdy and has additional pockets for smaller items.
13. Travel documents, a pen, a Moleskine journal, my passport and always, a book. I usually try to pick one that’s not as thick, and no hardcovers!
14. Lenses; not pictured here is my 35mm f1.4 lens since I was using it :)
15. Canon 5D Mark iii camera body (pictured here is the 5D instead since I was using the Mark iii)
16. Wallet with credit cards, travel insurance details, bank cards + cash
17. Battery charger + extra battery
18. Memory cards
19. iPhone for emails & Instagram of course
20. Lens pouches to protect the lenses
21. iPhone charging cord + the correct plug converter
22. Sunglasses
This list is quite a bit longer if I’m traveling for work for obvious reasons. Add another camera body, lens, flash, and more batteries. Besides my camera gear, I’m pretty low tech, no iPads or laptop…for now anyway. I might need to get a laptop for on the road editing and such if I travel for work more.
Additional things: sometimes a guidebook. But I try to use electronic versions these days. Lonely Planet is great for these.
Here’s what the final packed bags look like! I might actually be able to bring both as carry on items. The backpack being the carry on and the messenger bag is my personal item. The biggest advantage of not having to check your bag is not have to worry about the airline losing it! And then once you get to your destination you can hit the ground running and not have to wait at the luggage carousel.
Final tip: start early! I’m bad at this but M always plans an hour for packing at least a week before we leave. You don’t have to put everything into your bag/suitcase, but at least gather things and put them in a separate area. Plan your outfits strategically while you do this (I know this can be hard for the ladies), and then edit, edit, edit!
The first time I traveled to Italy was in 2010. M and I visited Rome, Amalfi Coast, Florence and Venice in our short 12-day trip. Italy was always high on my “must visit” list ever since I was little. The country just seemed so romantic. And their language sounds so beautiful. When I read Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, I read that the Italian language had a very poetic and literary origin. I will try to be brief here and try to paraphrase from the book as much as possible. Italy for centuries had been independent city-states often at war with each other, and alternately dominated by other European powers. It did not become unified until 1861. Though Latin was still used, it was mainly used by the scholars and educated men in a written format. A derivative of Latin called Vulgar Latin (a colloquial form spoken by common people) was the predecessor to Romance languages such as French, Spanish, and Portuguese. In every other country, the resulting modern day national language was a result of the dominating city, which determined the language of the whole country. This was not the case in Italy. Like its neighbours, many regional dialects existed across the country; dialects so different that a Florentine scholar could not communicate with a Venetian merchant. Then in the 16th century, some Italian intellectuals got together and decided that it was absurd they didn’t have a common language to be called their own. Then they did something quite dramatic, which was they handpicked the dialect that was the most beautiful, which became known as Italian. The basis for that beautiful dialect? It was based on the Florentine language in which Dante had used to write his Divine Comedy in the 14th century. Dante actually thought Latin to be a “corrupt, elitist” language and had turn to the street where Florentine was spoken by the residents of his city.
For a while I somewhat doubted her account because I thought it was unbelievable for a language to be “picked” that way. Then I realized this was in a published book, which means she must have done her research and wouldn’t have published content that was inaccurate (duh). I have since confirmed this with Wikipedia (I know, very scholarly of me). As Elizabeth Gilbert pointed out, for a group of Italian intellectuals to get together and pick a dialect that was the most beautiful to be their official language is equivalent of a bunch of Oxford scholars to get together in early 19th century and decide that from now on we would all speak pure Shakespeare. I actually think that would be kind of amazing. I love the way Shakespearean English sounds.
So yes, a beautiful country with a beautiful language. We returned again in 2012 for part of our honeymoon. Because I have too many photos, I decided to split them into separate posts. Here are some photos from the Amalfi coast.
The Amalfi coast is probably one of the most well known regions in Italy, and for a reason. It’s stunningly beautiful. The towns that perch right along the cliffs with an azure Tyrrhenian sea at their doorsteps practically. Then there’s the hairpin turns of the coastal drive. For both of our visits, we started in the town of Sorrento, which is where the train line ended. But before that, if you are coming from the north, you will most likely be taking a high speed train from Rome to Naples. From Naples, you’ll catch a local commuter train called Circumvesuviana. The experience on that train is very authentic. Though if you do a search on travel forums, you’ll likely find some negative complaints from travellers, mainly about robbery or thieves. Our experience was as long as you keep a low profile (the stereotypical loud, naive American traveler comes to mind…), be alert of your surroundings and don’t wear flashy jewellery, you will be fine. My favourite memory traveling on that train was exiting the Naples suburbs and the train traversing through lemon and orange groves on one side; so close that the tree branches rattled against the windows as the train speeds along. And on the other side, the view to the Bay of Naples coming in and out of sight through the seaside towns. This is why I love train travel, you don’t have to worry about how to get to your destination once you step on the train, you can just enjoy the journey.
Sorrento is famous for its lemon products. Their lemons are very big.
Sorrento is the gateway to the Amalfi coast. From there, you can either hire your own car and enjoy the coastal towns or use the efficient public buses to connect your routes.
The first option gives you more freedom, though the drive can be a bit intimidating for non-Italian drivers.
The second option is a bit more restricted but cheaper. I almost forgot, you can also take a ferry between certain villages in the summer.
You can also take a short ferry ride (30 to 45 minutes) from Sorrento to the island of Capri.
Cable car ride (or more like cable chair lift) to and from Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island.
That was the most intense cable car ride I’ve ever had.
The only thing that stopped you from falling off was a thin iron bar.
Granted the ride was very smooth and the scenery was too beautiful to be afraid anyway.
Lots of tourists and boats jostling to get into the Blue Grotto. While we thought the island was beautiful, we also found it to be too touristy.
Bus ride photo of the coast.
A big part of why we decided to return to the Amalfi coast for our honeymoon was to hike The Path of the Gods.
Or Sentiero degli Dei in Italian. I don’t speak Italian but try to pronounce the words and tell me they don’t sound beautiful.
This was the absolute highlight of our trip. Besides a thrilling coastal drive (if that’s your thing),
this is in my humble opinion the best way to enjoy the coast.
And, it’s free!
You can find more info on the hike here, or read reviews of the hike here.
The views of the coast unfolding below was just breathtaking.
We were so high up I felt like I could touch the clouds if I reached up.
We started the hike in the little village of Bomerano, on the hill above the village of Praiano. The hike took us about 3 hours.
Most people stop at the little hamlet of Nocelle, high above Positano.
From there, we were told there’s a bus that can take us to Positano or take a series of steps.
We wandered around town but couldn’t find this bus stop. So we decided to take the 1,600 steps down to Positano.
I thought going uphill is bad, but nothing compared to the downward hike. It was tough on our knees and calf muscles.
One note here is if you do this hike any time from June to mid September, start as early as you can.
There are scarcely any shady patches on the hike, so it gets very hot by mid-day.
From Positano, we took a ferry back to Amalfi.
For our second visit, We stayed at Villa San Michele, which was just below the village of Ravello.
The hotel was built into the side of the cliff, right into the rocks. So each room has a sea view.
Paris. Is there any other city in the world that can conjure up such feelings of romance & love? Perhaps that is subjective, but for me there is no other (except maybe Venice). This is the post where I tell you how much I love this city and share why I love it so much. This is also the post where you’ll have to excuse me for shamelessly stuffing in some terms like “paris wedding photographer” or ” destination wedding photographer paris”. Or “paris elopement photographer”. :) I’m not too picky. If you are planning to run away to Paris to get married and happen to read this, well, please email me! It would be a dream come true to photograph a wedding in Paris.
The first time I went to Paris was in June of 2009, after graduating from university. It was everything I thought it would be and more: the pastries, the chocolates (& macarons), the architecture, the history, the museums, the eiffel tower. It’s hard to imagine that when the eiffel tower was first constructed, the Parisians hated it and dubbed it “the giant asparagus”. Little did they know that it would become the iconic image of their beloved city. We stayed 4 nights on that first visit; it was not enough. I’ve since returned twice, and still it’s not enough. For those of us who love the city, we each have our own reasons. I’ve thought about this a lot, and it was hard to put into words but here are the two main reasons:
1. It is a city that’s steeped in history; every street corner, every bridge, every cobblestone. Having stood on the banks of the Seine for thousands of years, the city is practically alive with all the stories that took place across the years. But what about the Parisians? This is usually the question I get whenever I talk about my love of Paris. Well, what about them? Sure there are some who are true to the stereotype. But I don’t think they are any more rude compared to people of other major cities. I think they are just indifferent to outsiders. And anyway I can do without the people. I’m sorry if this offends anyone, but for me Paris is not extra magical because of its people (the way Iceland is extra magical because of its people), Paris is magical in and of itself.
2. It is a city that is proud of its past and will not just forget it. They proudly & happily live amongst it. Because of that, and because of their philosophy of “working to live” instead of “living to work”, the city is very much for living. It’s built for you to walk, to go outside and connect, to enjoy your surrounding, or to pause and sit on many of the benches along its boulevards and the Seine. Though on my second visit I learned that Paris was not always this beautiful. The wide, treelined boulevards and typical Parisian houses (Haussmann style) with balconies on the 2nd and 5th level were the result of extensive renovations commissioned by Napoléon III in the mid to late 1800’s. The more modern part of the city is kept outside of the city centre. You won’t find any high rises within the city centre. And I hope that will never change. Most other great European cities are not like this. Their past is almost completely mixed in with their present. Not that there is anything wrong with that in and of itself. But there’s something wonderful about being able to experience the city the way you would have hundreds of years ago (for the most part). I think the only other cities that come close to this (that I’ve been to) are Amsterdam with its centuries old canal houses and Venice. But the latter is slowly becoming like an amusement park with fewer and fewer locals who can afford to live in the city. The saying is that at any given point in time, there are more tourists in Venice than there are locals.
So here are some photos from the three visits I’m lucky to have so far, along with some of my favourite things.
P.S. some of these were taken more than 3 years ago, so don’t judge me too harshly ok? ;)
The cobblestones in this courtyard (bottom left) are among some of the oldest in the city.
It was breathtaking. I would go back any day just to lay my eyes upon them again.
Can’t talk about musées in Paris without talking about the Louvre. I’ve been to the MET in New York, some of the best in London and across Italy.
There is nothing like the Louvre.
You can spend days, weeks here and never see it all. There’s always a new hall to explore. The building complex alone is a museum.
If you visit the museum, be sure to stick around long enough to watch the awe inspiring sunset from the courtyards.
That was one of my absolute favourites from our first visit, and I go back every time I return to Paris.
Tip: admission is free first Sunday of each month; and free Fridays after 6pm if you are under 26. Also free for EU citizens under 26
Notre Dame. No matter how many times I come here, it still takes my breath away upon entrance.
Paris rooftops.
Walking around Montmartre.
Is it me or do the stones of the Sacré Coeur resemble that of The White City of Minas Tirith in Lord of the Rings?
Watch Return of the King for a close up, you’ll see what I mean.
Literary walks in Paris. All the great writers moved to or visited Paris at some point.
the vintage cars. the mini (by North American standard), vintage cars.
Here’s something I noticed about cars there: unless it’s brand new, the cars usually have mirrors falling off and lots of scratches and dents.
They don’t seem to think it’s such a big deal unlike in North America where they’ll probably threaten to sue you for a small scratch.
My theory is that they have so little space there, the scratches, dents and fallen/loose mirrors are bound to happen sooner or later.
The Parisians (and probably most Europeans) have adapted to that.
the many market streets, and street performers.
I think that’s an accordion…?
Flower markets/shops everywhere.
Pivoine, my favourite.
the bookstalls, or bouquinistes, along the Seine.
the streets themselves, and the buildings.
And the light that plays among the buildings.
Ok ready?
I don’t love French food…
Asian cuisine will always be my favourite. Italian is a close second.
I like French food, a lot. But I don’t love it.
There’s a funny story with the below right photo. M and I were at this restaurant just around the corner from the hotel we stay at.
Their menu was all in French (by the way this is how you know the restaurant is likely not a tourist trap) and we couldn’t understand all of it.
There was an appetizer that we found particularly puzzling so we asked the waiter if he could explain it in English.
All we got out of that exchange was something that sounded like “beer and cheese”. Although M heard “bear and cheese”
hahaha.
As you can see, it was a stacked pear with cheese. And it was delicious.
I guess the moral of the story is don’t be afraid to try something new when traveling…even if it sounds something along the lines of “bear and cheese”.
And speaking of French food, my favourite course is dessert. Pastries, macarons, ice cream. Everything!
Berthillon is the most famous glacier in Paris. Oui. There is always a line up. Their flag ship is on the Ile Saint-Louis.
It’s perfect after a long, meandering walk around the city.
And since many restaurants & cafes on Ile Saint-Louis carry Berthillon ice cream…
It’s perfect for the evening right before you return to your hotel as well.
Especially if it’s your last night in Paris. ;)
My personal favourite treat though has to the macaron.
I’ve sampled many different ones, but my favourites are still from Ladurée.
Chateau de Versailles. No photo will convey the scope and grandness of the palace and its gardens (except maybe an aerial photo).
No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to this magnificent palace. You can rent a bike and cycle through the gardens.
You can also boat in the ponds.
You can nap on the lawns.
The Hall of Mirrors…
Or maybe, the Hall of Tourists?
Everyone holding up their camera to take a pic of the hall.
I held up my camera to take a pic of the people taking pictures.
the Seine.
And lounging by the Seine.
the many bridges that cross the Seine and connect the Left Bank with the Right Bank.
and of course, sunsets from those bridges.
the eiffel tower.
especially when it lights up and sparkles.
and it’s even more amazing than it is during the day.
This happens for the three summer months from dusk to 1am, at the top of every hour for 10 minutes.
The first time I saw this, we were on our Fat Tire Bike Tour riding through the Tuileries garden like we were possessed trying to catch our evening boat tour.
Seriously it was magical. It was probably even more magical because I didn’t know about this little tradition.
Fat Tire Bike Tour – engaging and informative bike tour (we especially enjoyed the evening one) + you get to ride a bike through the city like a local!
Evening boat tour on the Seine – many companies do this.
Ice cream at Berthillon – even if you are not an ice cream fan (although how can anyone not be an ice cream fan?), give it a try.
But most of all, make your own Paris. Go and explore, get lost and you’ll discover things that you’ll love.
And one more time, if you are having a wedding in Paris (or even just thinking about it), email me already! :) I can’t wait until the next time I return.
Ansel Adams once said: When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.
His wise words represent perfectly how I felt, and still feel, about Iceland; the landscape, the animals, the people. That’s why I’ve been putting this off for a while.
This is a place that has to be seen and experienced. But for now, here’s the story of our road trip through the most amazing country on earth.
It was my friend Andrew who first inspired my curiosity in Iceland. He described a country with wild and magical landscapes, amazing people and very talented musicians. Before that, I naively thought that Iceland was just full of ice (I was 20…give me a break). As it turns out, Iceland is green and Greenland is full of ice. :)
So I fully expected to fall in love with the country. But the people, I’ve never fallen in love with a nation of people before. I didn’t think it would be possible. Icelanders are some of the happiest, most genuinely kind, and open people I’ve ever met in my life. If you google “why are Icelanders such happy people” or something of that nature, you’ll see that I’m not alone in this observation.
A crazy brave tourist walked to the very edge of this cliff and sat down for her friend to take a photo. I had to look away after I took this photo because I was honestly worried about what might happen if she took a wrong step.
Iceland is famous for their horses, a breed known for its sure-footedness and ability to cross rough terrain. They are smaller in stature but don’t call them ponies. That would offend even the nicest Icelanders. When we get the chance to go back, I’d love to go on a riding trip.
Waterfalls dot the countryside, many from melting glaciers in the Spring & Summer. We visited Seljalandsfoss, on the way to Skogar and Vik. We arrived around 8:30pm but it was still very light outside. There was nearly no one at the site. We climbed up a series of wet wooden steps and behind the waterfall. The sound was thunderous. We were soaking wet but it was incredible.
A waterfall that tumbles into a hidden canyon just down the road from Seljalandsfoss.
We stayed at the Hotel Edda in Skogar for the first night of our drive-around-the-country trip. The hotel is on the site of an old school. It was an interesting place. But where else do you stay in a room that affords a view of endless grass and sheep? The Skogar folk museum is just down the street and we headed there early on day 3. It’s an amazing little spot full of local history & artifacts.
a centuries-old ship used for fishing
Not a bad place to have your car battery die on you. Luckily we got a boost from a kind fellow traveler.
Car boosted, we drove towards the Dyrholaey peninsula known for its black sand beach. It was here that I saw my first puffin.
below right is an Artic Tern. They are everywhere in Iceland, and they like to fly in front of cars.
The Icelandic horses are very friendly and will almost always approach you if you walk up to them.
the Vatnajokull glacier in the distance, one of the largest glaciers in Europe.
Jokulsarlon glacial lake. I’ve seen photos of this lake before, and still I was not prepared for the sight of shocking blue icebergs floating in the lagoon as we climbed over a small mound of volcanic soil after parking our car just off the Ring Road.
I hauled a small piece of iceberg near the edge of the lagoon onto the pebbly shore and broke off a small piece. Then I ate it. I’ve wanted to do that ever since reading about a blogger who did the same thing when she visited Jokulsarlon. Tasting thousand-year old glacial ice was pretty cool. It tasted really clean, and cold.
We stayed in the town Hofn that night, it was also the night we found out our rental car battery was completely dead. Luckily it died after we got to the town. The next day our lovely B&B host called her brother, whose name was Thor, to give us a boost so that we could at least get to the mechanic’s place in town. Again, I was amazed at how willing the people were to help complete strangers. We hadn’t left any accessories on or forgotten to turn off the lights. This could only mean that the battery was on its way out anyway. I silently cursed us for choosing a car rental company that rents 10+ year old cars (car rentals are really expensive in Iceland). But M reminded me that a car battery could have died in a new car too (which we saw at the mechanic’s haha). In the end, I realized that it was really a blessing in disguise because it forced us to ask for help. I’m really terrible when it comes to asking for help. I’m always afraid that I’d be disappointed if I do. This little misadventure forced me out of my shell, just a little, but enough to show me that sometimes you can rely on the kindness of strangers and that feeling vulnerable is not a bad thing, but a part of being human.
Day 4 on our drive up to Lake Myvatn in the north, we saw a reindeer from the side of the road. A REINDEER!!
When I researched our trip to Iceland, one of the many things that surprised me was the mention that hitchhiking is not only common, but encouraged in the country. In fact, it’s practically illegal not to pick up a hitchhiker, whether you are a local or a tourist. The country is very safe, and with very few public transportation options to travel around the country, hitchhiking is not a bad option. We picked up a couple from the Czech Republic who was living in England at the time and on a month long trip in Iceland. It turned out that one of them is a wedding photographer! What are the chances?
M with our friends Bosa & Tereza.
After dropping our friends off at Djupivogur. We continued on Route 1 but took a slight detour at the village of Breiddalsvik and winded our way through part of the zigzagging East Fjords. We turned north again at Reydarfjordur and took route 92. Here’s a fun map. It was along here that I drove through the longest mountain pass I’d ever been through. It was such an eerie experience especially with so few cars on the road. In fact, the tunnel was so long that there were evenly spaced Emergency Pull Over stations and phone stations and markers on the road that informed you how far you were from either end of the tunnel. If it weren’t for the modern technologies inside, you could have easily mistaken it as a Dwarf’s cave from Lord of the Rings perhaps.
Finally we arrived in Lake Myvatn. The area is known for their nature bath, which is the Blue Lagoon of the north. We immersed ourselves in the soothing and steaming bath for over two hours. The air was crisp and cold that night. So cold in fact our hair, eyebrows and eyelashes were covered in tiny icicles.
In the summer, Iceland is the land of the midnight sun.
One of the few sunny days we had while in Iceland. The water was incredibly blue. On day 5 we drove up to Husavik, a small town about an hour north of Lake Myvatn for a whale watching tour. It was awe inspiring watching the gentle giants of the sea diving and swimming.
A humpback whale diving.
Day 6: we drove back to Reykjavik after a night staying in Hvammstangi.
Puffins! They are such endearing little birds. Known for mating for life, and to be a little clumsy.
Six nights and five days was not nearly enough. While we managed to drive around the Ring Road, and thus around the country, in five days, I would not recommend it for anyone else. It was a lot of driving, but since we took advantage of Icelandair’s stopover offer we only had limited number of days this time around. When you are driving that much, you just don’t have as much opportunity or time to actually get out of your car and explore. This is definitely the country to be outdoors.
Being in the wide open, expansive spaces in Iceland, I felt calm, at ease, a deep sense of wonder, and happy. The air was always fresh, cool and clear. I can’t explain that feeling. I read an article while we were traveling from a blogger who, along with her husband, sold everything they owned and are permanently living and traveling in a camper van. She feels that we as humans are meant to be outdoors, and not be sitting in front of a desk all day long. And I believe her.
Here are a few more (random) reasons why I love Iceland (in no particular order):
1. It’s a very safe country
2. There is Wi-fi pretty much everywhere where there is people
3. Almost no need for cash, credit cards are accepted everywhere
4. Widespread use of geothermal energy
5. I love that their language is so ancient
6. Flying Icelandair
7. Seafood is amazing
Dear Iceland, you have captured my heart (like so many before me), I hope to return again soon, and one day, I’d absolutely love to photograph a wedding there.
I’m trying to get better when it comes to personal work. Trying is the operative word here, as I still have to share some photos from our Iceland trip in June and some from last year’s trip as well. But I’m working on it!
As a wedding photographer, summer weekends are a luxury. While M and I work hard at scheduling quality time together outside of the weekends, it’s nice to be able to have a weekend all to ourselves once in a while. So this past long weekend we packed the car and headed to Prince Edward County (known just as “The County” apparently). The rain followed us the whole drive out of Toronto, but luckily the weekend was a beautiful mix of sunny & cloudy.
It really is a picturesque region, and unlike other pastoral countryside of southeastern Ontario, there is an extra layer of charm to The County. I’m not sure what it was really. Throughout the weekend I was constantly ooooh-ing and ahhhh-ing over the scenery and can’t help but think that it’s a gorgeous area for a wedding. There are many charming inns and restaurants; perhaps a private cottage on the lake; one of the many wineries; and of course, vintage country barns.
Dunes beach at the park was filled with rolling hills of sand dunes, some as tall as 10 meters.
Does this tree not look like a lion?
I’ve never been to a drive-in movie theatre before and so we went to the Mustang Drive In in Picton. It was a lot of fun! The best part was watching the movie as more & more stars filled the sky.
The County is known for their wine so we visited a winery that was recommended by our B&B (Nine Gables), Devil’s Wishbone Winery. They had a wooden deck half-way down the vineyard for a rustic picnic experience. So that’s exactly what we did. Their rosé was delicious, so was their Riesling & Pinot Grigio. The people there were so nice & friendly, and the best part is that it’s a small family-owned & run business.
A walk in the country.
Being city kids, we don’t get to see the stars often. So one night we drove out to Lake on the Mountain just outside of Picton and even though there were some lights around, we were amazed at how many stars we saw.
