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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

March 13th Fast Five With a Little Taste of Iceland!


 













1.    Hot Dogs in Iceland?  January wasn't my first trip to the land of fire and ice, and one thing that I noticed both times was that there were a few places to get hot dogs.  Granted, there are a lot of delicacies in Iceland; some good and some not so much.  I never stopped to get a hot dog or Pylsa.  It seemed very American while traveling and I don't normally do that.  However, when I ran into people in the laundromat and they suggested we try it; we couldn't resist.  Lesson learned.  Icelanders, in true fashion, have adapted the hot dog to a more local dish.  The hot dog we had was lamb and topped with lamb bacon, along with some other lamb compatible toppings.  It was delicious and like nothing I'd ever had before.  Live and learn and try a hot dog while in Iceland!




























2.    Fossatun Campground and Troll Garden, Iceland.  This is one of those roadside stops that is enchanting, fun and beautiful.  We were on our way to Borganes, Iceland and just before the bridge heading into town, there was a right turn.  It was the middle of January, so it was cold and the days were short, but I'd heard there was a troll garden down that road.  It's quite a drive, but quite beautiful, and when you get there it's the cutest campground ever.  There's a restaurant and facilities inside, a beautiful waterfalls outside with a balcony for a good view.  Above all the camping cabins is a hill and the hill is where you'll find the troll statues.  It's great fun no matter what time of year you go.  There's a lot of material about trolls and even books at the campground.  Trolls are a way of life in Iceland and it's a great way to experience it.































3.  While I'm talking about Iceland, I wanted to talk a bit about spas and hot spring experiences.  The Blue Lagoon is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country, however, there's been a bit of a problem as of late in that there's a fissure that keeps erupting along the road to it.  It's been in the news and if you've missed it, where have you been?  Not to worry though.  There are tons of thermal spas, outdoor swimming, hot springs and the like all around the country.  There's a wonderful spot called Sky Lagoon right on the other side of Reykjavik.  So, don't let a volcano discourage you.  Iceland has you covered no matter what.































4.    Catacombs in Luxembourg.  Luxembourg is a tiny city state style country in Europe and if you blink you might miss it.  There is a little bit of surrounding countryside where it sits between France, Belgium and Germany, but the highlight is the medieval fortified town at the center of it's one city, which is its capital.  There are a lot of things to see and do in Luxembourg, the city, but underneath it is really something.  There are caves and catacombs where you will find a lot of different things from military style surroundings to an ossuary.  It's definitely worthwhile if passing through the small country while in Europe.

































5.    Hiking the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland.  Is there anyplace more picturesque and beautiful?  The Cliffs of Moher are known the world over and is a place that is so stunning it will stick in your memory forever.  So, if everyone knows about it, then why am I mentioning it?  Ah!  Well, in case you didn't know, there's a designated walking trek covering 20 kilometers along the cliffs.  There are multiple stopping, entering and exiting points along the way, so you can do as much or as little as you wish.  It's the best way to enjoy the cliffs, and something no one should miss.  There's also a ferry that will give you a good view from the bottom on good weather days.













And there you have it!  Some great thoughts and ideas to enhance your trip.  I could talk all day about Iceland, so at some point I have to stop myself and move on.  There are so many unique and beautiful places to visit and so many great experiences that continue to amaze me.  Travel is the best way to learn about life and the world; history and people.  So, take the time to enjoy the little things as you pack your bags, take off for parts unknown and enjoy!

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

March Week 1 Fast Five! A Real Surprise in This One!


 













1.    Chopstick Hill, Hua Hin, Thailand.  It's known as a few things like Monkey Mountain as well.  Hua Hin Province is south of Bangkok, along the shore and the hill is along the coast of the city by that name.  There are multiple buildings there, including Wat Khao Takiab, the temple and most visited part of the hill.  There is also a 20 meter high Buddha there.  Another feature of this attraction are the Macaque Monkeys.  They live on the hill and there are a lot of them.  You are allowed to interact with them and feed them.  Feeding guidelines are posted and there is food you can buy there to feed them with.  Just one more great thing to do while in Thailand.























2.  The Great Train Cemetery, Uyuni, Bolivia.  You just never know what I might find.  This is a side trip while visiting a world record holder.  The Uyuni Salt Flats are the largest salt flats in the world.  It falls on a lot of bucket lists for travel.  Most tours take place leaving from and returning to the town of Uyuni.  You can look into that and it is a great reason to visit Bolivia.  The Train Cemetery is an open air museum in Uyuni and can be visited pretty much anytime.  If you were to book a tour of the Salt Flats, odds are they'd stop by on the way, but make sure you bring it up, because it's a great addition to an already fabulous tour.


https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/great-train-graveyard


https://www.salardeuyuni.com/train-graveyard/


https://www.viator.com/Uyuni-attractions/Train-Cemetery-Cementerio-de-Trenes/d22256-a25461


https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g317033-d316550-Reviews-Salar_de_Uyuni-Uyuni_Potosi_Department.html


https://www.peruforless.com/blog/uyuni-salt-flats/
























3.   Bolivia's Las Cholitas, La Paz, Bolivia.   Now, I know you weren't expecting me to mention lady wrestlers, especially in Bolivia.  Neither was I.  However, while you're in the country to visit the salt flats, you will spend some time in La Paz.  While in the city, this is the hottest ticket in town these days and shouldn't be missed.  These lovely indigenous ladies put on quite the show, skirts and all.  They most often hold matches/shows on Thursdays and Sundays with tickets as low as the equivalent to $13.

































4.   Post Office Bay and the World's Most Unusual Post Office, Floreana Island, Galapagos.   Created by whalers back in the day, this is a post office box with no formal services, no stamps, no locks, and no delivery people.  The way it works is unique, and strangely effective.  You write a letter, leave it in the barrel, and someone who visits from its final destination could take it and deliver it for you.  While there, everyone is encouraged to take a look and see if there's any packages going to addresses close to them, so they can deliver it.  Believe it or not, it's been working since the 1800's and is a great little stop on any Galapagos tour.




























5.    What on Earth is a Repositioning Cruise?   This is one of my favorite discoveries this year.  I'd never heard of this before, but it makes perfect sense.  I'm not much for cruising, but I have friends who are.  Over the years, I've heard them mention that they'd traveled on a ship previously.  I also noted that when they had traveled on said ship previously, it was an entirely different cruise.  So, as I'm learning, cruise ships get moved once in a while.  This is when a Repositioning Cruise happens.  Say a ship needs to change routes from a Baltic route to a Caribbean route.  The ship has to sail between Rotterdam and Miami.  If you want, you can take that trip.  It's a cruise for really cheap in most cases.  There tend to be long routes, many trans Atlantic or Pacific.  It's a budget friendly way to take a fabulous trip!  I really want to do this!













There you have it.  This week's fast five and some of the more unusual things I've seen recently.  I do intend to take advantage of some of this group so there will be some great assessments of them in the future not too far.  If you like the unusual, like seeing Bolivian women wrestle, stay tuned for more great unusual ideas for travel in the future.  I continue to look for the side trips and great budget ideas which appeal to folks like me who don't have a lot of money, but want to experience life.  For now, make the most of the time you have.  See the world, experience life, and enjoy!