Adventure Culinary Travel
Right off Iceland’s main Rt 1 - the famous “Ring Road” - is the towering Seljalandsfoss. Ribbons of water fall close to 200 feet into the little pool, sending a soaking spray through the air. The trail takes us alongside the falls right beside the pool before leading us through the cave behind the water!
Read MoreWith Hallgrimskirkja behind us on the hill, we trek through the streets of Reykjavik, exploring the quaint shops, artsy murals, and cozy cafes. What a great city! We stop for a bit before heading down to the water to see the Sun Voyager, a famous and amazing sculpture celebrating the island’s Viking roots!
Read MoreFermented Shark. Pickled sheep heads. Sour blubber. Stinky skate. Dung-smoked fish... traditional Icelandic dishes can read like a horror story! The harsh climate and isolated location meant historically the people had to improvise, and the scary sounding food is less scary than starving to death. But with modern times come modern changes, and not all of the old dishes can be this scary… can they?
Read MoreOur return to Clifden brings us back to a favorite cafe in search of good coffee and the apparently famous carrot cake, before hitting a proper whiskey pub along the main street of town. We make our way out to the famous Sky Road for incredible sunset views that lead into an amazingly clear Irish night!
Read MoreThe Connemara seaside is a wild and rugged coast, full of rocky shorelines, sprawling bogland, and small natural beaches. We went seeking some of these beaches today. We returned to Coral Beach, with its rocky micro-environments and grainy coral instead of sand, before exploring the textures and colors along the White Strand!
Read MoreThe rugged coastline in northern County Mayo is covered in bogland. Known as the Atlantic Blanket Bog, this amazing landscape sheds the typical view of Ireland from the emerald green to much more rustic shades of brown. We venture into the bog, walking through the grassland, capturing the breathtaking views, and learning much about this important natural wonder.
Read MoreA stroll through Eguisheim before we headed off dropped us into the middle of a festive morning! There were musicians set up outside the main square, tables set up with wine and snacks, people from the town out mingling and having fun, and a local cycle group riding through with a local mayor.
Read MoreIt was an evening of unforgettable experiences in the medieval town of Eguisheim. We were brought down into the family cellar of an amazing winery, stopped by a cafe with an unexpected surprise, and finished out the last night in Alsace with local culinary treasures. C’est magnifique!
Read MoreOur return to the impossibly beautiful town of Kaysersberg was a stop we have long been looking forward to, as we didn’t spend as much time here before. Around every corner we found ourselves in awe over the sheer incredible beauty of this place, from the integrated nature to the colorful buildings and the surrounding hills and vineyards. We followed in Albrecht Schweitzer’s footsteps, visited a memorial to fallen WWII soldiers, wound down with great coffee, and gave in to the temptation of the many amazing pastry shops. And the skulls? Yes, we went back to visit the skulls!
Read MoreSometimes a calm, relaxing morning is what you need on a trip. We wandered the streets of Ribeauville, looking at the amazing architecture, practicing our language skills, and having a nice lunch before we set out on our hike!
Read MoreUpon arriving to Colmar we were greeted by a severe storm. No worries, we just waited it out in a cafe, then went exploring! The city is just stunning, with the typical Alsatian style on a larger scale. We found a nice little artisan show, wandered the old streets, and checked through the city’s amazing covered market. We ventured through the Fishmonger District and Petite Venise, two of the most beautiful areas we’ve ever been through, and ended up at the quirky House of Heads!
Read MoreGood morning Zurich! I got to cook in our little apartment kitchen before we set out to explore! We had some amazing coffee at a famous Zurich cafe, and then explored the pristine train station. After a bit of a freak out over finding something from our favorite brewery ever, we took a relaxing walk through the park along the river.
Read MoreWe got to the Frankfurt Süd station really early. We had our little breakfast of coffee, orange juice, and the ubiquitous ham and cheese with rolls continental. When the doors opened and we got off the train, we stepped on a smooth white blanket covering the ground. We got snow! It was still 5-something am and the city was still sleeping. I'll admit, I did wish I was still sleeping too! Rather than figure another train just to get to town quicker with nothing yet open, we decided to enjoy the snow and the calm quiet with a walk. Not too far from Frankfurt Süd station is a part of the city we loved when we were here a couple years ago. Sachsenhausen is a nice...
Read MoreLast night was a late one, so we slept in a little on New Year's Day. It was our last day in Vienna, so we did need to force ourselves up and pack. We left our happy little room behind and took that long winding staircase down to the lobby. Good we were able to leave our bags to spend the day unburdened. We headed out for breakfast and stopped at a place called Point of Sale. My dad actually knows the owner, but we knew he wasn't around so didn't bother asking. We never met him before anyway. His place did have a great breakfast though – ham and eggs, rolls, orange juice, and of course some melange. All so good!
After the big party and waltz that is the New Year celebration, Vienna has a...
Read MoreAs the day went on, we saw more amazing architecture, found a hidden gem that was lost to time, and spent time in another wonderful cafe. As the clock ticked toward midnight we were serenaded by opera and orchestra music, and we waltzed in the new year Vienna style!
Read MoreAn easy side trip from Vienna, we took a train out to Bratislava! We were in the right place at the right time to happen upon a changing of the guard at the presidential palace, then we ventured through the old town for cafes, churches, and a crumbly old yet still beautiful abandoned street. We couldn't resist the inner tourist coming out when we found our way to the old square!
Read MoreCafe hunt successful, we enjoyed a Viennese Melange. Vienna does have the best coffee! I got to visit one of my favorite buildings in the whole world, then had another dose of fine art at the Kunsthistoriches Museum before finishing the night out by returning to a great restaurant we went to soon after we first met!
Read MoreWe're back in Vienna! We truly love this city. After a tasty breakfast and some language issues, we stroll through the Nachtmarkt, ogle some impressive architecture, and find my dad's old apartment! We stand at the steps of the Rahlgasse, which we climbed at the very start of our travels and relationship. We journey through the life of Egon Schiele at the Leopold Museum, where I take a liking to a certain naked lady, before heading out to the park and a cafe hunt!
Read MoreMorning in Salzburg! We get a simple yet amazing breakfast with our favorite coffee before venturing out to the cathedral. We found a really cool old cemetery, took the tram up to the castle, got creeped out a bit in a marionette museum, and found a cute little local specialty shop. If all that wasn't enough, we also found a pretzel truck!
Read MoreWe took the slow way down the Romantic Road to the absolutely beautiful town of Dinkelsbühl, which quickly became one of our favorites! We walked through the old streets lined with brilliantly colored buildings, trying to imagine a life here. We traveled further down the Romantic Road and found an old castle ruin, finishing our day in an interesting hotel in the mountain town of Fussen.
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