Road Trip Around Southern Iceland

Before my trip to Iceland, I did extensive research about the various geographical wonders of the island. Knowing I was only going to be there for 4 days, I began mapping out my top interests and how I was going to get there. 

I had quite a few things on my list but I've narrowed it down to give you the 5 must-see spots of Southern Iceland going from East to West. (ps. I made the map so it was easier to visualize.)

1. Þingvellir: This national park, about 45 mins from Reykjavik, is a perfect starting point to explore the island. This is a great place to camp in the summer, while in the winter you get a completely different experience from the main waterfalls as it freezes the rocks it falls upon. Another incredible excursion offered at Þingvellir is the chance to snorkel or scuba dive (if certified) between two large tectonic plates. They give you a special suit to keep you dry and warm in the glacier waters and guide you through the deep crevasse. From the camp sites, to the waterfalls and scuba diving between tectonic plates... There is really so much to see and experience at this park.

2. Seljalandsfoss: This stunning waterfall is completely breathtaking and so powerful! You can see it from the road, when driving down Route 1 (also known as Ring Road). The reason this was one of the more interesting falls I went to, because lets be honest… it’s Iceland there are lots-o-waterfalls, is because you can actually walk behind it. Standing behind it, taking in the beautiful views while getting naturally misted from the fresh water is something else. 

3. Black Sand Beach: This is one of the most fascinating stops on the road trip around Southern Iceland. On the way to Vik, there is a small side road that leads to Reynisfjall. It is a completely black basalt beach with the most beautiful rock formations. When I went, it was very overcast, with the grey clouds reflecting off the white caps making the entire beach look completely monochromatic. I took a video of the beach and it honestly looked like I had put a black and white filter over the footage because of the white water and sky against the black sandy beach. A very cool, yet trippy experience. 

4. Fjaðrárgljúfur: this breathtaking canyon runs 2 kilometers long and 100m deep with the Fjaðrá river running through the middle. The mossy cliffs are ornately carved and shaped after years of water flowing from the glaciers through the rocks into the ocean. Breathtaking! 

5. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: This was the furthest we traveled away from Reykjavik (it takes about 5 hours in a straight shot). The lagoon was actually in the middle of nowhere, to the point where I questioned how it wasn't man-made. It was so beautiful but also so random, honestly you just round the corner on Route 1 and suddenly feel as though you’ve made a wrong turn and ended up in Antarctica. But after a couple minutes of research, I figured out how it’s all possible (naturally). Basically, how this phenomenon works is lava flowing below the volcanic glaciers surface heats up a large portion of a glacier eventually breaking off a large chunk. The whole mass then slides down, away from the main glacier and slowly starts melting. Over time, it breaks further down into a beautiful spacious lagoon filled with large, luminous blue icebergs that become home to lots of arctic fauna such as: puffins, seals, and seabirds. This stop, although quite a drive was a truly unique experience, it really put the "ice" in Iceland. 

Treehouse Glamping in Tvärred

A few weeks ago, I stepped back in time. I traded in the luxuries of high-speed Internet and movies on-demand for a rural and romantic rendezvous in a treehouse in Northern Sweden. 

On our way up from Malmo, after landing in Copenhagen we picked up fresh cheese, sausages, ingredients for a killer salad, and of course marshmallows. Armed with old gas lanterns, a deck of Uno cards older than me, lots of wine, and a trusty axe... we setup camp under the full moon in an incredible treehouse complete with an in-ground grill/fireplace and wood floors.

It's so important to digitally detox every once and a while to appreciate the simple things around you. The fresh air, fresh food, and great wine suddenly made the monotonous trials of our daily, chaotic lives fade to a silence.

Where to Stay Spotlight: Reykjavik

Let me just start this post by saying I’m typically not one to EVER stay in a hostel… and I mean no offensive to all the backpackers who love and live for it, but if I’m honest, it's never my first choice. (I think that might have to do with the fact that it became a horror film.) However, when the establishment starts to resemble the love child of a modern Scandinavian architect and the Ace Hotel.. I’m all ears. 

The Kex Hostel is the perfect place to call home during your stay in Reykjavik, whether for a long layover or a long weekend. If you are looking for a young, community-orientated place with incredible design and even better food this is really where it’s happening. 

The rooms are very well priced starting with typical dorm style rooms, with an option for a “family room”, great for either a small family or when traveling in a group of 4-6, and for those of you who are “hostel-shy” (like myself) they offer a double room plus which has the same amenities and privacy of a hotel room at a fraction of the cost. 

The sense of community stems from the consistent outturn of events and gatherings, from open mic and comedy nights, to group yoga classes and bar trivia. The guests are young and happy to be there and the staff are ready to answer any question you may have about their great home country.

In the restaurant, funky Icelandic chefs complete with ginger beards and an incredible knack for mixing unexpected ingredients, really take it to the next level with wholesome local products paired with staples like fish and lamb. I personally took the Icelandic burger which was made from their grass-fed beef and my non-burger-eating mind was BLOWN. 

I guess this trip has been full of out-of-the-norm experiences for me, but this place is absolutely a must. If not for the night, then absolutely for the food and ambience. 

Off to Iceland

Iceland has been on my bucket list for a few years now, and I finally had the perfect opening in my schedule to make the trip to the island of volcanos, hot springs, geysers, and lagoons. We landed in Reykjavik, so naturally my first adventure was to take a helicopter to the top of Mount Esja to take in the best views of the city. 

We walked to the domestic airport and met our pilot from Nordurflug Helicopter Tours. We took off over the city and had the most amazing view of everything from downtown Reykjavik to an up-close glimpse of a inactive volcano crater. After about ten minutes we were headed for Mount Esja. 

Because we were blessed with a perfect day with minimal wind and not a cloud in the sky, we were able to actually land on top of the mountain to explore and take pictures. We soaked in the 360 degree views, inhaled the fresh air, and did a little yoga for good measure. 

The ride back was equally as thrilling as the pilot rode up the summit to then quickly drop us straight down the other side. It honestly felt like I was in a IMAX version of exploring the arctic. It was completely surreal. This was just one of the many adventures I will go on during my time here in Iceland. But needless to say… Im off to a great start.

Escape to the Countryside

When living in a city like New York, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the hordes of pushy people, the constant invasion of privacy, and the complete lack of the great outdoors. To be fair, I have grown quite accustomed to being smashed into a sticky, crowded subway car, or left screaming and freezing on the corner while Mr. Wall Street steals my cab.

But as every true New Yorker will tell you, there is one crucial secret to striving and surviving… And that’s to get out of the city and back into nature. 

On a recent trip through Sweden, I got to go back to the basics. I found myself skipping through rows of raspberry fields, mooing back to the extremely loud, but beautiful cows, and hand picking wildflowers from the garden in rain boots to compliment the scones made from scratch. 

There is something so revitalizing about being out in nature. Where time moves slowly and everything is fresh and alive. This trip to quaint and tranquil surroundings was absolutely essential for me to feel balanced and happy. Every morning we prepared breakfast which consisted of: fresh raspberries (that tasted like candy, bought from Hallongården Trelleborg- a local farm) warm homemade scones, Swedish apples, fresh juice, and tea. 

Crisp morning walks followed by evening writing sessions by an old stand-alone wood burning fireplace was exactly what the doctor ordered. Miles away from all the hustle and bustle of modern civilization... sometimes it's just necessary to escape to the countryside.

Modern in Munich

One of the days that I wasn’t completely drowning myself in liters of beer, schnitzel, and pretzels as big as my head at Oktoberfest… I decided to go on a little adventure to the Pinakothek der Moderne. This extremely vast and incredibly designed museum was absolutely one of the highlights of my trip to Munich housing art, architecture, design & graphics of the 19th & 20th centuries.

I took the U6 underground train from the apartment I was staying at near Oktoberfest into the city centre and walked to the $120 million building from the Odeonsplatz station. Opened in 2002, the Pinakothek boasts a comprehensive collection of Modernism from the likes of Dali, Picasso, Braque and more as well as contemporary art from the 1960’s onward.

After some snooping around on the east and west wings of the first floor, I went up the staircase to explore the architectural wonders of Stephan Braunfels. In a world of white, high above the reception area, I walked, played, did yoga and took advantage of the amazing environment and beautiful lighting.

The Pinakothek is a marvelous place to get lost for an afternoon, whether as a break from guzzling beer, like myself, or simply as a palate-cleansing cultural day trip. If you are in Munich for a bit my recommendation is to go on  Wednesdays, as it’s Allianz Day, which means free admission all day.

Skydiving in Dubai

My eyes opened at 4:35am to the sound of my morning wake up call. The familiar voice on the other end apologetically coaxed me out of my comfy bed. After scanning the daily humidity levels, I crawled into a taxi and drove 30 minutes to the marina. This was my “morning routine” for three long days as I sat with bated breath, praying to make my way up the waitlist.

I have been wanting to skydive the Palm for more than two years now, ever since experiencing the intoxicating mix of adrenaline and pure panic achieved while hang gliding off a cliff in Rio de Janeiro. However, every time I’ve traveled to Dubai it was either last minute or on accident, which unfortunately doesn’t work well with the two month wait list to reserve a dive with Skydive Dubai.

The first day, jumps were postponed due to humidity (apparently when the air is humid it is counter-intuitively less dense making you fall/land faster **no thanks). Because of this unfortunate climate issue, the next day was completely overbooked leaving me down to the wire on my last and final day in Dubai. As luck would have it, there just so happened to be one spot left for me on the last flight out for the day. I filled out the “I promise I won’t sue you if shit goes south” form and began to get strapped in and ready for the jump. The next thing I knew, I was 13,000ft up in the air connected to my tandem partner Alex, looking down over the Palm.

It was by far one of the most thrilling things I have ever experienced in my life.  From my stomach dropping to my toes as we dove out of the plane, to the feeling of free falling through the sky. Both of these things, combined with the highly contrasting views of the futuristic skyline, crisp cerulean beaches, and the vast Arabian desert is something I will be remembering for the rest of my life.

My tips for skydiving in Dubai:

• Reserve as early as physically possible
• If you can’t pre-book/plan your dive (like me) get to Skydive Dubai around 5am the day you want to jump to insure you get a good spot on the waitlist
• Bring a snack with you (after getting there at 5am on an empty stomach I was dying by the time I actually got to dive which was around 11:15am)
• Wear good/comfortable shoes, **essential for a smooth landing

Soaking Up the Sun: Four Seasons Jumeriah

Reporting live from the pool at the Four Seasons in Jumeirah Beach… where I am lazily absorbing my daily dose of vitamin-d, working on my tan lines, and sipping on an avocado smoothie. Sounds like a hard day on the job... no? I am, however, also currently pitching a few new travel articles from my summer abroad... so there is a lot of research and editing going on from my side of the chaise lounge. ;)

I was inspired by the lush and tropical surroundings this morning at breakfast so I opted to match the scenery. My reversible bikini, that I bought from the San Lorenzo store in Malibu, could not have been more on-fleek for the occasion. I loved that I honestly got 4 bikinis for the price of one. Which is of course why I wore the bottoms on the green and the top on the printed side.

My sunhat was an incredible find, bought only a few weeks ago at the main marina in Newport, Rhode Island. Fear not… I will be posting all about that fabulous trip once I am back in the states.

I stayed hydrated all day with orange and cucumber infused water... Which was incredibly refreshing, especially since I often get bored of drinking plain-o-janeo water. I would've loved to have taken a photo of my avocado smoothie but it started losing its form rather quickly due to the extreme heat, so naturally I inhaled it to insure it didn't go to waste ;).

Lastly, as a lover of the sun and a total beach bunny... I always bring some form of SPF wherever I go. I absolutely love the smell of the Korres walnut and coconut oil spray that’s factor 20 and I secretly love that I end up smelling like a crispy coconut macaroon after a long day in the rays.

Xx

Breakfast in Dubai

Two days ago my fabulous plans to explore the islands of the Seychelles was swiftly detoured due to a huge storm over the Indian Ocean. I found myself trapped in Dubai after traveling for 17 hours from New York City. After waiting 4 hours, in a dodgy baggage claim center, I finally collected my long lost luggage and heading hopelessly to my hotel. 

Trying to make the most of this unfortunate change of plans, I have unapologetically indulged every morning in the incredible breakfast spread available at the Four Seasons in Jumeirah (where I am currently stationed).

Each morning I skip through the rows of tropical fruit, gathering the daily assortment, with a pitstop at the juice/smoothie station. Today I opted for their fresh papaya, pineapple, melon, berries, and blood orange (which I proceeded to eat like a grapefruit making a complete and chaotic mess ;)  Being a sucker for bananas & potassium, I also tried their fresh banana smoothie which was creamy and delicious. Jet-lag often leaves me feeling lazy and lethargic and I find that fresh fruit helps cleanse my system and refresh my insides.  

My eyes were then drawn to the sexy smoked salmon which of course helped me justify my mini bagel and cream cheese indulgence... all three beautiful things that must be devoured together. I then combed my way through the various meats and cheese from around the world and added them as well as local dates and figs delicately to my full plate. This combined with my tropical fruit assortment left me with a breakfast spread big enough for a family of four. However, I got to take the leftovers to go which will make for a perfect afternoon snack. 

Moral of the story is... when trapped in Dubai, make the little things count... (like the glutinous breakfast options most of the big hotels provide.) While Dubai may be lacking in culture, authenticity, and reality it does offer access to different tastes, flavors, and bites from around the world. 

Xx

The Insider: What to Buy and How to Shop for Healthy Meals on Deck

At some point every summer I find myself aboard a boat… sailing for an extended period of time, whether it’s exploring a new route for The Yacht Week, or lazily tanning, sightseeing, and hopping from island to island. Sailing is by far one of my favorite ways to explore new places.

1. You get to jump straight into the ocean every morning… Who needs coffee?
2. There is nothing quite like jamming to your favorite tunes laying in the sun watching islands float by
3. Feeling spontaneous? Just pull the boat into a nearby cove and go for a quick snorkel/cliff jumping sesh
4. BBQing off the back of the boat with the salty wind in your hair just can’t be beat

However, that last item on my list lead me to a big challenge I’ve faced after living on a boat for a week or longer the past few summers. On a boat, you typically don’t have the luxuries or amenities readily available, that are necessary for maintaining that healthy bikini-body regime.

What ingredients do you really buy in a tiny market at a marina that will serve a big purpose in a bite-size kitchen below deck? As a first-timer, I stood in the middle of the bustling aisles of the local store with my shopping cart, mouth agape, with no clue where to even start.

Through the years, I have learned what works and what doesn’t when sailing or living on a boat for an extended period of time. So below are the tips of things to buy, based on availability, price, and tolerance to sea life. It’s all about the ease of making a meal that’s healthy and tastes great, to keep you happily fed while maintaining your pristine waistline.

First off the biggest and most common mistake I’ve seen, is travelers going hog wild in the canned food section. Hoarding cans of tuna, beans, and tomato sauce like an apocalyptic lunatic. And while yes, it’s great to have these items on hand for the occasional tuna sandwich, you are creating much more trash onboard as you go, it’s healthier and greener to just go with the fresh ingredients.

Essentials:

• Vegetables:

-Lettuce: obviously great for salads but also a fabulous alternative to bread for  quick and easy lettuce wraps

-Tomatoes: they’re inexpensive, keep well, and are an easy addition to any meal. Think salads, sauces, and salsas

-Carrots: amazing for munching and dipping into local delicacies such as hummus or tzatziki

• Fruit:

-Mango/Peaches: by itself is stellar, in yogurt, as a salsa or dip for fish, with honey and dark chocolate as dessert, or sliced into your morning champagne… who doesn’t love a good Bellini?

-Apples: Helps keep digestion regular, as it can be a little funky on a boat: FIBER, FIBER, FIBER. Also great as a healthy snack with peanut butter, an addition to a cheese plate, or topping on a fresh salad

-Bananas: huge source of much needed potassium that is essential when swimming and being in the sun all day. (Also, ladies sneaky tip… when paired with coconut milk, and honey this delicious smelling concoction doubles as a natural deep conditioner. Perfect for your hair after it becomes fried from the sea and the sun.)

-Grapes: easy in the morning or as a snack but also awesome when used as iced cubes when frozen… sneaky trick when everyone thinks the ice is gone.

• Eggs: amazing source of protein, and even easier to keep fresh then American eggs as they are kept at room temp in most European ports, which is great if you have to go a day without power while also saving on fridge space. Obviously a great breakfast option, but can also be hard boiled and tossed into a salad or a grab-and-go filler between meals

• Cheese: pick up a little local cheese just to try, then grab some essentials to help pump up a salad (ie. feta for a greek, mozzarella for caprese etc), or a spread for an antipasti on a lazy afternoon.

• Meat: cured is always easiest, prosciutto, salami etc. As well as deli meats such as turkey and ham. The smoked/cured meat is great over eggs in the morning, or served on a charcuterie plate, and the quick protein boost you get from wrapping up turkey, cheese and lettuce for example is a no-brainer. You can also do chicken, or burgers but I typically stay away from serious raw meat as I never trust fridges that can turn on and off.  It’s also great to try and get local fish daily from wherever you are docked and grill it off the back of the boat.

• Spices/Herbs/Condiments: these are essential and save your life in the long run. Sea salt and pepper, as silly of a reminder as this is in the heat of the moment it isn't always the first thing that comes to mind when grocery shopping. I always try and get basil and dill for salads and eggs, as well as red chili powder and some form of hot sauce… cause I’m an addict for spicy! Really good to get mustard to add moisture and flavor to meats & cheeses as well as sandwiches. Balsamic is great, and olive oil is a must. I also always pick up a little chocolate as I get a sweet craving after every meal. It’s great as is and is also wonderful melted over fruit.

• Yogurt: This is a big deal-breaker for me… It’s (if you buy the right kind) full of protein, has probiotics, which helps for stomachs at sea, easily mixes with honey and fruit for a sexy morning parfait, or can be just as easily pair with savory ingredients like mint, garlic, and chive for a enjoyable dip or topping.

Topic of Water-

It’s hard to admit but this part of the traveling world has yet to go green… People, myself included, have to load up with hundreds of plastic water bottles to insure there’s enough water to survive long sails and hot summer nights. However, if you know you will be docked at a marina where you will have access to water, I highly recommend bringing (beforehand) both personal water bottles with filters, as well as large water filters. This eliminates the use of plastic, cuts down on waste, and really saves on space used in the boat for storing all those extra bottles.

Take it from a local-

I started this small thing at marinas that had great restaurants, I’d ask them for a large batch of their local specialty: in Turkey I asked for their fresh baked pita bread, and a large container of tzatziki, in Greece it was their hummus, and in Italy their homemade spaghetti sauce. Buying these things straight from a restaurant means that there is little to no prep involved, the ingredients are fresher than those packaged in a factory for sale at a market, and typically everything is authentically better tasting. Not to mention the amount of space you’re saving by having all the ingredients already blended together.

As I mentioned before I always seek to try local products wherever I go such as: wines, cheeses, nuts, spices, meats, herbs, sauces, and produce. This helps me really get a flavor for the culture and the cuisine.

I’ve learned these tips and tricks of the trade during my times sailing through the ports of: Croatia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, as well as the British Virgin Islands. These essential things on my list are just simple suggestions and guidelines that I follow personally while on board and of course are open to be tweaked and played with depending on your diet and preferences.

Photos by various Yacht Week Photographers (as watermarked)