Susan Solo – Photographer | Traveler | Adventurer

Tag: Iceland

  • Top 10 Reasons We’re Traveling To Iceland

    Top 10 Reasons We’re Traveling To Iceland

    For some reason when Chris and I mention that we are going to Iceland, we often get the reaction, “Really?! Why Iceland? What’s there?” And my answer is an excited, “Evvveryyything!” Usually accompanied by a bit of jumping up and down.

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    Here are the top 10 reasons why we’re going to Iceland (please forgive the excessive use of exclamation points – I went back through and removed a few):

    1. Iceland is a photographer’s playground and paradise. The stunning views and varied landscapes I’ve previewed online and in books/magazines are beckoning me to bring my wide-angle lenses and go to town. Or to outside-of-town, as we will.
    2. It’s one of the adventure capitals of the world. Snowmobiling, scuba diving, mountain biking, and hiking with some of the most amazing scenery in the world. So this is right up our alley!
    3. It’s only a six hour flight from DC. Did you know that Iceland is the closest European country to the U.S.? I have plenty of must-see places in far reaching corners of the world, but I’m always happy to have a short, direct flight to somewhere new.
    4. The Ring Road consistently shows up on lists of the best road trips in the entire world. We are super excited to make this 800+ mile trek around the country with tons of adventures planned along the way. And I love the fact that we can pull over any time we want to explore and take photos.
    5. So many epic movies and television shows are filmed there, we just had to see it in person. Some of the on-location films and shows include Batman Begins, Die Another Day, Prometheus, Game of Thrones, and my new favorite, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I was so excited when that movie came out because I had already spent so much time planning and booking this trip, and seeing it made me even more excited to go.
    6. Glaciers! Iceland has Europe’s largest glacier, and I’m just fascinated with them. We’re going to hike on one and snowmobile on another to get the full glacier experience.
    7. Geysers! The original geyser for which all other geysers are named is just outside of Reykjavik and can be seen as part of the famous Golden Circle route.
    8. Volcanoes! Thrihnukagigur is currently the world’s only volcano in which you can enter the magma chamber. The volcano has been asleep for 4,000 years, so we’re going to give it a whirl with fingers crossed that it stays dormant for another season, or at least while tour groups are inside.
    9. Wildlife such as whales, puffins, lots of other bird species, reindeer, and Icelandic horses. We’ve already had an absolutely amazing whale-watching experience, and we probably won’t get to see a puffin since their nesting season was earlier in the year, but we will definitely see Icelandic horses since we’re going horseback riding.
    10. We seem to have a thing for islands, so we figured we might as well see this one!

    And a bonus item: the Northern Lights. Unfortunately we won’t be there during the best time of year to see the Aurora Borealis because we wanted to drive the Ring Road with as few weather-related issues as possible (so that means not in the snowy/icy winter), but Iceland is one of the best places to view this beautiful phenomenon.

    P. S. I recently saw someone mention on a certain social media site (rhymes with “Shmacebook”) that they wish people would stop posting Top 10 lists. I love making lists! And ten items seems like such a nice, natural number. So I hope you, dear readers, don’t mind yet another Top 10 list out there.

  • The Great Debate – Tourists vs. Travelers

    The Great Debate – Tourists vs. Travelers

    It’s no secret that Chris and I both have a fairly serious case of wanderlust – we both want to see and photograph as much of the world as possible within our means, and we have an extensive list of must-see places. Just a handful of cities and countries are highlighted on my bucket list page, but a separate list lives on my computer, begging me to plan and book trips. I’m constantly reading travel blogs and books and watching documentaries about travel, and in doing so I’ve noticed that there’s an ongoing tourist vs. traveler debate. You can even find tips on how to be a traveler instead of a tourist, suggesting that one is somehow superior to the other. (Just Google “tourist vs. traveler” to see hundreds of examples.)

    My thoughts on that? It doesn’t really matter! And I’m not one to force anyone, including myself, into a label.

    Chris and I tend to do a combination of adventure travel, relaxing vacations, weekend mini-trips, and traveling to visit family. And on any of these trips we might do both so-called “cheesy tourist stuff” as well as exploring off the beaten path on our own. We did several small group excursions in Alaska, for example – kayaking, whale-watching, zip-lining, and dog-sledding. Those were some of our favorite experiences of the trip, and I have no idea how we would have had access to any of that without a tour group. Stingray City in Grand Cayman is probably the most touristy thing to do on the island and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We are driving the Ring Road around Iceland this summer and we expect to discover tons of things along those 800-something miles, but we absolutely plan to go see the major tourist sites including the Blue Lagoon. We’re also planning to go inside the magma chamber of a dormant volcano, with a guide of course! I’m okay with not being the kind of person who would just mosey down into a volcano without someone official telling me what’s what, and most importantly, how to get back out. So whether we’re wandering around on our own or doing something with an organized group for the purpose of access or even safety, finding things randomly or using a guidebook to identify major must-sees, it’s all awesome to me. In fact, I love to strike a balance between the two.

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    I’ve also read several articles that suggest a true traveler is willing to give up all the comforts of home including a permanent residence and a steady career. Would I love to drop everything in my life, sell my house and focus solely on traveling the world? Sure! But Chris and I are so fortunate to have great jobs (knock on wood) and a home that we love. And our paychecks allow us to buy things like, you know, plane tickets, so I’m happy to just travel when I can. Does that make me a less serious/devoted traveler? Nah! When I can’t be out and about, I love to spend my free time reflecting on past travels in addition to researching and learning about places I hope to visit someday. I’m completely obsessed with Google maps for stalking places that are on my travel bucket list. I usually have the next half-dozen trips planned to some degree. (I like to know a certain level about my destinations, but I’m also excited to discover things while I’m there.)

    wander_blogquote by J. R. R. Tolkein

    I say go be a tourist, a traveler, an adventurer, a beach bum, or any combination there of – just do whatever feeds your soul and makes your heart happy. Embrace it! See the world in whatever way possible if you’re fortunate enough to do so, even if that means just wandering to a new corner of your own town or city and trying to see and experience something new. In my eyes you’re lucky if you’re a tourist or a traveler because it’s amazing to get to travel, period. We’re all individuals shaped from our own experiences and we have varying-sized comfort zones.

    There’s no “right” way to see the world, except to travel responsibly with an open mind and respect for other cultures and differences. I won’t judge someone who is wearing a fanny pack, taking a photo of their friend pretending to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or if they duck into a McDonald’s for lunch, but I will definitely frown at someone who is being disrespectful as a visitor. Usually though, I’m just happy when we’re somewhere new and exciting, and not at all concerned about who is a tourist and who is a traveler. Oh, and by the way, I’m almost always going to have a camera with me (unless it’s inappropriate to do so) and I don’t care if that makes me a tourist – the one label I’m sure of is that I’m a photographer. 🙂

    So what do you think? Do you label yourself as a tourist or a traveler, or maybe even a hybrid? Or do you shun the labels altogether like I do? Either way, happy/safe travels to all!