Author: sarahvan3

Day 1: Three hours and 1,551 miles later, I landed in Montego Bay, Jamaica. I was instantly greeted with warm air and even warmer smiles. The aroma of fresh spices and tropical flowers cascaded its way through the terminal. After a short but scenic taxi ride, I was at the resort. The Deja Resort is conveniently located on what is referred to as the ‘Hip Strip’, as bars, shops, and the beach occupy it.

Within moments of arriving at the hotel, I had made my way to Doctor’s Cave Beach where I enjoyed the white sand as well as a refreshing, Red Stripe. The pristine beach and a Jamaican lager was the perfect combination.

As the night progressed, we were able to get a taste of Jamaica. We ate oxtail over white rice, curried mutton, and jerk pork exceptionally paired with local beer, while being serenaded by a steel drum band. The flavors and sounds were euphoric and I immediately felt like I was a part of the island life. It was such a warm welcome and an everlasting experience that I shared with my mom. Jamaica had me feeling irie!

Day 4: My final day was dedicated to soaking up the tropical sun and relaxing to the ambiance of the crashing waves. Later on that evening, I went to the bar ‘Off The Grid’..which was exactly where this bar was located. It was on the other side of the island in Anna’s Retreat, a subdistrict of Tutu, where there were little to no street lights. This bar was lively and a local band was filling it with good music. It was a hidden gem that I’m glad I experienced.

Day 5: At 12:45pm, I departed from the island enroute to Boston and touched down four and a half hours later. This was an enjoyable vacation that allowed me to relax and to explore in another part of the world.

Day 3: The third day down in the eastern Caribbean, I gallivanted around the streets of St. Thomas’ capital, Charlotte Amalie. I walked up the infamous ’99 steps’ to get to Blackbird’s Castle-the pirate’s lookout point and hideaway. I stopped at Fort Christian, the Dano-Norwegian built fort erected in 1671.

After working up an appetite after perambulating through the city, I ate at Glady’s Cafe for some authentic St. Thomian food. I had delicious, fall-off-the-bone curried goat paired with sweet plantains, yucca, brown rice with beans, and baked mac and cheese. If you are a foodie like me and enjoy the flavors of local dishes, this is the place to go. Your tastebuds will thank you.

This day concluded with another vibrant sunset sitting on the beach and watching the rays disappear over the horizon.

Day 1: I took an early morning flight out of Boston, MA and landed four hours later in the USVI (United States Virgin Islands). As soon as we were situated at the hotel, the Island Beachcomber, we headed straight to the beach. The remainder of the day was spent soaking up the sun and enjoying the salty air.

Day 2: By 9am I was already lounging on the beach with breakfast and drink in hand. This day strictly consisted of basking in the Caribbean rays and diving into the turquoise blue water. It was another day well spent on the white sandy beach.

Day 5: Departure day. The final moments of this trip were spent reminiscing on this past week and all the adventures I went on. It was an unforgettable experience for me and my palate.

I indulged in local foods, ranging from hákarl, a fermented Greenland shark hung to dry for four to five months, minke whale, rich in protein and is not endangered, lamb pâté served on rye bread; and my personal favorite the pylsur, Icelandic hotdog. These are just a few of the meals I ate which were Icelandic staples.

As I walk away from this trip, I can truly say that I immersed myself fully in Nordic culture and cuisine. I am appreciative and respectful to Icelandic way of life and will remember this trip always.

As they say in Icelandic, bless bless!

Day 4: Today was a fun-filled Friday. We went on the Golden Circle Tour, which was educational and equally spectacular. Stop number one consisted of the Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage sight which was the birthplace to the oldest parliament in the world. This site was astounding, rich in history and beauty. Standing at the edge of the lava rocks was the location where the North American tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate drifted apart, creating the rift valley below.

The following stop was at Geysir Hot Springs to view the Strokkur Geyser, where you could witness hot, steaming water spout skywards. After, we chased another waterfall and watched the pulsating flow of the Gullfoss Waterfall; a rainbow could be spotted through the mist of the cascading water.

Kerið, a volcanic crater was the concluding stop on this tour. It formed when a magma chamber collapsed. The piercing blue of the water surrounded by the red lava rocks is a breathtaking contrast of nature. At times, it can be said that there is beauty in destruction. Just outside the crater we saw and interacted with hestirs, Icelandic tiny horses.

Day 2: Today was dedicated to exploring the country’s capital and largest city, Reykjavík. It’s located on the coast which gives you the perfect sea breeze while roaming the city’s streets. The streets, decorated vibrantly from the colors that paint the houses and buildings, embodies the liveliness that encompasses the capital.

After working up an appetite, I made a quick yet delicious pit stop at the infamous Bæjarin Beztu Pylsur, where I indulged in one of Iceland’s unofficial national food-the hot dog. Saying “einn með öllu” will get you one with everything, which is how Icelanders prefer their’s. These hot dogs-all lamb, are topped with white onions, both raw and crispy, ketchup, pylsusinnep, and remoulade. One tip for ordering, order two; you’ll be happy you did.

As I continued to trek through the beautiful capital, I made a point to see the Hallgrímskirkja church, one of Iceland’s most iconic landmarks. Its presence dominates Reykjavík’s skyline and can be seen almost everywhere in the city. I was able to go up to the top and get a birdeye’s view of the city, which is where the above picture was taken.

To wrap up my second day, I ended it on a good note by touring and drinking my way through the Gull brewery. I tasted local ales, lagers, and pilsners (which Icelanders call ‘non-alcoholic’ because of their low alcohol content). This tour was insightful yet fun, and a great way to connect to the people around me. As they say in Icelandic, skál!

Day 1: After a six hour red-eye and with much awaited anticipation, I finally touched down in the beautiful and magnificent Iceland. Directly from the Keflavík Int’l Airport in Reykjavík, I headed southwest to Grindavík in search of an oasis in the midst of a lava field.

Within thirty minutes I found the world renown Blue Lagoon (Bláa Lónið) where I spent a few hours floating through the geothermal spa. To say that the vibrant blue water was anything less than perfect, would be an understatement.

After spending some time in the 100°F water, I was instantly refreshed when I was served a chilled and local, Gull beer and had an algae mask put on to rejuvenate. It was the perfect combination and a great way to end my experience at the Blue Lagoon!

(*keep in mind that the water is rich with silica and sulfur, so it is highly suggested to put conditioner in your hair before you enter and leave it in for the duration of your time spent in the water*)