Let's be honest: Facebook is mostly trash. But every now and then, the algorithm does you right and you see "The Annual Icelandic Beer Festival" pop up in your feed. The name of the event alone combined three things I love (Iceland + beer + festival) so with only about 4 weeks notice we bought some plane tickets, booked some accommodations, and we were on our way.
Read MoreUpon my first visit to Iceland's capital city in 2015, it was impossible not to notice that it was a city on the rise and well-aware of its tourist appeal. Call it the Game of Thrones effect. Since then, prices have soared even higher and the town is ever friendly to a still-increasing influx of tourists (and their money.)
Read MoreIn my research of "cool Iceland foods" (very possibly my actual Google search) I came upon the Rye Bread Experience offered at Laugarvatn Fontana Spa, just about an hour outside of Reykjavik. So, I emailed them, and with a little friendly back and forth, arranged a day to come by and film. Easy! This producing stuff wasn't so hard after all.
Read MoreThe morning of Day 6, I climbed out of my top bunk and showered in the amusingly tiny but entirely sufficient bathroom of our little cabin and got everything packed up. This was a daily routine. It was snowing lovely delicate fat snowflakes so we took a few pictures and headed into the "town" of Hvammstangi to see if anything was open or if any seals would be visible.
Read MoreDay 5 was comparatively relaxing to the days preceding it. Our room at the Backpackers Hostel in Akureyri, though remote all the way up on the fourth floor (a veritable skyscraper), was very cozy and comfortable, so we didn't rush out of it. We packed up and checked out and loaded our stuff into the car, and decided to have breakfast in the hostel restaurant. It was a good decision.
Read MoreDay 4 started out great because I awoke in a warm, dry room in a comfortable bed with my body intact and not mangled in a pile of snow and dirt next to an Icelandic back road. Sometimes it's the little things, y'know?
When I go away, I rarely say I'm "on vacation," because as you may have noticed, very little relaxing takes place when I travel. I'm never in the same place for very long, never getting enough sleep, and always moving. And while I wouldn't call what I'm doing "work," it's hardly as passive as sitting by a pool drinking a mai tai or even waking up later than 9am.
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