Culture
Braving the Elements: Driving in Iceland During the Winter with Toddlers and Failing Miserably at Seeing the Northern Lights
Catherine - 0
Driving in Iceland in the winter can, and most likely will be terrifying and treacherous. Many of the roads are actually closed during the winter because driving conditions are so poor, including the entire northeast region. Driving in Iceland isn’t too bad in the city, but once you leave Reykjavik, country roads aren’t a priority for snowplows. In addition...
Culture
The Top 6 Icelandic Phrases Your Family Doesn’t Need to Know When You Visit Iceland
Catherine - 0
Good luck trying to pronounce anything in Icelandic! It is one of the hardest languages to learn - it’s actually considered the 5th hardest language to learn. The vowels don’t sound like they look, and they have extra characters in their alphabet that are extra fancy and curvy. The Icelandic language contains sounds and letters that have vanished from...
The Volcano House in the city center of Reykjavik doesn’t sell batteries, but they are open on Christmas Day. They are the only place we could find open on Christmas Day in Iceland, when my insulin pump ran out of batteries and we were desperate. That is just the how of why we came to the Volcano House, (you...
Culture
Winter Swimming with Kids in Iceland at Laugardalslaug: The Most Popular Pool in Reykjavik
Catherine - 0
Believe it or not, Iceland wasn’t the last time we went winter swimming. There is something entirely primal about confronting below freezing weather in your skivvies and jumping into a slightly less cold pool. It kick-starts your heart, makes your bones jump and fills your lungs with the breath of a dragon. Swimming is a natural pastime in Iceland,...
Culture
An Icelandic Christmas with Kids at the Christmas Village of Hafnarfjörður & Christmas Buffet at Fjörukráin Viking Restaurant in Reykjavik
Catherine - 0
When we visit a new place, we love living as the locals do - participating in local customs, eating the native foods, walking through their neighborhoods, and everything else. When we came to Iceland for Christmas, we wanted to have an Icelandic Christmas. We wanted to eat skate on Þorláksmessa, (dish of putrefying shark), and reindeer on Christmas. We...
Culture
Destination: Iceland | Creating Family Memories Celebrating Christmas in the Land of Fire and Ice – Family Adventure #22
Catherine - 0
Iceland is one of the most intriguing places we’ve ever been. It was unique unto itself, and the culture was fascinating. The way that the people in Iceland honor the land, and the sea, and they way that they celebrate life and respect their ancient beliefs of Norse mythology was compelling to be a part of. We were treated...
When we figured out that Harvard, the Harvard, was only one stop away, the first time we rode the Red Line on the T in Boston, Massachusetts, we knew it was time for our kids first college visit! We were planning on visiting Harvard University while we were in Boston, but seeing the name in print, on the subway...
Culture
Destination: Boston, Massachusetts | Creating Family Memories Along the Freedom Trail – Family Adventure #61
Catherine - 10
We unequivocally fell in love with Boston, Massachusetts. This is a city that honors and celebrates its revolutionary past, onward looking towards the future, and respects all those who come to bear witness of what was created here. The Italians in the North End, the Irish in the Back Bay and the American’s have all come together to shed...
The truth is you can get by in Japan knowing virtually none of the Japanese language, but there are a few words that will make things a little easier. Words like okay in Japanese, and toilet of course.
For more advanced conversations, you can simply use Google Translate! Type what you want to say into your phone and a free...
Grocery shopping in Japan is like stepping into an alternate universe. The staples are there, bread, meat, fruit, candy, drinks, etc., but the availability of items on the island versus the mainland, and specific items that are exclusive to Japan is wholly different. Not to mention, the culture of Japan is totally ingrained into the grocery shopping rituals in...