This is pretty much word for word my diary from the Laugavegur trail. It turns out it’s occasionally quite difficult to read my writing. Plans changed before they even started. Heavy snow at Hrafntinnusker meant we couldn’t camp there. Day 1 therefore was to be at Landmannalaugar. I got up at 5.30am to pack my… More Laugavegur Trail Day one: Landmannalaugar to Hrafntinnusker
July is going to be all about the Laugavegur Trail but as I’m still on the plane home as this is published, that’s not going to start until Thursday. But I can write about one of the Useful Travel Items that helped me survive six days on the Laugavegur Trail. It’s my mountain sandals, aka… More Useful Travel Items: Mountain sandals
Back in the dark ages, when I was a fresh young graduate still looking for permanent work (2007/8), I volunteered at my local Tourist Information Centre. I was not a travel blogger then, nor even a traveller. I had a vague idea that a gap year was a desirable thing but I had neither the… More Volunteering at the Tourist Information Centre
I do have a book review blog but it’s been neglected for a long time now and besides, this ones kind of relevant. You know by now that I love Iceland Scandinavia. You may – although you probably don’t – know that I’ve read some of the “important Scandinavian medieval literature” that survives today, that… More Review: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
I spent most of my week in Cyprus beside, and occasionally in, the sea. None of these trips really merits a post of its own but I thought some of the pictures could go together nicely in my monthly photoset. Picture the scene: the sky is blue and the Mediterranean is blue and clear and perfect.… More Photoset: Cyprus seascapes
I’m a big old chicken. When it comes to things I’m scared of, there are a few. I’m emetophobic, I’m very open about that with most people. I’m paranoid about fire, which I assume I get from my school burning down twice. I’m fine with thunder, starting to become nervous about lighting (…fire…) and not… More Why I’m scared of spiral stairs
While standing in the queue to go into the Globe, I overheard someone behind me observe “This should be a must-do for everyone who comes to London”, plus a comment I can’t remember the wording of about the wider cultural implications of seeing authentic Shakespeare. So I thought I’d write about it. After all, it’s… More Shakespeare at the Globe
For some reason, having a torch strapped to your head apparently makes you a nerd. I don’t see the correlation between hands-free lighting and nerdery myself but then I guess I wouldn’t. I lived for years with a succession of torches. Then I went on a caving party weekend, where half the student cavers in… More Useful Travel Items: a headtorch
I am not really a reptile fan. I love furry animals like dogs and cats and rabbits, I adore goats and cows and I like giraffes and camels and rhinos and so on. I am very fond of having a miniature house-spider running over my hands and am sufficiently tolerant of larger house-spiders to be the… More I saw so many lizards in Cyprus!
This is my last preparation diary. Next first-post-of-the-month day I’ll be on the plane home after the walk. Booking This month I booked my accommodation in Reykjavik at each end of the hike. I did previously have an apartment for the last night booked but it’s too far out of the city centre and I… More The Laugavegur (Prep) Diaries part 4