Monday, January 15, 2007

One New Website

http://www.bust.com/letsgo/index.html - Search where you want to go and get a travel guide

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Tips for Iceland From a Traveler

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Iceland was fantastic, the only thing I'd recommend is not going in the winter. Not so much because of the cold (it's not that much colder than New York in winter, at least normally...not this strange winter we've had this year), but because there's only about 5 hours of daylight in the winter. The sun comes up at like 11:00 and goes down at 4:00, so I'd get up and look at my watch and see 10:00 and have no idea if it was morning or night. If I went back (which I'd love to) it would be in the summer, when they have 24 hours of daylight per day.If you go, definitely do a tour of the golden circle, which is a day tour of some of the most impressive geographic features of Iceland, including Geysir, Gullfoss the waterfall, and glaciers.Also really fun was the geothermal natural springs, which I didn't have any pictures of. Since Iceland is basically a volcanic island, there is a lot of geothermal heat, and there are these outdoor hot springs where the water is like 80 degrees while the air is 40 degrees, and you just sit in this steaming water amongst volcanic rocks. It's really relaxing.In Reykjavik, check out the Hallgrimskirkja, a church that is the tallest building in Iceland, you can get a great view of the city from there. There is a lot of interesting architecture too, like Perlan, which is this funky looking building that's actually a water reservoir, though they also turned it into a high class restaurant/mueseum. We were lucky in that my friend I went with had a friend in Iceland who showed us around, and his mother even cooked us an authentic Icelandic meal (a lot of fish, very tasty).Have fun!

2 websites

Shop Like a Fashion Editor in London (courtesy of Flare magazine)

Chic but Cheap: Fridays are best at London's legendary Portobello Road Market on Portobello Road (get there by 8 a.m. for the best selection). Start at the undercover market, alongside Cambridge Garden Road, where you'll find fab vintage clothes, shoes, and accessories, antique textiles, and bric-a-brac. And don't be shy about trying to strike a bargain. Then toward Golborne Road, where you'll find stores stuffed with antiques alongside great Portuguese and Moroccan cafes. Walk farther and you'll be rewarded with Rellik (8 Golborne Rd.), a fabulous but pricey vintage clothing store with an amazing Vivienne Westwood collection. Keep you eye out for Kate Moss, who's known to riffle through the racks.
In London's West End, Topshop, in Oxford Circus, is a fashion mecca: runway and trend-driven looks arrive in record speed and you'll find them here at the best prices. Really, no outfit is complete without a bit of Topshop's cheap frippery thrown in for fun. And celebs know this, too- although they go undercover or send their stylists to do the gathering.

Budget-blasting Fun: If Brit/homegrown labels appeal, head for Wigmore Street, where you'll find Margaret Howell at number 34. Fans of Paul Smith love this label, too, which was launched in the '70s. The men's and women's collections are as true to the designer's classic vision as ever, with lovely fabrics, simple detailing, precise cuts, relaxed tailoring and quirky touches. Get your decor fix while you're here: this flagship store houses mid- to late-20th-century-designed furniture, home accessory classics, and a concise selection of design reference books.
For a different flavour, try Marylebone High Street, where you'll find stores with a well-heeled, typical Brit feel. Look in on The White Company, 12 Marylebone High St., for quality chic fashion and housewares.
Looking for the designers with street cred? Head to the hottest department store: Selfridges, 400 Oxford St. The ground floor houses Spirit - key collections from all the hot high-street names in women's wear and shoes: Topshop, Warehouse, French Connection, and more. Don't miss the best of high design and high fashion on other floors. If you're in need of still more designer retail therapy (Dries Van Noten, Marc by Marc Jacobs or See by Chloe, anyone?), check out Liberty, 210-225 Regent St. Walking through that Tudor black-and-white frontage on Great Marlborough Street makes you feel as if you're as unique and eclectic as the department store itself.

Ok, I know I said this blog will help me travel cheaply.
Let's just say window shopping is key.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Places to go in London (from a Londoner)

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It would be illegal not to have a whole page on Oxford Street. It has to have the biggest writing and totally stand out.So, everyone out the bus. We can always catch another. The largest highstreet in Europe is NOT to be missed!

Accessorize, Faith, H&M, Laura Ashley, Miss Selfridge, Mango, Warehouse, TOPSHOP, GAP, Next, Oasis, Boots, Superdrug, Jane Norman, Ernest Jones, Swarovski, H. Samuel, Supercuts, Debenhams, House of Fraser, John Lewis, Disney Store, Starbucks, French Eye, Jeans West, W H Smith, New Look, HMV, Schuh, Urban Outfitters and so many more!

Monday, January 8, 2007

2 Websites

  • http://www.wwoof.org/ - A listing of organic farms where you can volunteer in exchange for food and lodging.