Author: thealternativeatlas

Travel with Diabetes 101: Managing Low Blood Sugar

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I have a bad track record with low blood sugar.  This is a very personal and complex issue for me, and I believe it is the most important aspect to take into consideration with T1D travel.  All diabetics have experienced the pitfalls of what Jaime refers to as “low bloods”; and unfortunately I am no stranger to its negative effects.  It is particularly dangerous to get low blood sugar while asleep, and on one occasion I woke up naked and surrounded by firefighters performing various resuscitation tactics on me.  I remember one of them asking me a question: “What month is it?”  I had no idea.  I was probably busy trying to piece together the events that ended with me covered in sweat and seizing uncontrollably on my bathroom floor with an audience of several large men.  Needless to say, going low can certainly ruin an evening out, so it helps to be prepared and take an emergency sugar source with you… just in case.  I used to carry candy everywhere, but unwrapping all those …

Travel with Diabetes Guide

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I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2011.  Few people know how much effort it takes to maintain a normal blood sugar level; tight control of my blood sugar requires constant attention and I check it religiously, and ever since that fateful hospital visit in 2011 I have not slept through the night without waking up at least once to check my blood sugar. How does all of this relate to budget backpacking?  Or traveling at all?  Can’t I just take an extra vial of insulin with me and call it good? Here’s the story: my partner and I are currently on an open-ended backpacking trip and we left the United States with one way tickets to London.  Before leaving I found it difficult to track down any solid advice for long-term T1D traveling without access to refrigeration for medicine, availability of test strips and needles, or any reliable health services at all.  Why would I take that risk and travel somewhere new that may not be diabetic-compatible?  Why not just stay home and …

London East End Street Art Tour

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The area of focus here is Brick Lane and Shoreditch in Hackney on London’s East End; this stretch is a cultural hub which doubles as a vibrant fashion district as well as a constantly evolving street art exhibition space.  This is an exciting area to see ever-changing work, and a point worth mentioning is how accomplished artists are producing in areas constantly in flux.  From hard edge abstraction to large-format hyperrealism, it’s all happening here.  An appropriate word that comes to mind while walking through these streets is dense.  Another word that comes to mind is gentrification; this area is home to England’s largest Bangladeshi population living side-by-side with the artists moving into the neighborhood.  Case in point: we saw in the same instant a Muslim woman in her niqab (a garment which covers the entire body and face except the eyes) walk past a fabulous man changing into a pair of hot pants in the middle of the sidewalk.  While the woman was modest enough not do a double-take, I had to get another …

Ireland Photo Tour

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How do we sum up an experience?  What can be said?  Can manipulated images and curated words properly express the infinite panorama that envelops us when we visit a new space?  There are certain qualities that permeate every aspect of Irish culture that could only be described as truly magical (no leprechaun references here!) and hopefully the pictures and captions presented will provide a sufficient context for our experience in Ireland.  Of course there is a stunning landscape, but the most beautiful thing about Ireland is the people. The Irish have a wicked sense of humor and some of the kindest hearts you will ever encounter… it is not unusual to see a local on the way to work stop to help a confused tourist looking at a map, give them directions and suggest a pub along the way in case they get thirsty. ^^^We chose a budget airline to take us from Glasgow to Dublin; Ryanair offers the fastest, most frequent, and most affordable flights.  Flying is often considerably cheaper than train or bus. ^^^The …

Dublin Day Trips – Wicklow Mountains Hikes

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When visiting Dublin, make sure to visit the scenic countryside at some point, maybe in between those marathon pub sessions.  It’s a great way to sweat out those poisons that accumulate in your body after abandoning all sense of decency and diving headfirst into reckless abandon.  Was that a bit much?  Dubliners would say no.  Well they would probably say something more like feck it sure it’s grand!  We stayed in Dublin for five days with a wonderful Irish couple who took us on a hiking trip in the Wicklow mountains; this is where the water in Guinness comes from.  Why does all this relate to drinking?  Ireland is known for its politeness and sobriety so I have no idea.  We visited the Glendalough Trails in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and trekked across a 9km trail (Spinc and Glenealo Valley White Route) that spanned waterfalls, grassy hilltops, and scenic valleys. ^^^ The Poulanass Waterfall is the first natural wonder that intersects the trail. ^^^There are 600 wooden steps that lead to the crest of the cliff; this …

6 Free Things to do in Dublin

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Dublin has a booming tourist economy, therefore it can be tough to absorb anything of cultural relevance without waiting forever in a queue or paying exorbitant admission fees (10€ to see one page from the Book of Kells?  Yeah right!) so we have assembled six destinations that are off the beaten tourist path and absolutely free.  While all those pesky tourists are waiting in line to see a book that was stolen from the Scottish, pay a visit to any of these six Irish wonders and you will not be disappointed.    1) Irish Museum of Modern Art This free museum is Ireland’s leading institution for the presentation and collection of contemporary art.  The IMMA exhibits works by world-famous artists in an immaculate space which is basically empty besides the gallery attendants.  When Marina Abramovic shows in New York people come by the thousands, at her exhibition here we were the only people in the room.  Also, the building is a 17th century hospital!  Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 2) Glendalough Walking …

Top 5 Dublin Foodie Destinations

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There are one hundred billion pubs, pastry shops and restaurants in Dublin that should be covered here, but alas, the template for this blog only allows 3GB of memory.  So here are our top five foodie spots in Dublin… and yes of course they’re vegetarian!  If you want to eat a big-n’-meaty traditional dish then just google search Anthony Bourdain Dublin and you will find an expensive meal full of steak and Guinness pie… but you know we’ve been drinking Guinness all day and are in the mood for something different!  Who’s atlas is this?  The Alternative Atlas! 1) Fallon & Byrne Foodie Heaven!  This slow food inspired brasserie has multiple levels; a basement wine bar, entry floor grocery store, and restaurant.  We bought our dinner in the grocery store and ate in the building.  Leave your inhibitions behind and check out this cheese counter!  11-17 Exchequer St, Dublin 2 2) L. Mulligan Grocer Hands-down the finest veggie burger I’ve ever tasted.  Not to mention that they have my #1 favorite beer in the whole …

Vegetarian Travel 101

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Backpacking through new countries and sticking with your vegetarian/vegan diet can be quite daunting (try ordering something vegetarian other than a pretzel at Oktoberfest in Munich!) but luckily there are a few foolproof ways to stick with your dietary convictions.  There are wholesome foods available at low prices available throughout most of the developed world (if you know where to look), and there has been a renaissance of vegetarian and vegan food cultures in the United States and Europe.  Just because you are vegetarian does not mean that you have to miss out on the traditional meals when traveling.  These traditional dishes are usually meat-based, but they are often offered with vegetarian substitutions.  We found that even the full English breakfast (usually consisting of sausage, bacon, eggs, etc.) was offered with vegetarian substitutions at most eateries in the UK! Of course you cannot (and should not) be eating out constantly when you are backpacking on a budget, so make sure to take advantage of the farmers markets and grocery stores to make your own meals. …

15 Free Edinburgh Experiences

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Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital and the second most visited city in the United Kingdom after London, and the old town and new town together are listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.  Edinburgh is an easy city; simultaneously big and small.  It can be an expensive place to visit, but as we are all about the budget, we focused on all things free.  We stayed in a cheap hostel made of shipping containers, made most of our own meals, and walked through the cobblestone streets surrounded by the history of this ancient place.  These are our top 15 free things to do in Edinburgh: 1) Bargain Spot Tollcross- Project Space This is an AlternativeAtlas special recommendation.  We stumbled into this artist-run exhibition space one evening and got a glimpse into Edinburgh’s underground performance art scene.  I was left with the impression that everyone in attendance knew each other, and it was refreshing to find a thriving community here.  12 Earl Grey St, West End, Edinburgh EH3 9BN   2) Climb Calton Hill Looking for panoramic views …

Glasgow in 100 Words or Less

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Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and is a hotbed of music lovers, art enthusiasts, and donut connoisseurs against a backdrop of Victorian architecture.  These photos document our quick trip through the Second City of the British Empire. ^^^Urs Fischer at The Modern Institute.  The posts and ropes are cast bronze! ^^^The Gallery of Modern Art downtown; a world-class exhibition space and free admission?  Yes please! ^^^A cobblestone alley in Hillhead which houses vintage record stores and a Bikram yoga studio. ^^^The SimpliCITY bus system effectively services the whole city and costs $2.34 for a pass, and you get a great view of the landscape from the top level. ^^^Kelvingstone park near the University: a perfect setting for an afternoon picnic. ^^^The Print Gallery downtown specializes in affordable reproduction works. ^^^Vintage shopping galore in east Hillhead!       ^^^CCTV monitoring is definitely a thing in Glasgow…these cameras punctuate every landscape. ^^^Perhaps mans greatest food invention: savory pie. ^^^We grabbed a pint at this old Merchant City staple: The Black Bull.  The bar was …