All posts tagged: europe

Stockholm at Night: Trädgården

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Sweden has something very special going on here.  Upon crossing the threshold of the massive outdoor music venue/gallery/club/bar complex Trädgården, you know you are in for a good time.  Situated underneath the massive Skanstull Bridge (Skanstullsbron), this is the number one nightlife destination in Stockholm for live music and DJ performances. We first visited on a Friday night to catch a set from the much-hyped Swedish psychedelic rock band Dungen.  I should actually say “attempted to visit” because by the time we arrived (7 p.m.) the venue was filled to capacity and about 200 people stood in line with hopes of getting in.  Also worth noting is that the venue holds 1750 people, so needless to say there is a lot of demand.  We decided to wander elsewhere for the evening while listening to the last of the band’s set reverberating of the arches of the bridge overhead. Luckily we learned from our mistakes and showed up earlier the following evening.  Another bonus of arriving early is free entry; as the night goes on the entry …

Scandinavian Eats and Treats

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Scandinavia is often stereotyped as a pricey travel destination, especially when it comes to food.  Restaurants are expensive, food markets are expensive, cafes are expensive, grocery stores are expensive, even fast food is expensive.  So what are we going to do about this?  Compile a list of deliciously cheap restaurants, food markets, cafes, grocery stores and fast food of course!  We’re turning Scandinavia into ScandiSAVINa!  Ba-dum tss!  These are our suggestions for tasty vegetarian eats and treats without breaking the bank. Restaurant: GRØD The Alternative Atlas number one pick for so many reasons.  This Copenhagen-based porridge shop (yes, porridge shop) strives to redefine the concept of porridge and show the world that porridge can be delicious, delicate, and versatile.  That last sentence was taken from their website, and is also the most times I’ve used the word “porridge” ever.  Combine that with a stark minimalist interior space with raw woods and we have something magical… we only spent four days in Copenhagen and ate here twice!  The first time at their original Nørrebro location and a …

London Visual Art Guide: 9 Must-See Spots

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London has so many famous art museums and galleries – and entry to all of them is completely free.  I can’t get over this.  These museums are all institutions which are held in the highest regard (probably bordering on religious fervor) and could only be described as “sacred” for any lover of art.  London is also brimming with contemporary visual art galleries well-known for exhibiting the latest and greatest, and they are all free!  Take advantage!  I originally tried to make this list highlighting the best 5 free art venues around the city, but that was impossible… there are just too many amazing spaces.  These are our top 9 must-see visual art spots in London. 1)  BEERS This is The Alternative Atlas top pick for so many reasons.  A pristine small gallery space in Shoreditch with a great name and an even greater show program.  1 Baldwin St, London EC1V 9NU. 2) The Tate Modern Too good for words… but the images speak volumes.  Bankside, London SE1 9TG. 3) Marlborough Fine Art Representing prominent international artists …

Sweden in the Sun: the Stockholm Archipelago

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Sweden’s capital is situated among 24,000 smaller nearby islands that are collectively known as the Stockholm Archipelago.  This landscape is beautiful and diverse; the larger islands closer to the city are punctuated with stately homes and scenic inlets, and farther out into the Baltic Sea are countless tiny and often uninhabited islands. So what are we going to do here?  Go out on a boat and explore them! There is a ferry service that connects these islands named Waxholmsbolaget. These large boats operate like a taxi service, and carry passengers across the islands at regular intervals.  All you have to do is climb aboard, buy a ticket, and watch the Baltic go by. The locals encouraged us to leave early in the morning and travel farther out into the Archipelago, where the islands are lesser traveled and have remained largely untouched. We decided to spend the day exploring Grinda and swimming in our underwear… we fit right in with the Swedish sunbathers who didn’t seem to mind Chris pretending the water wasn’t cold while splashing …

Getting Around in London: Do’s and Don’uts

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London is a BIG city.  We spent over two weeks here and it feels like we barely scratched the surface.  There are lots of different ways to get around in this daunting metropolis; buses, cabs, bikes, pedestrians and the TfL Overground all share the roads, but the primary method of transportation for locals and visitors alike is the infamous London Underground. DO: Take the Underground Known simply as the Tube, this sprawling underground rail network connects everything and services the boroughs surrounding the city center.  Regardless of their station in life, everyone sits (or stands shoulder-to-shoulder) in the crowded commute on the Tube, and you should too.  We used this metro service daily and never ran into trouble (on one occasion a friendly platform officer gave us a few pence out of his pocket so we had enough money to buy the proper ticket).   We were endlessly impressed by the sheer volume and frequency of the service.  If you arrived on the platform just in time to see the last person squeeze in before the …

Alternative Copenhagen: Christiania

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Before flying into Denmark we spent some serious time binge-watching travel videos on youtube – this is usually how we figure out the currency and learn a few local phrases (hello, thank you, where is the wine, etc.) and get an idea as to what we should expect upon arrival. It seems like every Copenhagen travel guide is enamored with Christiania: a self-proclaimed autonomous community in the borough of Christianshavn, which is easy walking distance from the Copenhagen city center.  The spirit of this place is well-illustrated in their simple mission statement: The objective of Christiania is to create a self-governing society whereby each and every individual holds themselves responsible over the wellbeing of the entire community. Our society is to be economically self-sustaining and, as such, our aspiration is to be steadfast in our conviction that psychological and physical destitution can be averted.  -Jacob Ludvigsen, 1971    As altruistic as the motto sounds, this community is often surrounded by controversy.  It is hailed by some Danes as a utopia, and is seen by others as …

Copenhagen Pride!

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Today was our first day in Copenhagen, and we set out this morning with no idea what the day would bring.  Should we rent a bike?  Maybe we should get familiar with the currency?  Is anything going on downtown?  Oh wow it looks like something is going on today… Copenhagen Pride!  A free festival dedicated to the LGBTQ community, Pride is a massive parade that promotes and makes visible the Danish LGBTQ members.  The quaint downtown area was swarmed with loving and supportive crowds drinking beer and champagne and dancing in the streets.  It looks like we arrived on a good day!    ^^^So many beautiful people strutting their stuff… get it girl! ^^^Do I recognize her from Downton Abbey? ^^^The crowd had so much positive energy… which of course immediately translated into even more sassiness from the proud LGBTQ community members.    ^^^Who’s got two thumbs and is a Grade-A badass?  This dude.    ^^^Everybody was included in the crowd participation and interaction.     We also met an American/Swedish couple that insisted on buying us …

Travel with Diabetes 101: Insulin Care

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There are only a few things that a diabetic must have at all times: meter and test strips, syringe, lancet, a sugary treat in case of emergency, and insulin.  All of those items travel well except for insulin, which is tricky because heat kills its effectiveness.  A normal vial of insulin will spend 90% of its life in the refrigerator.  One must be prepared to face a few realities while planning a backpacking trip… such as the lack of a fridge in most accommodations like hostels and budget hotels.  So how is a diabetic supposed to keep the insulin cold?  There are a few creative solutions, but none are as effective as I would like.  I once filled a sink with water and left the insulin vials in there along with some cold bottles of beer to keep them safe from the Venice summer heat.  That’s some creative problem solving! Will I get in trouble if I post a picture of MacGyver on here?  Luckily, on this trip I managed to find a really economical …

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 …