All posts tagged: europe

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 …

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 …

5 Best Edinburgh Coffee Shops

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These are our top picks for your morning (or afternoon) caffeine fix in the beautiful medieval city of Edinburgh, Scotland. 1) Cafe Marlayne We visited this Leith Walk coffee shop multiple times; it is a great hangout spot with free wifi and a perfect place to get some work done.  The coffee is delicious and they specialize in french vegetarian bistro dishes.  Make sure to check out the unique assortment of hot teas, like the dandelion/thistle blend that Jaime is holding here!  76 Thistle St, Newtown, Edinburgh EH2 1EN. 2) Garden Y Cafe A charming little place which sits south of the Meadows and Old Town, the setting is picturesque.  I know what you’re thinking and yes, the spoon is a little heart!  1hy, 27A Marchmont Rd, Edinburgh EH9 1HY 3) Filament Coffee Lets talk about this green juice for a minute.  Filament has great coffee and the interior looks like it could be gallery in Chelsea, but seriously check out this green juice!  Drink this when you need to balance out the five cups …

An Afternoon in Nottingham

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Located in the east midlands of England, Nottingham is a charming city full of history and makes for a perfect day-trip.  Do you like art?  If so, then make a stop by Nottingham Contemporary.  It is a stunning contemporary art museum in the heart of this medieval city and it is absolutely free. If museums aren’t your thing, take a stroll through the cobble stone streets and check out the storefronts… there is some seriously creepy signage!  There is also a really cool comic and graphic novel shop on Market Street close to the city center named Page 45.      If you are feeling thirsty after walking through the medieval streets and soaking up the view of Nottingham Castle (which also houses a contemporary art space), take a break and visit any of the medieval watering holes which contend for the title of “England’s Oldest Pub”.  Among these are Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (supposedly built in 1149), The Bell Inn (est. 1437), and Ye Olde Salutation Inn (est. 1240).  We ordered a few pints …

A Million Little Things

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On July 5th 2015, we left Phoenix with one-way tickets for London.  The goal is simple; go as far as we can and see as much as we can with our modest budget.  In 2012 we backpacked through Europe over the course of 2 months; we had no experience, no equipment, and no idea how to travel effectively and stretch a small travel fund.  At the end of that trip, we saw 8 countries, met countless lifelong friends, and learned more about the different European cultures than any Anthony Bourdain episode on Netflix could ever teach us. After returning we made a pact that we would venture to the EU again, travel slower, and be more mindful of our time in each country.  Improvisation and the idea of not planning every detail is paramount in our travel experience… often it is best to allow a place to unfold in front of you and navigate as the situation dictates.  We’ve dreamed of this trip for ages and jumped at the opportunity to travel long term when …

UK TechFest 2015

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Opalescent.  I overheard this word being used by a concert-goer to describe their experience at UK TechFest 2015, and this is one word that I cannot get out of my head.  At first I was confused by this description, but as more time passes I am becoming more comfortable with it.  About 700 attendees assembled between July 8th-12th this year on the beautiful grass plains of Newark-on-Trent, England to watch their favorite metal bands perform inside huge aircraft carriers which housed two stages. The first large main stage hosted international touring acts like Monuments, Decapitated, Slice the Cake, and Nexilva, and a smaller second stage where I played with my band Kardashev alongside Portuguese tech-death forerunners The Voynich Code and our label mates The Room Colored Charlatan.   I got a kick out of that word.  Opalescent.  At first I would have never used that word to describe the experience.  In fact, nothing about the festival was glamorous; it was truly a rowdy and drunken ruckus from beginning to end.  The Newark Showground was transformed …