Top Five: Things To Do

It’s time for another Top Five!

This time, I want to relive a little bit of the things we did while we were gone, so…

My Top Five Things to Do in Keflavik, Dublin, London, and Paris

(in no particular order, because I couldn’t make myself decide)

Borough Market

Where: London, England

Why: Because it’s awesome! They have vendors with pretty much everything you could possibly want by way of food. Buy a cup of freshly squeezed juice blends and a plate of food from a street vendor while you walk around picking out snacks for the rest of your week and sampling foods so delicious you’ll be glad you brought your wallet. Seriously though, I can still see myself walking through the streets at Borough Market, sampling cheeses and teas, picking out fruits and veggies, finding delicious pastries and breads, and coming home with armfuls of yummy eats. If you’re a foodie, or if you just like free samples, you definitely need to check this place out.

How to get there: We walked from Tower Bridge, but if you don’t want to walk that far, get yourself to London Bridge Underground Station, which is just across the street.

Guinness Storehouse Gravity Bar

Where: Dublin, Ireland

Why: Because it’s a bar where you can literally see everything in Dublin. They’ve pointed out specific features for you to check out, written on the beautifully pristine windows so you can check them out… as long as you can get to them. From what I hear, it’s nearly always busy in the gravity bar—it was when we were there. But that doesn’t make it less worth checking out. The beers are amazing, the views are incredible, and you’re in Dublin, so the people are really nice too. Pour your own pint downstairs and bring it up with you for a fun time trying to move through the crowds.

How to get there: We walked, as per usual. But there’s a bus stop down the road, and the Hop On-Hop Off buses stop here as well.

Bateaux Lunch Cruise on the Thames

Where: London, England

Why: Because it’s delicious and so very much fun. They take you a ways up the river and point out a lot of the sights and history along the way. It’s a great way to start a trip in London, because this way you’ll at least get to see most of the landmarks from a distance. Let’s face it, most of them are close enough to the river that you’ve gotten fairly close enough to see if you're not in London for a great deal of time. It helps that the food is amazing and a great bang for your buck. You don’t get to decide what you’re eating, so if you’re incredibly picky this might not be the thing for you, but if you’re not, go for it! The food is an excellent quality and they give you just enough to fill you up without being so stuffed that you won’t be able to walk around the city afterward.

How to get there: Embankment Underground Station. It’s almost straight out the doors, incredibly easy to find.

Galleries Lafayette

Where: Paris, France

Why: Because it’s the best shopping we found in all of the cities in which we stopped. The mall is seven stories tall, with stuff for everyone. From a Disney section to Angelina’s Cafe, from winter coats to fabulous shoes, this store has it all. And if you somehow happen to get bored, Printemps is just down the street, for even more shopping. I highly recommend checking out the cafes in both malls, as everything we had in Paris was simply scrumptious. Take a day or two and mosey through the Galleries Lafayette, explore sections you wouldn’t normally look through, and don’t be afraid to treat yourself. That’s what Paris is for, after all.  

How to get there: Chaussee d’Antin – La Fayette Metro Station.

Walk along the coast of Keflavik

Where: Keflavik, Iceland

Why: Because it’s beautiful. During certain times of the year you’ll be likely to see both whales and puffins, along with various other types of birds. This one is for all you outdoorsy people out there, for sure. Iceland has a lot for people like you to do, and this is one of them—especially if you're short on time but still want to see some of the views. The city itself is sleepy and doesn’t have much going on, but the walk is beautiful. The water is some of the bluest I’d ever seen, and the volcanic mountains along the opposite bank make for stunning views. If you get hungry, there’s a great touristy eatery right along the coast as well, where Mum and I had a seafood feast.

How to get there: Go to Keflavik. Walk to the coast. Keep walking (toward the Giantess Cave, if you want to go the exact route we did).

See, and now I miss Europe all over again.

Stay tuned for more pictures coming your way tomorrow afternoon, right here on Too Many Books to Count!

[love]

{Rani Divine}