Author Archives: awtytravels
The ecocide that wasn’t.
Back in my university days there was a book that passed hands with the same speed as No-Global leaflets, only with more enthusiastic reviews. It was Collapse, by American geographer and historian Jared Diamond, author of that Guns, Germs and … Continue reading
Posted in Americas, Chile
Tagged Aboriginal civilisation, Academia, Ahu, Article, Chile, Collapse, Deforestation, Don Felipe González, Don Francisco Antonio de Agüera y Infanzon, Easter Island, Ecocide, Ecology, Economics, European Contact, Exploration, Germs and Steel, Guns, Hawaii, Jacob Roggeveen, Jago Cooper, James Cook, Jared Diamond, Moai, Monolith, Ocean, Pacific, Rapa Nui, Rare earths, Statue, Wiley
10 Comments
Thinking of a place.
The sun is setting on a scene I’ve waited 26 years to see. There’s people around me; for some, this is one of many such sunsets; for others it’s as new as it is for me. But I doubt that … Continue reading
The quest for the best road.
There are countless articles singing the virtues of this or that stretch of road, claiming it to be “the best in the UK/Europe/world” (delete as applicable). So what’s the point in writing another one? What’s the use of increasing the … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Iceland
Tagged Ólafsvík, Borgarnes, Creedence, DJ Krush, El Búho, Eldborg, Europe, Fortress of Fire, Grundarfjörður, Iceland, Icelandic horse, Kirkjufell, Music, Road, Road Trip, Route 54, Route 56, Route 574, Saxhóll, Sea, Snæfellsnes, Snow, Stykkishólmur, Suzuki Vitara, Tourism, Travel, Video, Vitara, Volcano, Winter, Xica Xica, Ytri-Tunga
26 Comments
The worst-named animal in the world.
As far as names are concerned, few animals have had it as bad as the Orca. Popularly known as “killer whale” – a connotative appellative if ever there was one – they don’t fare much better from a scientific point … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Iceland
Tagged Ólafsvík, Blackfish, Calf, environment, Europe, Fishing, Fjord, Herring, Iceland, Killer whale, Láki, Láki tours, Mammals, Marine Mammals, Matriarchy, Mountains, North Sea, Orca watching, Orcas, Orcinus orca, Photography, Sea, seagull, Snæfellsnes, Snow, Tourism, Travel, Trawler, Westfjord, Whale, Whale watching
26 Comments
Grundarfjörður.
Iceland doesn’t score very high in terms of cityscapes. Granted, there are corners of beauty peppered here and there in Reykjavik but there’s no denying that, besides those exceptions, towns and villages all around this island have a utilitarian air. … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Iceland
Tagged Aurora, Europe, Fjord, Grundarfjörður, Harbour, Iceland, Island, Kirkjufell, Light, Lights, Mountains, Night, People, Photography, Snow, Stargazing, Stars, Street photography, Trails, Travel, Winter
17 Comments
Snæfellsnes wide-angle.
The 9-18mm lenses I’ve just bought are, in the words of the photographer who won the chance of endorsing them, “perfect for panoramas”. In a rare astronomical conjunction where marketing met reality and they both shook hands with user requirements … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Iceland
Tagged 9-18mm, Ari Þorgilsson, Íslendigabók, Ólafsvík, Búðir, Beach, Columbus, Cristopher Columbus, Europe, Grundarfjörður, Guðriður, Guðriður Þorbjarnardóttir, Hellissandur, Iceland, Ingjaldshóll, Island, Kirkjufell, Laugarsbrekka, Lýsudalur, Mountain, nature, Neil Young, Olympus, Panorama, Photography, Sea, Sky, Snæfellsnes, Snow, Víðförla, Wide angle
24 Comments
The first globe-trotter.
We live in an age where travel is becoming a commodity. £300 return fares, London-New York, non-stop. £60 tickets for the train to Paris. Competition has brought low fares and low fares have shrunk the world: the jet set is … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Iceland
Tagged Þorfinnur, Þorfinnur Karlsefni, Þorstein, Canada, Christianity, Drakkar, Eirik, Eirik the Red, Far travelled, First Nations, First white, Globe Trotter, Greenland, Guðriður, Guðriður Þorbjarnardóttir, Iceland, Laugarbrekka, Leif Eiriksson, Leifur, Middle Age, Norway, Nun, Pilgrimage, Pope, Rome, Saga, Sailing, Ship, Snæfellsnes, Snorri, Travel, Traveller, Víðförla, Viking, Vinland, Well travelled, X century, XI century
27 Comments
Beyoğlu’s resilience.
I’ve since long harboured the dream of having – or, more modestly, staying at – a house on the Bosporus. Something with balconies abutting the waterfront, or perhaps a terrace with a view of the passing ships, a bottle of … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Turkey
Tagged B&W, Beyoglu, Beşiktaş, Bukowski, Busker, Colour, Dolmabahçe, Europe, Galata, Galata tower, Genoa, Greatest show, Istanbu, Istiklal Caddesi, Karaköy, Music, No ticket, People, People watching, Pera, Police, Turkey, Turks, Vodafone arena, Water cannon
19 Comments
Faces of Ortaköy.
Today’s a popular day to be in Ortaköy. Day-trippers are flocking to the waterfront. Outnumbered, the locals have made a hasty retreat to the fishmonger’s. Better let the tide ebb away. Only one thing is for sure: tomorrow, they’ll all … Continue reading
Posted in Europe, Turkey
Tagged Artichoke, Örtaköy, Bosporus, Europe, Fish, Fish Market, Greengrocer, Istanbul, People, People watching, Photograph, Saturday, Turkey, Urban photography, Water, Weekend
9 Comments
