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Why You Shouldn't Skip the Reykjanes Peninsula | Andiamo Aurora | The Reykjanes Peninsula: closest to the airport and the BEST day trip you'll experience in Iceland. There's so much to see on this peninsula (besides the Blue Lagoon), including epic coastlines, geological formations, birdlife, lighthouses, picturesque villages, isolated Instagramable churches, and more. Don't write off this lava-covered landscape!

Why You Shouldn’t Skip the Reykjanes Peninsula

March 9, 2019March 9, 2019Leave a comment

The Reykjanes Peninsula is the middle child of Iceland. Overshadowed by popular Reykjavik, south coast waterfalls, and its very own Blue Lagoon, even most Icelanders ignore the region. While it can be easy to overlook the region due to it's proximity to the Keflavik Airport and capital city, or bypass it on your way to … Continue reading Why You Shouldn’t Skip the Reykjanes Peninsula

Where to See Puffins in Iceland | Andiamo Aurora | Want to see puffins when you're in Iceland? Get to Látrabjarg Cliffs in the West Fjords. Learn how to get there and what to expect.

Where to See Puffins in Iceland

February 3, 2019February 3, 20193 Comments

Want to see puffins in Iceland? The Látrabjarg Cliffs in the West Fjords are where you need to go! Every summer an unfathomable number of seabirds nest and raise babies along the walls of the Látrabjarg Cliffs. Puffins spend their days dive bombing into the sea for food and living without fear of arctic foxes … Continue reading Where to See Puffins in Iceland

30 days to zero waste challenge

30 Days to Zero Waste Challenge Recap

February 1, 2019February 1, 20191 Comment

2019 has kicked off with a 30 Days to Zero Waste Challenge led by Zero Waste Nerd on Instagram and her blog. If you follow me on Instagram you know I've been recapping the zero waste challenge every 5 days, talking about how I implement each tip into my daily and travel life. If you're … Continue reading 30 Days to Zero Waste Challenge Recap

How to Have a Perfect Day in Stockholm

January 26, 2019January 26, 20192 Comments

I'm fairly certain that they are multiple ways to have a good day in Stockholm. However, this post is how you can have the perfect day in Stockholm. It's a day where you can soak up the cultural experiences. Since, let's face it, when you visit Stockholm in winter you won't be soaking up much … Continue reading How to Have a Perfect Day in Stockholm

Aurora's Best of 2018 | Andiamo Aurora | 2018 has been quite a year! I'm reviewing the best travel experiences and personal moments of 2018 on my blog, Andiamo Aurora.

Aurora’s Best of 2018 Review

January 3, 2019February 11, 20194 Comments

Confession: I've been writing 2019 on documents since May. It was soon after the death of my friend/co-worker/former student that subconsciously I wanted 2018 to be over. I wanted a fresh start. However, 7 months later despite the difficult experiences of 2018, there were some truly bright spots. Today, I want to take a moment … Continue reading Aurora’s Best of 2018 Review

Castle by Candlelight at Old Fort Niagara | Andiamo Aurora | Each December, Old Fort Niagara is decked in festive evergreens and illuminated for Castle by Candlelight . Don't miss this Buffalo Niagara holiday event.

Experiencing Old Fort Niagara by Candlelight

December 20, 2018February 11, 20192 Comments

We spent Saturday evening at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York experiencing The French Castle by candlelight.  Two nights each December a soft glow illuminates the stone fortress decked in festive evergreen boughs. Old Fort Niagara sits at the mouth of the Niagara River and it's history stretches more than 300 years. Living in … Continue reading Experiencing Old Fort Niagara by Candlelight

Zero Waste Toiletry Bag

Build Your Own Plastic-Free Zero Waste Travel Toiletry Kit

December 7, 2018February 10, 20193 Comments

Whether heading out of town for a weekend or a 9+ day sojourn, I try to keep my waste to a minimum.  No matter what I do I will be creating waste (the system isn't perfect), but I can pack a zero waste toiletry kit that limits my waste. I What's in my toiletry kit … Continue reading Build Your Own Plastic-Free Zero Waste Travel Toiletry Kit

What’s In My Zero Waste Carry-On?

October 23, 2018February 10, 20191 Comment

Looking to reduce your dependance on single-use plastics when you travel? Get a check list of zero waste essentials for your carry on.

Guide to Camping in Iceland

October 1, 2018February 10, 20193 Comments

When we were planning our 9-day road trip around Iceland, we decided to camp. By camping in Iceland we were able to save money while enjoying the magical landscapes.   Although my family often went camping when I was younger, I never considered camping in another country. I wasn’t even sure where to begin planning! … Continue reading Guide to Camping in Iceland

A Guide to Icelandic Craft Brews | Andiamo Aurora | Are you a craft beer lover? Traveling to Iceland? Be sure to explore the burgeoning craft beer scene beyond Reykjavik. Detailed descriptions included.

A Guide to Icelandic Craft Brews

September 9, 2018February 10, 20191 Comment

Okay, I'll come clean! I'm a craft beer snob. This confession is precisely why I needed to share a guide to Iceland craft beer with you. Ahh, that feels good to say out loud! How crazy does this sound? Beer containing more than 2.25% alcohol by volume (ABV) has only been legal in Iceland for … Continue reading A Guide to Icelandic Craft Brews

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Aurora L.M. Schul

Aurora L.M. Schul

Hey, I'm Aurora, a 30-something travel and zero waste blogger. My mission is to share my travel experiences in detail, so you too can make your vacation days count! On the way I'll share tidbits of my zero waste lifestyle and how I cut my trash impact when I travel.

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  • Why You Shouldn’t Skip the Reykjanes Peninsula
  • Where to See Puffins in Iceland
  • 30 Days to Zero Waste Challenge Recap
  • How to Have a Perfect Day in Stockholm
  • Aurora’s Best of 2018 Review

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Instagram post 2037373591138705354_7609454235 If you're a #gameofthrones lover save this post for your #icelandicadventure! 📂 One of the most iconic #gameofthroneslocation is Kirkjufell. The mountain shaped like an arrow is the backdrop to the creation of the Night King (thanks, Children of the Forest 🤦🏻), described in the Hound's fire vision, + can be seen when the motley crew go in search of a wight. ⚔️ But don't be fooled into believing that #got created the intrigue around Kirkjufell. It's a dramatic, isolated peak on a peninsula long known for it's inexplicable energy. Danish sailors used the mountain as a guide post in earlier centuries naming it "sugar top." In fact it's current name highlights its resemblance to a church. ⛰️ Whatever the reason behind your desire to photograph Kirkjufell, know that you aren't the only one pulled in by its magnetism! It's a very popular stop on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula for tour buses + rental cars. A small car park leads to a walking path beside the waterfall, Kirkjufellfoss, where you can capture the iconic photo. 📸 Kirkjufell is located on a main road on the peninsula so don't park on the side of the road. It's important to keep in mind that both sights sit on a farmer's land, so walking on the path, parking on the gravel, + not littering are essential. I was reminded of this when witnessing a tractor being driven by said farmer as he moved round bales at the foot of Kirkjufell. 🚜
Instagram post 2032353651347352596_7609454235 🚨WARNING: Lots of thoughts ahead🚨 With the conclusion of #nationalparkweek, #earthweek, + my spring break, I wanted to share what's been marinating. 💭 Friendship are not perfect. There are times when you + your friends are thick as thevives, with every thought confided. Then come times where you've drifted apart in the minutia of each day. A month zooms by + you realize you haven't spoken! You never meant for that to happen, but life got in the way. Can you get back to being a good friend? Absolutely! You only have to reach out, connect, + think beyond the daily grind. 🌎 Being a true friend to the earth is similar. Like your friend, the earth knows it's impossible to be perfect in the current system. But we can try + do better with what is available to us each day. Just like we would for a friend, we can push ourselves outside our comfort zones to reconnect and do more than status quo. ♻️ If you were able to #optoutside + visit a National Park this past week, that's awesome! If you spent #earthday to reconnect with the earth through a trash clean up or switching to a reusable coffee mug for your on-the-go lifestyle, I'm proud of you. And if you took this past week to hangout with a friend, I'm happy you could connect. 🌳 We can all be better friends to other humans + the earth. Tell me, what's one thing you'll do this week to be a better friend to the earth??? ⬇️
Instagram post 2027290338033904889_7609454235 Current status: counting down the seconds until #gameofthrones! 🐲 Do you recognize this place? Dimmuborgir, the dark fortress or dark castle, served as the backdrop of the Wildling base camp in Season 3. 🗻 Molten lava formed the unique landscape some 2300 years ago, when it pooled over a lake. The rising vapor created the pillars + caves found throughout the area.Located just off Ring Road, it's easy to include Dimmuborgir when you're exploring what Lake Mývatn offers. #gameofthroneslocation
Instagram post 2024904231992414258_7609454235 Yesterday was a doozy (+ not in a good way). 🌀 But the news that lit me back up from an otherwise dreary day was hearing my feature article on @womentravelphotographers' website was live! I'm so excited + grateful to be featured on a site that supports women travel photographers. Community over competition is a mantra that really speaks to me. 👯 While I've written a lot about Iceland on my blog, in this article I share my least favorite part about my experiences + details on the cost. Use the link in @womentravelphotographers' bio to stopover + explore my travel photography story! 💻 »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» And don't worry, if you love reading about Iceland there's more to come on my blog! 🇮🇸
Instagram post 2022800287451171063_7609454235 🚨Game of Thrones spoiler ahead! Keep scrolling if you haven't watched season 8's premiere🚨 Did you notice the canyon Daenerys + Jon rode the dragons through in last night's episode? I'm 99% sure it was this one -- Fjaðrárgljúfur in South Iceland. Follow the marked 2km trail along the ridge for a bird's eye view of the canyon, a waterfall + rolling hills filled with grazing sheep. #gameofthrones #gameofthroneslocation
Instagram post 2011069461671861282_7609454235 I have been non-stop this past week. It's 11:00 on a Saturday and I am JUST waking up. That's so unlike me! 🤦🏻 »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» The week began with a Greyhound bus trip from Buffalo, NY to Cleveland, OH with 11 students from the university where I work. We spent spring break volunteering and learning about food insecurity and homelessness in the Cleveland community. The twelve of us lived communally and made our meals together. We spent no less than 2 hours on public transportation each day. After service, we explored attractions in the city that we could visit for free. Each night we critically reflected on our experience within the context of larger social issues. It was an amazing week spent with some truly remarkable student leaders who I know will continue to make the world and their communities better places to live. »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» After 4 hours of sleep, I jumped into facilitating a conference for nearly 100 young non-profit professionals on Friday. What a week it has been! »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» I'm heading to the kitchen for a big cup of @kaffitar coffee. ☕ What are your plans for the weekend???
Instagram post 2003958224517547665_7609454235 Did you know þingvellir National Park in Iceland was modeled after the U.S. National Park system??? A system created to preserve historic + natural wonders for future generations through dedicated public lands. »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» But what if there was a way for each of us to take action to preserve and care for the earth for future generations? One way that we can create positive impacts is through daily actions + habits: 1⃣ Coffee-to-go? Bring a reusable go-to mug + ask for a fill (same goes for replacing #singleuse forks/spoons/knives); 2⃣ Buy less - Waste isn't just the trash we see in our bin. Save 💰 + the 🌎; 3⃣ Look for second hand items - it's so much more than clothes + thrift stores. Yard sales, estate sales, + flea markets are great places to find what you're looking for; 4⃣ Read about materials that items are made of - even organic cotton leaves a carbon footprint, so do your research; 5⃣ Do what you can! You're going to leave an impact no matter what you do, so mitigate a negative impact when it's possible. Even buying a whole butternut squash instead of the pre-packaged cut squash makes a difference.
Instagram post 2001904586181667010_7609454235 I always dreamt of owning a horse when I was younger. Anyone else? 🐎 »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Icelandic horses are a hardy breed. Sturdy and muscular, they are known for an inability to be spooked, as well as their friendly and self-assured nature. I'm hoping to follow the sure-footed example of the Icelandic horse to keep me grounded throughout a busy week ahead.
Instagram post 2001078547352201038_7609454235 Near Stafnes I had one of those moments where I fell in love with Iceland all over again. 💜 It was 10:30/11:00 in a morning with on and off drizzle. When we arrived at the Stafnesviti lighthouse, we were the only ones around. Okay, not the only ones-- there was a pair of Icelandic horses munching on second breakfast. The barns surrounding the lighthouse were weather-beaten. My long hair caught in the wind and whipped around my face. The sound of waves crashing into the black lava rocks was like a kick drum in my ear. Golden waves of grass and a schoolbus-yellow lighthouse contrasted with the cloud-filled moody skies. It was such a simple moment. Yet it was so divine.
Instagram post 1996792425054799037_7609454235 The Reykjanes Peninsula is a powerful place. Brimming with geothermal activity, rocky coastlines, and small towns the region is ideal for a day trip from Reykjavík. Which is EXACTLY what we did! 🚗 On the blog I'm sharing why I think you shouldn't miss the Reykjanes Peninsula. Use the link in my profile. ⬆️ With lots of visuals you're sure to be enticed to include the region in your Iceland itinerary.
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Hey i’m Aurora

I’m the blogger behind Andiamo Aurora.

Let’s cut to the chase — On this blog I share my travel stories, craft beer guides, detailed itineraries, and zero waste lifestyle tips. This blog will help you design the travel experience you deserve without the endless hours of research. We only earn a few vacation days a year, so let’s make ’em count!

So as they say in Italian: “Andiamo!” Let’s Go!

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