Saint-Émilion, France | Part One

As previously stated in my previous post, Markus and I decided to stop in Bordeaux to explore a bit of wine country.  I booked a half day tour with Bordivino tours where we stopped at two wineries and the beautiful Saint-Émilion.  One of the main reasons I booked this tour was because of our stop in the little commune.  I saw a few pictures and instantly fell in love.  It looked exactly like the little village from Beauty and the Beast.

Saint-Émilion is well known as a UNESCO heritage site as well as being one of the regions that produces wine. The area dates back as far as prehistoric times. Despite being an area steeped in history and popular with the tourists, it still manages to retain its charm. I loved walking along the cobblestone streets and exploring the cathedrals and ruins. It never once felt like a tourist trap and I regretted that we weren't able to spend more than a few hours there. I had few regrets on this trip, but this was definitley one of them. 

Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor & Museum | Columbus, Indiana

The summer of last year, Markus and I went on a last minute road trip to Kentucky. We were both itching to get out of the city and explore somewhere new. After a little bit of research, we found out that Louisville wasn't too far and there were a few nice stops along the way. One of these places was Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum.  

Zaharakos opened October 20, 1900 and can be found in the small town of Columbus, Indiana. Originally, three Greek brothers opened a candy shop but over time it evolved into an ice cream parlor. There was a lot of thought and care put into the look and it's covered with carved oak, marble and tiffany glass. It was stunning and so beautiful. Also, there was more than just ice cream on the menu. They have salads, sandwiches and even different kinds of soda from their vintage soda fountain. I'm so glad that we made the effort to stop, because it's not every day you find something from the 1900s. Markus and I live for places like this and love old roadside attractions. We make it a point to find places just like Zaharakos. The atmospere was definitley 1900s and it really felt like stepping back in time. It was the perfect stop on the way to Louisville! 

Djúpalónssandur and Dritvik Part 4 | Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

In my previous posts about Djúpalónssandur, I wrote about it's past as a fishing village and the remnants of a British shipwreck. I saved the best for last. The most amazing part about Djúpalónssandur is the atmosphere and the landscape. Most of the rock formations on the beach are from lava flows from past eruptions. The large rock fissures were created from years of waves crashing on the rocks. I kept reading reports that Djúpalónssandur was haunted and that there was an elf church somewhere near the beach. Unfortunately, we were unable to find the elf church or see any ghosts. It could've been a great end to our time at Djúpalónssandur, but it still didn't take away from it's beauty and I thoroughly enjoyed our time there. 

Djúpalónssandur and Dritvik Part 3 | Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

Djúpalónssandur beach is definitley one of those magical places that you stumble upon in Iceland. When you walk down the steps to the black pebbled beach it's an incredible site. The pebbles on the beach are called Djúpalónsperlur or the Pearls of Djúpalón. In its heyday, the bay used to house sixty fishing boats and was once one of the most fruitful fishing villages in Iceland. Today the bay us uninhabited and is one of the most beautiful places on the Snaefellsnes peninsula.  

Djúpalónssandur and Dritvik Part 2 | Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

Djupalonssandur is a stunning black pebbled beach. Along the shore, there are a series of rock formations and columns. On the beach leading to the shore, there are remnants of a British shipwreck. On March 13, 1948, the Epine GY7, a British vessel, wrecked near Dritvik. Of the 19 crew members, 14 perished, and five were rescued. We walked around for a bit and explored the different rusted remains of the ship that are scattered around the beach. It's very cool that the wreckage was never removed and serves as a reminder for those that visit Djupalonssandur and Dritvik.