Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/travelfirst (mobile friendly). Iceland Day 1 - The Adventure ContinuesIceland, a Nordic island nation, is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and lava fields. Massive glaciers are protected in Vatnajökull and Snæfellsjökull national parks. Most of the population lives in the capital, Reykjavik, which runs on geothermal power and is home to the National and Saga museums, tracing Iceland’s Viking history.Capital:...

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/travelfirst (mobile friendly). Day 7 in Tromso, Norway.Tromsø, a city in northern Norway, is a major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle. It’s famed as a viewing point for colourful Northern Lights that sometimes light up the nighttime sky. The city’s historic center, on the island of Tromsø, is distinguished by its centuries-old wooden houses. The 1965 Arctic Cathedral, with its distinctive peaked roof and soaring stained-glass windows,...

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/travelfirst (mobile friendly). Day 6 in Tromso, Norway.Tromsø, a city in northern Norway, is a major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle. It’s famed as a viewing point for colorful Northern Lights that sometimes light up the nighttime sky. The city’s historic center, on the island of Tromsø, is distinguished by its centuries-old wooden houses. The 1965 Arctic Cathedral, with its distinctive peaked roof and soaring stained-glass windows, dominates...

Day 5 in Tromso, Norway.Tromsø, a city in northern Norway, is a major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle. It’s famed as a viewing point for colorful Northern Lights that sometimes light up the nighttime sky. The city’s historic center, on the island of Tromsø, is distinguished by its centuries-old wooden houses. The 1965 Arctic Cathedral, with its distinctive peaked roof and soaring stained-glass windows, dominates the skyline.Highlights of Day 5:The day to take in the scenery in all its...

Day 4 in Tromso, Norway.Tromsø, a city in northern Norway, is a major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle. It’s famed as a viewing point for colorful Northern Lights that sometimes light up the nighttime sky. The city’s historic center, on the island of Tromsø, is distinguished by its centuries-old wooden houses. The 1965 Arctic Cathedral, with its distinctive peaked roof and soaring stained-glass windows, dominates the skyline.Highlights:Whale watching!The food...and lots of...

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/travelfirst (mobile friendly). Day 3 in Tromso, Norway.Tromsø, a city in northern Norway, is a major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle. It’s famed as a viewing point for colorful Northern Lights that sometimes light up the nighttime sky. The city’s historic center, on the island of Tromsø, is distinguished by its centuries-old wooden houses. The 1965 Arctic Cathedral, with its distinctive peaked roof and soaring stained-glass windows, dominates...

Day 2 in Tromso, Norway.Tromsø, a city in northern Norway, is a major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle. It’s famed as a viewing point for colorful Northern Lights that sometimes light up the nighttime sky. The city’s historic center, on the island of Tromsø, is distinguished by its centuries-old wooden houses. The 1965 Arctic Cathedral, with its distinctive peaked roof and soaring stained-glass windows, dominates the skyline.Links:https://www.visittromso.no/en www.lyngsfjord.com ...

Day 1 in Tromso, Norway.Tromsø, a city in northern Norway, is a major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle. It’s famed as a viewing point for colorful Northern Lights that sometimes light up the nighttime sky. The city’s historic center, on the island of Tromsø, is distinguished by its centuries-old wooden houses. The 1965 Arctic Cathedral, with its distinctive peaked roof and soaring stained-glass windows, dominates the skyline.Links:https://www.visittromso.no/en Subscribe, rate and review...

Day 2 in Helsinki, Finland.Helsinki, Finland’s southern capital, sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central avenue, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions including the National Museum, tracing Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present. Also on Mannerheimintie are the imposing Parliament House and Kiasma, a contemporary art museum. Ornate red-brick Uspenski Cathedral overlooks a harbor.Links:www.allasseapool.fi/en/ Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good...

Day 8 in Finland and it’s off to Helsinki.Helsinki, Finland’s southern capital, sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central avenue, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions including the National Museum, tracing Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present. Also on Mannerheimintie are the imposing Parliament House and Kiasma, a contemporary art museum. Ornate red-brick Uspenski Cathedral overlooks a harbor.Links:www.allasseapool.fi/en/ Subscribe, rate and review Travel...

Stream episodes on demand from www.bitesz.com/travelfirst (mobile friendly). Day 7 in Finland and our second day in Torassieppi.Torassieppi is located by the lake Torassieppijärvi next to the magnificent Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.Torassieppi consists of cabin village, reindeer farm & museum, huskyfarm, Winter Village and Aurora Glamping. The original reindeer farm dates back to 1847.We are specialized for nature friendly activities in the beautiful fell landscapes of Muonio. Our...

Day 6 in Finland, and it’s off to Torassieppi.Torassieppi is located by the lake Torassieppijärvi next to the magnificent Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.Torassieppi consists of cabin village, reindeer farm & museum, huskyfarm, Winter Village and Aurora Glamping. The original reindeer farm dates back to 1847.We are specialized for nature friendly activities in the beautiful fell landscapes of Muonio. Our activities are focused in wellbeing and specially to experience the wilderness both...

Day 5 in Finland, and another day Rovaniemi Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it’s a modern city known for being the "official" hometown of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It’s home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.Highlights:Santa Claus Village is an...

Day 4 in Finland, and a second day Rovaniemi Highlights:Touring with Aurora Emotion - the first electric snowmobile safaris in the world.A visit to the Arctic Snow Hotel - Feel the Arctic cold on your face, be active to keep warm, savour a drink from a glass made of ice and witness the mesmerising dance of the Northern Lights. The Arctic City Hotel - Arctic City Hotel is set right in the very centre of the town of Rovaniemi next to the main shopping areas, only a few kilometers away from the...

Day 3 in Finland, and Alex moves on to Rovaniemi Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, in northern Finland. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, today it’s a modern city known for being the "official" hometown of Santa Claus, and for viewing the Northern Lights. It’s home to Arktikum, a museum and science center exploring the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. The Science Centre Pilke features interactive exhibits on northern forests.Highlights:The Arktikum is a museum...

Day 2 in Finland, and another day exploring the delights of Kemi.Highlights of Day 2:Snowmobiling with Lapland Safaris…A trip on the Sampo Icebreaker. Sampo is a former icebreaker from the Finnish government, and since years ago, it has been taking its guests to a cruise in the frozen Gulf of Botnia.The Kemi SnowCastle is built every year with a new design using the water of the Baltic Sea, and it can be found close to the town centre. There you will find the largest SnowRestaurant of the...

Day 1 in Finland (yes, Alex has relocated) and it’s straight off to Kemi...Santa’s Port.Kemi is a town on Bothnian Bay in Lapland, Finland. It’s known for the massive Sampo icebreaker, a giant ship built to ply the Arctic waters. At Kemi’s harbor is the SnowCastle, a seasonal carved-ice complex. Kemi Lutheran Church is a Gothic Revival structure with an ornate, red-brick exterior. To the north, Bothnian Bay National Park has old fishing huts, rare plants and abundant birds, including Arctic...

Day 4 (and the final one) in St Petersburg...and it’s an Uber ride to visit the opulent Catherine Palace, Pushkin.The Catherine Palace is a Rococo palace located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo, 30 km south of St. Petersburg, Russia. It was the summer residence of the Russian tsars. WikipediaSubscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm...

Day 3 in St Petersburg...and on foot again covering 20 plus Kms in the day.Highlights of the day include:The Moika Palace or Yusupov Palace was once the primary residence in St. Petersburg, Russia of the House of Yusupov. The building was the site of Grigori Rasputin's murder in the early morning of December 17, 1916.Wikipedia                                   Saint Isaac's Cathedral or Isaakievskiy Sobor in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city. It...

Day 2 in St Petersburg...and it's New Years Day 2019 so all public buildings are closed.Alex takes to foot to see what he can find.Highlights of the day include:The Grand Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg is the third largest synagogue in Europe. It was built between 1880 and 1888, and consecrated in December 1893. The Synagogue is located at 2 Lermontovskii Prospekt, St. Petersburg, Russia. The Chief Rabbi of St. Petersburg is Menachem Mendel Pewzner. Wikipedia                              ...

Alex moves on to St Petersburg...Day 1St. Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city's iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia's cultural center, with venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works.Highlights of the day include:The Mariinsky...

Day 9 of Alex’s Moscow adventure...one last bit of sightseeing...then off to St PetersburgHighlights of the day include:Ostankino Tower is a television and radio tower in Moscow, Russia, owned by the Moscow branch of unitary enterprise Russian TV and Radio Broadcasting Network. Standing 540.metres, Ostankino was designed by Nikolai Nikitin. It is currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe and 11th tallest in the world. WikipediaThe Bullet Train ride to St PetersburgThe State...

Day 8 of Alex’s Moscow adventure...his last full day in this wonderful city...Highlights of the day include:The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum in Moscow, Russia, dedicated to space exploration. It is located within the base of the Monument to the Conquerors of Space in the north-east of the city. WikipediaVystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystva is a permanent general purpose trade show and amusement park in Moscow, Russia. Between 1991 and 2014 it was also called the...

Day 7 of Alex’s Moscow adventure...Highlights of the day include...Lenin's Mausoleum, also known as Lenin's Tomb, situated in Red Square in the centre of Moscow, is a mausoleum that currently serves as the resting place of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. His preserved body has been on public display there since shortly after his death in 1924, with rare exceptions in wartime. WikipediaThe Moscow Choral Synagogue is one of the main synagogues in Russia and in the former Soviet Union. It is...

Day 6 of his Moscow adventure..and Alex gets  more history...and a spectacular grocery storeThe State Historical Museum of Russia is a museum of Russian history wedged between Red Square and Manege Square in Moscow. Its exhibitions range from relics of prehistoric tribes that lived on the territory of present-day Russia, through priceless artworks acquired by members of the Romanov dynasty. WikipediaThe Metro Underground Stations tour...details here: For more visit:...