the nomad lab

Sailing the Amazon in luxury.

Aqua Expeditions are the first luxury ships to cruise the Amazon in Peru. The Aria and the Aqua, are narrow frame smaller size ships that are able to navigate the smaller rivers and tributaries, allowing guests to experience the Amazon firsthand in ways that haven’t been possible before.

Such a great combination of adventure and luxury.

The staff is Peruvian, the bed linens are locally made, and the wildlife is plentiful. You’ll definitely be living in luxury, but this is an authentic experience that will let you see some rare sights. Amazon monkeys, exotic birds, butterflies, three-toed sloths, iguanas, alligators, and best of all: a jaguar or the famous pink dolphin of the Amazon!

The ship’s luxuries include an outdoor lounge deck, an outdoor jacuzzi, generous windows across the entire ship, an observation deck, and an exclusive menu of Peruvian cuisine designed by a noted Peruvian chef.

Find out more:

Website: Aqua Expeditions: Luxury Amazon Voyages

Blog: Aqua Expeditions Blog

Facebook: Aqua Expeditions

Twitter: @AquaExpeditions

(Photos from Aqua Expeditions Gallery)

How fun is this? 

Designed and created by architects Heri + Salli, this open-air house in Vienna is set in a public park and acts as a local hangout spot for people to relax. Perfect place to settle up with a good book and a cup of coffee. 

Definitely a must-see in Vienna!

(Photos from Arch Daily)

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I went up to Carmel last weekend for a close friend’s wedding, and had a little time to wander around downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea during the day. 

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a charming little downtown village of cobblestone streets, galleries and shops filled with eclectic goods, bakeries filled with European pastries, and unique historic architecture. You’ll find that every other visitor has a dog, and many stores and restaurants are dog-friendly. The beautiful Carmel beach is just a few blocks away, there are lots of secret courtyards and studios to discover, and plenty of adorable inns and B&Bs along the way. 

FYI - they don’t really like to use addresses with numbers here. You’ll find directions with intersections, and any shop owner is happy to suggest a nearby shop if you’re looking for something in particular.

This trip was really more about spending time with old friends than traveling, so I did a pretty poor job of taking pictures, but I remembered all my favorite spots to share:

The Cheese Shop

Filled with the typical fragrant smells of cheese, this shop is stuffed to the gills with lots of other goodies as well like wine, cornichons, olives, jam, salami and bread, everything you could need for a quick picnic on the beach. The girls behind the counter are fantastic — they handed me 6 samples of cheese in the first 5 minutes that we were in the shop. Immediately my new favorite cheese place ever. 

Cottage of Sweets

Housed in the cutest little Hansel & Gretel cottage, the Cottage of Sweets prides itself on filling every square inch of its shop with all your favorite candies, with an emphasis on chocolate, including truffles and fudge. Lots of gummi candies and saltwater taffy as well. They joke that the (very) sweet-smelling air in the shop is 5 calories per sniff, according to a sign on the wall. 

The Cypress Inn

Not so much a stop as a suggestion for somewhere to stay, we happened across this place during our walk around town. As Carmel’s landmark boutique hotel, it has the perfect balance of classic charm and modern luxury, and is co-owned by Doris Day. It’s at Lincoln and 7th Street, a quick walk to the beach, with some of the rooms actually facing out onto the street (not great for privacy, though). 

Some rooms have a veranda, private entrance, and/or a fireplace, and all rooms are pet-friendly. If you do have a dog, make sure to check out the Cypress Inn’s online concierge, Sadie, who has tips on pet-friendly locations in Carmel.

Amenities include: complimentary breakfast at Terry’s Lounge, fresh fruit and flowers, pet blanket + bowls, and free wi-fi.

Katy’s Place

This cozy hometown restaurant is a famous stop in Carmel, well-known for its huge variety of eggs benedict on the menu (16! and plenty of other items). Breakfast is served all day, and they have a great outdoor patio. Super cute place with lots of character. (FYI - cash only)

(Photos from Nicola Corboy, LadyHeger, The Cheese Shop, Carmel-by-the-Sea, The Cypress Inn, LA & OC Foodventures)

I never knew this place existed in Iceland until just yesterday. Hard as it may be to believe, ALL the photos here came from one national park in Iceland, 330km outside of Reykjavik. 

Skaftafell National Park is almost 5,000 square kilometers, folded into the larger Vatnajökull National Park. It has been influenced over the years by volcanic eruptions and glacial floods, which is why you’ll see a breathtaking combination of black sand, white glacier, and lush greenery in the hills. 

What’s there:

The Crystal Cave. This blue crystal ice is created over the years in ice caves as air is pressed out of the ice over time. Gorgeous.

Svartifoss (Black Falls). Black basalt columns surround this famous waterfall, giving it its name, and inspiring the design of the National Theatre of Reykjavik.

Sel Farmhouse Museum. These sod and turf farmhouses were built in 1912 and restored by the National Museum of Iceland in 1972.

Definitely added to my (growing) list of must-dos in Iceland.

Photos from theprovocativecouture, Sandro Mancuso, Simon J Byrne, Wild Vanilla, skarpi)

Ever since I found my new carry-on bag from Wood & Faulk, I’ve been following their blog.

The founder, Matt, is a true craftsman who works on all sorts of really cool projects from his home in Portland, Oregon, and sells a few of his products through his online shop, including carpenter’s bags and leather belts. 

This leather passport holder is one of his more recent projects that he put together for Design*Sponge. For any of you super handy craftsy people, this seems like a rad way to show off your passport.

Click here to get all the instructions and details: Wood & Faulk Hand Sewn Passport Cover

(Photos from Wood & Faulk)

I’m back! Tan and happy… and ready for the next couple crazy weeks.

I had totally planned on sharing my trip along the way, but ended up deciding that 1 week away from the internet (mostly) would do me a lot of good. So as a quick overview, here’s a roundup of my favorite moments from Jamaica. 

1. All the food. But most notably, the homemade jerk sausage from the pool bar at the Rockhouse Hotel and the jerk chicken from 3 Dives, just down the street. 

2. Visiting the Little Bay All Age and Infant School that the Rockhouse Foundation renovated. More details on Rockhouse later, but this was one of the coolest experiences ever, getting to see all the concrete changes that the Rockhouse Foundation has been able to implement around the community.

Plus, watching my boyfriend get swarmed by a bunch of 6-year old boys begging him to pick them up was hilarious.

(Photo by Andy Fortson)

3. Negril’s Seven Mile Beach is a stretch of untainted clear turquoise water and soft sand (okay, there are various vendors trying to sell wares and weed wandering along the sand, but they’ll generally leave you alone once you’re knee-deep in water). 

Not sure how it looks during peak season, but it was unbelievably calm and relaxed while I was there during the low season.

Tip: check out Aqua, a little bar on the beach with a great bartender named Linton and over 60 different types of rum. Apparently this is also a fancy little boutique hotel with just 5 rooms. It looked quite pretty from the outside, but didn’t get the chance to go in and check it out.

4. Party boat to Margaritaville in Montego Bay. Rum punch, snorkeling, and water trampolines. Need I say more?

5. Sunsets from the infinity pool in Negril. I don’t think we missed one day. Totally perfect. 

I’m going to dedicate a more specific post to the Rockhouse Hotel in Negril, just because there’s so much I’d like to say about it. But for now, let’s just say I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a place to unwind. I was consistently impressed by their attention to detail, fantastic service, and dedication to the community.

Find them here:

Website: rockhousehotel.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rockhouse-Hotel/49637843957

Twitter: @rockhousehotel

PS. I succeeded at 8/10 of my Jamaica To-Do List! (Missed the Martha Brae rafting & YS Falls. Next time.)