Category Archive for Art + Design
Dublin, Ireland Goth travels: Visiting Trinity College Long Room Library without crowds, Irish Gothic art & fashion.
Can’t believe it is already the end of 2024! Let’s round things off with stories from my Dublin, Ireland trip earlier this year.
I’ll show you Irish Gothic architecture, and how I got these unobstructed shots and video inside The Long Room Library of Trinity College…
And we’ll recap a few of my other travels and adventures in 2024, such as this visit to the newly renovated Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, BC’s UBC!
Let’s begin with Dublin, Ireland. I checked into the artsy Arthaus boutique hotel for my first time ever in St Patrick’s land.
As a book lover, I had to see the famed Long Library at Trinity College, which is filled with antique books and busts. Isn’t this a bibliophile’s dream?
To visit the library, you’ll have to make advance reservations for the Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College. You’ll get to see the famed 800 ACE illuminated manuscript and interactive museum exhibits as well.
Select the first entry slot in the morning, and rush to the library before the crowds. That way, you’ll have the 18th century Long Library filled with antique books and busts to yourself. Can you tell this is my happy place??
The Long Room is an 65-metre-long chamber of the Old Library, built between 1712 and 1732. It holds 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books, as well as a row of white busts of writers and philosophers like Shakespeare.
Here’s how I took photos in the Long Room at Trinity College Dublin without any crowds!
1) Reserve the first 8:30 AM entry to the Book of Kells experience
2) Race past the museum exhibits (which everyone else looks at first) to the Long Library up the stairs and in the back
3) You’ll have about 10 min to take unobstructed shots like this, before others arrive!
I also took a video of my Long Library visit — check it out on @lacarmina IG.
Long Library looks a lot like the Jedi archives of the Jedi Temple in Star Wars!
The chamber also holds “Brian Boru’s harp”, a medieval Gaelic musical instrument and a national symbol of Ireland.
I recommend staying in a central area of Dublin so that you can easily walk around and see the parks and sites. I laid flat at Arthaus Hotel near St Stephen’s Green.
The Art Deco decor and boutique amenities were right up my alley.
From there, I could stroll to Trinity College, Dublin Castle and other nearby landmarks. Spotted tons of decadent Irish brass doorknockers along the way.
Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Today, the campus has some rather Gothic and haunted elements, like this painting of a horned lady.
The eminent institution was straight out of a fantasy novel. I imagined taking magick potion classes at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Botany. (See my video of the School of Botany here.)
Dublin has quite a few quirky and Gothic attractions like The Church Café Bar & Restaurant, set in a converted 17th century church (the stained glass windows and organ remain).
Irish coffee (with whiskey and whipped cream) is a local must-try. My favorite was the elevated version at Vice Coffee.
Nothing like having a fresh latte outside in Europe. I said hi to Oscar Wilde’s statue at Merrion Square in Dublin.
Marsh’s Library is another book lover’s paradise. It is Dublin’s oldest public library – dating back to the 18th century.
I didn’t pay the fee to enter the library and take photos, so you’ll only get this shot of the exterior. (I also came across this Egyptian lamp-bearer while walking around.)
Dublin is one Goth destination… the dark architecture and moody skies are straight out of a The Cure music video.
Also very Gothic: The Dead Zoo, or natural history museum filled with taxidermy and bones. Entry is free, so why not come to see over 10,000 specimens including bats?
For a short day trip from Dublin, take the DART train to Howth, a scenic Irish fishing village on the peninsula.
Take the cliff walk by the water, and see nautical sites like Baily Lighthouse.
Although I’m not into the pub scene, it’s fun to walk around the Temple Bar area at night. Many of the classic pubs, such as The Long Hall, have been around for hundreds of years.
Have you been to Ireland, or dream of going? For more, see my reel (set to Enya) of my Long Room at Trinity College visit.
Let’s finish off with a few 2024 adventures that I haven’t yet shared on the blog. In the summer, my friend Sancho Angulo and I went to Vancouver’s Museum of Anthropology at UBC, which has re-opened after an 18-month seismic revamp.
Sancho and I spent hours exploring the UBC Museum of Anthropology, which has over 50,000 global cultural works lit up by Arthur Erickson’s modernist architecture. One of the centerpieces is Bill Reid’s sculpture of Haida creation myth “The Raven and the First Men.”
The Museum Of Anthropology has the world’s most magnificent collection of Indigenous northwest coast art, including towering totem poles and long houses outside. Whenever friends travel to Vancouver, I encourage them to visit my fav local museum – I think the photos speak for themselves!
You may recall that Sancho Angulo and I were both on CTV’s game show, Battle of the Generations. We have more travels and road trips planned ahead… stay tuned for our next escapades.
I also did a summer getaway to Harrison Hot Springs, the resort town near Vancouver. I enjoyed the hotel’s 90s vibe and swimming pool, and got to hang with the sasquatch statues.
Every summer, I make sure to get in some “Beach Goth” time (with lots of sun protection, always). Wearing a Beach Goth t-shirt from Cat and Bat designs, indie purveyors of Gothic cotton shirts.
I also did a work trip to Del Boca Vista, aka Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida. Here are some snaps from my tropical Goth pool day at Lake Nona Wave Hotel.
I was fond of the Lake Nona sculpture garden, which contains a menagerie of large-scale works. This Miffy one spoke to me.
A funny airport story… I had to go through an extra security check because TSA didn’t recognize my 90s Nintendo Game Boy when it went through the scanner! Agents were confused and probably thought it was a b-o-m-b. Security said they hadn’t seen this device in forever. But Super Mario Land is the best game ever… And the reason I wanted to go to Easter Island!
I was in Florida to write about Michelin starred chef Ryan Ratino’s new Florida restaurants, Omo by Jont and Maass, for publications including Observer. Check out my video about dining at Ryan Ratino’s restaurants — yasss, chef. You can read my travel and food writing on my freelance journalism portfolio page.
And now, tis time for me to lie flat for the season… were you sassy or sweet this year? (From Elf’s Pub at Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa, with Sancho Angulo @sanchoangulo). Wishing you the best for the ho-ho-holidays, and see you in 2025!
SHARE & COMMENT
Sky Lagoon review & Instagrammable Iceland photography locations! Reykjavik Gothic street art, Hallgrimskirkja.
The blue-haired Ice Queen is back in Iceland… and this time, she’s taking a dip in the new Sky Lagoon!
If you’re looking for the most Instagram-worthy photos spots in Iceland, then the queen has got you covered. Read on for our Sky Lagoon spa experience, and watch the video of my visit here on @LaCarmina Instagram. I’ll also show you photogenic spots in Reykjavik like the Gothic Dead Gallery, a vampire mural, and the famous Hallgrimskirkja church.
I’m sure you have heard of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon (which I visited on my previous trip) — but did you know about Sky Lagoon? Opened in 2021, this hot springs spa is located closer to Reykjavik and lets you enjoy saunas and mineral baths while being immersed in nature.
Sky Lagoon is a photography dream — you wade into the warm, shallow waters while framed by Icelandic rocks and the dramatic mountains, ocean, and sky.
Other benefits of visiting Sky Lagoon over Blue — the attraction is adults-only, and you can put your head under the water without messing up the texture of your hair! (The mineral content in Sky Lagoon is different, so it won’t damage your hair if you get it wet.)
Sky Lagoon is conveniently located only about 15 minutes from downtown Reykjavik by car. (You can also easily take a shuttle — see details further down in this article). The geothermal spa sits at Kársnes Harbour, Kópavogur — southwest of the capital.
Photographer Joey Wong and I were able to enter Sky Lagoon in the morning before anyone else arrived (we got special press access). However, if you get there as soon as the spa opens in the morning, there won’t be many people there — so you can take photos like this without anyone in the background.
When you arrive at Sky Lagoon, you’re given a wristband that unlocks a locker in the changing rooms. Put your items away, shower, and then enter through a cave tunnel entrance to the steamy, soaking pool.
I recommend booking your ticket to Sky Lagoon in advance. You can choose from various packages — including deluxe ones that come with private changing rooms and the Seven-Step Ritual (more about that below).
Sky Lagoon is warmed by geothermal energy. The natural hot springs keep the water comfortably toasty at around 38 to 40 °C (100 to 104 °F).
Be sure to keep hydrated (Sky Lagoon provides free drinking water). You can take a dip, come out to rest, and then go back in as many times as you’d like.
You can also quench your thirst at the In-Water Lagoon Bar. The cave-side watering hole serves cocktails, wine and Icelandic beers that you can drink while overlooking infinity views of the ocean.
The wellness offerings at Sky Lagoon include the 7 Step Ritual. (Lagoon, cold plunge, sauna, cold mist, sky scrub, steam room, shower). The salt scrub is heavenly and leaves your skin feeling baby smooth.
If you’re curious how the recently-opened Sky Lagoon compares to the classic Blue Lagoon, check out my visit to Blue Lagoon in 2015. I loved how Sky Lagoon is adults-only so there were no children splashing around. The lagoon was also more peaceful and less crowded, which makes the conditions easier for photography.
And as mentioned above, Sky Lagoon’s mineral-rich waters won’t muss up your hair. You can go under the waterfall, wade over to hotter areas, and massage your back and feet over the jets.
Please check out our Instagram reel of the Sky Lagoon experience — you can see what it’s like to explore and eat at this geothermic oasis. (Wearing Y2K style wraparound sunglasses and a Charli Cohen halter swim top.)
The Sky Lagoon is one large body of water with various nooks and natural features like volcanic rocks. Head over to the infinity edge pool, which has spectacular views of the ocean and horizon.
We worked up an appetite, and were excited to try Icelandic delights at Smakk Bar. The modern restaurant serves local tasting platters — I loved the reindeer pate, salmon gravlax, sheep cheeses, bakery bread, and homemade sauces and jams. Sky Lagoon has a cafe as well that serves delicious lattes with milk from Icelandic cows.
My chunky blue hair matched with the vibe of Sky Lagoon.
Getting here to Sky Lagoon is a breeze, as it’s only a 15 min ride from Reykjavik. Taxis are pricy in Iceland, so I encourage you to book a transfer with Reykjavik Excursions. Their timely FlyBus picks you up from a stop near your hotel and whisks you to Sky Lagoon and back (there’s a regular timetable for departures). You can book transfers to/from the airport and other attractions as well: Reykjavik Excursions’ buses are the best way to get around.
I had a rejuvenating time at Sky Lagoon! I hope you’ll visit this stylish hot springs when you come to Iceland. (I recommend the earliest morning timed spot for a quiet experience and the best photography conditions.)
Back to our hip hotel, Berjaya Reykjavík Marina, which has an ideal location by the harbour — steps away from downtown Reykjavik and attractions like Harpa Music Hall. The hotel sits on the historic Slippur dock (there are boats right outside), and the decor pays homage to Iceland’s fishing culture.
Berjaya Reykjavik Marina Hotel has funky boutique-style rooms, and plenty of chic common areas for working and hanging out.
Their Slippbarinn restaurant also serves a delicious fish soup. In the morning, we filled up on the hotel breakfast that included Icelandic delights like skyr (high protein thick yogurt) with real vanilla bean… I ate so many bowls!
From our hotel, it was easy to walk to downtown Reykjavik and see the sights — such as Hallgrímskirkja. This neo-Gothic expressionist church is the masterpiece of Icelandic architect Guðjón Samúelsson.
Hallgrimskirja is a Lutheran church that was commissioned in 1937 but not finished until 1986. The stark, geometric planes stand out like an alien ship against the blue skies. Architect Samúelsson’s design was inspired by his country’s unique lava rock formations, mountains, and glaciers.
This is my second visit to Iceland with photographer Joey Wong. You can see our past photos taken inside the Church of Hallgrímur here, from 2015.
Hallgrímskirkja is breathtaking to see in person. The door gave of rather Gothic vibes too.
Speaking of offbeat Iceland spots… Reykjavik has a peen museum! I entered the Icelandic Phallological Museum to gawk at hundreds of phallic specimens, from snail art to plaster casters of musicians like Jimi Hendrix.
Iceland’s penis museum is dedicated to collecting and displaying phalluses big and small, from preserved narwhal to mouse specimens.
I didn’t see the northern lights in Iceland (as I came too late, in late April) — but I got to witness a polar bear vs puffin fight. As you can see, Reykjavik is filled with playful large-scale street art.
One of my favorites is the Goth vampire mural. It shows a man with horns sucking blood from a woman’s neck, in a 1950s pop art style. There’s also a rainbow Pride walkway leading up to the famous Icelandic church up on the hill.
I found another peen… and Rokk & Rómantik, which is the only Goth store in Iceland!
Last time, I was mesmerized by the skull art at Dead Gallery, run by artist Jón Sæmundur. One of his paintings — a butterfly with skulls on its wings — sits outside the shop’s old location.
Dead Gallery now has a new location (Address: Laugavegur 10b, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland).
I didn’t get to go inside since Jon was away, but I got to peek at his latest works that powerfully convey themes of death and beauty. (I have one of his skull watercolors in my apartment.)
Jon is also the frontman and founder of the band, Dead Skeletons. If you’re drawn to Gothic art, be sure to visit his new Dead Gallery (you can also get skulls, paintings, tees and more on his website.)
Isn’t the street art in Reykjavik a vibe? Meandering around the small city is one of my favorite things to do here.
Here’s a tip for planning an Iceland trip — get tickets with PLAY Airlines, a new affordable Icelandic airline that flies between North America and Europe.
PLAY lives up to its playful name, with colorful Airbus A320ne jets that stand out on the Keflavík Airport tarmac.
The staff and pilots greeted us warmly, and provided terrific services throughout the flight. Although PLAY is a low-cost airline, you get comfortable padded seats and can tailor the experience to your needs with add-ons like additional baggage. You can also do a stopover in Iceland at no extra cost before continuing on to Europe or North America.
PLAY Airlines turned out to be a wonderful way to fly on a budget. Keep this modern airline in mind if you’re looking to travel to the Land of Ice and Fire, and beyond.
For more inspiration and travel tips, check out my Iceland posts here. Once again, Iceland delivered on adventure, and turned out to be one of the best places for photography… no wonder it’s known as the Land of Fire and Ice!
PS: I did a new interview with Authority Magazine about writing and publishing books, working with literary agents and more. I also have many new items available on my Depop @lacarmina shop — let me know if anything catches your eye, and we can do a direct sale and bundle discount (just email me!)
LA CARMINA
