Is overtourism really that bad?
I’ve certainly been guilty of saying some places are too touristy, too crowded (Venice, man). But this piece on Iceland and overtourism made me think twice about that. I’ve never had a real desire to go to Iceland, mostly because I hate cold weather and would always rather go somewhere warm, but if I’m honest it’s also partly because it’s become sort of cliché, since everyone goes to Iceland these days. But the Iceland tourism boom is starting to slow down; what will that mean for Icelanders and the country’s economy?
Travel trends move fast, and now that Iceland is “over,” tourists will move on to the next place, whether that’s Lisbon (already having its moment) or Mexico City or Copenhagen or whatever else is next on the New York Times’ 52 places to travel. We make fun of tourists, the ones who come by the busload and wear ugly shoes and fanny packs, but it also means that traveling the world and experiencing different cultures has become more accessible to a wider range of people — and isn’t that ultimately a good thing?
PS: On a totally different note, if you’re a woman in journalism, a PSA: applications for the 2020 ONA Women’s Leadership Accelerator close on October 31! I did this program in 2018 and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done for my career. If you’re interested in it at all, I encourage you to apply! And I’m happy to answer questions about the program if you’re thinking about applying — just email me.
What I’m reading
My own private Iceland, Vox.
The 2010s broke our sense of time, Buzzfeed News.
I’m never having children. Why does that make you so upset?, Refinery29.
What I learned about equal partnership by studying dual-income couples, The Atlantic.
Doom and gloom: the growing millennial obsession with houseplants, Elemental/Medium.
Inside r/relationships, the unbearably human corner of the internet, The Atlantic.
The real cost of not wearing makeup at the office, Fast Company.
The case for late bloomers, The Saturday Evening Post.
What I’m cooking
Stuff I cooked this week: this roast fish with curry butter (I did sweet potatoes instead of the fennel and potatoes in the recipe), this olive oil roasted chicken with caramelized carrots (extremely easy, because you literally just throw everything in one pot and douse it in olive oil, but not the most flavorful dish ever), and this crisp gnocchi with brussels sprouts and brown butter (so easy! only 20 minutes!).
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