While it goes against all of my humble British instincts to say it so boastfully: 2014 was an amazing year for me. (#sorrynotsorry)
Why? I travelled to places I’d wanted to go for years, did my first road trip and my first backpacking trip and went to at least two places I had no plans to visit at all.
On top of which, I managed to get to 7 new countries – a new personal record and an important feat considering my aim to get to every country in Europe by my 30th birthday. (The lucky seven were: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Denmark, Luxembourg, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Croatia.)
So while I’ve been looking back over the year, I thought I would do as everyone else does and identify my best travel moments of 2014 – and here they are (in no particular order):
The moment when… I got to make this douche-y Facebook post.
Haterz gonn’ hate, Denise.
The moment when… I crossed the border into Liechtenstein on a bright green bus. (And then had the view of Schloss Vaduz entirely to myself.)
Schloss Vaduz (Vaduz Castle)
The moment when… I first tried Bosnian food and my life changed forever.
Incredible Bosnian food
The moment when… I managed to see the poppies at the Tower of London before the installation was dismantled.
Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red
The moment when… this photo was taken.
Respecting the roads with Dave
and
The moment… whenever this song was played on our road trip.
The moment when… we cycled through Copenhagen. (When in Rome…)
The moments when… I got new stamps in my passport.
Such a shameless tourist.
The moment when… we arrived at Vernazza by boat.
Surrounding Vernazza harbour
Every single moment of our company trip. (Even missing the bus.)
The beautiful Hohe Tauern national park
The moment when… we first saw the bridge in Mostar.
Stari Most in Mostar
The moment when… we stumbled upon an amazing free festival in Ghent.
Enjoying Gentse Feesten
The moment when… I went to my first proper German Christmas market (that was actually in Germany).
Merry-go-round
The moment when… I correctly ordered a bottle of wine in Serbian.
The moment when… we visited two towns in one.
Bordering on fun
The moment when… I did blind booking…
…and ended up in Milan
The moment when… I got off the plane in Düsseldorf and was met by 25-degree heat and sunshine and knew I had made the right decision in moving here. (That morning in Manchester I had left behind pouring rain and single-digit temperatures.)
What were your favourite moments of 2014?
Comment below!
Glorious photos of your 2104 travels! Thanks for sharing them with us and looking forward to what 2015 will bring! PS I’ve been to Vaduz as well and it was amazing!
PPS The stew of sorts in Bosnia looks delicious! I’m sure it was….
Happy Holidays to you from NYC!
Lia
Thanks for your comment, Lia. Vaduz is a lovely little place – I really loved the novelty of it. And Bosnian food is amazing – I don’t think it’s possible to find food there that isn’t delicious….
Happy New Year and happy travels in 2015! Thanks for the follow:) ps: Wish I had some of that lovely food for breakfast right now!
It’s been a good year for your readers back in exotic Worksop too John; travel by proxy as I think of it. So keep up the exploration and keep writing about it because we have high expectations of you and “all of Europe by the the time you’re thirty” is a shared goal now!
PS: the five towns were my personal highlight.
Thanks James and Happy New Year!
That moment when a Romanian passport appears in the Vance Joy video! Sounds like you had a great year, here’s to more new countries next year! (coughcometoromaniacough) 😉
PS: mind if I steal your idea and do this post as well? 😀
I never noticed that before, how cool! And as for Romania, I have a feeling we will definitely be meeting up this year…
Aww, this is a great list. My own will be going up in January, but in the meantime, congrats on all the travels!
Sounds like a great year with some amazing adventures! I’m happy I saw the poppies in London Tower, too!
They were really moving, weren’t they? I didn’t think I would be able to see them but really glad I did.
Unfortunately, it was really crowded 😀 and for a reason! They were spectacular! My memory brings back a yummy caramelized peanuts or smth they selled arround the Tower haha They were delicious!
hahaha awesome!!!! Man you have lots of amazing moments in 2014… and 7 new countries? WOW 😀 I wish 2015 will be even better for you 😀