A Look Back - 2024
- muse7699
- Dec 17, 2024
- 5 min read
With the end of the year in a few weeks, it's always nice to look back at the many life adventures that occurred this year. From the frozen landscape of Norway to the jungles of Honduras and the big city lights of Barcelona, what a fantastic year this has been.
Summary
Continents visited - 3
Countries visited - 17
Favorite Country - Spain
Least Favorite Country - Costa Rica
Favorite Multi Day Activity - NCL Cruise NYC to Iceland
Favorite One Day Activity - Dog Sledding Tromso, Norway
January - I started the new year walking through a winter wonderland in Norway. Traveling on the famous Norway in a Nutshell route from Oslo to Bergen. Boarding a 5-day Norwegian Fjords cruise to end in Tromso . Reindeer spotting, dog sledding, and chasing the northern lights. Mid-January, I flew back to New York for a week to shop and take care of errands. On the 23rd I flew to Mexico City. Walking the historic central Zocalo, Condesa areas of the city. Visited the first of many meso-America temples, Teotihuacan. Then off to Puebla and Oaxaca to experience the local culture.
February - I spent the whole month on an Intrepid Travel organized tour through Central America. The month started in Mexico, visiting the cities of Oaxaca to learn about mezcal, San Cristobal, Merida to learn about the Uxmal peoples and explored the temples of Chichen Itza. Next up was Belize to snorkel and a fantastic adventure through the ATM cave. Off to Guatemala to visit Tikal, Antiqua and the islands around l
Lake Atitlan. I ended the month in Copán, a Mayan temple in Honduras.
Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain
March - My Intrepid tour continued through the first two week of the month. First stop were a few days rest in El Salvador then crossing the border to Nicaragua. Once a war-torn nation, the amazing cities of Leon and Granada now focus on preserving its culture. We hiked a volcano and traveled along the lake system. The last stop on the tour was Costa Rica, my 50th country. Highlights included visiting a sloth sanctuary in Monteverde, Canyoneering in la Fortuna and ending in the capital city of San Jose. I then travelled via bus to my first of two volunteer positions. First up was a Rainforest Lodge and eco farm. Work was hard and humbling in intense heat and humidity, planting coconuts, clearing fields and replanting a greenhouse. I learned many lessons throughout the year, but the one that sticks out is the old adage, with age comes wisdom. What was supposed to be four weeks volunteering turned into two. Knowing when to say enough and to move on in a tough environment.
April - I started my second volunteer position in a turtle camp in Pacuare, located on the Carribean coastline of Costa Rica. Volunteer work consisted of nightly beach patrols, camp, jungle and beach cleanups, guided flora and fauna walks and building a turtle hatchery. On Saturdays we took day drips to Cahuita NP and Puerto Viejo. We waited each night for the wake-up calls signaling a leatherback turtle was laying eggs.
May - I finished my volunteer time the first week of the month then flew to the Osa Peninsula for a three-day vacation at an eco-resort. I ended the month with a few weeks stay at Manuel Antonio NP. My body, mind and soul knew it was time to leave the jungle and Costa Rica behind to head to the beaches of Honduras where I learned to scuba dive on the island of Utila.
Confidence doesn't always come from believing in yourself today. It often stems from recalling the obstacles you overcame yesterday.
June - I met up with an old friend and we spent a week exploring the beaches of Roatan. It was bittersweet saying goodbye to Central America. I flew back to the US on the 9th for five weeks. Catching up with old friends in Las Vegas with a much-needed camping trip to Mesa Verde NP. Then off to Austin, Texas for good music, BBQ and friends.
July - I spent my birthday back in my hometown, NYC. Catching a baseball game in Yankee Stadium, an off off Broadway play and a trip down to Brighton Beach. On the 14th, boarded the Norwegian Cruise Line to take me across the North Atlantic. Learning about the maritime and prohibition trade routes in Canada, seeing the capital city of Nuuk, Greenland and exploring several coastal towns and waterfalls of Iceland.
I go to Paris. I go to London. I go to Rome. and I always say. There's no place like New York. It's the most exciting city in the world. Robert De Niro
August - I continued to explore Iceland on a 6-day tour around the Ring Road. Waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes, Iceland is a nature lovers paradise. Then off to Portugal where I traveled with my friend Kris for 3 weeks exploring Porto, Guimaraes, Braga and the Douro valley. We laughed, we cried, and we drank port all day and night.
September - On Sept 1, I left my hostel in Porto, Portugal with just a backpack and took my first step on the Camino Portuguese. I walked for 28 days on concrete sidewalks, coastal boardwalks, and forest paths. Through sun and rain, cities, towns and beaches. My hiking poles clacked on the surface. I met many people on the way and chatted over dinner and wine.
On the Camino, every step is a destination
October - A few days exploring Camino de Santiago greeted me after walking the way. Then took the train to Barcelona and Sitges for some rest and relaxation on the beach. The home of Gaudi and several walking tours later, it was time to say goodbye to Europe and fly to Indonesia for five weeks on Bali and Gili Air. The crowds and noise of Bali overshadowed the beauty of the rice terraces, temples and waterfalls. Staying in the expat area of Sanur and the traditional heartland, Ubud. But fell in love with the tranquility of Gili Air.
November - I continued my stay in Bali. Yoga and meditation classes. Learning to cook traditional Balinese food. Daytrips to waterfalls and temples and dinner meetups with friends from the nomadic community. But my time was up as boarded a plane on the 25th for a three-day vacation to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
December - It was on to Sri Lanka. A chaotic week in the capital city of Colombo then left with 5 other travelers on a 10-day tour of ancient cities and national parks. We were fortunate enough to see the elusive Sri Lankan leopard and a sloth bear way in the distance. I ended my stay relaxing on the beaches of Unawantuna. Alas the final flight of the year is here and boarded a plane on the 26th to the ultimate New Years destination - Dubai
The future depends on what you do today - Ghandi
Comments