The 4 Seasons of 2016 Travel Memories
12 Days Of Christmas: Travel Edition
December 20, 2016
No More Monkey Business: 2017 Travel Wish List
January 3, 2017
“We leave something of ourselves behind when we leave a place, we stay there, even though we go away. And there are things in us that we can find again only by going back there.” –Peter Bieri
Going back…
With 2017 now imminent, it is important not to forget the life-breathing travel memories of 2016. At the outset of this month, I mentioned how we should all value the lives of the local citizens when we travel. Furthermore, it is also important to embrace moments. Moments that become memories. Memories that we breathe into our souls for all of eternity.
E-Biking through the Emmental
The Seasons of 2016 Travel Memories
“Spring is a time to find out where you are, who you are, and move toward where you are going.” –Penelope Trunk
Spring: Say Cheese!
As a kid, I can vividly remember the Cheetos commercials featuring Chester Cheetah. The slick, Cheetos-loving feline would always end the commercials with his famous line: “It ain’t easy being cheesy.” Those commercials, plus the fact that I loved green, ultimately influenced my decision to become a Green Bay Packers fan—the greatest American football team of the NFL.
So, earlier this year, when given the chance to make Emmental cheese in Switzerland, I literally made a Lambeau Leap into the bowl of cheese.
Well…
Maybe I didn’t quite leap into the bowl…but you better believe I got my hands dirty!
Summer: The African Camelot
Walking through the courtyard of the castle ruins in Gondar, Ethiopia was, by itself, a harrowing experience. This effect; however, was heightened by the haunting chants of a funeral procession just outside the castle’s main gate. The energy of those voices bouncing off the vacant castle walls still echoes in my head today.
The castle courtyard
The Funeral Procession
Fall: 99 Bodies of Beer on the Wall…99 Bodies…
The contrast presented by attending my first Oktoberfest, followed by a trip to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial was a truly sobering experience. To go from halls of cheering individuals to walking through the silent screams of souls sacrificed during their stay at Dachau was a heart-rending divergence.
The gate door that newly arrived prisoners would pass through. The inscription translates to: “Work brings freedom.” That, however, was seldom the case.
Winter: Lost City Explorations
Being able to walk through the Lost city of Petra in Jordan was one thing, but the true icing on the cake was walking through the remains of its lesser-known, comparative sister-city, Mada’in Saleh, in Saudi Arabia.
The Monastery in Petra
Qasr al-farid in Mada’in Saleh
What was your best travel memory this year? Let me know in the comments below.
21 Comments
Wow, these are great travel locations! I agree that traveling enriches our lives and make us entirely different people after leaving each destination. I would love to experience each of these locations you visited. It would be awesome experience these places and countries, reveling in their culture and learning a bit more about their people and their history. I do hope I can visit them with my boys one day soon.
I hope you can visit them as well. It would be incredibly enriching for not only you but also your sons!
What a great experience that you have owned for the four season. I haven’t tried winter and fall yet and probably because I’m living in a tropical country. Anyway, I love all the lessons that you shared to us while you’re traveling and ambling around to different places. I love how you have written this, it truly caught my heart. ” It is important to embrace moments. Moments that become memories.” Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Your words really mean a lot, thank you for taking the time to read it. If you feel it will touch someone else’s heart then by all means please share it.
Great travel locations depending on the season! My best travel experience was our trip to Palawan with my husband last April. I was just in awe with the place.it felt like I’m inside a painting while on their island hopping tours.
Your posts gives me major travel goals….. <3 I cant believe that i haven't taken a trip for like 2 years continuous ! Thanks for the spark!
You’re very welcome and I’m glad I could provide some inspiration!
Nice memories you’ve got here. It’s something worth it to remember, indeed. I haven’t been out of town yet but sure that I have gone to some places nearby. Oh, if traveling is just that easy, I’ll sure be considering of going to different places with different seasons to offer!
Oh Wow! You’ve been in so many interesting places. I’ve only travelled Europe and the US but hopefully I can visit other parts of the world soon. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the gorgeous photos and your experience.
Yes, you definitely have to travel across Asia as well…such a rich cultural diversity throughout the region!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience. Walking through the lost city of Petra must have definitely been the most amazing experience. I can completely agree with the fact that you stated it as a true icing on the cake. Loved those beautiful rock-cut structures.
Lovely! You’ve had a good travel year. would also like to read a post about things you didn’t like while traveling last year. 🙂
Good point, I’ve sprinkled in some of the bad here and there but not done a comprehensive list…good idea!
I can’t believe that Ethiopia has a castle! I don’t know why this surprises me so much but it does. I think my best memory was biking around Antwerp this autumn early in the morning as the sun was rising.
Yes, I was surprised as well but once I found out I knew I had to get there someway, somehow! 🙂
Nice!
Trip to Dubai lol
Dubai is always good 🙂
Our family trip to Peru, especially Machu Picchu.
That’s awesome. I’m hoping to finally make it to South America (especially Machu Picchu) this year 🙂
The Seychelles!! Looks like you’ve had an incredible year of globetrotting as well.