My 2014 in Travel

Happy Travel Tuesday and HAPPY CHRISTMAS! 

As 2014 draws to a close, I’ll be putting my Valle del Elqui posts on hold for this week while I re-cap on my 2014 in travel…

Places lived:

• London, England
• Birmingham, England

Places visited:

UK

• Cardiff, Wales – January 
• Sheffield, England – April and August
• Gloucester, England – May and August 
• Liverpool, England – July
• Brighton, England – August
• Peak District, England – August

Europe

• Marseille, France – February
• Berlin, Germany – April
• Potsdam, Germany – April
• Paris, France – August and December
• Geneva, Switzerland – August
• Lausanne, Switzerland – August

Chile

• Santiago – November-December
• Peñaflor – November – December
• Rancagua – December
• Valle del Elqui – December
• La Serena – December
• Los Andes – December

Now it’s time for my favourites…

Favourite First-Time-Visited City: Berlin, Germany.

I had wanted to go for so long as I had heard so many great things about it. Everyone I asked seemed to say something really positive about it, not just that it was ‘nice’ but that it was ‘amazing’.  We went for five days over the Easter period and could have spent even more there.  I loved that there were so many interesting parts of the city to explore.  I loved wandering through the streets, spotting street art and learning about the history.  :: Berlin posts: 1,2,3,4,5

Favourite Returned-to City: Santiago, Chile.

I lived in Santiago between 2010 and 2011 and hadn’t been back since.  We spent a month there this November and December staying with Carlos’ family and seeing friends.  It was so special to go back to such a familiar place, to see family, to enjoy Chilean food and to soak up some summer sun.  There were so many places that brought back so many happy memories.

Favourite Foods eaten: Moule Frites in Marseille and Avocado in Chile.

I first visited Clem in Marseille in 2008 and it was the first time I had tried moule frites. I remember sitting by the water in December 2008 and feeling very cold but warmed inside by the delicious food.  This time around we sat by the water again and did the same, six years later 🙂  Now I just need to perfect my technique of how the French eat their moule frites!

There is nothing as good as Chilean avocados.  They are creamy and delicous and feature in almost every meal in Chile.  They are such a luxury as they just don’t taste the same in the UK! 

Favourite Countryside Walks:  Lausanne, Switzerland and The Peak District, England.

I just couldn’t get over these beautiful views in the Lavaux Valley of Lausanne. The gorgeous blue water, the clear sky and the lush green of the vines with the mountains in the background.  It was just so very stunning and made for a wonderful walk, especially on the sunny day we were lucky with!

This year I returned to The Peak District after many years.  The beautiful green-ness of the place is captivating and the hills are beautiful to walk through.

Favourite City Walk:  Paris, France.

For me, nothing beats walking around Paris.  The winding roads, the café culture, the shutters; there are just so many parts of Paris that are pleasing to the eye.  

Favourite driving/cycling views:  Valle del Elqui, Chile and Potsdam, Germany.

I couldn’t stop staring out of the window in Valle del Elqui.  The dryness of the moutains, the blue sky, the catus.  So different from anything we see in England and just so vast!  

Potsdam is famous for biking through.  We hired bikes and set off with picnics. The views are beautiful, the weather was amazing and it was a really fun way to see the city.

Favourite Art:  Street Art in Berlin.

Why go to an art gallery when you can explore the city and see street art on almost every corner?  I was in awe at how much street art lined Berlin and the sheer variety of it.  We spent one of our days there on a ‘street art trail’ that we found on the internet.  It was a walking route that took us around the city’s best street art. Can you tell how much I loved Berlin?!

Favourite Museum Exhibition: The Humanitarian Adventure, Geneva.

I learnt so much from The Humanitarian Adventure exhibition at The Red Cross Musuem in Geneva.  It was really well and creatively set out which made the ideas really clear to absorb.  

And what better way to record all of these memories than on a blog.  I am approaching the first birthday of WhatAWonderfulWorld, and I have loved every moment! Thank you to all of you who read, follow, like and comment on my blog. Here’s to many more adventures in 2015!

What are your favourite travel memories of 2014?

Marcella xx :: Bloglovin’

Travel Tuesday linked with Bonnie, Courtney, Cynthia and Yalanda.