Tag Archives: New Years

Travel 2012

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What a great year of travel it has been!

I started with Paris on New Years and then went to Prague and Budapest, two places I have wanted to see for a long time. They didn’t disappoint and I will be back, I’d like to go in Summer next time and get in some hiking.

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Then I waited too long to book the tour I wanted for Iceland, changing gears I picked the Galapagos. This trip was amazing, I’m still writing about (and will be returning to more Galapagos stories soon). It was everything I expected and more, perhaps the favourite trip that I have ever done but it’s really hard to choose!

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Then to end the year I went on a Hawaiian cruise with my Mom. Seven days and four islands which was wonderful. It was really nice to spend the time with my Mom and soon I will have more stories and pictures from the cruise.

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This next year I am looking forward to more adventures and travel, it’s a very hard habit to stop once you start!

Finishing Up New Year’s Eve

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After the church we went to a Salvador Dali exhibition. It was wonderful and had pieces from his “Alice in Wonderland” drawings, “Tristan and Iseult” series and also a few sculptures. We spent a good hour wandering through the small exhibit and who doesn’t love Dali?

From Dali back to the hotel to get ourselves cleaned up for New Year’s Eve. We were going to a friend of Mel’s called Mikko and it was a lot of fun. Mikko was a great host, there was a wonderful group of people. There was good food, a raspberry tart that was to die for! AND of course red wine, I believe a good time was had by all!

Rebecca and Mel certainly look like they are having fun:

I wish I could remember what everybody is looking at but I don’t so I keep making up new stories…. feel free to add your own caption:

The plan had been to go to the Eiffel Tower for midnight but we were having fun and we lost track of time. In the end meeting people and having fun trumped the tower and we did make it to the tower the next day so all was not lost!

HAPPY (belated) NEW YEAR!

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What a trip! I definitely recommend starting the New Year off in Paris.

New Years Eve was a great night, even if it didn’t go to plan. The plan was to go to a friend of a friend’s and then head out to the Eiffel Tower for midnight. We got distracted and didn’t make it but instead danced, laughed, drank red wine and rang the New Year in with a great group of people. So all was not lost.

January 1st to make up for it we did go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. What a gorgeous view! The experience was a lesson in patience though. Wait in line to go up to the second level. Wait in line to go to the third level (the top). Wander around the top, where it is very windy and take pictures. Oooo and Ahhhhh at the view. Stand in line to go back down to the second level. Look at line in gift shop and decide that the shop at the bottom of the tower looks like a better option. Then line up to go back down. You can take the stairs but….. it was January 1st and well red wine and I had gotten along like gang busters the night before. We also returned later to see the tower at night and upon approaching the tower all the blinking lights came on. I believe I squealed with delight!

So Paris was lovely, although I was unable to find an onion soup to live up to the one in my memory and of all the ones I had I can honestly say I make a better one at home. After Paris we went to Prague. What can I say about Prague? It’s so beautiful, easy to get around, has great food, wonderful people and I can’t wait to go back! Budapest as well did not disappoint. I want to live next door to a bath. We made it to two of them and on a cold windy Budapest day there is no better place to be!

So the next few weeks will be all about London, Paris, Prague and Budapest!

Wonderful trip but it’s really nice to be home.

Time For The 2012 List

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Almost half way through November. Where did the year go?

It is time for me to clean up my list. Go through and find the items lost amongst tasks crossed off, get all the to still be done on a new page. I do this in November because December is usually busy and it’s so easy to put it off. To start he New Year with a neat list, all in order always makes me feel better.

It is also time to start getting my 2012 accomplishment list together. Ten things I want to accomplish by the end of the year. I make one every year and it usually involves, savings, a trip, something I want to learn, a book to read. Things to reach for, things to cross off the BIG to do list, things you’ve always wanted to learn, whatever.

I didn’t have one last year. It was the first time in many years that I didn’t get around to doing one.

My Grandfather in 2010 had a series of strokes and passed away December 13, 2011. So he was my priority and then after he passed away the list was the last thing on my mind. Also I didn’t need a travel goal as the trip for 2011 was to take my Granddad and my Granny (who had passed away 10 years ago) home to Sidmouth, Devon and scatter their ashes. Although they had lived in Canada for over 40 years, Sidmouth was their home. I’ll talk more about that trip another time.

So for 2012 I’m back on my list kick. Ten things to accomplish. Then I will write them out and keep them where I can see them. This way they are always on my mind.

Often the list comes from items on the master list, items that have been kicking around on the list for years. New things can be added, they are just ten things you want to finish.

On New Years I’ll unveil my list for 2013 and then I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

Do you make a list? What’s on yours?

Did you miss previous posts on lists?

Master List CLICK HERE. What to do with the Master List CLICK HERE.

New Years in Paris….

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We will be flying to London and staying with a good friend for a few days, then the good friend and I are heading to Paris for New Years!

Very excited, it started as a casual mention earlier in the summer and now it’s happening. We will have three days in Paris and then we are going to Prague for three days and then Budapest also for three days, finishing up back in London.

Great way to start the New Year!

Now that the flights, trains and hotels are booked I can get to work on the fun part of travel preparation, looking up stuff to do! Where to go, what to see and most important where to eat! I love doing all the research, reading about other travellers experiences, coming up with a plan and then dropping the plan once I’m there.

I’ve been to Paris once before and still dream of the french onion soup I had in a cafe there. I have never been to Prague or Budapest and am looking forward to seeing them, I’ve heard amazing things about both places.

Am looking forward to writing about it as well and plan on posting as often as I can during the trip so follow along starting December 27th. (I’ll remind you closer to the day).

If anybody has any suggestions for what to do, where to go or most important where to eat, I would love to hear them!