Reflecting on 2019

My first journey of 2019 was to Oman and what a method to break within the New 12 months. The minute we landed in Oman we had been greeted with cardamom laced espresso and dates, and from that second, I knew I’d love this nation. We began our highway journey in Muscat and spent the following ten days mountaineering within the mountains, swimming in pure oases, sleeping within the desert, exploring historical forts, consuming our approach by way of souks and enjoyable at an infinity pool within the mountains. This was my first journey to the Center East as an grownup and it opened up an intrigue into this nook of the earth. Little did I do know, that I’d go onto go to 4 extra Center Japanese international locations this 12 months.

At the start of April, I discovered myself between flats in London so as a substitute of discovering lodging in London for per week, I took myself to Malta. It was a lot colder and rainier than I had anticipated which hindered my plans of exploring the entire island. As a substitute, I spent a lot of my time wandering the timeworn backstreets of Valetta and absorbing the harbour views (when the solar finally got here out!)

I’ve all the time wished to take my mum away for her birthday and as I had just lately moved again to the UK, this appeared like the best 12 months to take action. My mum has lengthy wished to go to Tallinn, so I knew precisely the place I used to be going to e book. We had such a tremendous time in one another’s firm and spent the entire time laughing and exploring collectively. Estonia took us each without warning; it is an eclectic mixture of Scandinavian appeal, Estonian edginess and Russian opulence and is completely distinctive. For her birthday, we took a day journey to the summer season metropolis, which was by far my greatest journey shock of the 12 months. Because of a neighborhood’s suggestion and with zero expectations, we discovered ourselves in essentially the most idyllic spa city with verdant parks, forest walks, cycle paths that comply with the shoreline and charming eating places. Again in Tallinn, we wandered the cobblestone backstreets, climbed the bell tower, had picnics within the park, cycled all over the place and loved vegan brunches, Scandinavian salads, rooftop drinks and craft beer. It was a beautiful lengthy weekend and has impressed me to take her away once more subsequent 12 months.

As a part of my mum’s birthday shock, I booked the ferry to Helsinki to go to Finland for the day. I do love Scandinavian cities, they’re all the time so fashionable, clear and simply ooze that Scandinavian appeal. We ate overpriced avocado on toast for breakfast, loved oat milk flat whites, explored the harbour, marvelled on the cathedral, meandered the meals markets and loved the attractive parks. After all, you may solely see a lot in a day, however generally in the future is healthier than no time in any respect and it was a very good introduction to this tiny capital.

San Marino had lengthy been on my bucket checklist as Europe’s tiniest international locations intrigue me immensely. This mountainous microstate was simply as stunning as I had imaged with cobblestone streets and a historic centre. It would not really feel a lot completely different from Italy, nevertheless it’s fairly humorous when your telephone notifies you that you’ve got arrived abroad. If there’s one factor to do in San Marino it is to stroll to the outdated metropolis partitions and climb to the highest of the towers for breathtaking views over the mountainous area. Afterwards, head again to the quaint sq. for a scrumptious lunch of freshly made pasta.

I attempt to go to Italy yearly as a result of it is considered one of my favorite international locations and since each area is so completely different, it all the time gives one thing new. This time I went to go to a buddy who had just lately moved from New Zealand to Florence and we launched into a highway journey round Tuscany searching for sunflower fields and vineyards – fortunately we discovered each. We began our journey in Bologna and celebrated seeing one another over a stunning dinner of do-it-yourself pasta and tiramisu and truly ended our journey at the very same restaurant. From Bologna we drove by way of yellow fields of sunflowers to Tuscany the place we drank wine mid-morning, explored medieval cities and watched the sundown over rolling hills studded with Cypress timber. We each fell laborious for Tuscany’s appeal, however how are you going to not?

Israel is a type of international locations that I by no means dreamed I’d go to, not for an absence of wanting, however as a result of it simply appeared too farfetched. I am unsure why I felt that approach as a result of it is truly very straightforward to go to from the UK and a lot safer than I anticipated. Tel Aviv is an unimaginable metropolis with a fantastic seaside, vibrant nightlife and enviable meals scene and might simply suck you in. In direct distinction to Tel Aviv’s liberalism, we travelled to the holy metropolis of Jerusalem the place we had been separated into two lodge rooms as an single couple. Highlights of our highway journey round Israel included seeing Jerusalem bathed in golden mild at sundown, swimming in secret wadis all by ourselves, mountaineering to the traditional Masada fortress at dawn, floating within the Useless Sea, devouring shakshuka for breakfast and driving by way of the moonlike panorama of the Negev desert. Israel is an enchanting land; the stress is palpable however the nation so stunning.

We travelled throughout the border from Israel into Jordan, picked up a 4×4 and continued highway tripping throughout the Center East. The Jordanians welcomed us with pleasant faces and type hearts and went above and past to assist us throughout our time of their nation. We self-drove our rental 4×4 into the desert, which ended up being fairly the journey. With no GPS or landmarks, it is simple to get misplaced and we did simply that. Fortunately, a neighborhood information stopped to rescue us and kindly allow us to be part of his tour and later guided us out of the desert. From the desert, we travelled north to the Pink Metropolis of Petra the place we arrived every morning earlier than dawn and explored each nook of this historical metropolis.

We had booked a household vacation to Cyprus with a villa within the mountains for some leisure, sunshine and high quality time collectively. Nonetheless, my household’s flights had been cancelled because of the airline going into liquidation and after a lot deliberation they determined it wasn’t meant to be and I made a decision to go by myself. I solely spent a few days in Cyprus as I used it as a stopover to go to Lebanon as a substitute – a rustic that intrigued me extra and appeared extra becoming for a solo journey. Cyprus did not captivate me, however then once more I am unable to remark as I did not see a lot of the nation.

I fell laborious for Lebanon and regardless of solely spending 5 days there; it ended up being my favorite journey of 2019. Beirut is loopy and chaotic, however its vitality is intoxicating, as is its nightlife. I went to Lebanon with an open thoughts and open angle and a few wonderful issues occurred as a consequence. Earlier than boarding the flight, I promised myself to say sure extra and be open to new experiences and consequently I had extra enjoyable than I would had in a very long time. I felt like I used to be 21 once more, throwing duty to the wind and partying till dawn, day consuming at rooftop swimming pools and throwing my itinerary out the window to spend time with good strangers. This journey made me ponder life and realise how younger I’m and the way a lot enjoyable saying sure could be.

At the start of December I gate crashed my boyfriend’s enterprise journey to St Petersburg and we spent a protracted weekend collectively together with his colleague exploring the Venice of the North. St Petersburg is far more stunning than I may ever have imagined with its pastel-hued buildings constructed round picturesque canals. We arrived simply on the cusp of winter when the primary snow fell and the canals had been beginning to freeze over. It actually was a magical winter wonderland setting and we needed to hold stepping in from the snow to heat up with fluffy dumplings and hearty borscht.