TOP 10 TRAVEL MOMENTS IN 2014

2014 has been a year full of travels.

 

It’s been a year with trips in some 32 cities, in every corner of the planet. The first trip of 2014 was in London. From there on, I found myself in Brazil, then in Florida and in Savannah, then in Madrid, Lisbon, Budapest, Dubai, Beirut, then east, in Tokyo, and then west again in Las Vegas. I ended my summer with an incredible road trip in Montenegro and Croatia, and then I wandered some more in Europe. The year will end with my festive trip to Istanbul.

 

As always, it’s been a year filled with new destinations, new experiences, unprecedented flavors, unique vistas, but also unique moments – those that only a trip can offer.

 

Here’s a list of the cities I had the joy of visiting for the first time in 2014.

 

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

February 2014

 

I had found myself in Rio de Janeiro before, without, however, having had the chance to walk it the way I wanted to. In January 2014 I had an amazing day trip. Starting at Corcovado Mountain and the statue of Christo Redentor, I wandered in the city for hours, with end destination the famous Copacabana beach, where I had the best pizza ever. Along with my team, our tour-guide, our bus, and our driver, I experienced a day trip like the ones they used to take us on at school.

 

Do you want to read more about that amazing day trip? I’ve got a pack full of photographs and descriptions right here!

 

The trip’s highlight:
The view of the city and of Sugar Loaf, up from Corcovado Mountain.

2. Venice Beach, Florida

March 2014

 

In March I found myself in Florida. I did not have much time, unfortunately, but I did manage to enjoy an entire day on the amazing Venice Beach. I had even prepared a photo album for you, slightly American, slightly sunny, slightly blue-green. Just when you thought that the beach did not have much to offer (that’s what happens when you are Greek and spoilt by the beauty of the Greek beaches), here comes a strawberry Daiquiri at Sharky’s, the famous restaurant on the beach.

 

The trip’s highlight:
Myself on a wooden bridge, with a refreshing, pink Daiquiri in my hand, and the vast Atlantic Ocean across me. That’s how I fell in love with Venice Beach.

3. Savannah, Georgia

March 2014

 

That was one of the spookiest trips of my life. I’ve talked to you about ghosts, murders, water nymphs, pirates, but also about a murderer by the name of Jack. Savannah, having been a battlefield during the American Revolution, has won the title of the most haunted town in the States. With the very profitable Ghost Tours and tourists visiting every spooky spot in town, Savannah is a must-see destination.

 

Funny or not, it’s happening. And if you are curious to know more (which I am sure you are), I’ve got the full story here.

 

 

The trip’s highlights:
Strolling around town, the Crispy salmon at Vic’s on the River Restaurant, and the sunset overlooking the bridge.

 

4. Budapest, Hungary

May 2014

 

Budapest is a city I loved madly in just three days. It’s one of the cities lucky to be run by a gorgeous river, Danube. A city with much to see and many points of interest; a city full of life, but lacking, unfortunately, in culinary personality. Only a few local dishes in the restaurants, which personally bothered me a bit. The city is so easily accessible that you will never stop walking, incessantly clicking your camera along the way.

 

Buda and Pest are two sides of the city separated by the river Danube, and they are connected by a series of imposing bridges - landmarks of the city. I had written, then, about accommodation and how to choose one side or the other. And of course I had prepared a beautiful list of 10 things worth doing in the city.

 

The trip’s highlight:
The view of Pest from Buda castle. 

5. Madrid, Spain

May 2014

 

I tried to experience Madrid as a local, even though I was there only for four days. I got on a hop on-hop off bus and wandered the city, I tried local delicacies, bought espadrilles, tried strawberry mojito, and even attended a horse riding Champions Tour. They call Madrid ‘the Queen of Spain,’ and not without reason. Madrid was a great surprise and it won me during the first ten minutes. 

 

No need to tell you how I long to visit it again. And when I go, I will send out postcards so you, too, get in the mood.

 

 

The trip’s highlight:
The endless walks at Buen Retiro Park, in the center of the city.

6. Tokyo, Japan

July 2014

 

This trip I split in three: the first part was my walk in Asakusa, the second was my wandering in Shibuya, and the third was the twelve commandments of Sushi, the way they were given to me by a real sushi chef.

 

After asking what I should see in Tokyo, Asakusa was first on the list, since “That’s where you experience Tokyo’s history more than in any other place in Tokyo,” as a local told me. And that’s where I started of course. Then an entire evening followed at kinky Shibuya, Tokyo’s Times Square, and the next day I visited a traditional sushi restaurant to get my lesson. In between all that, I was writing my Japanese postcards for my beloved readers.

 

 

The trip’s highlight:
My walk in Asakusa - without second thought.

7. Las Vegas, Nevada

July 2014

 

This trip was like a strong flash in the eyes. I blinked, and all that was so strong it almost blinded me. Las Vegas is a city on a vast desert that has turned its back on its sandy origins, and has decided to become cosmopolitan, instead. Sand and water were turned into luxurious hotels, while determination and a sense of dissatisfaction have filled the city with casinos, shows, phantasmagoric water fountains, and gigantic neon signs.  

 

A destination for entertainment, for party frenzy, for gambling, and for sleepless nights - with countless options, whatever your reason for going. Every respectable hotel boasts a multicolored – or rather a huge – casino in its lobby. The front desks never stop assisting customers, credit cards come and go by the dozens, the hotel bars serve non-stop, and the idea, of course, is to lose your sense of time, and disappear in there for days and days. It doesn’t matter if it’s three in the afternoon outside, or 42 degrees centigrade.

You are at the bar, with flashy night-lights, drinking your cocktail, and wondering if the roulette should be your next stop…

 

 

The trip’s highlight:
My surprise when I walked in the Venetian Hotel and saw the fake Venice with its bright blue fake sky.

8. Kotor, Montenegro

August 2014

 

My visit to Kotor was my first stop during an amazing road trip last August. Kotor, had only slipped into our road trip as a rest stop, for we had not even anticipated how great it would be. I owe Kotor a second visit. It was a great pity not to be able to wander its streets the way I wanted to. Unfortunately I had the bad luck of spraining my ankle, so I could not see the city properly. It was the trip’s first day, though, so I had to preserve my strength.

 

As I had told you then, life and journeys, are full of mishaps, and even though this small accident was the biggest and most painful mishap of the journey, it gave me, in the end, the opportunity to rethink the notion of flexibility. It also made me promise to visit Kotor again – soon.

 

The trip’s highlight:
Car ride around the bay of Kotor.

 

9. Dubrovnik, Croatia

August, 2014

 

On the third and fourth day of the amazing road trip we found ourselves in Dubrovnik. I have had the opportunity to visit many places in recent years. But I had never come across such magic. Dubrovnik is a jewel, surrounded by majestic walls, and inside of it I found such beauty that I got mad at myself for having excluded this city from my trips. Damn the sprain that caused me to miss the Game of Thrones Tour, even though I was ready to dash out on the streets like Cersei Lannister! 

 

The trip’s highlight:
Night walks on Stradun with an ice cream in one hand.

 

10. Split, Croatia

August 2014

 

 

Split was the fifth stop of our Summer Road Trip and even though it was a short one (one day and one night), this city managed to work its magic. First of all, let me tell you that Split was founded in ancient times as a Greek colony by the name of Aspálathos. Then it was conquered by the Republic of Venice and was renamed Spalatum. The Roman emperor Diocletian, before leaving the throne, ordered for a fortified, luxurious Palace to be built. 

 

There’s a reason for this small historical reference: to give you some info about this palace, since you will lose your head if you find yourself there! My own luck and joy did not stop there. Every Tuesday and Friday there are small live concerts organized in the palace and with a drink in one hand I had the most beautiful Friday in Croatia, maybe even the most beautiful Friday of the entire summer.

 

 

The trip’s highlight:
When all of us travelers became one, singing and dancing to "Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof / Because I'm happy / Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth..." inside such a majestic palace.

This is how I ended this year, the ninth in a row full of trips. These ten new destinations comprised of numerous moments that I promise to relive here, there, and further out in the world. Now you know what I ask Santa Claus, the traveler, for each year: Journeys and moments like these.

 

Which is your strongest memory of 2014?

Which was your favorite journey?