My Best 10 Travels in 2012

When it is year end, with my friends we look back in the year behind us. Our mouths fall and we shout with a surprised face: "Oh My Gosh, so many things happened to us! What a year!" It is amazing while we are walking on the imaginary string of the year from the start to the end, and how we shout out one by one the stories. "And do you remember when we did this?", "Yeah, it was loads of fun! And when we went there?" And we can keep telling out the anecdotes for long minutes, jumping between the months and seasons, being in a nostalgic mood. Just like now I am. So let me jump through 2012 and show you my most memorable travels in 2012!


1. The most historical travel - Rome, Italy (April 2012)
Before the high season, when the tickets are still low we decided to spend a long weekend in Rome after Easter. We did not only visit the historical places, like the Colosseum, the Pantheon or the Vatican, but also dipped into the culinary world of the Italian capital, and tried out a great variety of pizzas, pastas, ice-creams and wines. Yummeee!

2. The driest travel - Atacama desert, Chile (May 2012)
For one month I was working only a stone's throw from the driest desert of the planet. So why not visit it and see the dead lands where NASA is testing the Mars orbiters, the salty and extremely still lagoons, and the geysers of this breathtaking land. It was truly a lifelong experience.

3. The highest travel - Potosi, Bolivia (June 2012)
One of the highest cities of the world at an elevation of 4,090 meters! I could not miss it. And I am happy I did not. This colonial town is a gem in the mountains with an exciting history, and a sad mining fate, which I experienced on my own climbing down in an active, dirty-dusty-dark silver mine.

4. The saltiest travel - Uyuni, Bolivia (June 2012)
What I remember from this three-day tour is the beautiful, ever-changing and untouched landscapes, the constant cold and wind, the snow-flakes and salt-flakes, the flamingos and a funny and great company, seven strangers from seven different places squeezed into a Jeep like herrings, big laughters, Annie's first meeting with the snow, and a sad farewell.


5. The craziest travel - Zamárdi, Hungary (July 2012)
If July, then Balaton Sound, the biggest electronic festival of Central-Europe at the Lake of Balaton. Sunshine, water, music and beer. There is no better start for a crazy long weekend where prepare make-up in the car, eat lángos, jump for music with thousands of strangers, chill out at the Balaton sunrise and we sleep in the grass.

6. The best friends' travel - Salzburg, Austria (Aug 2012)
For long-long years every summer with five friends from college we pick a new destination, get into the cars and discover the place. This summer we picked the Salzburg region of Austria, where we spent almost a week. I am honest if I say that I fall in love with this land. Green fields, snow-capped mountains, tricky fountains, castles, Salzburg and friendly people. When people travel together, it requires huge organization when to eat, when to have a break, when to visit washrooms, as of course, everyone has a different needs. But we know each other by heart, thanks God! :)

7. The most fabled travel - Hallstatt, Austria (Aug 2012)
This UNESCO site was one of the cutest, loveliest, fable place we visited in Austria this summer. No wonder that China copied this village for their people far-far away. Walking on the cobbled streets among the tiny, colorful, wooden houses at the bank of the lake took us back to the times when Hallstatt was one of the busiest salt trader towns.

8. The longest travel - Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sep 2012)
Hard decision, but in September I moved from Hungary to Argentina and I am currently staying here. I learned that in our lives there is a point when we want a change. So I made a decision, packed my suitcase and took a flight to Buenos Aires. Career break? Long vacation? New life? I do not exactly know yet, but it is December, and I am enjoying my second summer this year, with a big smile on my face.

9. The best solo travel - Santiago de Chile, Chile (Oct 2012)
Why I love to travel alone? Because it gives me the chance to meet locals and other travelers, and I can get to know other cultures better through their eyes. I picked Santiago, because it was close and because it was recommended by the New York Times as a top destination. This was the first time I tried CouchSurfing, and so I met wonderful Chilean people, went to crazy parties, discovered Santiago with locals, and survived an earthquake. I still save good memories about this sparkling city.

10. The most colorful travel - Valparaíso, Chile (Oct 2012)
An absolute positive surprise! It started with two consequently raining days, a little sickness, but despite of all this, on the third day finally the city, declared as a UNESCO site, showed its face, which was extremely bohemian, colorful, humorous and full of with hidden stories. I will never forget that old lady on top of a hill. She was looking down on the valley, pointed on to a red house and told me that this beautiful, bright one was her home for forty years. I saw that sparkling pride in her eyes as she pointed there. Then we watched the sunset together, silently.
Regrets? None! Resolutions? Loads! I wish you a Very Happy 2013 and more travels for the new year! :)


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About Tiny Girl With Big Bag

Hobby writer and autodidact photographer whose passion is to travel and get to know new people and cultures. She has been on 4 continents and 30 countries, and the outcome is this travel blog where she shares travel stories, thoughts, tips and photography always through a subjective eye.

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26 comments:

  1. Wow, impressive list and great pictures too ;-). For some reason the Atacama desert is one of those places that has always been on my mind. I must have seen a documentary about it when I was a kid or something.

    Wishing you more and even better travels next year!

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    1. Thanks Bram! I wish you a Happy New Year and that you get to visit Atacama. If in Buenos Aires, you have a tour guide ;)

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    1. Hi Emme, I can not complain, hoping for a travelful year in 2013. Wishing you a Happy New Year and good winds for more adventures :)

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  3. Thanks for sharing your travels for 2012 - you have certainly been to many off the beaten track places which is great! All the best for 2013.

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    1. Thanks Anne, wishing you a Happy New Year and many adventures :)

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  4. Thanks Freya! Wishing you a Happy New Year, too!

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  5. Szép városok, szép vidékek, amerre voltál az idei esztendőben.
    A képek meg lenyűgözőek, önmagukért beszélnek. Róma, Salzburg, Hallstadt nagyon szép helyek, amelyeket volt szerencsém felfedeznem.
    A többi helyet is szívesen felfedezném a jövőben :D

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    1. Ausztria nekem is nagyon megtetszett, nem is gondoltam volna, hogy ennyire gyönyörű! Talán az egyik helyen jövőre össze is futunk :)

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    2. Szívesen futnék veled össze idén akár Firenze-ben vagy akár Lengyelországban. :-)
      Salzburg-ot amikor megláttam élőben (igaz akkor még 18 voltam :D ) elájultam, hogy lehet egy város ennyire ékszerdoboz. :-)

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    3. Szerintem én is valami hasonlóra gondolhattam :)

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  6. What a great year. Definitely didn't expect a category for "saltiest" lol...

    Have a great 2013! Looking forward to hearing more about your travels!

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    1. Haha, saltiest could also have been the windiest or coldest adventure in Uyuni :) Thanks for commenting Shaun, wishing you a Happy New Year, and maybe our ways will cross somewhere in 2013.

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  7. Fascinating and informative post. Love the idea of 45 days of meat/dairy fasting in Egypt. It reminds me of Wednesdays and Fridays being fasting days in Ethiopia, meaning veggies only, what a great tradition.

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    1. There should be some connection in their cultures, too, would love to find out more about Ethiopia. Thanks for the comment :)

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  8. Oh, I'm itching to go to Austria now! What a fantastic year :)

    xo,
    Lela - http://www.LelaLONDON.com

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    1. Thanks Lela for the comment. You should definitely visit Austria! :)

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  9. Awesome! Looks like you had a fantastic travel for 2012. Wishing you a Happy New Year 2013 and all the best in your travels this year. If you pass Malaysia, do look me up for a cuppa in KL. Regards, David.

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    1. Thanks David, Malaysia is indeed a very attractive destination, will definitely let you know ;) All the best in your adventures, too!

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  10. Wow, you had an amazing year. So many adventures! Lovely photographs too :)

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    1. Thanks Molly! I was also surprised by the end how many places I could visit :) Wishing you a Happy New Year with full of adventures :)

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  11. Looks like you've traveled to so many beautiful places this year, very jealous!

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    1. Hi Ally, thanks for visiting my site. Hope that this year I can write about more beautiful places and bring the stories to you, so you feel like being just there ;)

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  12. thank you very much for sharing the information, god bless you

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  13. I read your post and it seems you have enjoyed lots of the year 2012. Thank you so much for sharing this impressive post and wonderful experience with us.

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    1. Thank you for visiting my site. Hope that one day I can write about your country, too :)

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