Time for my annual travel blogging round-up, looking back at 2021.
2021 was again not an easy year for any of us as passionate world travelers . We started the year off with another lockdown, and since then it’s been a second year of covid, cancelled plans, bad news, and endless negativity and arguing all over the media. The best thing I could do was waiting to receive my 2 vaccines before buying flighttickets to avoid disappointments.
This year I still managed to travel, returning to cities and visiting new ones.The first part of the year I have explored more of Belgium and France and during the second part of the year if have travelled to the Middle East , Asia and Africa.
Travel is still the most intense mode of learning and there is still lots to learn so here is my blog where 2021 brought me.
For passionate world travelers, 2020 was not an easy year. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought travel and tourism to a near-standstill. My plans to explore Senegal, Crete, Suriname, Algeria and the Dominican Republic have been cancelled by airlines where I’ve bought the tickets or other countries do not issue visa for some time.
Since my home base is located in Belgium, I took the advantage to make several trips to nearby countries such as France and Holland. Only once in 2020, I was able to travel outside Europe. Turkey was a kind of celebration, because exactly 25 years ago Turkey was my first destination by plane. During December my wife and I have spent a lovely time at four of the Canary Islands.
I’m curious about how travel will look like in a post-COVID-19 world. No one knows when the coronavirus pandemic will end. No one knows when authorities will lift travel bans but still my hunger to explore the world is big. I keep planning new travels but no one knows when I’ll actually be able to take them. There’s only one thing that I should expect in 2021 with any certainty: It’s uncertainty.
Travel is still the most intense mode of learning and there is still lots to learn so here is my blog where 2020 brought me.
JANUARY 2020 : THE BAHAMAS
Pigs on white sandy beaches @ BahamasJunkano Carnival
City of Namur in the Condroz region in the south of Belgium
JULY 2020: ALSACE & VOSGES- FRANCE
Samm wine villages in the Alsace region in France
AUGUST 2020: WADDEN ISLANDS- HOLLAND
Texel : The juwel of the Wadden Islands- HollandZaanse Schans
AUGUST 2020: THE VOER REGION- BELGIUM
The Voer region is a walkers paradise
SEPTEMBER 2020: POPERINGE & The Hop – BELGIUM
Poperinge is famous for it’s hoppe beer
SEPTEMBER 2020: FLEMISH ARDENNES- BELGIUM
Exploring the Flemish Ardennes
OCTOBER 2020: TURKEY
Istanbul and Bodrum region
DECEMBER 2020: THE CANARY ISLANDS
El Teide National Park- TenerifeExploring the beauty of TenerifeLa PalmaLa Palma islandFuerteventuraLa Oliva- FuerteventuraCorralejo Dunes- FuerteventuraThe beauty of Lanzarote
The year 2020 has
arrived—and with it, the beginning of a new decade.
Now, i’d like to look
back to another amazing year with interesting trips.
Travel is still the most intense mode of learning and there is still lots to learn so I hit the road in 2019 to 12 countries!
March: Overlandtour
YvoryCoast-Ghana-Togo- Benin
We went first to Yvorycoast. It was a great
journey! Côte d’Ivoire, also usually known as Ivory Coast is a country located
in West Africa with its south facing the North Atlantic
Ocean coast. It is shares its borders with Ghana to the east, Liberia to the
west, Guinea to the northwest, Mali to the north, and Burkina Faso to the northeast.
After crossing the border we ‘ve explored Ghana. It’s of the most popular tourist
destinations in West Africa. I love the diversity of the country.From its
cosmopolitan capital to historic cities. On the coast, beautiful beaches with
forts that serve as a reminder of Ghana’s tragic role in the slave trade.
Next was Togo
I love to
travelling off the beaten track, Togo was a rewarding destination. Its great
diversity of landscapes ranges from lakes and beaches along the Atlantic
coastline to the rolling forested hills in the centre; we’ve headed further
north, aswell to visit some traditional villages.
Benin, the
last destination during this big tour is without doubt the most fascinating
country i’ve been to in West-Africa. There was Voodoo and much more!
April: Lebanon
The Middle Eastern nation of Lebanon is a
country of stark contrasts: beautiful Mediterranean beaches and high mountain
ranges, Christianity and Islam, ancient history and modern
lifestyles. However, what makes Lebanon even more special are the locals with
their warm hospitality, generous food culture as well as both love and respect
for their own country.
June: Peru
Lima, home
of Katia. We went for the wedding of the year and we’ve catched up mainly with
family and friends. Lima is the capital and the
largest city of Peru.The food is fantastic.
There are few cities in Latin America that pride themselves on cuisine as much
as Lima.
July: Brussels
( Concert Rammstein)
Probably the biggest and most impressive show
in the history!
July: Ibiza
Nightlife in Club Amnesia
SUMMER ROCKS @ IBIZA
we’ve explored the island during the daytime and
nighttime.
September: Amsterdam
Visiting
friends in the capital of The Netherlands.I have been there many times but Amsterdam
is one of Europe’s most picturesque capitals and always a pleasure to come
back.
Oktober: Berlijn
Once again
visiting friends was our main goal in the capital of Germany. Berlin is rich
with history and culture. Badly fractured during World War II and the cold war,
Berlin has recreated itself into an international city with diverse cultures
and architecture.
November: Gambia
Back off to West-Africa! Known as “The Smiling
Coast of Africa”, the West African country The Gambia is officially Africa’s
smallest mainland country but a country with one
of the most unique identities and spirit. The destination is renowned for its
stunning sandy beaches, hospitable people, three UNESCO heritage sites and
year-round sunshine. The Gambia, with its capital Banjul,. is bounded by
Senegal with a narrow Atlantic coastline of around 80 kilometers.
December: USA-Florida & the Keys
The Florida Keys South Beach Miami
My first
real US journey. Since we have relatives living in Tampa we went to Florida and
spent Christmas.Florida has miles of beaches, tons of activities, an diverse
wildlife, and of course theme parks! I drove all the way to Key West, pearl of
the Florida Keys.
The Bahamas
Pigs at the beach Roze Islandswimming pigs at the Bahamas
Since Miami is close to The Bahamas, It is not difficult to come up with the idea to visit the wonderful Caribbean nation of the Bahamas.The archipelago’s geographical location, its 700 unique islands, the weather, and the Junkanoo Carnival Parade was the perfect place for ending this great year of traveling.
