Now we've moved into a new year, it's fun to look back and reflect on the year just gone.
2012 was possibly our best year for travel, visiting places like New York, Boston, Croatia, Spain and Germany, but we were lucky to have had another amazing year of travels in 2013.
We visited lots of new places, including some new parts of countries we'd already visited and loved, but also countries we had never been to before, and fell in love with for the first time.
With our trips planned all the way up to the end of May, this year is already shaping up to be a good one.
2012 was possibly our best year for travel, visiting places like New York, Boston, Croatia, Spain and Germany, but we were lucky to have had another amazing year of travels in 2013.
We visited lots of new places, including some new parts of countries we'd already visited and loved, but also countries we had never been to before, and fell in love with for the first time.
With our trips planned all the way up to the end of May, this year is already shaping up to be a good one.
January
Snow in London
2013 was the year of the never ending Winter. We had a lot of rain and grey days, but in January we had one of the best snowfalls I have seen since living in London. Considering how warm it is currently, unless it gets drastically colder, it might be the last time we see London under such a heavy snow blanket.
February
Madrid
In February we headed back to Spain for some sunshine and much needed Vitamin D. We stayed in Madrid and did some amazing day trips to Toledo and Segovia. Whilst we didn't fall in love with Madrid at first, once we took the time to dig deeper we discovered a great city full of fantastic food and friendly people.
April
Ljubljana and Lake Bled
Over Easter we headed to Eastern Europe and to the confusing country of Slovenia. I say confusing because it is a very strange mix of its two bordering countries. The landscape says Austria but the language says Croatia!
May
Amalfi Coast and Capri
At the beginning of May we revisited Italy, one of our favourite countries. We flew into Naples and spent a few days on the beautiful Amalfi Coast, staying in Sorrento and day tripping to Positano, Ravello and Amalfi.
We then headed across the bay to Capri, an island of contradictions, with very expensive boutiques and hotels in Capri town, and a much more authentic and local vibe in Anacapri, which was our favourite.
We enjoyed our time here, though it was slightly marred by my fainting in Sorrento and an insane ferry ride across to Capri. Nevertheless, we had a great time in a beautiful part of Italy.
Brighton and Lewes
In mid May we headed to the South Coast of England to Brighton. We had visited Brighton very soon after our arrival in the UK in 2010, but it was good to head back and further explore this lovely beach side town.
We also took the time to visit the cute town of Lewes, a 15 minute train ride from Brighton. Full of tiny winding streets, it also has a castle which gives a great view of the surrounding countryside.
The Lake District
At the end of May we headed up to the Lake District for a long weekend and for a break from hectic London. We stayed in Keswick, which made an excellent base for exploring the surrounding towns and villages of Ambleside, Grasmere and Hawkshead.
We had some unseasonably great weather, and spent our days bussing and walking between some of the prettiest villages in England looking for bluebells and coming across fat ponies.
The scenery was amazing, with some of the best sunsets we have ever seen setting over the lakes.
June
In June we spent the weekend with our friends in Essex, and took a day trip to Mersea Island, the most easterly inhabited island in the UK.
We chose a very blustery day to visit, and were almost blown away on the beach. We ate fish and chips and explored the countryside, and chose our favourite out of the brightly coloured beach houses lining the sands.
July
Sicily
In July we headed to Italy again, this time to Sicily, a large island located at the bottom of Italy. We spent several days in Cefalu, a lovely seaside town, where we sunbathed during the day and spent our nights exploring the twisting streets.
We then headed off the main island to the Aeolian Island of Salina. A beautiful island, almost completely devoid of any other tourists we ate Gelato, swum in the pebbly waters and discovered a huge crater left behind from an underwater volcano.
Our last stop was Taormina, the most visited town in Sicily. An extremely romantic town, we had stunning views over to Mt Etna and had some of the best Arancini we've ever eaten.
In July, the Color Run came to the UK for the first time, and we joined thousands of other people at Wembley on a 5km run where coloured dye is thrown at you at regular intervals. Starting the day off super clean and sparkling in our white clothes, we ended the day a mish-mash of colours, and spent a week washing the pink dye out of our hair and off our skin.
For our 8th anniversary, we left London and headed to the Cotswolds for a day trip. We visited the Cotswolds in 2011 and fell in love with the beautiful towns and old stone houses.
We left London on an early train and arrived in Stow on the Wold by late morning. We went on an easy walk through fields and over streams to Upper and Lower Slaughter, before finishing our day in Bourton on the Water.
We were amazed we managed to fit so much into a day, and we were lucky the sun was out and shining for us the whole day.
August
Wendy Comes to London
In August we had a visit from Bradley's mum, who stopped by London from New Zealand on her way to a teaching position in Jordan.
Over several weeks we trekked all over London, visiting Hampstead Heath, two of London's best markets, Borough and Maltby Street, catching the boat from Embankment all the way down to Greenwich, before finishing on a great walk from Richmond to Twickenham along the Thames.
We had a great time playing tour guide for a few weeks, showing our favourite bits of London, and trying to visit places not typically on the tourist trail.
At the end of August, we spent a long weekend in the New Forest. We used the Hop On Hop Off bus to explore towns like Lymington and Burley, and had a day of cycling between Brockenhurst, Beaulieu and Lyndhurst.
The New Forest is one of the largest areas of unenclosed pasture in the UK, and there were ponies, pigs and cows wandering freely throughout the forest providing lots of photo opportunities.
We were again lucky with the weather, and only had a few scattered showers over the whole weekend.
September
Turkey
In September we made a long awaited trip to Turkey. This was our longest trip in almost two years, we spent two weeks travelling and exploring a few different parts of Turkey, Istanbul, Cappadocia, Kas and Cirali.
Having spent the last few years travelling all over Europe, a lot of the cities start to look a bit the same, especially the old towns, but Turkey was unlike anywhere we'd ever been.
Despite being uncomfortable at the amount of attention I received as a blonde in Turkey, we soon relaxed and were in awe at the amazing Mosques in Istanbul, the moon like scenery in Goreme and the beautiful coves and beaches of the South Coast.
November
Krakow and Auschwitz
At the end of November we spent a long weekend in Krakow, in Poland. We spent the weekend exploring the beautiful Old Town with its stunning churches and imposing Castle overlooking the town. We were lucky enough to be able to experience the Christmas Markets, which whilst similar to the German and Austrian markets we had been to in previous years, held a magic all of their own.
We also took the opportunity to visit the Nazi Concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau. A haunting experience, especially at the terribly sad displays at Auschwitz, and the unbelievable vastness of Birkenau. Whilst not an enjoyable experience, I believe it is something that must be experienced if you were ever to visit Krakow. We can never forget.
December
Scotland
Over Christmas we headed up north to the Scottish Highlands. We flew up to Inverness the day after a huge storm hit London, only to find it had followed us up to Scotland. Whilst the winds howled and the rain lashed down overnight, we were lucky with dry and misty days.
The scenery was astounding, some of the most beautiful in the world, and similar to the South Island of New Zealand, making me awed and a little homesick.
What a great year, have thoroughly enjoyed your travel blog bring on 2014.
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