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2020 was a year like no other, to all of us. Coronavirus spread around the globe taking lives and literally shutting down the world.
The travel industry was one of the most hit by the pandemic as travelers stayed home. My blog was also affected by covid-19, with traffic plummeting and revenue disappearing.
But even in difficult times, there are always reasons to be thankful.
2020 was also the year The Yogi Wanderer was one of the winners of the Malta Tourism Press Awards for my blog articles on Malta and Valletta.
I’ve also completed 2 courses on blogging and marketing and created my first product, the Wander Journal.
In 2020, I’ve visited 2 new countries, revisited another 3, and explore more of Switzerland and Portugal.
All good reasons to be grateful.
So without further ado, here are my best travel moments of the last year.
My Best Travel Moments of 2020
Amsterdam, Netherlands
2020 was the year I turned 40, January 18th to be exact, and I made sure to celebrate in style with a weekend trip to Amsterdam with my boyfriend.
This was my first time in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. We’ve stayed at an epic hotel, the Sir Adam Hotel at the A’dam Tower, in Amsterdam Nord, cruised the canals, and just had a great time exploring the city.
To make it even more memorable, January 18th was National Tulip Day in the Netherlands so there were music and hundreds of tulips decorating the Dam Square.
The next day, I decided to ride the highest swing in Europe, the Over the Edge Swing, located on top of the A’dam Tower. All I can say is that the views were amazing, as well as the adrenaline rush!
In retrospect, I’m so glad I took this short but sweet trip at the beginning of 2020, especially considering what came after.
Luxeuil-les-Bains, France
In February, we spent a weekend in the small town of Luxeuil-les-Bains, in France, just a two-hour drive from Zurich.
Although the town itself was nothing to write home about, we did relax and enjoy some great French food.
We also (finally!) took our first ski class, at the Ballon D’Alsace ski resort, with moderate success if I may say so myself.
Another highlight of this trip was the Le Corbusier chapel, in Ronchamp. This was, no exaggeration, the most beautiful and moving church I’ve ever visited!
In February, was also our first time sledding in the Swiss Alps, in the Preda-Bergün sledge run, the longest illuminated sledge run in Europe.
Sicily, Italy
At the beginning of March, I was supposed to attend a travel blogging conference in Catania, Sicily.
A couple of weeks before, the first cases of coronavirus were reported in Northern Italy and, as the situation got worse there, the Tbex event ended up being canceled.
At the time, most of Italy was still considered safe to travel to, so I decided to go ahead with my week-long solo trip to East Sicily anyway.
I had a truly amazing time exploring Catania, Taormina, Syracuse, and the Baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica, and Noto, and enjoying the delicious Italian food and wine.
Unfortunately, after three days, the Italian government announced a full lockdown of the country and I had to cut my trip short and return home earlier.
I still don’t regret having traveled to Sicily though. In fact, I’m happy that I did and hope to visit again soon to see more of the island.
Switzerland
We’ve spent the months post-lockdown, exploring the beautiful nature and hiking trails in Switzerland.
In May, we’ve visited Lauterbrunnen, one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, which inspired the city of Rivendell from the Lord Of The Rings movies.
In June, we opened the hiking season with an easy hike from the stunning Lake Cauma to the impressive Swiss Grand Canyon and finishing at the beautiful Lake Cresta.
In July, we decided to challenge ourselves with a more demanding hike in the gorgeous region of Appenzell with some friends. Our first stop was the out of this world Lake Seealpsee, before the ascent to the spectacular and rewarding Äscher mountain restaurant.
Portugal
At the end of July, we traveled to Portugal by car to visit family and friends and enjoy a couple of weeks by the ocean.
We’ve spent two weeks in Lisbon, as well as a couple of days in Alentejo with my boyfriend’s sister and nephew, and a weekend in Baleal, Peniche with some of my best friends.
I made the most of this time to relax, go to the beach, surf, meet with friends, and simply enjoy Lisbon.
Lisbon-Zurich Road Trip
On the return home, we did a week-long road trip from Lisbon to Zurich through Spain and the South of France.
Our itinerary included Salamanca and San Sebastian, in Spain, Arles, Saint Tropez, and Cannes, in France, and Monaco.
Driving along the wonderful Côte d’Azur was a dream come true and, no doubt, a great ending to our summer vacation.
Lake Como, Italy
My last international trip of the year was to the picture-perfect Lake Como, in Italy, in October.
Lake Como is one of those famous destinations that actually live up to the hype.
We spent four days exploring the charming villages and towns around the lake and admiring the stunning scenery and were not disappointed.
Some highlights of our visit were the picturesque towns of Bellagio and Varena, the lovely city of Como, and the impressive Villa Balbianello (where some scenes of Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II were filmed).
My Travel Plans for 2021
With vaccination against covid-19 already taking place in many countries around the world, I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to start traveling internationally again as soon as the second half of 2021.
With that in mind, here are my travel plans for this year:
Istambul, Turkey
As soon as it’s possible to travel again, I really want to start doing more solo trips.
I love traveling alone, and want to challenge myself even more when it comes to new destinations and experiences.
One of the cities on the top of my list is Istambul.
Moscow & St Petersburg, Russia
My boyfriend and I have decided to fly less, so we’re planning a train trip to Moscow and St Petersburg as one of our next trips as a couple.
Cinque Terre, Italy
We’ve also been planning to visit Cinque Terre for some time now.
Hopefully, 2021 will be the year that we finally make it there.
Portugal
I’m also hoping to visit my family in the Azores this year.
And, of course, Lisbon to see my boyfriend’s family and our friends.
Bali and East Timor
This is another trip that I’ve been planning for so long and hope that it will finally happen soon, maybe at the end of 2021.
Fingers crossed!
So there you have it. My 2020 travel year in review, plus my travel plans for 2021.
Now it’s your turn. What were your best travel moments of 2020? What are your travel plans for 2021? Share in the comments section below!
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Rajat Kumar says
2020 was a challenging year, for everyone.
I hope you are going to achieve you travel goals for this year without any delay or disturbance.
Happy Traveling.
Vanda says
Thank you! 🙂