2023 was an unexpectedly a good year for travel.
By the numbers:
Countries: I visited 11 countries this year — Canada. England. France. Gabon. Cameroon. Guatemala. Philippines. Singapore. Grand Cayman. Chile. Colombia.
“New” Countries: Of those, 6 were “new” to me — Gabon, Cameroon, Guatemala Grand Cayman. Chile. Colombia.
States: I also explored 6 states — DMV, NY, WV, FL, MOx2 (St Louis & KC), NC
Nights Away from Home: 77 nights away from home!
Different Places I Slept: 34 different beds / locations!
Planes: 37 plane rides
Trains: 0
Ferries: 3
Rental Cars: 4
Over 1300 Miles Walked (well short of my goal)
Favorite Trip – It is a toss up between Gabon and Chile. Seeing the Gorillas in Gabon with my mom was amazing and it was a trip you had to work for. But the diversity and beauty of Chile was breathtaking.
Favorite hotel – While definitely not fancy or luxurious, I really enjoyed Cabanas & Hostal Tojika in Easter Island. It sits overlooking the water with a fantastic view of the sunset. A close second and third would be N’dola safari camp in Gabon and Hotel Pascual Andino in San Pedro Chile.
Most expensive hotel: Orchard Road Hilton in Singapore during F1 race.
Least expensive hotel: Faya in Douala. Cameroon. It was $66 — safe and clean with a friendly staff.
Best value: Potomac Appalachian Trail Cabin was $115 out in Shenandoah with a wraparound porch, a fire pit and a fire place. We had a wonderful family weekend.
Best Repeat Destination: This year I ended up returning to Niagara Falls, London, Tampa, Kansas City, St Louis, Manila, Singapore and Toronto. London is my favorite city so it hardly seems fair that I consider it. Tampa and Kansas City were both special because of the people I was with – the trip might have still been great if we had been somewhere else. I really enjoyed exploring Singapore for the third time. My last trip was far enough removed that it was still fun to revisit some places but recent enough that I also explored entirely new sights.
Favorite 24 hours: Tampa FL with two good friends and the first day of the “W” Trek in Patagonia Chile from Refugio Central to Torres.
Best walk / hike: Hands down the “W” in Patagonia Chile.
Best sunrise: Tikal Guatemala
Best sunset: Easter Island
Best view: This is really a hard one and I think I have a three-way tie of Torres in Patagonia Chile, temples of Tikal Guatemala, or the stunning views in Atacama Chile.
Best spontaneous activity: Cellar Masters in Tampa
Best meal(s): Irene’s in Toronto or Martin’s Tavern in DC
Best dessert: Gelato at Crepes & Waffles in Cartagena Colombia
Best Hot Chocolate: Café San Juan in Laguna Guatemala!
Best Rooftop Bar: Birchwood Canopy, FL
Best Italian (outside of Italy): Mesita Grande Pizzeria in Puerto Natales Chile or Di Silvo in Cartagena Colombia.
Best Biscuit: This is a new add, but they were so good at the Village Social at the Biltmore in NC!
Favorite book(s): I only read 47 books this year, but thankfully many of them were very good. My two favorites were River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer and Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jee Lee (despite the cheesy ending).
Longest flight: Toronto to Manila direct was 17 hours. Additionally, the day started in DC and I had a 11-hour layover in Toronto. It was a pretty long day.
Biggest Travel Mishap: My flight home from Singapore had been canceled and I had to purchase a new ticket while standing in the terminal less than two hours prior to departure. I also had an incident while hiking in Patagonia that resulted in an extra and unplanned three hours of hiking. It is still too raw to talk about it.
Travel Serendipity: I booked a flight from Baltimore to Maimi for my trip to Santiago Chile. But because the airlines changed the schedule, I was able to change it to the much more expensive but significantly more convenient flight from DCA. Sometimes the recent airline churn can work in your favor.
Best museum: I went to 27 museums this past year. I’d been to 5 of them before. Of the new ones, I loved the World War 1 museum in Kansas City. I also learned a lot at the Peranakan in Singapore.
Best Tour: Zippy 13 free walking tour of Cumuna 13 in Medellin Colombia.
Most outside my comfort zone: I was most outside my comfort zone in Cameroon. My trip there was completely off the beaten path and my French is non-existent. I am so happy I got to explore it with a good friend!
Best surprise: Getting Kang Kong (water spinach) in Singapore. I love water spinach and it’s been years since I had it!
Biggest Travel Related Disappointment: I was fighting a cold or the flu while traveling in Chile and Colombia. I had plans to dive in Easter Island but couldn’t due to the pressure it would put on my sinuses and my inability to keep a regulator in my mouth without coughing.
Favorite Experiences: In both the Grand Cayman and Cartagena Colombia friends and I rented a boat for the day and just hung out in the sun and water. Both experiences reminded me how great it is too just be outside and relax with loved ones. I also really enjoyed star gazing in Atacama Chile and seeing the moons of Jupiter and rings of Saturn.
New Travel Podcats / App: Strong Sense of Place
What I did and didn’t do this year – On 1 Jan 23 I posted the following list: Gabon, Cameroon, a liveaboard sailing trip, upstate NY, St Louis and Kansas City, somewhere in the Caribbean, somewhere in South or Central America, and possibly Belgium.
I didn’t make it on a liveaboard or to Belgium. Both will roll over to my 2024 list. But other than that, I did pretty good with my list and had a few unexpected surprises as well.
Looking forward to 2024 – In 2024 I will still have as much vacation time but I will need to take it in smaller chunks. Inshallah …
A short trip back to NYC and Chicago
Jamacia
New Hampshire to hike the White Mountains
Caribbean Live Aboard
And at least one other trip to either Puerto Rico or Ecuador
Belgium
Oaxaca Mexico
Happy New Year!! Happy Travels!!
Life Kinetic Travel Research 