2013: The Year of the Travel in Review

At the beginning of the year we decided to make 2013 The Year of the Travel and enthusiastically planned many trips around Europe. Little did we know just how much 2013 would become the year of the travel! We hope you enjoy this post about some of the highlights of 2013. 

The year started in Barcelona and Madrid hanging out with Bren and Kirst

January also saw a lot of snow and ice in the Netherlands

and we enjoyed hosting our first guests for the year: Martin and Kirsten 

In February we welcomed Michelle and Graham's first son and our first nephew, Joshua Peter Finnemore.

Justin started an 18 month course at work called ADP and the first week of courses was held (on a boat) in Amsterdam early in March.

Spring remained elusive with more snow and ice (who organises to stay on a boat in Europe in March??)

In March we also celebrated the marriage of our good friends Dan and Sam while the snow fell outside,

and went to London to meet this cute little guy,

and to celebrate Easter and the Twins birthday.

Spring finally arrived and with it all the Dutch public holidays of the year. 

In April we had the pleasure of a visit from Frank, Abi and little Josh and enjoyed the sights of a late Dutch Spring together.

In May Justin jetted off to La Coruna in Spain for work

and we hopped over to the friendliest place on earth, Ireland, to explore County Kerry,

landscapes with a million shades of green and sheep dotted on hills,

and enjoy the Irish scenery with ruined castles everywhere. 

May also saw another work trip, this time to Vietnam, home of the scooter.

and we enjoyed the first real sunny day watching a good game of international cricket!

It was about this time that our plans for the rest of the year would change completely.

But first an amazing holiday in Switzerland in June

with our dear friends Dave and Olga Finnemore from Cape Town.

The months of June and July were a bit frantic with packing up our apartment and rounding off life in Rotterdam. Then it was time to say good bye to cosy number 484, our home for the last 2.5 years

and say hello to our new home in Vitoria, Brazil! 

But first a two week sojourn in London in August with this awesome family,

It was so great hanging out with this little guy, 6 months old at the time. Miss you lots Josh Pot! 

and two weeks of boibping in the Scottish Highlands discovering castles, whisky,

and Highland Cows!

September, our second Spring for the year and time for a new adventure back in the Southern Hemisphere. View from our apartment in Vitoria, Brazil.

We loved packing away our European winter woolies and bringing out the flip flops, shorts and swimming gear instead. Camburi beach here we come!

September also saw the second installment of Justin's ADP course with a week in London and surrounds. No boats on frozen rivers this time! 

Amongst all the craziness of moving Justin also managed to study for and pass a Project Management course exam in August. Well done!!

In October and November we waited in Lima, Peru for our Brazilian visas to be processed and issued

and were fortunate enough to visit Cusco and explore the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

And we also celebrated 5 years of marriage in October. 

Happy anniversary Boib! 

By December we were still in Lima waiting for our Brazilian visas. But we enjoyed the sunshine and all things summery while enjoying reading about the bad weather in Europe and so happy that we are missing it this year!

In December we also mourned the death of and said our goodbyes to Nelson Mandela, our Madiba, the greatest man and leader South Africa has ever known. 

Hambe Kahle Tata, may you rest in peace. 

Time for one last stop this year: Chile! 

Thank you Joan and Mayira and families for hosting us, we are loving it and having a great time! 

Wow! What a jam packed year! Who knows what we will fit into or where we will land up in 2014? We are hoping it will be The Year of The Summer.

Wishing y'all a very Happy New Year filled with blessings!