2014: Thru The Lens (A Pictorial Review)

It's the end of the year recap time once again. Whew! 2014 just whizzed by, didn't it? The year was full of blessings. I've done quite a few travels scattered throughout the year.

This is what happened in 2014:

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January began with a road trip to Vegas.

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While in Vegas, drove 3 hours to visit Zion - one off the bucket list.

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A return to Valley of Fire State Park while in Vegas.

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Anniversary was spent with a road trip to Lake Tahoe (and Yosemite).

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The highly anticipated drive through scenic Highway 395 en route to Yosemite did not disappoint.

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Finally got to see the beautiful tufas at Mono Lake.

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Yosemite in spring is simply spectacular.

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Spent a night at friend's cabin in Groveland so that the following day we could take a short hike at Hetch Hetchy Dam, another one of those trips I penciled in as a must-do.

Summer time is my hibernation time. If I could help it, I don't schedule anything in the summer because I hate traveling in hot weather and I try to avoid the crowd and the high prices of accommodations during the peak summer season. Also in the summer time, I played host to two out-of-town guests on separate occasions.

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Playing host meant taking them to Monterey Bay Aquarium. During the summer we have visited about 4 times with different people.

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My house guest #1 enjoyed the coast so much so that he declared, "It's the best place I've seen in my life." He has traveled in Europe and Asia.

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I took house guest #2 to a drive to Napa Valley and a stop at Old Faithful geyser.

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In July, I went camping with my church group in Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Marin County. Notice the cold weather clothing? It's cold in summer here.

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On a hot summer day, I went to visit the Oakland Zoo, long overdue if you ask me.

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The Lamb Festival in Dixon (post coming soon) was another first for us.

The busy travel season is during the Fall Season.

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We saw Venice via the water bus.

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Murano is a charming alternative to the hustle and bustle of Venice where the shopping is excellent and the glass exhibit at the Glass Museum are exquisite.

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If ever I would come back in this part of the world, I would stay in Burano - my favorite island in Venice.

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We rented a car from Katakolon and drove for an hour to Olympia (Greece) to visit the ruins of the site of the first Olympic games.

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The beautiful breezy island of Mykonos was explored on ATV.

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Santorini was everything I ever dreamed of.

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Ice cream with candied kumquat was perfect snack on a scorching October day in Corfu.

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Breakfast of chocolate con churros and coffee with croissant will fuel you for a day of exploration in Barcelona.

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Sightseeing in Marseilles.

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More sightseeing in Genoa.

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Sipped wine while people watching in Malaga.

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Visited Hasan II mosque in Casablanca, the second largest in the world after Mecca.

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Our hotel in Lisbon is centrally located and on a pedestrian only street. The budget friendly hotel room also has a balcony where I people watched.

To recap, after a quiet first 2/3 of the year I got busy in October visiting:

5 Countries: Italy, France, Morocco, Portugal, Spain

15 Cities/Islands: Venice, Murano, Burano, Lido, Corfu, Mykonos, Santorini, Katakolon/Olympia, Barcelona, Montserrat, Marseilles, Genoa, Malaga, Casablanca, Lisbon.

3 Layovers: Toronto, Zurich, Munich

2 National Park: Zion, Yosemite

2 State Park: Valley of Fire, Samuel P. Taylor.

This is my world in 2014.

OUR WORLD TUESDAY

Comments

  1. Wow, you had a busy and exciting year. I wish you a more exciting and more blessed 2015.

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  2. What an incredibly jam-packed year of traveling. The Venice photos took me back to my own visit there a few years ago. It is an unforgettable place that still tugs at my heart.

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  3. wow, you have been all the world in one year... I love to travel, always some where new and exciting to visit. I enjoyed your collection of photos.. Thanks for sharing all these trips! I wish you and your family a very happy, healthy New Year!

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  4. WOW! 2014 was a super year for you!

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  5. wow! What a year ~ gorgeous photography!

    Happy New Year,
    artmusedog and carol

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  6. You had quite the year in traveling and capturing gorgeous images.

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  7. Thank you for sharing this beautiful series of photos! Your photos are so sharo and distinct. We can see every detail.
    Thanks for your comment. You are all invited to join me in my New Year's party! Wouldn't it be wonderful if you all could come??
    Have a happy and healthy New Year.
    Wil, ABCW Team.

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  8. You really have travelled near and far this year. I hope 2015 is equally exciting.

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  9. Hi! Nice photo series of all over the world. I think you enjoyed very much all over this year. I hope you will come to Japan in a future. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you a Happy New Year.

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  10. That's quite the year with several great trips. Have a great 2015!

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  11. I loved this. I have been to many of the foreign places but not in any of the places you depicted in the US. My sons have been to them and more as well as over seas. My work always prevented me because of horrendous hours. And too, I wasn't allowed to go to some places. But I loved all the places you have been that you have shown here.

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  12. Awesome! You have a very cool year of traveling. Check out Pinnacles National Park, if you haven't yet. That's nearby Monterey. Happy New Year!

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  13. All the photos in here look so beautiful and fun. Nice way to close 2014. Happy New Year 2015 to you and your family.

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  14. seems you had an interesting year :)

    Hope the next will be great too.

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  15. now I really can't wait to see the rest of your fotos!
    looking forward to venice, marseille , casablanca and lisbon.
    what a wonderful recap of fotos you had,
    again, happy new year to you and your family.

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  16. Fantastic shots and what a great review of your year in photography and some of the places you went. Happy New Year.

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  17. I'm glad you've had such a wonderful year full of such interesting travel destinations. Here's to more adventures near and far in 2015!

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