2012 is winding down, and I am fortunate to be able to say that it was a good year for me. Honestly, I try to avoid labeling life events “good” and “bad” because both types of experiences are a natural part of life. That being said, I do feel fulfilled when I look back on the past year. Despite being unusually busy (a state which I don’t like), I am happy that a few new things fell into place and that I was lucky enough to have some wonderful experiences.
So here is my best of 2012. I hope that perhaps some of these will inspire you and others will give you a better understanding of who I am and what I blog about. And please share your favorite moments of 2012 in the comments below!
Most beautiful place:
Bodega Bay, a small community on the rugged coast of California north of San Francisco, is incredibly beautiful. I especially loved it after taking this walk on Bodega Head and watching a migrating whale playing in the water.
Most memorable meal:
My favorite meal of the year was probably the dinner with new friends in Florence at La Cucina del Garga, where I had the best salad I’ve ever eaten–a simple but perfect one of greens, cheese, cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts–and fresh pasta with scallops with a great Tuscan red wine and fun conversation.
But the dinner I had at Oenotri in Napa was extraordinary. This beet salad was a highlight. I would highly recommend going to Napa for the food, and this new Italian restaurant is not to be missed.
Best surprise:
I wrote early in the year about my undying hope to return to Florence, Italy, the first place I fell in love with. I never could have imagined that I would actually get to go there this year, especially under the circumstances, which could not have been better. It was a wonderful surprise in 2012 and one which I feel very fortunate to have experienced.
Best out-of-the-way find:
The wine country of Northern Sonoma County in California is a wonderful place, still unspoiled by tourists and far away from any hustle and bustle. The nature is beautiful. We stayed in a cabin at a campground while my mom and her husband slept in their Airstream. We saw deer and hiked in between rain storms.
Favorite new haunt: Downtown Napa
I love Downtown Napa! I went there four times in 2012 and found it to be the perfect city for a quick getaway, either with friends or with kids. The riverwalk makes a lovely and safe place to walk. The city has a great community feeling to it, so there are frequent outdoor festivals, all with a strong local vibe that makes Napa stand out in the tourist-heavy Napa Valley. Napa is small but has so much to offer, including fantastic restaurants and tasting rooms like this one.
Biggest a-ha moment related to travel:
There are two. First, listening to the talks at Florens2012 and talking to residents of Florence opened my eyes to the growing need for people to “walk more lightly” as we travel. We must take concrete actions to respect the people, culture, and place we visit. More on that soon…
Supporting local artists and shops is one important step in traveling responsibly.
Second, after hearing many of my students say that it would be a dream come true for them to travel to Italy once, or that they have been saving money for years to visit their aging parents, I realized even more how fortunate I am to do some of the things I do. My life is not at all luxurious, but compared to the struggles that so many endure, the fact that I can travel and write about it is a luxury indeed. This has made me more thankful for everything and cognizant of using this platform for positive change.
Experience that I can’t label:
The month we spent in Brazil. It was wonderful for so many reasons that I can’t label it as the best this or that. I spent quality time with family, enjoyed plenty of the slow life in Brazil, explored the architecture of Oscar Niemeyer and antiques markets in São Paulo, saw wildlife, went to the beach, and gained some interesting insights into tourism in Brazil, which helped me win a trip to Florence.
What I am proud of:
I am proud of the work I have done to grow my blog and to branch out a bit in travel writing. This site has grown a lot over the past year and recently passed 10,000 page views/month. Although I don’t have the time that other bloggers may have, my love for blogging and learning about so many related topics is still going strong! I am writing for a new travel website that will launch next month and have begun exploring some other opportunities. I look forward to seeing what 2013 has in store for this part of my life.
What I look forward to in 2013:
As a parent, I look forward to just spending quality time with my growing children, and as a teacher, I look forward to being in the classroom with my students. My husband will finish graduate school in May, and we are looking forward to closing that chapter and moving on to a new one.
I look forward to new travels and making memories with my family. I also look forward to having more time to travel and write. I am not sure where we will go in 2013, but no matter where we are, I hope to have the wisdom to be thankful for every moment and to not get wrapped up in trivial things.
I also look forward to taking some of my blogging energy to write about travel from a somewhat different, more positive perspective. More on that coming soon!
And a few of my favorite photos of this year:
The Palazzo Vecchio in Florence at dusk
An old colonial house on a coffee plantation in Brazil
Watching wild toucans from my sister-in-law’s kitchen was a highlight of my time in Brazil
Houses of São Paulo, Brazil
Night in the Oltrarno neighborhood of Florence, Italy
Traveling near home: visiting these adorable lorikeets at Micke Grove outside Lodi, California
São Paulo at sunset
Contemporary art in historic Florence for Florens2012, a celebration of cultural and landscape heritage
You might have noticed that I love birds. This photo was taken while adding photography practice to a visit to the local zoo
Guarujá beach in southeast Brazil
A hike in the hills above Napa
A view of Florence from the Bardini Gardens
I love being able to spend time in San Francisco. The city is endlessly awesome.
I have to sneak this one in because my look back at 2012 wouldn’t be complete without a mention of my beloved grandmother’s 90th birthday!
And you?! What are some of the highlights of your year? What do you hope for in 2013?
Thank you to Jeremy from Budget Travel Adventures for including me in this great round-up of Best of 2012 posts.
Nice summary, Jenna. Since I’m a big Florence lover myself, it’s easy to sympathise with your love to the city. You’re the second one I’ve seen mentioning Garga recently, so guess will have to check it out the next time I’m there. Also looking forward to your quite secretive and positive plan for 2013, sounds interesting. Happy Holidays!
Pal recently posted..Newtown – When The Meaning Of My Name Changed Forever
I loved Garga! I hope to write more about it one of these days. I went there twice!
I’m still recovering from a too-busy semester, so my mind is not working 100% yet.
Ha ha about the plans being “secretive.” Nothing secretive, but I need more time to get them down in words in just the right way
Jenna, A superb summary of 2012. Congratulations on a great year filled with wonderful memories, highlighted by the Florence trip. Of all your photos you have posted and written about I think I like “Night in the Oltrarno neighborhood of Florence, Italy?” the best. It truly captures the moment with superb balance between the lights and shadows to bring the viewers focus to the serenity of the lone woman walking her dog. Plus I can recall many a time I saw something similar to this, yet never captured in time, during my travels through Italy. Good luck with the new travel writing. May 2013 bring you more joy, happiness and success.
Thanks. I liked that photo a lot, too.
Congratulations on a fun year! That trip to Florence was exciting. I know you have been to Brazil a lot and it’s a place I hope to visit one day. As for my 2013, I am still trying to decide on my plans. However, I hope to spend a little more time exploring California!
Jeremy Branham recently posted..My top 10 travel moments in the Best of Travel 2012
I think spending more time in California is a great idea. There is so much to see and do here, and it is always changing. It’s an exciting place to live and travel!
I love the color of Sao Paolo at sunset! And I totally agree with your outlook, “I try to avoid labeling life events “good” and “bad” because both types of experiences are a natural part of life”. Safe travels in 2013!
Thanks, Edna! Same to you for 2013.
2012 has certainly been a fun filled year for you. It was exciting for you to be able to go back to Florence and again soak up all the history it offers. I’m looking forward to reading about Garga as well! All the best for 2013.
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..2012: A Feast of Travel!
OK, a story about Garga coming soon
All the best for you in 2013, too!
Great food and incredible travels- we are truly blessed to see the world the way we do lady. Cheers to an even better 2013 and maybe even getting to meet in person finally!
Keryn @ walking on travels recently posted..Get to Know… Tips on Road Tripping
Yes, we are blessed, and I also hope we can meet in person in 2013
You had an amazing year. My favourites of the pix above are probably the Sao Paulo houses, and the bird photos.
The highlight of my year was undoubtedly my trip to Egypt, although as 2012 draws to a close, my adventure to Istanbul that I’m on right now is ranking pretty high too.
But 2012 was also the year that (after launching my website in December 2011) I discovered some amazing travel bloggers, including you!
Harvey (H-Bomb’s Worldwide Karaoke) recently posted..H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, Week 12: an endless gateway in Kyoto
Thanks, Harvey. You did, too, and will have quite an exciting 2013!
What a year of travel memories! A beautiful recap, Jenna. And you mentioned some of my favorite places on the planet – Northern California and Italy. That Palazzo Vecchio photo is beautiful.
Here’s to more great travels (and posts) in 2013!
Pola (@jettingaround) recently posted..Photo of the Week: Boats in Ensenada, Baja California
I love that we both love Italy and NorCal
Florence is really really lovely. I loved my visit there, not only the daily walks admiring the architecture and the history but also because I stayed with a Couchsurfing host in his 15th century house, and his black cat slept beside me the entire time! Definitely a city I would want to be back someday.
Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com recently posted..Going Solo for Archaeology Travel
That couchsurfing experience sounds nice! I would love for a cat to sleep next to me while in a new place