Hello, friends! It’s that time again: time to count our blessings and reminisce about the best travels of the year.
I can’t believe just how fast this year has flown by, can you? Somehow, I managed to drop the ball on keeping you updated on our travels. It just felt like we’ve been going non-stop. Plus, I have been focusing more on reading this year rather than writing, which has been very enjoyable and educational.
But let’s not digress…
Our 2023 trips were mainly centered around family: travelling to visit family, but even more enjoyably so, hosting family and showing them around Colorado.
The travel highlights of the year included:
Page, Arizona
Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, and Lake Powell.
Knoxville, TN
This year has been both a happy celebration of David’s mom’s 95th birthday in March, as well as a farewell to her in May… She had a long and happy life, loved by many, and she will be missed sorely.
Brasov, Romania
David and I loved seeing mom and dad in my hometown, and also spending some time with my “little” nephew (6’1″?).
We’ve connected with our friends and neighbors in Israel (and were lucky to depart two weeks before the war broke out; I hate what’s happening there, and I continue to pray for peace…).
I cannot express how glad I was to host three sets of cousins and show them around Colorado! It was an opportunity even for us to see other parts of Colorado that we hadn’t explored, such as Ouray and Durango. We drove around in awe. Colorado is soooo amazing! Read about our western Colorado trips here:
To wrap up the year, we visited Rocky Mountain National Park, much easier to do in winter, with smaller crowds and no timed entry requirement. Read about this and other winter walks/drives in my post:
Another year older and none the wiser, I feel lucky to live in a beautiful state, and for the opportunity to travel to places near and far. I’m also incredibly grateful for having a loving family (be it by blood relation, or family we met along the way).
I hope 2024 brings you peace, health, and joyful travels!
Happy New Year!
XO,
Oana
