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That Was 2022

December 31, 2022 /

When we retired at the end of 2019, full of wide eyed enthusiasm about seeing the world and feeling like the entire world was our oyster, we had a vision of what a year would look like. This was of course before we had any inkling that something very nasty was about to escape from China and have something of an impact on those plans. Resourceful as we were in ‘20 and ‘21 (we travelled as much as we could and more than most), 2022 has probably been the first year which really did match the dreams we had at the start.

As a year which started in Costa Rica closes in Panama, we can reflect on a year when we visited 11 countries, have been away for 264 days and slept in 71 different beds. So this was how we managed to “catch ‘22”, so to speak….

JANUARY

Countries: Costa Rica

Route: La Fortuna-Cahuita-Tortuguero-Cartago-Atenas-Potrero-Alajuela.

Bed count: 7.

Memorable people: Reymar (host), Boa (slightly nutty night hike guide and drinking buddy).

Best bars: Coco’s (Cahuita) & Rick’s (Alajuela)

Events/Bucket List items: Zip wires down volcanoes, seeing Costa Rica’s amazing wildlife (especially sloths).

Sloth in Costa Rica
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

FEBRUARY 

Countries: USA, England

Route: Acton CA-home-friends & family

Bed count: 11.

Memorable people: Family & friends 

Best bar: The 49er, Acton.

Events/Bucket List: Los Angeles, Hollywood, Malibu Beach.

Hollywood Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, USA

MARCH

Countries: England, Egypt.

Route: Home-Padstow-home-Cairo-Luxor.

Bed count: 16.

People: Walid (host), Mohammed (guide)

Bars: Pubs in Padstow.

Events/Bucket List: Pyramids, Valley Of The Kings, Hot air balloon flight, ate at Monica Galetti’s (and met her in person).

Hot air balloon Luxor Egypt
Luxor, Egypt

APRIL

Countries: Egypt, Tunisia.

Route: Luxor-Aswan-El Quessir-Tunis-Kairouan

Bed count: 20.

Bars: Old Cataract Hotel (Aswan).

Events/Bucket List: Luxor and Karnak temples, swimming in the River Nile, Aswan Dam, Abu Simbel Temples, experiencing Ramadan.

Abu Simbel Temple Egypt
Abu Simbel, Egypt

MAY

Countries: Tunisia.

Route: Kairouan-Monastir-El Jem-Gabes-Matmata-Douz-Tozeur-Gabes-Djerba-home.

Bed count: 30.

Bars: Lostania (Monastir)

Events/Bucket List: Seeing a mirage, sleeping in a Star Wars house, El Jem Colosseum, Chott el Djerid salt lake, Camel ride in the Sahara.

Sahara Desert Tunisia
Sahara Desert, Tunisia

JUNE

Countries: USA

Route: Home-Acton CA-Visalia-Morro Bay-Monterey-San Francisco

Bed count: 35

Bars: Sequoia Brewing Company (Visalia), Alvorado (Monterey), Tunnel Top Bar (San Francisco)

Events/Bucket List: Sea plane flight over San Fran, driving the Big Sur coast, fabulous whale watching, walking the Golden Gate Bridge, redwood forests. And just about everything about San Francisco.

Golden Gate Bridge San Fransisco California
San Francisco, California, USA

JULY

Countries: USA, Mexico

Route: San Francisco-Napa-Yosemite-Barstow-Grand Canyon-Joshua Tree-Acton-Guadalajara-Mexico City-Boca del Rio

Bed count: 43.

People: Lee at Downtown Joe’s, Arturo & Clara (met on tequila tour), 

Bars: Downtown Joe’s (Napa), The Tiny Pony (Joshua Tree), Bar El Tarro (Guadalajara).

Events/Bucket List: Driving the Golden Gate Bridge, the wonder of Yosemite, being in USA on Fourth of July, Route 66, the Grand Canyon & a helicopter flight over it, Aztec city ruins, Mexico City itself.

Grand Canyon Arizona
Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

AUGUST

Countries: Mexico, Belize

Route: Boca del Rio-Villahermosa-Palenque-San Cristobal de las Casas-Tuxtla Gutierrez-Puerto Morelos-Valladolid-Chetumal-Caye Caulker-Chetumal.

Bed count: 52.

People: Kelly (host).

Bars: Sip’n’Dip (Caye Caulker).

Events/Bucket List: Flight over Blue Hole, Mexican towns, Palenque, Chechen Itza, swimming in cenotes. Swimming with sting rays and sharks.

Blue Hole Belize
Blue Hole, Belize

SEPTEMBER 

Countries: Mexico, England 

Route: Chetumal-Tulum-home.

Bed count: 55.

Bars: El Mariachi Loco (Tulum).

Kaan Luum Lake near Tulum Mexico
Kaan Luum, Quintana Roo, Mexico

OCTOBER

Countries: Spain, Italy, England

Route: Home-Cadiz-Seville-home-Bologna-Rome-Padstow-home.

Bed count: 60.

Bars: Bar Tapas y Vinos (Cadiz).

Events/Bucket List: Bologna foodie scene, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon and everything else Rome has to offer, Champions League match in Spain.

Colloseum Rome Italy
Rome, Italy

NOVEMBER 

Countries: Jamaica

Route: Home-Kingston-Lime Tree-Port Antonio

Bed count: 64.

People: Roger, Tifony & Keisha at Lime Tree, the helpful guy down the road at Port Antonio.

Bars: Hip Strip, Roots 21 (both Port Antonio).

Events/Bucket List: Bob Marley Museum.

Bob Marley museum Kingston Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica

DECEMBER

Countries: Jamaica, Panama

Route: Port Antonio-Falmouth-Treasure Beach-Montego Bay-Panama City-Contadora-Panama City-Pedasi.

Bed count: 71

People: Michelle (host)

Bars: Frenchmans Bay Bar & Jack Sprat’s (Treasure Beach), Pier 1 (Montego Bay), American Bazaar (Panama City).

Events/Bucket List: Perfect beaches, desert islands, Jamaican rum, climbing a waterfall, swimming in bioluminescent waters, boat ride through the Panama Canal.

Miraflores locks Panama Canal
Panama Canal, Panama

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