Traveling is synonymous with being happy, and this year I was not just lucky, but the luckiest. I had the opportunity to travel to a new country every single month of the year, which made me recharge more and more and fall in love with life and our planet. Because really, when a person is on the road, his view of the world  opens up, he becomes more curious and more thirsty for knowledge, emotions, and events.

But a lot of traveling leaves you speechless, and with it comes the responsibility of turning into a storyteller.

On this occasion, I fully responsibly accept this role and I will try to tell what the year of an active traveler is and what I was able to see in 2023.

Let’s travel again in 2023!

January: Portugal

I started the year in my most favorite city in the world – Lisbon, where I welcomed the new year, and because of this fact alone, I can’t help but say that I did set the best possible start to 2023. Lisbon is a very special place for me, not only because I had the opportunity to live and study here, but also in general – the atmosphere, the people and its location make it a unique place. Here you can find out how to explore Lisbon in two days.

February: Italy

Certainly the beginning of the year was very special to me because the previous month I was at my former third home, but in February I had the good fortune to return to my previous home before Lisbon – Florence. I have to admit that my heart skipped a beat when I found out I was going back to Tuscany, where I visited Florence, Siena, Pisa and San Gimignano. Florence is a very important chapter in my life because it was my first important lesson on independent living. There, in addition to unfolding a new phase of my life, I also opened my horizons to art thanks to the irreplaceable architectural, artistic and fashion masterpieces that are located in this city – Here you can follow my entire stay in the city.

March: Jordan and Italy

The best are those adventures that take you to unknown and mystical lands, where you seem to fall into a different world, filled with wonderful landscapes and an impressive cultural and historical heritage. A world absorbed by timelessness and retaining its authenticity and charm, this was my experience in Jordan. The kingdom of timelessness with centuries-old secrets, world-famous sights, treasures and irreplaceable views. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the ancient world of Petra, observe the otherworldly landscapes of the Wadi Rum desert and the Dead Sea, and explore the historical jewels of Jerash and Madaba. Jordan is a real delight for every traveler’s soul.

Knowing that we are still in the cool period of the year, in our latitudes, I decided to head to my dear homeland – Italy and more precisely Bari and its surroundings. I was able to enjoy and visit popular places like Ostuni, Polignano a Mare, Matera, Alberobello and Lecce. A collection of locations that show you the true southern charm of Italy in the company of a good coffee or Aperol.

April: Portugal and Spain

In April, it’s always nice to travel to those destinations that are unbearably hot in the summer, so I’ve been to Spain and Portugal not just once, but twice this month to fully immerse myself in the rich culture of the Pyrenees, as well as to recharge with a satisfying dose of sun. There I was able to jump to Madrid, Segovia, Salamanca and Toledo in Spain, and in Portugal – Porto, Aveiro, Braga, Guimarães, Coimbra, Sintra and Lisbon. Through these tours, I once again proved to myself how different the two countries are, although it is generally accepted that due to their close location they have small differences.

May: Costa Rica

The month of May, my month, when I celebrated my anniversary this year, I knew I had to try and celebrate it in an unforgettable way. With a bit of luck and a lot of advance preparation, I ended up on the other side of the world. I was originally headed to Peru, but fate had other plans and took me to the beautiful and irreplaceable land called “The Rich Coast” or better known as Costa Rica. A veritable paradise on earth for the eyes, the soul, and nature connoisseurs like me. I went there with no expectations, and I came back “infected” with the indifference to life, or as the locals call it “Pura vida” – the pure and carefree outlook on life. Having the privilege of spending 8 full days here, I was able to collect a rich palette of experiences by crossing much of the country and enjoying: the beautiful sunsets over the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, abseiling on cable trams over the dense rainforests of Monteverde, hiking the impressive trails of the Arenal and Poas volcanoes and navigated the waterways of Tortuguero’s teeming jungles. Costa Rica is magic in every sense of the word and visiting here is like giving yourself a warm hug from life. Read more details for this incredible adventure her.

June: Portugal

From the exotic of May, I continued to the exotic of June, going to the Azores, or rather the island of Sao Miguel, a paradise where you will find evergreen meadows colored with many flowers and a favorite place of the happiest cows in the world. It is a place where one is deeply impressed by the beauty and the balance achieved between man and nature, naturally thanks to the serious efforts that the locals put into preserving their home. Here you can see so much natural diversity that it is dizzying, and June is especially the period of the great migration of whales, which makes the islands one of the most interesting points in the world, as it is the perfect crossroads in the Atlantic Ocean. You can read more about my adventures on this island here.

July: Great Britain and Croatia

Improvisation trips are always the most fun and create the most treasured memories. That’s why July was the month of improvisation for me. I didn’t have any planned trips, and the adventures I did were “from today to tomorrow“. So I ended up visiting my close friends in London and also used the opportunity to see Brighton. London xis a city where there is always something to see and do. Whether a person will decide to immerse himself in the large and endless museums or walk through the central streets to enjoy the latest trends is a personal choice, but it is a fact – the capital offers something for everyone, and in abundance.

The second even more impromptu trip was to Croatia, but here I fully blame the tempting €60 tickets and the friend who played on my mind. This destination has been on my list for a long time, and I kept putting it off, but I am sincerely happy that it happened so impromptu that I created some of my most wonderful memories for 2023 in Zagreb. But the cherry on top of this adventure for me was the exciting visit to Plitvice Lakes – a world full of magic, beauty and timelessness. It was so good that I want to go back there again and again. No wonder Croatia has been named one of the most desirable travel destinations in 2024, and rightly so – the country has a lot of untapped potential.

August: Canada

Oh, Canada! That’s what I exclaimed when I realized that this was a reality and I would be walking in 8 days to the second largest country in the world. It’s a little surreal that I’ll be crossing the ocean for the second time in just a few months, but yes. I visited amazing and very interesting places – such as elegant Montreal, European heir Quebec, orderly and cultural Ottawa, cosmopolitan and multicultural Toronto, and majestic Niagara Falls. This country knows how to impress and represents a different point of view on life, the sustainability of the view and the development of the world. As Canada’s motto goes – The True North, it is a place that, regardless of the geographical location, complex history and difficult metamorphoses it has gone through, it has broken through to be one of the best and most stable countries to live in the world and a benchmark for example.

September: Portugal, Italy and Switzerland

This was definitely the craziest month of 2023 in terms of travel. I started the month with a gift for my mom by taking her to the Azores, as I had basically blown her head about this place and explained how special it was and that I definitely wanted to take her there one day. And so it happened, and the end result was a bunch of unforgettable and priceless memories and a very happy mother.

Then from one island I ended up on another island, but much hotter and full of history and divine food – Sicily. This totally different part of Italy can impress everyone with its extremely rich abundance of culture and traditions. Here I had the opportunity to make a detailed overview of the tourist attractions, looking with great curiosity – Catania, Taormina, Savoca, Etna, Cefalù, Palermo, Erice, Agrigento, Noto and Syracuse. Places with unique sights, warm people and charming views.

Experiencing the high temperatures in Sicily, it was time to go to a slightly cooler place – Switzerland. Apart from being known for its very high standards, chocolate and mountains, this country has a very different and intriguing history. On that occasion, I had made it my goal to follow her to understand her better and learn more about the evolution and success formula of the country today. And so it came to pass that I visited a large number of cities – Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, Zweisimmen, Bern, Lauterbrunnen, Lucerne, Zurich, Schaffhausen, Stein-am-Rhine, and Lugano. It was a comprehensive and rich tour that introduced me to Switzerland in an exciting and interesting way.

October: Armenia, Italy, San Marino and Turkiye

After one crazy month comes another crazy and travel-filled month! October picked me up from the start with travels, starting with Armenia, where I immersed myself in the ancient secrets and cultures of this country, which has been an important crossroads for the human past. Regardless of their hard and tragic history today, the locals hold their heads high and tell their story with fire in their eyes. A beautiful and accessible country like Armenia deserves more attention and visits because it definitely has something to show and teach its visitors.

Then I ended up in Italy, where I combined my visit with San Marino, from which I am very pleasantly impressed by the beauty and history that such a small place can hold. In addition to exploring and walking the famous towers of the micro-state in the Italian territory, I had the good fortune to “bathe” in the culture and sun of Rimini, a resort town that was extremely pleasant and peaceful during the month of October.

I then ended the month with a long family weekend in our southern neighbor Turkey, visiting Istanbul – the city of two continents, contrasts and terrible drivers. It always has something to treat you with, whether with experiences, delicacies or unique views over the Bosphorus – here it is a matter of personal choice and preferences, but it is a fact, the city is so diverse that it cannot leave anyone empty-handed.

November: Greece

In the month of November, I was close to getting away with traveling, but then my friend brought up the idea of flamingos and Greece, and as it is a well-known fact how difficult it is for someone to turn me on to more unpopular travel ideas, I exclaimed “Let’s do it!“. So we arranged for a long weekend in Thessaloniki, where I had not been for more than 15 years and had completely forgotten what it really means to have no place to park. Regardless of these idiosyncrasies, we had a wonderful time under the Greek sun and delicious food, but we still had a mission to fulfill – to observe the majestic flamingos that fly to our southern neighbor for the winter period. So we spent one day around the picturesque Kerkini Lake where we saw a flock of 500 flamingos as well as other wonderful animals like water buffalo, ducks, pelicans and many more.

December: Denmark and Sweden, Italy and Portugal

If a true adventurer wants to challenge himself, then visiting Scandinavia in December is just right for him. I hopped over to Denmark and Sweden to witness the Nordic Christmas spirit. The dark and gray days there are lit up with Christmas magic and a real hygge mood is everywhere. On this occasion, the Scandinavians have learned to combine in an incredible way the harsh northern landscape with the festive and colorful spirit, and the results are truly charming. The biggest proof is the fabulous Tivoli Park, which is transformed every year into a magical winter wonderland.

One should never forget one’s roots and one’s family. Even if the reason for my return to Italy was a wedding, this in no way prevented me from experiencing myself as a tourist in the eternal city. Walking around Rome is like a magical experience along the cobbled streets, where an endless tapestry of beauty, history and cherished traditions weaves, making it a fascinating destination even for those like me who are visiting it for the first time.

Happiness comes to one who is persistent and follows his dreams with a pure heart. Just as I started the beginning of the year in Lisbon, so I ended it in this city, where I became so infected with saudade that it makes me feel, in its most sincere form, happy and “at home“. The city where I experienced the warmest Christmas and New Year, where saying Obrigado (“thank you” in Portuguese) with a bad pronunciation brings an instant big smile to the face of every Portuguese. I’ve always said it and always will, this is my place and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. So I am lucky to have the opportunity to be here often, it only confirms that happiness comes to one who is persistent and follows his dreams with a pure heart.

It was the year of an active traveler and drawing the line, all I can say is that I am grateful for the generous year 2023, which was intense, challenging and interesting, but it is time to say “Goodbye” to it and with wide arms, to say “Hello” to 2024, I’m ready for new journeys!