Marnie's Word: Sweet Sixteen (pt.1)

Sitting here on this rainy London afternoon I look to sunnier days.. Days full of gallanting around on the beaches in next to nothing, sipping on vino verde in the ocean, pretending to be a mermaid on the rocks, having next to no worries in life.. If only my biggest worry now was which flavour of gelato to choose. (tip: always go for a nut flavour, you won't be disappointed.. unless you are allergic, then at least you will have died trying)

Thinking of these beautiful days has made me remember that for many of you non-Facebookers (yes, I am referring to you Johnny, because you are probably the only person who reads this.. so far!), you never had the opportunity to see some of the photographs that I captured over my long and epic journey. So a quick recap of last year, I can now safely say.. perhaps the best year of my life!

Laura- my travel spouse/companion and I also ~~did this thing~~ tried to do this thing where for each city we visited we thought of three descriptive words to remember it for what it was. Third week in, we got as far as Albufeira (which is safe to say it's words would unfortunately be: lazy, tacky, and German.)

So for the photographs I will post a selection of my favourite. I visited 16 countries in a five month period. What started with pub hopping/museum shopping in the UK, quickly led to beach hunting in Portugal, partying/siesta-ing/tapa-ing in Spain, bazaaring in Morocco, savouring France, climbing through Zurich, drawing in Belgium, exploring and riding through Amsterdam, with some history lessons in Berlin, sophistication in Vienna, being a tourist in Prague, relaxing in the Turkish bathhouses in Budapest and getting to know both Buda and Pest... Then off to Croatia's majestic but rugged coastline, then for some jumbo pints and bratwurst in Munich, then over to explore the flavours of Italy, and finally to see where some civilization began in Turkey...

Since there are so many photos I have decided to split my post into parts. I can't give it all away now or else you'll never come back.. ! Here's a taster to set you up for your main course.. Enjoy

Sacre Couer, Paris