My 3rd year in the UK and wow what a year it was! If I ever doubted that old woo woo stuff of "follow your dreams" and the "you're never too old" mantras, then 2024 blew all doubts out of the water! That's not to say everything was smooth sailing, life rarely is, but here is a summary of the amazing things and places that I got to visit and enjoy in 2024. May 2025 bring just as much joy and happiness. And by joy and happiness, I mean flights, new places, bubbles and lots of Basque cheesecake. A bit of good health never goes astray either.
January 2024
The year began quietly in Torrevieja, after having returned from a slightly underwhelming Morocco. But soon it was time to head to Barcelona for a few days of exploring with Aitana and catching up with Elena and I finally visited the Sagrada Familia. And then all aboard the good ship Costa Esmeralda with the 4J's plus, added family, for 7 days sailing the Mediterranean, visiting Palma, Palermo, Civitavecchia, Savona and Marseille. Back in Torrevieja, Patina came for a little visit before long it was time to head back to London to begin my new career!
And so I found myself on an 8 day training course with Back Roads Touring. A couple of days in the office, a day on the road playing tour guide in London and time to hit the road on our Heart of England Tour. First stop Oxford and then on to the Cotswolds, spending 2 nights in a gorgeous quaint hotel in Stratford Upon Avon - home of all things olde and Shakespeare. If this didn't work out, at least I'd visited the gorgeous towns of Chipping Campden, Broadway, Stow on the Wold, Bourton on the Water, Bibury, Castle Combe (often voted the prettiest village in England) where we had an amazing lunch at the Rectory Tearooms and Lacock. Then it was on to Bath for 2 more nights visiting Avebury Henge, Bradford Upon Avon and of course Bath. Driving back to London there was that apprehension, had I done enough? But sure enough, the celebrations began when we walked into the offices with pizza and bubbles! I had a new job - I was a Tour Leader.
February 2024
So here I was, finally living the dream of living in London, although I was now missing Southampton. Well maybe not Southampton, but definitely our little Soton Gang. But plenty to keep me busy as I began studying up on Spanish history, culture and the places we would be visiting. Did manage 1 trip - over to Warsaw to join Patina for 4 nights - great fun and there was vodka. Na zdrowie!
March 2024
The study of all things Spain continued, with a few days in Guildford, bands and theatre visits - loving London life and all it has to offer. 25th and it was time to fly to Madrid and the next day, my shadow tour for the Iberian Inspiration tour began. A lovely group and I got to share it with Mercedes, also shadowing and Sonia our Tour Leader. What an amazing experience. I could hardly believe my good luck as we got to stay in some beautiful hotels and I was living the dream. The rain didn't dampen spirits, although missing all the Easter celebrations was a little sad.
April 2024
My shadow tour ended in Lisbon 6/4 and I stayed 4 days with Dutch Liz (from Holland, met in South Africa) in her lovely home in Tornada. She kindly played tour guide for me and we got to visit stunning Obidos, Alcabaca, Caldas da Rainha and other spots along the coast before flying back to Torrevieja for a couple of weeks. My 1st solo tour began 27/4 and although there were nerves, it was a great group. 15 Aussies and 2 NZers. Our driver Agu, was a hoot and helped heaps, although a little rogue taking us to places not on the itinerary! But it meant I got to visit Consuegra and Setenil de la Bodega.
May 2024
8/5 and it was back to London. Hadn't I always wanted to live a life out of a suitcase flying here and there? Well this was it! Although once again I seem to have accumulated too much stuff. Will I ever learn?
Spring in London and Southampton - such a fun time. Not always warm or sunny, but fun.
June 2024
1/6 and it was back to Madrid, tour number 2 and the weather was warming up. Especially down in Cordoba where we discovered the delights of drinks in the Patio. More fabulous guests, more fabulous experiences. I think I realised that the majority of guests would always be wonderful. That's the nature of the type of people who go on these tours. Tour ended 12/6 - impeccable timing, it was St Anthony - Fiesta time in Lisbon! So Patina, Liz and I booked an apartment and enjoyed the festivities for 4 days, including a fab day exploring Sintra. Then it was back to Torrevieja for a few days before doing it all again on 22/6. Much hotter this time, but 3 tours under my belt and feeling far more comfortable.
July 2024
Another tour done, and it was back to the UK. Time in London and Southampton before once again packing the bags and this time heading to Bilbao. A couple of days to re-discover the city before commencing my shadow tour with Luis. A small group, but once again, fabulous hotels and the food in the North of Spain is to die for. Still dreaming of the Basque cheesecake in San Sebastian. No wonder the weight was piling on.
August 2024
With it being very hot in Spain, tours slow down and I had an entire month in London/Southampton. There was a weekend in Winchester with Patina and Co for the Sausage and Cider festival and there were 3 nights in Devon with Bev and Steve. Time to chill and keep exploring.
September 2024
Back to Madrid, Iberian Inspiration tour number 4. Still hot in many parts, still love every moment and have to pinch myself, especially when I do a little twirl around my room in Cordoba! Catching up with family in Granada has been a highlight and I got to see them all again this time around. Back to Torrevieja to spend some time with Tia Pili before and after her procedure. All went well and Henry came to stay a few days too.
October 2024
My 1st solo Northern Spain tour. A smallish group, I even had a shadow, Georgina - talk about the blind leading the blind, but it turned out well. Celebrated my 59th birthday in Pamplona and so the 60 before 60 list began. And just like that, my 1st season as a Tour Leader was done and I could look forward to many more in the new year. A fleeting 1 day turnaround in London before flying to Dubrovnik to begin my next adventure - a 28 day cruise with Jennifer. Santorini x 2, Kusadasi x 2, Istanbul, Athens, Mykonos, Limassol, Rhodes, Crete, Naples, Civitavecchia, Sardinia, Palermo, Tunis, Corfu, Kotor, Rome.
November 2024
The cruise stretched well into November finishing in Rome on 14/11. Several ticks off the list - sadly we missed the port of Dubrovnik so the walk the wall awaits. But several others were ticked off:
- Visit Ephesus in Turkey ✅️ 21 October 2024 and a Revisit 20 December 2024
- Visit the Acropolis in Athens ✅️ 25 October 2024
- Sing 'Mama Mia on Mykonos ✅️ 26 October 2024
- Visit Pompeii ✅️ 03 November 2024
Back in London for some "rest". A weekend visit from Aitana that involved a lot of eating and a trip down to Soton. London coming to life with Christmas lights and festivities.
December 2024
An unexpected visit from Granada cousins! Lots of walking. Lots of Christmas lights. An 11 day trip to Turkey, with Patina - a fabulous tour with Exoticca. Returning home with Shingles. That left me feeling a little flat - or maybe it was the usual Christmas/New Year doldrums that I've never been able to shake. But how can I not look back on the year that was and simply say wow. A truly amazing and special year. Bring on 2025.
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