A significant focus in these days surrounding New Year's Eve seems to fall on looking back on where you've been, how you've been there, and where you're going. And as year end's approaches, I find myself suspiciously satisfied with where I've been so far. A lot of people around me are talking about what they're leaving behind, but I feel I've done quite well this past year (on some important levels, at least) so it's more a matter of continuing as is.
So instead, to close out 2024, I thought I'd join in a popular trend I'm seeing around here these past few days, namely to meditate a bit on where I've physically been over the past year.
January, Venice
I like to be in different places when my birthday at the end of January comes. It's a little tradition of mine, from when I was about 17, I think. I've tried to keep it, and this year, my family surprised me with a quick getaway to La Serenissima, which I adored. In retrospect. At the time, I remember being cold as balls and I tend to become very grouchy when I'm cold. So.
I love Italy, but somehow I expected Venice to be this overrated place. There's a sense of urgency to visiting Venice, because everyone tells you it's gonna sink. That you're gonna miss out. Inevitably, the things you fear missing out on disappoint you. Often, but not always, and it wasn't the case for Venice.
It was, as I wrote here a chance to start the year (both 2024 and my 25th on this planet) as somebody else, and it was terribly exciting.
February, Zurich
In February, also as a family, we'd arranged to surprise my mom @ladyrebecca with a trip to the psychoanalysis capital of the world, aka Zurich. (I know, I know, not very Freud, but Carl Jung turned out to be the protege that outshone the master, didn't he?).
So off to Zurich we went. It doesn't seem like I wrote anything about it here. After all, it wasn't my trip, and I wasn't overly taken with Switzerland, to be honest. It was all much too expensive and, in my opinion, undeservedly so. I wouldn't mind paying to be in Lisbon or Florence or somewhere, but there's something very unpleasant and cold about the Swiss countryside.
I did enjoy visiting Jung's house at Kussnacht, though.
Peaceful, no?
April, London
My beloved. I've actually just arranged for another trip at the end of February, because it's been much too long and I miss it everyday. This year, much of March was spent refurbishing my grandmother's old place, which was exhausting and unpleasant. So we figured in April, once we envisioned everything being done, a little treat. And how can it be anything other than a treat with places like this one?
I don't get to go there every time I'm in London, but I try and this last time, I'm happy I managed to pay my respects to Rik at his commemorative bench in Hammersmith. It's one of my favorite areas of London, Hammersmith to Shepherd's Bush, and I'm thrumming with anticipation at seeing my dear London again.
May, Berlin
While Germany and I don't really mix, things somehow coincided this year so that two artists I really liked were playing back-to-back shows in Berlin and it was right around my brother's birthday and he's quite interested in Germany and the German language, so. I figured let's go.
I always figure let's go. It's like a broken lever in me or something.
Can't say they didn't warn ya.
It was fantastic and surprising. While I was more excited for The Kills show we were attending, it ended up being Teddy Swims who took my breath away. What a gifted and beautiful performer. I hadn't danced so freely, so happily in a long time and Teddy was so sweet, we both had a delightful time. It helped that we were visiting a cousin who lives there, so we had someone real to show us around. What can I say, maybe Berlin's not as bad as I'd made it out to be on previous visits.
We got to see the Berlin Wall which was fantastic. Probably my favorite thing to see in Berlin. We had beautiful weather. Great music. Beer. Good times.
July and August, Barcelona
Of course, I've written extensively about my stay in Barcelona over the summer, how desperately I loved it. Not quite as much as I do London, but then, nothing will probably rival that since I will never be in that precise same place as when I discovered London for the first time.
There is a warmth to this busy, bustling city that's unexpected. With so many tourists, it could so easily be cold and stifled, and it is at times. And yes, I know I was one of them, but I tried to steer clear of classic touristy areas. I wanted to live in a place where I had the comfort of a big city and a nearby beach so I could sunbathe and swim to my heart's content. And I did. I made it a point to swim every single day I was there.
Flying back, I sat next to a man who'd lived near Barcelona for over a decade. He told me he never goes to the beach, even though it's 5 minutes from his house. Didn't really know why when I asked him. I guess we start taking even the most beautiful, splending things for granted.
August, Sibiu
I don't often appreciate this country of mine. As you can probably tell, I prefer traveling outward. But I did get to visit the Romanian city of Sibiu for a few days in late summer. It's a lovely old city with charming architecture and a great music scene. There's nature nearby. There really is a lot of good here.
I always tell friends from abroad, I wouldn't necessarily recommend visiting Romania, but if you do make it over here, Sibiu should be seen. More so, I'd say, than Bucharest or Cluj.
September, Split
Ah, my dear Croatia. Another long-loved destination, another place I'd been dying to revisit. And what better excuse than attending this year's Hivefest?
I've told you enough times already how much I enjoyed myself meeting all these amazing people on here and exploring those dusty, narrow streets of Split. Hivefest is that rare magical experience that you wish ardently could stretch out to encompass the entire year, but you know really, it can't. That something so magical couldn't last forever...or could it?
I suggest next Hivefest is twice as long. Who's with me?
Naturally, I spent the hours before opening drinks searching for a swimmable spot. I was so pleased with myself when I finally found one, it hardly mattered how cold the water was or how I cut my foot on the rocks. I was in half a mind to blow opening drinks entirely, but thankfully, it gets too cold after a while and then I wouldn't have met all you lovely people.
I do think that concludes my list of travels for the year. I did muck about traveling in Romania a bit, but most of my autumn was spent dancing and just existing here in Bucharest. Which, in itself, isn't a bad deal. I like where I'm living, so.
But I do miss being on the road. Thankfully, I've got two trips planned for the new year already, a third one pencilled in and hopefully many more to come as 2025 unfolds. And I'm excited for the future. Are you?
Can't close out the year without one last #threetunetuesday entry, can we? Happy New Year's Eve, @ablaze!)
I don't mean to suggest
That I loved you the best
I can't keep track of each fallen robin
Except I think he does.
I love Mark Knopfler. He's such an underrated guitarist and performer.
"War Hymns". As relevant, still. Unfortunately. It's a song by my favorite (Moldavian) band protesting the Ukraine war. It features my favorite actor. I love it when they play this at their shows and he's 10 feet tall. Because he really is.
Motherland pictured on the [military] ID
Patronymic gone missing
Call us without regret
So we may lie under the flag
From our mid-winter houses
To blossom, weeping, epaulettes
A lifetime why wait
When we can die today?
It never fails to drive chills down my spine, hearing that question. Never fails to fill me with rage, neither. All these lost brothers and sons for nothing. Criminal.
How strange, that we might love our individual lives so much, that we might yet live something so beautiful as this human life, against the backdrop of such terrible things. On that note...
Happy New Year. :)
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