2024 Comes to a Close

Photo above is me in Brasov, Romania in June

I wanted to do one last post as 2024 comes to a close. I hope everyone had a good year and my hope is that next year will be even better. There is so much going on in the world and in people’s personal lives and we really need to embrace life and enjoy every day. We never know what’s around the corner.

Clint and I traveled a lot this year; 4 countries in Southeast Asia, 5 countries in Eastern Europe and we also traveled to the Netherlands and Turkey. We spent 5 weeks in Algonquin Park in the Fall, camping and photographing my moose ! We also spent a couple of weeks camping in Niagara Falls and camping near Ottawa.

Did we have health issues/problems in 2024, yes we did but we came out ok at the end of the year and we are grateful for that. We lost 2 friends; one being one of my closest friends who I have known for more years than I can remember and it was unexpected. As we get older, I realize that will happen more often, losing friends as well as dealing with our own health problems. This is why Clint and I choose to do, and see, as much as we possibly can… while we can.

To end on a happier note, I have an Instagram account and I don’t post very often on Instagram but at the end of the year, you can do a “Top Nine” of your photos. These are the nine photos that a person has posted over the year that garners the most likes. I thought I would share with you my Top Nine. We went to Africa in July 2023 but I didn’t post these photos (first two) until 2024; one photo is Count Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, Romania, we were in Romania in May 2024 ……..and …………big surprise……….all the rest of my photos I took in Algonquin Park, 2 1/2 hour drive from where I live. I hope you enjoy them.

  • Amboseli National Park, Kenya
  • Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
  • Blue Heron with his lunch, Algonquin Park
  • Wolf, Algonquin Park
  • Moose crossing Hwy 60, Algonquin Park
  • Moose, Algonquin Park
  • Moose, Algonquin Park
  • Count Dracula’s Castle, Transylvania, Romania
  • Lake of Two Rivers lake, Algonquin Park

Thank you for reading my Blog posts, I appreciate all the likes, comments and conversations I have had with all of you. Some of you have become friends, even though we have not met. But you never know, maybe one day we will meet in person!

So in closing, I wish everyone all the Best in the New Year. Great health and good times for all!

Happy Travels……..

Susan

15 thoughts on “2024 Comes to a Close”

  2. What a wonderful year of choice locations to visit. Good logic in your do it while you can.

    Super nice top tier images for the year. All very print worthy.

    All the best for you and your loved ones.

    Cheers

    Dave

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  3. Supreme photos to wrap up 2024! Thank you for sharing the incredible beauty that surrounds us and for inspiring us to embrace life and adventure! I am sorry to read of your personal losses and appreciate your words of reflection. 🙏🏻

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  4. Susan, I enjoy reading all your posts about your adventures. be they local or afar. These nine photos you chose for the Instagram Top Nine are great and the picture that resembles Elsa from the “Born Free” movie is my favorite and, if I recall correctly, you were just using your phone or a DSLR but no telephoto lens … it is beautiful, as are the other nature photos (and of course the first image is great as well). 🙂 I’ve never seen a photo of Count Dracula’s castle – how fun is that!

    I’m sorry to hear about your friends and this year has been a bad year for several of my longstanding friends and blogging friends as to medical issues too. Yesterday I learned about a friend who passed away on Christmas day after battling cancer. Though I don’t travel like I once did, I also believe in making the most out of each day; enjoy life and do things that make you happy as tomorrow is not promised to any one of us. Best in the new year to you and Clint with many more excursions abroad and locally.

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    1. Thank you Linda! I’m happy you enjoy reading my posts. I loved that movie Born Free. I have 2 Nikon cameras and I have a couple of different telephoto lenses. When we went to Africa, I took my 70-300 mm lens and my 17-200 mm lens. I did leave my bigger lenses at home. I’m sorry about your friend, it’s always sad when we lose someone but this time of year is particularly difficult. All the best to you in the New Year Linda!

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      1. Hi Susan – okay, I somehow thought you only took the lens that came with your DSLR and used your phone – they are wonderful pictures. I am envious as I planned to travel like I did years ago after retiring, but have nothing planned and am a little nervous about traveling now, not to mention it is such a hassle to get a passport now. I think I mentioned I have to have a Canadian who has known me personally for “X” number of years, can verify my signature and photograph to complete the passport form, otherwise I have to plead “orphan status” and go through a hassle since I have no family. For now, I’ll table the traveling and live vicariously through you. 🙂 Happy New Year to both of you!

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      2. I get nervous traveling too, the world is ever changing and we never know the political climate or environmental climate anymore. I didn’t know that about your Passport. Happy New Year to you too Linda ! I wish you all the best 🙂

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      3. The passport complicates things and because I’m not a citizen, any time I leave the country I have to go to Downtown Detroit to the IRS main office to get a stamp that my income taxes have all been paid and I am free to leave. I had a real hassle renewing my green card in 2015 and which I need to do this year (for ten years) and I’m dreading it. I had to go twice because of poor fingerprints (worn down from typing so much). Plus I have no one I feel comfortable with asking to check the house periodically. I guess you can ask the police …. I guess I just worry too much. I’m disappointed and maybe things will get better down the road. Thank you – same to you Susan!

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  5. What a year it has been, you two saw so much! You sure nailed it when you said you are doing what you want now because you never know what tomorrow brings. I may have missed my opportunity but as there are dream vacations, I had a dream for a kitchen so that was my staycation for this year. I don’t know how you could pick your top 9 pictures because every one of your pictures would be on the #1 list to me.

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    1. Thank you so much Diane, I love that like my photos. Oh yes, we had lots of years where we didn’t travel because we were doing renovations. I do love my house! All the best in the New Year!

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