Travel Memories are a Christmas Tradition!

So, I'll admit that I'm not a huge fan of carting around travel souvenirs, only for them to gather dust on a shelf. Luckily, during one trip a few years ago we had a bit of a revelation: why not buy a Christmas tree ornament from every place we've visited? This way, we get to bring them out once every year and laugh and reminisce about our adventures while we decorate the tree. We've been doing it for around six years now, and we absolutely love it. We get to add any new decorations that we've gathered over the course of the year, and digging out the ornaments from previous years really helps us reconnect with so many great travel experiences!

There are rules, though: the ornament MUST have something to do with the place where we bought it. In some cases, this might be the name of the place and/or the date displayed somewhere on the ornament or, failing that, the ornament must represent something we've seen or done on our trip. We're very strict on this, as you'll see below!

This year, since we've had to cut our travelling down to a minimum due to pandemic restrictions, I thought I'd use our ornaments to reflect on the past six years of travels. A lot of these memories are nothing but wonderful; and yet, as I was writing this post I was also surprised to see how many of our most memorable experiences weren't always the things that went to plan!! Successful or not, they do all make great stories, though!

Where and when: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, April 2019

The story: We'd planned to visit Kyoto's famous shrine with the hundreds of red torii gates as early as possible on our last day in the city to avoid the crowds...but thanks to a mix up with our dates we realised we had one less day in Kyoto than we'd thought! Cue a panicked morning where we woke up far later than we would have liked and found ourselves at the shrine well after the crowds had descended and so, too, had the rain. The red torii tunnels were absolutely crammed with umbrella-toting tourists. We were about to give up when we noticed one tunnel that looked much emptier than the others, so we ducked down it. It was deserted, and so beautiful and atmospheric. It was only when a group starting coming towards us from the opposite direction that we realised we'd make a mistake: we'd entered through the exit! Considering the very ordered and respectful way things are usually done in Japan, we felt terrible, so we picked up this mini torii gate and donated money to the shrine as an apology!

Where and when: Calgary Stampede, Canada, summer 2019

The story: Patrick (the Canadian) had been going on about the Calgary Stampede for as long as I'd known him, but the dates (early July) always clashed with our final weeks of teaching. This year, however, school ended just in time for us to jet to Canada to catch the final day of Stampede. We spent the entire day sampling the ridiculous foods on offer (cotton candy donuts and hot Cheetos corn dogs, for a start) and watching the rodeo show: bull riding, bucking broncos and steer roping were never so dramatic! Did we wear cowboy hats? Sadly not, but we definitely wore plaid!

Where and when: Lillehammer, Norway, winter 2018

The story: This is the first story we think of when anyone asks us if we've ever had any travel disasters. Our attempt to drive from Lillehammer to the fjords during a blizzard on New Year's Eve still sends shivers down my spine. A seven hour journey ended up taking close to twenty because of road closures and treacherous conditions. We got within 30 minutes of our destination when we learned that the only road to the town was blocked by a snowdrift, so we rang in 2019 stranded in our car before finding a hotel that would take us for an inflated rate. They didn't allow dogs, either, so in our desperation we smuggled ours inside in a holdall. He was less disruptive than all the rowdy New Year's Eve partiers, anyway!

Where and when: Senoia, Georgia, USA, April 2017

The story: We visited the town of Senoia on our drive between New Orleans and Savannah. Senoia is known for being the set of Alexandria in 'The Walking Dead', and when we were there a whole section of the town was still being used as a live set. The locals have a great relationship with the TV crew due to the income the show brings, but what we didn't expect was that our AirBnB hosts were the owners of the official 'Walking Dead' museum and shop! When we told them about our tradition of collecting Christmas ornaments, they left us a little gift: our Rick figurine sits at the top of our tree, guarding us against festive zombies!

Where and when: Amsterdam, Netherlands, various trips

The story: Our first visit to Amsterdam was just a few months after we started dating, and we fully immersed ourselves in Amsterdam's seedy scene, visiting a cabaret club, a few 'coffee shops', and the red light district. It was definitely a unique way of getting to know each other better! Our subsequent visits have been quite a bit tamer, but we enjoy the city every time! Comparing the photos below, from our first trip (early 2014, after 5 months of dating) and our latest (late 2018, after 3.5 years married) is fun...we both seem to be more comfortable wearing our glasses in photos now, at least!

Where and when: Route 66, Arizona, USA, summer 2019

The story: I have a little bit of a longstanding obsession with ghost towns, and Route 66 is the epitome of them: a ghost road, bypassed by a highway in the 1960s and leaving hundreds of little towns stranded and forgotten. I love, love, love Americana, too, so the 1950s time-capsule atmosphere of the towns we visited along the Arizona leg of Route 66 was my happy place. And don't get me started on all the milkshakes we drank at retro diners along the way!

Where and when: Kenai Fjords, Alaska, summer 2016

The story: This cute little orca was a last-minute grab after our whale watching excursion in Alaska's Kenai Fjords. We saw glaciers calving right in front of our eyes, blue whales, and an entire pod of orca whales. It was absolutely exhilarating. We'd spotted the ornament before our excursion, but agreed that we couldn't buy it until we'd actually seen whales, as per our rules. When we got back on dry land, we realised the store was closing in five minutes and we were leaving town shortly afterwards, so Patrick sprinted several blocks to secure our ornament just before it closed!

Where and when: Marrakech, Morocco, April 2018

The story: This trip almost didn't happen, as our flight was on the verge of being cancelled due to a freak blizzard in London - in April! We made it, though, and spent a few days enjoying some of the best hospitality we've ever experienced. The colourful riad we stayed at made us a feast every morning and insisted that we eat until we were stuffed, and a food tour by a local had us trying everything from couscous cooked by the 'mama' of the souks to sheep's head!

Where and when: New Orleans, April 2017

The story: I mean, the only story here is that beignets are so delicious, we had to put them on our tree! Beignets are fried dough pillows dusted with icing sugar, and they're a New Orleans staple. Other things we did in New Orleans included a wonderfully kitschy ghost tour and me getting scratched by a black cat hanging out in the garden of Anne 'Interview with a Vampire' Rice's house.

Where and when: Bruges, Belgium, autumn 2014

The story: We've been to Bruges a couple of times, but our first trip stands out because of the most awkward AirBnB experience of all time! We'd booked the place because it was the only one that would take dogs, and we figured the sauna and hot tub room was just an added bonus. However, the one-way blinds, which should have allowed us to see out but keep prying eyes from seeing in, had been installed backwards...it was only when we left for dinner that we realised anyone passing by must have had an eyeful of us, completely oblivious, in the hot tub! Aside from this startling realisation, the rest of our visit was wonderful: autumnal, crisp, and not too crowded!

Where and when: San Marino, autumn 2017

The story: We had the perfect weather for an autumnal visit to Italy, sunny and surprisingly warm! We decided to spend the night in San Marino, a little republic surrounded by Italy on all sides, and it was wonderful: quiet and tourist-free, with cobbled streets and three stunning towers with views over the rolling hills and valleys drenched in autumnal colours. My main memory of our time in San Marino was getting tipsy during aperitivo hour and running down the steep cobbled streets in the dark, the only people there!

Where and when: London, various times

The story: Patrick and I met, fell in love, got engaged, and got our puppy in London. It's special. All the things we love can be found in London: the theatres,the restaurants, the architecture, the parks, the events... Our collection of London ornaments remind us of the great times we've had there: the Shakespeare reminds us of our many visits to the Globe Theatre; the cross from St Paul's reminds us where we got engaged; Platform 9 and 3/4 represents how we bonded over our shared childhood obsession with 'Harry Potter'.

Where and when: Germany, 2020 The story: This customised ornament represents the small amount of travelling we were able to do in 2020, getting to know our adopted home country better! As expats, we still feel like we've got a way to go before we're able to fit in completely here in Germany, but visiting a selection of quaint little towns and realising that we understand more than we think we do makes us feel a little more at home!

Where and when: German Christmas markets, various times

The story: Speaking of feeling a little more at home, one of our favourite German traditions is the Christmas market. We visit as many times as we can each year, getting our fill of Gluhwein and German snacks. We pick up an ornament every couple of years, and have recently started building our own paper village! We'll miss the markets desperately this year!

Where and when: Edinburgh, Scotland, 2015

The story: We'd been on a city tour of Edinburgh, learning about its rich history and folklore. Our favourite stop was the memorial for Greyfriars Bobby, a terrier said to be so loyal that he spent 14 years guarding his master's grave until his own death. Having a dog ourselves and knowing just how loyal they are, we couldn't resist taking home our own little Greyfriars Bobby to remind us that dogs really are man's best friend.

Where and when: Venice, Italy, July 2020

The story: There was a narrow window in the progression of the corona pandemic when Europe was open to Europeans, and I seized the opportunity to visit Venice! I found it eerily quiet and free of tour groups and cruise ships, which made for a perfect trip! Venice has such a romantic, rich history that it seeps into the atmosphere and makes it feel magical, especially when the streets are empty. I took a food tour during my trip and got to watch all the locals greet each other, like we were in a small village rather than the usual bustling tourist hub. I'm so glad I get to remember Venice this way!

Where and when: Hawaii, summer 2016

The story: We visited the island of Oahu in Hawaii and explored the whole thing in all its lush, volcanic glory. One of our favourite spots was Byodo-in, a Japanese temple nestled in the mountains. It was built in 1968 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. This bell now joins our torii gate from actual Japan, but at the time we bought it, we thought this temple in Hawaii was the closest we'd ever make it to Japan itself!

Where and when: The Swiss and Austrian Alps, summer 2018

The story: This cowbell absolutely represents our time in the Alps better than anything. Everywhere we went, we were greeted by a symphony of ringing bells as alpine cattle ambled their way along the mountainsides. My favourite alpine experiences, though, were driving the treacherous Swiss Furka Pass to visit the eerily abandoned Belvedere Hotel, and a visit to the picture-perfect Austrian town of Hallstatt.

Where and when: Las Vegas, USA, summer 2019

The story: I may have already mentioned that I have a fascination with Americana, and we may have made a visit to Vegas primarily to visit the Neon Museum, a graveyard for all the neon signs used on the strip throughout the city's glamorous golden years. We saw the famous Stardust sign, the multicoloured Lido letters, and many many more. I was in love. Out front of the museum is the original Silver Slipper, which graced the casino of the same name...and they just so happened to be selling mini versions in their store!

Where and when: Iceland, June 2017

The story: We spend a week driving Iceland's ring road in a camper van. It was cold and rainy most days, but the midnight sun gave us a unique way to explore: we were visiting deserted waterfalls at 11pm and watching midnight sunsets that merged into sunrises. One of the most common sights in the country (aside from the waterfalls, of course) was the rugged sheep...and when we stumbled upon a shop selling handcrafted wool products and discovered this little cutie, we knew it was meant to be! She even has a traditional name, according to the label: Harpa!

Where and when: Eger, Hungary, summer 2017

The story: This quiet town north of Budapest changed our travel game forever. We discovered that planning your meals in advance and trying new dishes via tasting menus and food tours is the key to stress-free and delicious travel! We've never looked back! We visited quite a few countries during this trip: Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia, and ate better than we ever had before!

Where and when: Kotor in Montenegro and Bled in Slovenia, summer 2017

The story: Two little bells to remember two beautiful aerial views! We hiked 1350 steps up to the monastery on top of a hill in Kotor, Montenegro early in the morning, before sharing a well-earned breakfast with the famous cats of Kotor. In Bled, we took a scorching hike up the hill for views over Lake Bled and the little island with a church in the middle. That evening, we also got to enjoy another aerial view of the lake, this time at sunset as we ate dinner on the terrace at Bled Castle.

Where and when: Sri Lanka, Christmas 2016

The story: We got these elephants at the Sri Lankan Cultural Centre in the city of Kandy, after seeing a traditional dance and arts show. Funny story, though: we'd flagged down a tuk tuk driver to bring us to the show, but when he dropped us off and insisted we were in the right place, something felt a bit off. The building was advertising a cultural show, but everything looked somewhat sad and dingy. Still, trusting our tuk tuk driver we bought tickets and went inside, only to realise our mistake: this was a knock-off show, a tourist scam. We backed up and after quite a heated discussion we were given a refund. It turned out that the real cultural show was in the building right next door! The cheek! Luckily, the real show was wonderful, and we were treated to a stunning sunset over the lake afterwards, too!

Where and when: Bavaria, Germany, various trips The story: We love Bavaria for its gingerbread villages, mountains and glacial lakes, and one of our favourite little towns is Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It's a tradition for us now to grab a schneeball (snow ball), the local sweet treat, and wander around the quaint little streets as we eat! There's an enormous year-round Christmas shop and museum there, which might be where we got this ornament - I got the matching photo, too!

Where and when: Riga and Tallinn December 2019

The story: We decided to visit the Baltics for Christmas in 2019, because we wanted to extend our festive fix: in Latvia and Estonia, the Russian Orthodox tradition means Christmas goes until 7th January! We got to enjoy Christmas markets in Riga followed by New Year's Eve fireworks in Tallinn. We even got a dusting of snow! One of the most unique moments of the trip was a visit to Tallinn's gingerbread museum, full of sculptures made from - yep! - gingerbread.

There are more ornaments than these on our tree, but I'd miss the Christmas season completely if I sat here and tried to write about them all!

Needless to say, this is a tradition I hope we'll be able to keep going with, even if we do run out of space on our tree for all the ornaments one day!