How I went to 11 marvellous countries, & taught the Germans about the Queen in 2015. If I can do it, so can you!

Original photo © Belén de Benito
Original photo © Belén de Benito

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

My. What a year we’ve had.

2015 was fabulous for me and 2016 is going to be even more spectacular!

But first, let’s take a walk down memory lane of all the countries that I went to last year, and what I did. According to my WordPress annual report, over 69,000 people have read my blog in the last year from 171 countries. 69,000 people!! To think this little blog is but two (2) years old. Isn’t that brilliant?

The three (3) top countries were:

  1. USA – 13,000 readers.
  2. Germany – 10,000 readers.
  3. UK – 9,500 readers.

With the lovely Latvia right behind – 9,300 readers.

Amaaaazing!

Thank You!

Thank you so much for reading, making comment, and sticking with me. I love you all!

So let’s start with the country of my birth (England), and end with my new home-country (Germany). Here we go. Choose your poison….!

THE 11 COUNTRIES THAT I WENT TO LAST YEAR WERE:

  • England
  • Holland
  • The Czech Republic
  • Hungary
  • Lithuania
  • Latvia
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Poland
  • Spain
  • Germany

ENGLAND:

Oysters and stout on a wooden table outside a pub, England UK - ©VisitBritain Daniel Bosworth
Oysters and stout on a wooden table outside a pub, England UK –
©VisitBritain Daniel Bosworth

Last year I went to Bristol and I was extremely honoured to be invited as a guest of Visit Bristol. While I was there, I decided to drop into the city of Bath too but I haven’t actually written it about it yet, but you’ll get that post soon enough lol!

Not bad at all!

HOLLAND:

In the Red Light District, Amsterdam.
In the Red Light District, Amsterdam.
  • I have a great husband and every now and then I get a free weekend. It was January and I hadn’t been to Holland in nine (9) years so I decided to go on a solo weekend to Amsterdam and this is what I did: I went to a sex-show!!!

THE CZECH REPUBLIC:

"The Tall Young Gentleman" surrounded by teenaged girls at Rokytnice nad Jizerou!
“The Tall Young Gentleman” surrounded by teenaged girls at Rokytnice nad Jizerou!

Not only did I visit one of my favourite countries ever. But in 2015, I actually went twice!

And then I went to Prague.

In Prague reading something and looking all serious, but not completely serious!
In Prague reading something and looking all serious, but not completely serious!

What?

You haven’t yet been?

Incredible!

HUNGARY:

Chess players in the Széchenyi Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool - Budapest.
Chess players in the Széchenyi Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool – Budapest.

Hungary was on the map this year but for all the wrong reasons. Sadly, rather than the lovely goulash and paprika soup, it became far more known for the dismal handling of refugees running for their lives. Lest we forget, as far as the common man in Europe is concerned, #refugeesarewelcome.

THE BALTIC STATES:

A map of the Baltic Sea.
A map of the Baltic Sea.

I travel a lot and as much as I love travelling to my favourite regions of the world over and over again (Hello Tuscany!), one of the most interesting things about the Baltic Region is that I had never been there before so I decided to make a family trip out of it.

My husband gulped when I told him that not only were we going to the “other” Eastern Europe otherwise known as The Baltics, but we were going by long-distance coach-bus from country to country! I’m a determined woman and so with the part-sponsorship of an Estonian company called Lux Express, we went by road and back again!

LITHUANIA:

Vilnius B&B in Lithuania.

LATVIA:

Riga Black Balsam.

Twenty six thousand (26,000) views, hits and shares!

Absolutely Outstanding!

Thank you Latvia!!

ESTONIA:

Estonian Young Folk.
Estonian Young Folk.

FINLAND:

Helsinki Monument, Finland. @VisitFinland
Helsinki Monument, Finland.
@VisitFinland

POLAND:

Jesus in Warsaw.
Jesus in Warsaw.

For many people, Poland is an unknown country somewhere in an obscure part of Eastern Europe. If you do want to venture there, not to worry as I’ve been going there for almost twenty (20) years, so I’ve got tips to help you plan your way!

SPAIN:

Paella for lunch at TBEX in Lloret de Mar - Spain. Yum!
Paella for lunch at TBEX in Lloret de Mar – Spain.
Yum!

I love Spain and for the first time, I decided to attend the TBEX conference which is the holy grail of the travel blogging world and stands for Travel Blog Exchange.

I decided to stay closer to home and attend TBEX EUROPE. In previous years, the bloggers conference had been in Dublin and Athens but in 2015, it was in Costa Brava, Catalunya. In Lloret de Mar to be specific. Near the beach. Olé!

But is it just me or does disaster follow me around like a bad smell? Firstly, my flight out from Berlin to Barcelona was delayed, and was so late coming in, that I had to stay at Barcelona Airport all night! And secondly, my return flight was also delayed, ten (10) hours behind schedule! Ten (10) hours!

I mean.

Come on!!

OTHER PARTS OF GERMANY:

Roman cohorts at the Varus Battle in Osnabrück. © Tourismusverband Osnabrücker Land e.V.
Roman cohorts at the Varus Battle in Osnabrück.
© Tourismusverband Osnabrücker Land e.V.
  • The most popular post about Germany is still actually the very first post, that I ever wrote on my blog. Isn’t that funny! The title was: Germany is Boring. Ooops! Yeah, I got insults and abuse for this post. Mainly from people who never read it.

Ah well, I’m famous now. Right. Right?!

MORE NEXT WEEK!

The Black Kilts and my British-German family! © Pascale Scerbo Sarro
The Black Kilts and my British-German family!
© Pascale Scerbo Sarro

Blogging is a lone game and a solo art and in 2015, many more experienced bloggers struggled to maintain momentum or to overcome exhaustion. I’m lucky. I have a family and I have a life. Most importantly, I’ve already found my home-base  – Berlin – and I’m extremely happy with where I am and who I am.

Thank you so much for your support everyone. 2015 was a lovely year. Here’s to the next. Bottoms up!

I'm a very happy British lifestyle, expat, travel blogger. Right here in the beautiful city of Berlin - © Pascale Scerbo Sarro
I’m a very happy British lifestyle, expat, travel blogger. Right here in the beautiful city of Berlin –
© Pascale Scerbo Sarro

This post is not sponsored and I can’t wait to hear from you!

If you have any questions about Berlin, Germany or anywhere in Europe, don’t be shy, I’m an expert! Go ahead and ask me!

I have so much to share with you so next week I will be writing about some of my travel destinations for 2016 with you.

It”s a New Year. Hip! Hip! Hurrah!

If you’re not in Berlin in January, then where the hell are you?

January is going to be splendid!

Watch this space!

We love my blog!

Where did you travel to last year? Any achievements that you would like to share?

If you like this post or if you have any questions send me a tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on Linkedin, make a comment below, look for me on Google+ or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com

Please Share it! Tweet it! Or like it!

30 Comments on “How I went to 11 marvellous countries, & taught the Germans about the Queen in 2015. If I can do it, so can you!

  1. What an amazing year you’ve had! Wishing you a fabulous 2016 full of blessings!

    • Happy New Year Lola & thanks so much! I am delighted and amazed at how 2015 worked out for me but you’ve had a fantastic year too. And we, in the blogging world, are all very proud of you. Keep it up and glasses of champagne for all! 🙂 🙂

  2. What an amazing year you’ve had! Wishing you a fabulous ä016 full of blessings!

  3. Congratulations on a “splendid” year!! I love your blog titles and I’m not surprised the Riga post went viral! I have never been to the Baltic area but your posts have fascinated me. All the best for continued success in 2016!

    • Thanks so much! I’m amazed at just how well 2015 went. AS for my blog titles, I guess they’re pretty unique and show the eccentric-ness of myself. I fit in quite well lol! Oh do! Go to the Baltics. It’s super cheap and somewhere differnt. You’ll love it! 🙂
      p.s. How was your year?

  4. Happy New Year and what an amazing 2015 you had in terms of travel and blogging! We will be spending 2015 in Europe and hope to visit some of the countries you’ve highlighted here. Can’t wait to hear what you have planned for 2016!

    • Happy New Year to you too Amy! Thank you! You’ve had a really full year too after spending a few years in Vietnam and then travelling to the US. I can’t wait to visit again myself lol. 🙂 I had a peek on my phone this morning so you’re going to have a great time in Europe & I’ll be happy to help! What’s in store for 2016? Find out next week!

  5. Happy New Year! It sounds like 2015 has been wonderful, and I’m sure 2016 will be too! Looking forward to reading about it!

    • Thanks so much Rachel. Happy New Year to you too! I’m astounded at how well 2015 turned out, but very pleased. Here’s to 2016 and to more exciting stuff!

  6. Whew!! Slow down and breathe :-). Awesome year you had. Definitely squeezed in a lot in the time you had..good for you. Time waits for no man 😀. Here’s to lots more in the upcoming year! You will have a blast lm sure. We won’t make it to ITB..somehow l scheduled a trip to Mallorca without realizing it…maybe next year 😀.

    • Breathing! Breathing!
      Thanks so much kemkem! Yes, 2015 was hefty but I’m very pleased as I went to a few of my fave places. Twice in some places and lots of new ones! What a shame that you’re not going to make it to ITB this year but I have a feeling that we might see each other this year after all. You’ll see why next week!

  7. Hey girl! Happy New Year! 🙂 I love the fact that you’ve achieved so much in your life and blogging. Wishing you all the best and can’t wait for your next travel adventures. How long are you planning to stay in Berlin?

    • Happy New Year to you Agness & thanks so much for your very nice comment! I’m very pleased. 🙂
      How long am I planning to stay in Berlin as an expat? Ummm! With a German husband and a half German-half British son, I’m thinking possibly forever lol! Now, if I get an exceptional offer from Hong-Kong I might change my mind….!

  8. I am still amazed at all you do! What a fantastic year Victoria! Here’s to 2016 being even bigger and better 🙂

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