How I went to 8 exciting countries. Brexit happened. And then my father died in 2019!

Posted on January 3, 2020 by thebritishberliner

Victoria Ade-Genschow; The British Berliner; Berlin; British expat; British travel blogger; travel blogger; lifestyle blogger; expat blogger; travel professional; monarchy expert; presenter; TV presenter; British in Berlin; British in Germany; British expat in Berlin; British expat in Germany; EU; Europe; European Union; Expat life, Germany; Europe; travel;

boots; feet; Hunter boots; rain boots; wellington boots; gum boots; rain boots; boots in the rain; rain; raining; rainy weather; weather; a puddle; a puddle of water; feet in public places; wet feet; — How I went to 8 exciting countries. Brexit happened. And then my father died in 2019!

Happy New Year everyone.

It’s officially 2020!

My goodness!

2019 was an exciting, but very mixed year!

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 statistics, over 130,000+ people read my blog in some form or other, last year.

130,000+ people!!

I don’t know how I managed that as in most cases I only managed to write one (1) or two (2) articles per month!

And why pray?

Well, my dad died!

loss; death; passing away; sadness; sense of loss; intimate feelings; sad, unhappy; not happy; upset; upsetting; raw feelings; feelings; family loss; family; — I rarely talk about intimate members of my family, but my dad passed away. It’s been most upsetting.

I rarely talk about intimate members of my family, but my dad passed away in June.

It was most upsetting.

He was a man who was born into wealth and privilege but chose to live a gentle life.

He was quiet but allowed us all to choose what was best for us, rather than the other way around.

Most importantly of all, he loved running and was always in one marathon or the other. In fact, growing up, he was kind enough to let all his children win, whenever we ran against him!

I’ve always had my daddy even as an adult and a parent myself.
It still feels strange.

I don’t have a dad anymore!

He was 77 years old and is survived by his children & second wife of 40+ years.

Ode to my father; marathon, running, run — To protect the privacy of my family, this photograph is not him, but an ode and representation of my father.

I would like to thank you all, for the kind words and support that many of you gave me, at that most awful time.

thank you; thanks; many thanks; thank you guys; thx; thanks so much; thanks very much; vielen dank; danke; danke schön; people; group of people; everybody; — I would just like to thank some very important people – YOU!

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

So let’s do this.

You won’t believe it but four (4) of the countries I visited last year, were utterly new ones!

Here we go!

THE 8 COUNTRIES THAT I WENT TO LAST YEAR WERE:

Norway
Greece
France
England
Italy
Georgia
Poland
Ukraine

NORWAY:

Oslo Fjord Sightseeing River Cruise; Oslo Fjord Sightseeing; Oslo Fjord River Cruise; Oslo Fjord Cruise; Oslo Fjord River; Oslo Fjord Lake; Oslo Fjord; Oslo; Fjord; Norway; Norwegian; river cruise; river; lake; cruise, water, boat; travel; open water, Europe, Nordic — Victoria on the Oslo Fjord Sightseeing river cruise in Oslo! ©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Norway – January 2019

I love travelling with our son, and even though he’s 17, almost 18 now (gulp), it won’t be long until he’ll want to be travelling with his friends.

In that wise, every January, The Tall Young Gentleman and I, spend some quality time together either visiting some dubious destination, or skiing!

This time around, I decided to take him to Oslo.

In Norway.

Get ready for exciting posts over the winter!

GREECE:

Greek Parliament; Parliament; Evazones; Presidential Guards; Greek Presidential Guards; pom-poms; Greek soldiers; Greek pom-poms: Greek shoes; 'Greek costume; Greek traditions; Greek traditional costume; Greek traditional clothes; Greek traditional soldiers; Greece; Greek; Greek culture; Athens; Athena; Hellas; Hellinic; Europe; travel — Victoria at the Greek Parliament in Athens. ‘Notice the Evzones or presidential guards’ pom-poms. I think they’re amazing, but perhaps a little difficult to fight in! ©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Greece – March 2019

I absolutely loved Athens.

In Greece!

It was a birthday present from my husband – The Music Producer.

I’d never been to Greece before.

I was delighted!

Although there was so much going on last year that I forgot to write about ‘it. Oops!

I did push out photos and videos on Facebook & Twitter.

Follow me on Twitter here!

#HappyNewYear Everyone!
My #family & I, wish you all the very best & a #fantastic time ahead.
May #thisyear be as good, or better than #lastyear!
Welcome to 2020!#FrohesNeuesJahr #frohesneuesjahr2020 #HappyNewYear2020 #NewYear2020 #NewYear #2020NewYear #Year2020 #newdecade pic.twitter.com/YcrW3H7R2p
— Thebritishberliner (@britishberliner) January 1, 2020

FRANCE:

And then we went to France.

Restaurant Le Criquet in Arles; Restaurant Le Criquet, Arles; Restaurant Le Criquet; Le Criquet; Restaurant, Arles; Provence; France; Europe; travel — Victoria outside Restaurant Le Criquet in Arles! ©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – France – April 2019

France is one of my favourite countries, so we tend to go there quite often!

This time around, we went to Provence.

To be precise, we went to:

And we went there by train!

Read more about France here!

ENGLAND:

Churchill; Winston Churchill; Brexit; Brexit is boring; Brexit Bollocks; Bollocks; Brexit chaos; Brexit shambles; boring; Article 50; Article 50 and Brexit; Brexit in the UK; Real facts you should know about Brexit; Real facts you should know about the EU; Real facts you should know about the European Union; Real facts you should know about British politics; Real facts you should know; Real facts you should know about Article 50; Real facts you should know about the UK's EU Referendum; Real facts you should know about the EU Referendum; Everything you need to know about Brexit; Everything you need to know about Article 50; Everything you need to know about the Referendum in the UK; Everything you need to know about Britain in the EU; EU Referendum; Referendum; British; Britain; British Politics; EU; European Union; the UK's EU Referendum; European politics; British politics; Vote Leave; Vote Remain; Remain; Leave; UK; United Kingdom; politics; — Churchill would be turning in his grave!

Hopefully, you all know that England is where I originally come from so when my dad died, I used my British passport in order to travel to Cheshire, where my parents live!

I didn’t write about the funeral here of course, but if you’re looking for resources and research material about England, go to this link here!

And remember, if ever you need help booking or organising a trip, you can contact me here!

ITALY:

My favourite part of Italy is Tuscany, but we didn’t go there this time, we went to an island.

The island of Sardinia.

I’m not big on hot beaches, but sometimes, you’ve got to get out of your comfort zone, and for me, it’s a very hot beach rather than a windy rainy one!

Even though we were grieving and bereaved, we liked it very much and needed the break!

GEORGIA:

I went to Tbilisi.

In Georgia!

Not Georgia in the USA!

Here’s what I wrote. Click here!

POLAND:

soup; tomato soup; tomato broth; tomato stew; zupa; Polish soup; zupa pomidorowa; thick soup; chicken; meat; vegetables; savoury food; food; Polish food; Polish; Bicykl Restaurant; Polish meal; Polish snack; snack in Łódź; food in Łódź; soup in Łódź; meal; snack; restaurant; Polish restaurant; Łódź restaurant; restaurant in Łódź; restaurant in Poland; Łódź; Poland; Polish; Europe; Eastern Europe; European; travel; — The Tall Young Gentleman with a rich tomato soup broth at Bicykl Restaurant in Łódź – ©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Poland – October 2019

Head; The Head, huge head; sculptural head; bronze head; Eros Bendato; Eros Tied; Igor Mioraj; sculptural head on Rynek Glowny; sculptural head on Krakow Town Square; sculptural head in Krakow; huge head on Rynek Glowny; huge head on Krakow Town Square; huge head in Krakow; head on Rynek Glowny; head on Krakow Town Square; head in Krakow; statue; sculptor; man; face; culture; art; Krakow; Cracow; Poland; Polish; Europe; Eastern Europe; European; travel; — The huge bronze head – Eros Bendato – on Rynek Główny in Kraków ©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Poland – October 2019

Poland is one of my favourites places to visit, but last year I decided to go to both Krakow and for the very first time – Łódź!

For more on Poland, click here!

UKRAINE:

I hadn’t actually planned to travel to Ukraine at all!

But as I was going to be in Poland anyway and was looking for a new destination, I remembered that Ukraine was just around the corner and added it in!

We went to just two cities:

Prepare to be bombarded with posts over the winter!

WHY DID VICTORIA GO TO POLAND, GEORGIA & UKRAINE?

I’m going to Poland, Georgia & Ukraine – What fun; tram; transport; In Lviv; In Kiev; in Kyiv; Ukraine; the Ukraine; Ukranian; Europe; European; Eastern Europe; travel; family travel; solo travel; — I’m going to Poland, Georgia & Ukraine – What fun!

p.s If you’re booking hotels, houses and apartments, use this link to save 20% or more, between 5th January and 31st March 2021!

Booking.com

Because all the above countries are in Eastern Europe, have long magnificent histories, fascinating cultures, and a gastronomy that people say you have just got to try!

And they’re ridiculously cheap!

Surely, the time was right!

BERLIN:

Oh yeaaaah! Berlin baby! I’ve been living here as an expat for more than 17 years. I know Berlin that’s why I am The British Berliner! So without further delay, here are some of the lovely posts that I wrote in 2019, just for you:

AND THEN BREXIT HAPPENED. URGH!

Brexit; Brexit is boring; Brexit Bollocks; Bollocks; Brexit chaos; Brexit shambles; boring; Article 50; Article 50 and Brexit; Brexit in the UK; Real facts you should know about Brexit; Real facts you should know about the EU; Real facts you should know about the European Union; Real facts you should know about British politics; Real facts you should know; Real facts you should know about Article 50; Real facts you should know about the UK's EU Referendum; Real facts you should know about the EU Referendum; Everything you need to know about Brexit; Everything you need to know about Article 50; Everything you need to know about the Referendum in the UK; Everything you need to know about Britain in the EU; EU Referendum; Referendum; British; Britain; British Politics; EU; European Union; the UK's EU Referendum; European politics; British politics; Vote Leave; Vote Remain; Remain; Leave; UK; United Kingdom; politics; — Brexit is Boring!

The British Berliner is a well-known British-German expert when it comes to the British Monarchy, British Politics and British expat issues in Germany, and of course a popular well-known British person who travels!

In fact, I was on TV, on the radio & in the newspaper.

Yep!

I was on Radio One (Radio Eins) too.

For more posts that I wrote about Britain, being a British expat, the UK, or where I was featured in 2019, click here!

I didn’t do too badly, me thinks!

OTHER STUFF!

The British Berliner is 6 years old; birthday; happy birthday; 6 year blog anniversary; blog birthday; blogbirthday; blog anniversary; bloganniversary; anniversary; blog; blogger; blogging; blogging tips; blogging 101; celebrate; celebration; six; six years; six years old; six years of blogging; six year blog; 6; 6 years; 6 years old; success; motivation; achievement; made it; made; I made it; — The British Berliner is 6 years old. It’s my birthday and I’ll sing if I want to!

The work of a lifestyle, expat, travel blogger is never done, so I’ll leave with you with some of my most inspiring motivational posts!

How I can afford a life of travel: Don’t choose. Have it all!
How to use the train in Europe 2019: 10 tips to help you
How to start a blog in just a mere 10 minutes: A simple guide!
Are you a new blogger: 10 things to do if you’re a new blogger and what I learnt!
How to be a professional blogger: I went to the ITB in Berlin, so am I a professional travel blogger?
How to get invited on your first press trip: My first press or FAM trip ever to Nord-Pas de Calais otherwise known as, Northern France!
How to be clever & NOT get scammed: 7 travel scams to avoid!
For more, click here!

If you would like to do what I do or travel the way I do, you can click on any of the pull-down items above, or on the side bar!

By the way, you don’t have to wait for Christmas to get presents. Go ahead and treat yourself!

kitten; cat; pet; animal; a pet is for life; Christmas; Xmas; Christmas gifts; Christmas presents; Xmas gifts; Xmas presents; festive season; holiday season; presents; gifts; Christmas things; Xmas things; festive things; Holiday things; — 7 Christmas gifts that don’t cost a single thing, and 7 gifts that do – 20192020!

In short, all things considering, 2019 was alright.

I love the life of the roving journalist and blogger about town.

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.

Bottoms up!

I'm not really a beach person as I prefer mountains and rivers or beach destinations that have more than the sea to recommend them! Me at the Grotto in the Algarve! — I’m not really a beach person as I prefer mountains or beach destinations that have more than the sea to recommend them!

I have so much to say, so I will be sharing some of my travel destinations for 2020 with you very soon.

It’s a New Year. Hip! Hip! Hurrah!

Victoria Ade-Genschow; The British Berliner; in Berlin; at home; cat; cats; pet; Berlin; Germany; travel; Europe; — Victoria at home in Berlin, with one of her cats!
©Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner – Berlin – May 2020

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How I went to 8 exciting countries. Brexit happened. And then my father died in 2019!
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Victoria Ade-Genschow; The British Berliner; walking; cameras;documentary; doku; Berlin Very British; live TV broadcast in Germany; live TV broadcast; rbb Abendshow LIVE; rbb Abendshow; rbb; Abendshow; live TV show; rbb evening show live; rbb evening show; rbb; Berlin; Brandenburg; broadcasting; Germany; travel blogger; travel professional; monarchy expert; presenter; TV presenter; British expat; British in Berlin; British in Germany; Europe; — Victoria Ade-Genschow – The British Berliner: I absolutely love walking! ©Pascale Scerbo Sarro

So what are you waiting for, 2020 is finally here.

Get to work!

And good luck!

HOW I WENT TO 8 EXCITING COUNTRIES. BREXIT HAPPENED. AND THEN MY FATHER DIED IN 2019!

poppies; poppy; flowers; a field of poppies; red and blue poppies; red poppies; blue poppies; a field of flowers; a field; colourful flowers; a field of colour; colour; colourful; France; French; Europe; travel; — How I went to 8 exciting countries. Brexit happened. And then my father died in 2019!

This article is not sponsored, and the enchanting countries that I visited in 2019, were all my very own!

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

January is going to be splendid!

See you soon!

Watch this space!

DISCLOSURE!

Please note that The British Berliner is a participant in affiliate programmes designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to World Nomads Travel Insurance & Booking.com.

In short, there are two affiliate link companies connected to this post!

Every time one of these services is used, booked, and paid for via my link, I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!

A win-win for all!

Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.

I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!

So what are you waiting for?

Thanks a million!

Where did you travel to last year? Are there any particular posts that you enjoyed? Let me know in the comments below!

See you in Berlin.

If you have any questions, send me a Tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com

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