By Audrey Scott
When 2016 first began, I imagined it to be a relatively quiet year for us, at least in terms of travel. However, in these final flickers and embers, I peer back in reflection over our Instagram feed and photo stream and am struck by breadth and depth in turns that we've known over these last twelve months.
We've lived a diversity of experiences personal and professional, from slow-moving walks like the Camino de Santiago (960km/600 miles to leaping continental arcs across the time zones and territories of Australia. Our travels have spanned rich cultures, our footsteps followed in vast histories. And our own time — narrow a window as it is, one year — has been chock full of awe inspiring natural landscapes and 365-day tapestry of humanity, stitched with fortunate, nourishing encounters along the way.
The end of the year for us always serves as a time to pause, to breathe, to consider. I don’t think I’m alone when I admit that this last year — from its start to its finish — has offered monumental challenges across dimensions. When we take stock of all that we have, including the fruit of projects that challenged us personally and professionally and took us to four continents these last twelve months, we are profoundly grateful.
Now, the images. Some of our richest visual recollections, on Instagram and elsewhere in 2016! I know that I’m biased, and I say it each year, but I envy Dan's eye. Even in well-traveled, oft-captured destinations, he’s able to catch details that too often go overlooked. Enjoy!
1. Up in the Air
More Up in the Air photos: Photos from the Airplane Window
2. Colmar, France
More photos: All Around France, Weekend in Paris
3. Northern Territory, Australia
More photos: Australia Photos
More reading: Australia in Two Weeks: An Experiential Guide, Aboriginal Australia: An Arc Towards Understanding
4. Great Ocean Road, Australia
5. Western Australia
6. Tasmania, Australia
7. Bordeaux, France
8. Camino del Norte – Basque Country, Spain
More photos: Camino del Norte, Spain
9. Camino Primitivo, Spain
More photos: Camino Primitivo
10. Chobe, Botswana
More reading: From Wildlife to Village Life: An Experiential Guide to Chobe, Botswana
11. Okavango Delta, Botswana
More reading: Disconnecting to Reconnect: A Journey Into the Okavango Delta, Botswana
12. Mkgadikgadi Pans National Park, Botswana
More reading: Botswana: First Impressions
13. Bicycling the Berlin Wall
More reading: Berlin Travel: A Beginner's Guide
14. Jyrgalan Trek, Kyrgyzstan
More photos: Jyrgalan Trek, Tian Shan Mountains
More reading: Offbeat Trekking in Kyrgyzstan: Jyrgalan Trek, A Beginner’s Guide
15. World Nomad Games, Kyrgyzstan
More photos: Photos from the World Nomad Games 2016
More reading: What Are the World Nomad Games? An Experiential Guide
16. Memphis, Tennessee
16. Deep Travel Project, Berlin
More reading: Deep Travel: A New Project with Context Travel
17. Christmas Markets, Berlin
We were in Kyrgyzstan during the attack on the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market in Berlin, one that aimed to kill and injure people gathered to celebrate the holiday. Upon returning to Berlin just a few days later we were inspired by the response of Berliners who spoke of the resilience of their city, their commitment to the way of life it represents, and their vow not to allow fear to take control of their lives or hijack their spirit of generosity and tolerance.
More reading: Berlin Christmas Markets: A Beginner's Guide
18. Southern Shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
More reading: A Perfect Day in Kyrgyzstan
19. Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
20. Favorite Street Art – Melbourne
More photos: Melbourne Street Art Photo Gallery
More reading: Melbourne Street Art: A Lens To Explore the City
So we're curious: where will 2017 take you?
The post Up in the Air, Down to Earth: Our 2016 Travel Year in Review appeared first on Uncornered Market.