This year has been a joy for us here at Gallivance. We took you along with us to 26 countries and 74 cities across the globe.
You camped with us around the US in our new pop-up camper, and shared our elation of finishing our Basecamp Gallivance renovation. We sifted through our statistics and comments to discover your favorite posts this year, and the results were fascinating. You certainly have wide-ranging tastes – from travel stories and gear advice to personal anecdotes and photo essays. So in true David Letterman style, we’ll start with #10:
10. Bushwacked in Krakow After traveling the world for so many years we’ve learned to “expect the unexpected” when it comes to bathrooms. But James never dreamed he’d meet his match in the uber-modern bathroom of our Krakow apartment.
9. The Wroclaw Gnomes: Too Much Fun! If you thought that gnomes were only found in kitschy gardens … think again. Wroclaw, Poland has transformed these vertically-challenged creatures into high art and the best scavenger hunt on the planet.
8. Capture the Colour: Blue on Blue When we were invited to enter the Capture the Colour photo contest, we decided to ask your opinion on which photos to submit. You were fabulous! And although we didn’t win, we sure had a blast getting to know you better.
7. Finding Common Ground How do you find a way to connect with people when you don’t speak their language? Terri faced this challenge as a young teacher in Washington D.C. You’ll love the solution.
6. The House that Chocolate Built With an opening sentence that paired chocolate and sex we got your attention. But our love of unusual architecture lead us to a fascinating discovery in Barcelona.
5. The Global Cottage Despite all our cultural differences across the planet, millions of us have one overriding thing in common: we live in modest dwellings. From gypsy wagons and RVs to house boats and bungalows. We called these shelters “Global Cottages” and they captured your imagination.
4. The Lotus: An Exquisite Flower and Symbol of Faith If there’s one thing we’ve learned about you this year it’s that you love symbolism. This post really struck a chord on so many levels.
3. Starbucks in Bali: Coffee is Optional Even if you’re not a coffee drinker … and hate Starbucks, you loved this little slice of heaven in Ubud, Bali.
2. 7 Reasons to Rent an Apartment the Next Time You Travel If you want to transform yourself from a “tourist” into a “traveler” and live like a local on your next trip, we shared a whopping 42 ideas and money-saving tips on renting an apartment in our most popular 3-part series.
1. Travel Zoom Cameras: The Perfect Compromise We were surprised that this post was far and away our most popular for the year – but in retrospect, maybe we shouldn’t have been. Most of our readers are travelers as well as bloggers, and when bouncing around the globe, you struggle with how to take great photos with small, lightweight gear.
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So, that’s it for us this year. Did we miss any of your personal faves? Just let us know! Also, check out these great 2013 retrospectives from some of our favorite bloggers – you will love them.
• Bronwyn’s Top 5 Posts over at Journeys of the Fabulist will keep you laughing into the new year. Her post “Twenty-four Gift Ideas for Travellers, Expats, Minimalist and All Other Human Beings” wins our “Best of the Season Award.”
• Jeff at Planet Bell is an astounding photographer and talented, hilarious travel writer. He highlights 20 of his Best/Favorite Photos of 2013.
• Nicole at Thirdeyemom celebrates a year filled with family adventures and her incredible global volunteer work in The Wonderful Joys of 2013.
• Sue at Travel Tales of Life just finished her first marathon and survived the earlier floods in Alberta Canada. Check out her Best of 2013.
• James at Plus Ultra writes an elegant travel blog that will transport you to jaw-dropping destinations. We really enjoyed his 2013: a year in review.
• Cathy at Nomad, Interrupted is the definition of intrepid. Her post Twenty-Thirteen will blow your mind with her adventures.
• Leslie at Chic Adventurer had an incredible travel year, with both highs and lows. Check out her Best and Worst Travel Moments of 2013.
• Suzanne at The Travelbunny has had a fantastic year of travel which included flying goats! I kid you not. See her Travelbunny Highlights 2013 for more.
• Bama at What an Amazing World provides the smart, compassionate insight to destinations and cultures that all travelers crave. You’ll enjoy his 2013, The Journey Continues.
• And we love Jennifer’s tongue-in-cheek post at Expat Lingo with her Top Ten Predictions for 2014.
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The final and most important thought that we want to leave you with in 2013 is:
“YOU TOTALLY ROCK!”
Thanks for your friendship, love, ideas, support, opinions, and great conversations!
Wishing you all the very best in 2014. Can’t wait to find out what’s ahead for all of us.
See you next year.
Terri & James
Photo Credits: 1. By xandert 5. By Chilombiano 7. Evelyn Simak via Wikimedia Commons 10. Cezary via Wikimedia Commons 11. Jonathan McIntosh via Wikimedia Commons
GALLIVANCE 
So happy to have found you this fall and looking forward to next year’s adventures! All the very best to both of you.
Thank you James and Terri for the recommendation to your readers of my blog! Very much appreciated. Looking forward to sharing stories of adventure in 2014!
Totally our pleasure Sue! Can’t wait to see what you’re up to in 2014 – hopefully no floods. ~Terri
Sue, the day we discovered you was a joy. I still remember it – your post “Slovenian Game Show” just knocked our socks off! We think you’re amazing and wish you the very best in 2014. 🙂 ~Terri and James
Wow! You leave me humbled and speechless…and that is a rare event. 🙂
I am so very grateful you found me..and I you. My sincere thanks for your generous compliments. Looking forward to sharing tales of adventures in 2014!
Keep posting those stories in 2014!
Will do Andrew. We’re also looking forward to seeing what you’re up to in the New Year. Thanks again for the link to our blog. Happy New Year! ~James
Bushwacked in Krakow was my favorite. I always made my wife go first in new showers after that.
I look forward to more next year. Happy new year!
Thanks Jeff. I’m pleased that you enjoyed the post, and that you got some useful information from it as well. (Don’t tell you wife I said that.) Happy New Year to you as well. ~James
You have gotten around! Will have to get back to some of the posts!
You’re welcome back any time. I imagine that this is a wacky question, but did you have a white Christmas in Helsinki? ~James
Not a wacky one but the answer is tooooooo booooring: no. Already longing for proper ice skating season!
What a great idea for a post – your Top Ten of 2013! I must have discovered you somewhere after some of these stories went live, so I was delighted to have this quick reference to your past stories. I was quite moved by the Vietnamese students story. I am still reading. It’s like finding a book I hadn’t read by a favorite author. Thanks! – Mike
Mike, thanks so much for your kind words. It’s so interesting to see what people like to read about. Sometimes we predict correctly … and other times we miss the mark. But the most baffling are the posts that fall flat initially and then suddenly gain popularity. Ah, the mysteries of the Universe. Happy New Year to you and Florence. ~Terri
Happy New Year Bronwyn! Thanks so much for the very kind link to our Best of 2013 post. Thanks to your wonderful idea, we’re including the retrospectives of some of our favorite bloggers too. We both loved your 24 Gift Ideas posts (we’re minimalists and human beings 🙂 ) and think you deserve the “Best of Season Award.” It’s been such a joy getting to know you this year and we can’t wait to see your adventures in 2014. All the best, Terri & James
Wishing you all the best in 2014!
Happy New Year Laura! We hope that 2014 is a banner year for you. All the best, Terri & James
You are both an inspiration to all of us! Thanks so much for all your great posts this year. I’m so happy to have met you, virtually of course! I’m bookmarking this page to peruse your blog posts at my leisure, though I’ve already read some of them. Keep traveling and have a great 2014! 🙂
Thanks Cathy … and you are an inspiration to us, too! What an incredible year you have had. Here’s wishing you the 2014 that you want! 🙂 All the best, Terri & James
Thanks so much. It makes me happy to be even a bit of inspiration to two adventurous souls like yourselves. 🙂
Wow! I have a lot of catching up to do on your past year. Thanks for the wonderful photos and stories. All the best for you both in 2014.
Many thanks Martha. I’m so glad that Laura introduced you to us! Looking forward to seeing what you’ll be up to in 2014! Happy New Year. ~Terri & James
Happy new year, James and Terri!
Thanks Ruth, and Happy New Year to you as well. I suspect that this New Year celebration will be a bit different in Colorado – with legal weed and all. Stay safe and warm. ~James
It’s hard to believe, James! I think that once our schools become the best-funded schools in the nation, other states may sit up and take notice. And then look out. 😉
Have to go with Starbucks in Ubud, mainly because it is such a magical place. Two paintings I brought home from there in the 70s still adorn my walls. –Curt
Curt, Starbucks gets a bad rap, but I have to admit, that they nailed this location. I haven’t seen another location like it in the world. Also, we were very lucky to be there to see the offering being made at the Hindu Temple out back. Pretty cool. Have a Happy New Year. ~James
Did you go to the monkey forest, James, and have the monkeys climb up on your shoulder and take peanuts out of your shirt pocket? –Curt
The day I was at the Monkey Forest there were a bunch of not-too-bright tourists there, and the monkeys were getting pretty aggressive; so I steered clear. The forest is quite a place really. Having a colony of wild (well semi-wild) monkeys this close to town is pretty cool. ~James
We were at the forest by ourselves, James, and yes the little buggers can get quite aggressive. –Curt
Your top ten favs should be a great inspiration to all. They have inspired me. V.
Thanks very much for following along Virginia. We wish you a very Happy New Year. ~James
Great post which I’ve bookmarked to re-visit and catch up with properly – some fab topics and excellent posts throughout the year. Thanks also for the mention for which I’m honoured 🙂
Thanks Suzanne! You truly had a great travel year. Have you already made plans for 2014? ~Terri
This is my favorite one. Congrats and happy traveling.
Thank you Fabiola! Happy New Year to you, filled with happiness. ~Terri
Happy New Year to you both as well! I can’t wait to hear your travel plans for 2014.
And thanks for mentioning me in your post! 🙂
Thanks Leslie and Steve. We’re in the process of making some plans, but don’t have anything firmed up yet. Shopping for great deals and new destinations. Happy New Year to you both. Are you in Australia or France? ~Terri
Sorry, these two comments from Steven are really from Leslie! My computer crashed (just in time for Christmas…) and I forgot I am logged in as Steve. Not sure how to delete the comment. Sorry for the confusion.
No problem Leslie. We totally understand (and dread) computer crashes! Hope you get it sorted out. ~T
Happy new year! Looking forward to new adventures ahead!
Thanks Pam. And Happy New Year to you and Richard. I love your vintage Christmas postcards from the Space Program. What a unique angle. 🙂 ~Terri
So nice to catch up on some of your highlights that I missed in 2013! Wishing you more globetrotting and mischief in the new year. 🙂
Thank you Tricia. Today we’re just hangin’ out celebrating my birthday, and doing some travel planning for 2014. Happy New Year to you and Shawn. Can’t wait to see what you’re up to next year 🙂 ~ Terri & James
A great way to do your “year end” post! 🙂 I don’t pay enough attention to the stats but the WP “hoorah” has just come in so I’d better take a close look. And check out that camera post- all those people can’t be wrong!
Most importantly of all, thanks for your company this year and have a very healthy and happy 2014. 🙂
Thank you so much Jo! It has been such a joy hanging out with you this year – thanks for all the fabulous conversations. And now you’re heading to the Algarve. Wishing you a wonderful 2014, and see you next year. ~Terri
What a creative way to celebrate end of the year! Dear Terri and James: I wish you both a wonderful 2014, with love, health and happiness! You have shared so many interesting things around the world with us throughout the year. Thank you!
Denise
Awww, thank you Denise. We’re so glad to have discovered you and your wonderful blog. Wishing you a very Happy New Year, too. ~Terri & James
What a fantastic round-up Terri & James! I was impressed at how Starbucks in Ubud made an effort to blend in with its surroundings – and the lotus pond and temple just behind it were such a wonderful surprise. Thanks too for the mention and wish both of you many more adventures in the new year!
Thanks very much James. I’m glad that you saw the Starbucks when you were in Ubud this month – well actually, I should say, the garden behind it. We just wanted to move into the treehouse and have that incredible view all day. Happy New Year to you, and many wonderful adventures. ~Terri
I was in Ubud roughly two weeks ago and spotted that Starbucks. I love what they did with the rustic architecture incorporating Balinese traditional elements on the outlet. I didn’t go inside though, but looking back, probably I should’ve gone inside. Thanks for the mention and wish you an even greater year ahead!
Thank you Bama. I too was glad that they used the rustic Balinese architectural elements – they certainly enhanced the passage to the garden beyond. I can’t wait to read about your Bali adventures – hopefully it will contain one of your fabulous food posts. 🙂 Wishing your all the best in the New Year. ~Terri
2014 is surely going to be epic! Happy New Year!
I sure hope so Jennifer. And if your 2014 Predictions come true, just imagine what the world will be like! Happy New Year to you. ~Terri
Thanks so much Vilma for the link to our post. These review posts are always fun, and they always produce a few surprises. I’m sure that it’s getting close to fireworks time in Helsinki. Stay warm and have a fun New Year. ~James
Couldn’t be more pleased to have found your blog. You have taken us along on a whirlwind trip this year and taught us much about international travel in the process. May you both continue to have grand travel adventures in 2014, making memories that will last a lifetime. 🙂
Awww, thanks so much LuAnn! And you and Terry have taught us all so much about love and compassion. Wishing you both a wondrously happy and healthy New Year! Hugs, Terri & James
Ditto! 🙂
Great to connect this year Terri & James! I look forward to more travels with you this next year!
We totally agree Marilyn -great to connect! Looking forward to more of your fabulous posts in 2014. All the best, Terri & James
Fun list. Thanks for posting. And thanks for visiting and liking my travel blog.
Hi Peggy, so glad you stopped by. Your blog is a joy and I’ve been working my way through several of your posts. It sounds like we’ve had many parallel experiences and it’s always great to meet a kindred soul. Looking forward to it. ~Terri
I’m delighted to find that we are kindred souls. Wonder where in the world we’ll be able to meet because I’m sure we will.
Thank you both for a year filled with humor, adventure, and information… I always love reading about your adventures. Here’s to 2014! 🙂
Thanks so much Miranda. I have a favorite quote: Adventure is when I put my ignorance in motion. For you as well as us, let’s hope our adventures are fun, that our suitcases keep bouncing, our feet keep moving, and we continue to explore. All the best to you in 2014. ~James
Thank you for taking the time to like my blog. Found some of your articles very interesting. Will definitely be popping by to have a peek from time to time. All the best.
I see that you’re living in Mostar. What a beautiful, fascinating city – I look forward to more of your posts. All the best, Terri
Many thanks for stopping by and the opportunity to visit some of your posts. Best wishes. 🙂