Thanks to the world opening back up and that little bugger called COVID mostly being swept under the proverbial rug, 2022 was the most active year we’ve had since 2019. We visited 13 countries (Colombia, Peru, US, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France, Turkiye, Egypt, Italy, Romania, Belgium and Luxembourg) and somehow managed to set foot on five continents as well.

We made it to the highest elevation we’ve ever summited at Rainbow Mountain in Peru (5,200 meters or 17,060), which is almost the same as Everest base camp. Our year also included eight languages (three of which we actually tried to learn more than pleasantries), two major world wonders, and 21UNESCO sites. We accomplished ten items (collectively) on our “60 by 60 Lists.” And… this was all while at least one of us (Mandy) was enduring quite a physical handicap during six of 12 months.

This year, we took 10 flights. Seven of those flights were free thanks to credit card points. We slept in 233 paid accommodations, which ranged from Airbnbs, hotels/hostels through Booking or Agoda, trail huts, and a tiny house to 132 free accommodations, which included 77 nights of housesitting, 46 nights with friends/family, 4 using hotel rewards, 3 volunteering at an English school, and 2 Couchsurfing.

On the budget front, we spent a grand total of $16,871 for both of us to live and travel for a year, which breaks down to $46.22/day. Our least expensive country overall was Colombia where we spent $38.66/day, and our most expensive was Italy at $91.21/day.

Yes, it’s been quite a year!!! That said, it’s time to wrap up 2022 with our fifth annual Geney Awards…

Best Cultural Experience

Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca, Peru

The shimmering sheet of cobalt water of Lake Titicaca  (3830 meters/12,565 feet) is the world’s highest navigable lake and the islands upon it are renowned for their tranquility, beauty and indigenous communities. Thus, we knew doing a simple day trip or overnight, as most tourists do, was not an option for us. When we stepped onto Taquile Island in early March 2022, where we spent four nights, we were transported to a whole other world… seemingly a bit Mediterranean to us with bucolic pastureland and terraced landscape, but featuring little people whose marital status could be told based on which pieces of traditional clothing they donned and whose diets consisted of virtually only potatoes, fish and rice. It was surreal. And the real bonus? In this tranquil seemingly Egalitarian society, there were no cars…no dogs…no motors. In fact, no sounds at all…other than some birds chirps, an occasional “meeh” from a sheep, or swing of a hoe from a campesino (farmer). The entire 6 km long island is intertwined with stone walking paths, which means your own two feet serve as the only form of transportation. And the people, who we could communicate with only in Spanish, were absolutely welcoming and kind. Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: Bastille Day, Mur-de-Barrez, France

We were lucky enough to arrive in the provincial village of Mur-de-Barrez the day before Bastille Day, July 13, which was our first in France. The French National Day is the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, which was a major event of the French Revolution as well as the Fête de la Fédération that celebrated the unity of the French people on July 14, 1790. And also lucky for us, Bastille Day happened to coincide with a lively festival in the town square of Mur-de-Barrez, where we had been graciously invited to stay for two weeks with friends, Laura and Aleksey. The party was hopping and made the town swell way past its normal 800-capacity and featured food, rides, lots of party music and even Zumba. It felt like a REAL French experience. Read for full story.

Most Unique Stay

Sleeping on a Floating Island: Uros Islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru

Again on Lake Titicaca, we wanted to witness the living tradition of their agrarian cultures as much as possible, which we discovered was absolutely feasible to experience independently, for an extended period, and on a budget. Our first stop was the floating human-made Uros Islands community of 2000 people which is the most visited for its peculiarity and uniqueness. They are only seven km from the shore and the large city of Puno, Peru…and they are fascinating!

In Uros, you don’t buy land…you create it. These islands include meters-deep layers upon layers of Tortora reeds which make them feel a bit springy and squishy to the step. Kinda like walking on a straw blanketed waterbed. Our hut reminded us of one of the first unfortunate houses in the Three Little Pigs story. Fortunately, there were no wolves around (or even dogs!) and also, it was a bit sturdier than it looked. And despite the freezing temperatures, we kept warm thanks to the hot water bottles our host Henry provided us, and piles of blankets. We can’t recommend this stay more and it was booked for the high-value price of $26/night + food on Airbnb. Read for full story.

Honorable Mention: Sleeping in a Cave Under the Stars, Cappadocia, Turkiye

We saved the best for our last night in Cappadocia by jeeping off the grid with our friends, Robin and Feriha, and experiencing it as it should be…tucked into an open lofted mini cave under the stars. This piece of treasure in the Red Valley was owned by our host Ibrahim, and it has been passed down for generations from his great-grandfather. The entire land is packed with hiking trails, amounting to 3.7 acres. 

There is nothing comparable to falling asleep gazing at the moon as you curl snuggly underneath the warm blankets, pillows, and mattresses they provide and hearing the whooshing noise of hot air balloons overhead to make you begin stirring at 6 am. It cost $57 on Airbnb which was a splurge heavily tacked with service fees. Our friends, who booked directly with the owner, paid about $20 less. You can find the information to do this in the original post.) Read for full story.

Most Outstanding Accommodation

White House Apartments, Luxor, Egypt

The White House Apartments on the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor was quite a fantastic surprise found on Booking for $23/night.  We were welcomed to the upper deck with drinks by the manager, Mohammed, who soon became our friend, and were floored by this view of Luxor Temple across the Nile, which would be ours for the next six days. Mohammed, and his family who own the guest house, were the first genuinely welcoming people we had met in Egypt thus far. He understands what hospitality actually means….very kind, forthright about prices (which can be challenging in Egypt), and overall, just…cheery! Although he certainly presented us with tour options, he treated us like people and not ATMs from the beginning. This was in addition to the top floor full apartment with a balcony overlooking the Nile. It was an absolute refuge in what can be a chaotic place and we couldn’t recommend this experience to a budget traveler more. Read full story here.

Honorable Mention: Tiny House Paradise, Finike, Turkiye

Thanks to the gracious friend of our friends’, Robin and Feriha, we landed in a cozy, little tiny home positioned on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean for the month of October. Teşekkürler very much, friends!  The real kicker? This seaview slice of paradise came for the bargain price of 300€ for the month ($295), including all utilities and internet… It included a lofted bedroom, full modern bathroom and fully stocked kitchen, dishwasher, washing machine, patio and firepit. The icing on the cake was Robin and Feriha also loaned us their scooter for the month so we were able to zip all over the place. Since we’re usually tied to public transport, the freedom was quite nice! If you are interested in booking this tiny home, please send us a message and we’ll put you in touch with Feriha! Read for full story.

Best Unpaid Accommodation

Housesit in Rural Castelo Branco, Portugal

It’s phenomenal what can happen in your life when you just will it to happen. And, sometimes things serendipitously cruise along at the perfect time, with the perfect people and the perfect place…right when Mandy was having some of her most trying difficulties with her foot. We felt this way about this last-minute housesit with Harry and Katherine, healing therapists and Portuguese expats from UK/Netherlands. They had just joined Trusted Housesitters on a complete whim hoping for a last-minute miracle. And along comes us. For three weeks, they offered us an adorable kitty and friendly Great Dane to cherish, a pool, fresh cherries out the wazoo, a car to get around, and a beautiful rural home overlooking rolling hills. It was also here where we fell in love with Portugal and thanks to this visit, are now considering buying property there, or in Bulgaria, within the next few years. Read for full story.

Honorable Mention: Housesit in Constanta, Romania

We never really discussed returning to Romania, but when a four-week housesit popped up there in an apartment overlooking the Black Sea with what promised to be a very cuddly cat, we couldn’t turn it down. This ended up being a very therapeutic decision. Domnul Presidente (aka Mr. President) was probably the most extraordinary cat we’ve ever met, much less sat for. Upon meeting, Annie, the incredible hostess, dropped him into Mandy’s arms and it was over. She fell in love. And when we left, crocodile tears were flowing down her face. He captured us in a way no pet ever has! Not to mention, the view of the sea, the promenade that we could walk along daily, and the Christmas markets. It was absolutely well worth the detour.

Most Picture Perfect Village

In a year with Peruvian, Portuguese and French villages, this was a very difficult decision, but truth be told, both first place and runner-up awards belong in France. In fact, we are 100% convinced that the true beauty, the true essence of France is far from its cities, far from its historical sites, and far from its beaches… The pulsing heart of it instead lies in its provincial villages where the well-kept heritage remains. 

Mur-de-Barrez, Aveyron, France

The probability of us stumbling into darling little Mur-de-Barrez without an invitation was probably slim to none before July 2022, but we are lucky because our friends from the States, now French expats, Laura and Aleksey, did just that. This village, population 800, is truly enchanting with its uber-steep slate rooftops, towering chimneys and cobbled passageways. It’s the kind of place you just want to skip through the streets singing, tipping your beret, and chirping “Bonjour” to everyone you meet. And the real icing on the cake? People will say it back! Yes, despite popular stereotypes, we also learned in 2022 just how amazingly friendly and welcoming French people…yes FRENCH people can be! Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: La Couvertoirade, France

As we stumbled into yet another beautiful village in France, we had yet to see anything even remotely resembling a strip mall or piece of kitsch anywhere in the country. When we asked our lovely guide, Laura, about this, she said they do exist but are few and far between thanks to strict building and preservation laws. The name of this particular medieval storybook setting is La Couvertoirade. Beginning in the 12th Century, this swoonworthy village has welcomed travellers from all places who have benefited from the legendary hospitality of the village Lords, first the Templars and then the Knights of Malta. It is remarkably preserved and unlike others we had seen which seem to be abandoned, is brought to life by lively artisan shops and cafes. Read the full story.

Most Captivating City

Cusco, Peru

Bienvenidos a Cusco…the archeological capital and oldest continually inhabited city in the Americas. Living in the action-packed city of Cusco in the Peruvian Andes for two weeks was like living in a ruin. And how couldn’t it be? This UNESCO world heritage city was capital of the Incan empire from the 13th to mid-16th centuries. Everywhere you cast your gaze, the colossal ancient Incan walls envelop you and are a constant reminder that you’re in the undisputed archeological capital of the Americas, (even if said walls are protecting the baristas of a Starbucks or chicken legs in the KFC.) 

According to legend, in the 12th century, the first Inca king was ordered by the ancestral sun god to locate a spot where he could plunge a golden rod in the earth until it vanished. This spot, deemed the navel of the earth, became Cusco, the flourishing site of the Americas’s greatest empire. And which later became the site of one of the greatest tourist meccas in the Western Hemisphere…Machu Picchu. Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: Mardin, Turkiye

Mardin, a resplendent city of 800k steeped in history high on a Turkish plateau in Upper Mesopotamia. It is perched high on a plateau overlooking the Mesopotamian plains all the way to Syria. It is blanketed with elegant limestone buildings, soaring intricate minarets, and is arguably neck and neck with Istanbul for the most alluring and interesting city we’ve visited in the country. For us, the historic center was a bit reminiscent to an ancient Turkish version of Guanajuato, Mexico…wedged into a mountainside, passages to get twisted and turned in, and surprises around every corner. Regional and local tourists have been flocking to Mardin for years, so the tourist infrastructure is strong but it is far off the beaten path for tourists that look like us. Read for full story.

Most Epic Scenery

Cappadocia, Türkiye

Anyone who has been to Türkiye usually swoons when you mention the whimsical fairylike land of Cappadocia, located in the Central Anatolian plateau. The entire region is blanketed with fairy chimneys, conical wizard hats, gnome-like domes, and Smurf-esque spectacles, which have served as churches, monasteries, tombs and dwellings for centuries. The landscape of Cappadocia has significant stretches of soft volcanic rocks formed 60 million years ago from volcanic eruptions, which have shaped as a result of constant wind and water erosion.

It is a wonderland well suited for solo, couple or family exploration where you can stay in a cave dwelling, scramble through domed “castles,” explore miles upon miles of ancient underground cave cities, soar far above in a mystical hot air balloon, or hike in some of the most interesting terrain you might ever see in your life. If it’s not already, make sure to add this region of Turkiye to your “life list.” Read for full story.

Honorable Mention: Colca Canyon, Peru

The Grand Canyon is far from being the deepest canyon in the world. In fact, the beast we trucked 37 km (23 miles) all the way down, around, and back up, is double the depth and the world’s second deepest canyon at up to 4160 meters (13,640 feet.) (The first deepest is also in Peru not far from here and quite inaccessible.) For three days, we spent our time traversing the simply stunning Colca Canyon, soaking in hot springs, eating way too many carbs, and making new trail friends, both the Euro and furry variety. It was an ultimate Peruvian trekking experience and despite the weather of the “rainy season,” we were so glad we got the opportunity to hit the trail again. It had been too long since we’d done any real overnight hiking and it felt spectacular. Read for full story.

Most Epic Man Made Wonder

The Great Pyramids: Giza, Egypt

In a year with some very “bucket list worthy sites,” this was a challenging category to decide, but truth be told, there is an absolute reason to set your sights on the only existing wonder of the ANCIENT world. For many, the Great Pyramids of Egypt evokes many wondrous sighs, recollections of childhood dreams and fulfilled or broken promises to visit before they die. And with timing lined up impeccably and a cheap flight from Turkiye, it finally seemed like it was the opportunity to visit.

That said, it’s far from the starry-eyed desert escape that appears in photos. It’s engulfed by a surrounding blanket of chaotic Giza, Cairo’s sister city, including a notorious Pizza Hut, widespread vendors selling “authentic” Egyptian souvenirs (made in China) and you need to dodge horse or camel poo with every step you take. But, when you get away from the crowds and vendors, (yes, it’s possible!!) the serenity and power of this place is mind-boggling. It makes you feel so microscopic, in size and in the concept of time. So, yes, it’s worth it. Undoubtedly. Real for full story.

Honorable Mention: Machu Picchu, Peru

After we had narrowly succeeded in dragging ourselves five days down the Salkantay Trek to Aguas Calientes, it was time for the Grand Finale…Machu Picchu herself. We’d both been waiting our whole lives for this! Of course, as we’d learned on the trek, nothing comes easy (without dropping buckets of dough) around these parts. But after navigating a ridiculous reservation system, being scolded for NOT bringing our physical passports, being scolded FOR bringing an umbrella, and sitting in the rain at 6 am for over an hour with a view that basically resembled pea soup, the sky blessedly opened for about 10 minutes and reminded us why we’d come all this way!!

Of course this site needs little introduction. Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the NEW world, built in a cloud forest around 1450 AD, splashes herself all over travel magazines, bucket lists and blogs. She hovers high in the Andes around 7000 feet (2100 meters) and is the most popular tourist attraction in South America. Was she worth it? Not really. But we went through a lot of pain and suffering to get there. Read full story here.

Best Off the Beaten Path Destination

Sanliurfa, Türkiye

The potpourri of cardamom and other exotic smells permeate the air as you amble through the most authentic souk in Turkiye….the sounds of men chattering in a mix of Turkish and Arabic over tea comingles with the haunting call to prayer…the sights of women in various degrees of sheathing sashay by collections of pint-sized tables and chairs which look like they’re meant for a children’s birthday party. 

No, we weren’t in Tourist Land Turkiye anymore Toto! In fact, Lonely Planet sadly doesn’t even give the gem of Sanliurfa a nod. Quite a pity because with a history going back 12,000 years, stepping into former Edessa, aka Sanliurfa, aka Urfa, could not feel more far away from the worlds of Istanbul and Cappadocia. In fact, it showcases exactly the slice of Türkiye we had been wanting to see…a bit more exotic, a bit more conservative, a bit more authentic and way more off the beaten path. Also, according to the Old Testament, this city is also where the father of the three most prevalent monotheistic religions was born…welcome to the hometown of Prophet Abraham and right nearby, the oldest temple in the world, dating from 10,000 BC at Gobeklitepe. Wow! Read full story here.

Honorable Mention: Pisac, Peru

It’s hard not to gravitate toward the positive energy and happy hippie vibes as you arrive to the Andean Shangri-La town of Pisac. This colonial village was by far the most charming place we have been in Peru and is a must-see on any visit to Cusco. The entire town caters to spiritual seekers and offers everything from clean eating options, yoga retreats and hallucinogenic Ayahuasca adventures. Not surprisingly the town hosts quite a few expats gringos who have settled here permanently. It also offers a lot for the regular non-New Age tourist activities like ruins and a fantastic artisan market with some of the nicest handmade items we had seen. But, the best thing about Pisac was the fact that the entire village was pedestrian only. In many ways, it took us right back to many cozy villages in Colombia. Read for full story.

Most Regrettable Departure

Dahab, Egypt

We liked Egypt. We didn’t love Egypt. But Dahab, a hippie haven coastal community on the Gulf of Aqaba side of the Sinai Peninsula, was quite a different story. Dahab has notes of Goa, India, Pokhara, Nepal and Aqaba, Jordan all wrapped into one tidy little package, which is undoubtedly why so many, mostly younger, digital nomad Europeans flock here to “winter.” It’s paradise…good internet, cheap prices, some of the best scuba, snorkeling, and kite surfing you can find in the world, yoga and massage opportunities aplenty, and generally, the most sublime location to live in elephant pants and eat vegan or vegetarian full-time. All this said, we became a bit regretful we had booked our ticket out to Milan and only had three nights. So…we’ll obviously be returning, for at least a month, if not longer….Read for full story.

Honorable Mention: Castelo Blanco, Portugal

Because of our time in this part of Portugal, we unexpectedly became simply enamored with Portugal. Not the Madeira, Porto, Lisbon-y touristic side, but this totally unexpected rural side that we landed in kinda by fate thanks to our housesit. Living out in Castelo Branco definitely made us move closer to our unrealized dreams of where we want our forever home to be. Bulgaria has been at the forefront of our mind for awhile, but perhaps Portugal might also be in the running. We’ve loved having access to a car, thanks to our hosts, and exploring the most adorable neighboring villages ever and where real estate is surprisingly a bit more affordable than we originally thought. Hmmm….Needless to say, we could get very used to Sunday drives here… Read full story here.

Best Transit Experience

Having a Scooter for a Month: Finike, Turkiye

When we lived in Finike for a month, a huge bonus was that our friends gave us full access to their scooter. Since we don’t have our own wheels very often, this was paradise, particularly since we were located right on the D400, or Turkish Coast Highway. This gave us access to exploring ruins, nearby towns, and the plethora of nearby beaches. Plus, it was only about a 10-minute ride into town, which this is hugely helpful for groceries and other purchases. Another bonus was that Mandy got to learn to drive one. She had tried to learn in India a few years ago, but since that wasn’t happening due to cows humping in the road and other scary obstacles, Turkiye was the perfect place to give it another shot! Read for full story.

Honorable Mention: BlaBla Car from Andorra to Toulouse, France

From Andorra, we hopped into a rideshare through BlaBla Car with two French girls to traverse into our next country. Greg had used BlaBla back in the “olden days” when rideshares were posted on hostal message boards and it took 10 minutes to write a text message. Today, of course, there is a easy-to-use app which matches drivers and riders for a very economical price. This truly is the golden age of travel. The bus would have cost $34/each, but we paid 9.85€ ($10.40) each to cruise three hours from Andorra to Toulouse, France eager to get our budget back on track. We got to enjoy a comfortable experience and some great conversation with our driver, Claire, who spoke terrific English as well as Chinese! She worked as a developer for urban food forests. Not to mention, we got some damn fine views of the Pyrenees Mountains en route. Read for full story.

Most Surreal Moment

Arriving at Pyramids Overlook Inn, Giza, Egypt

At about 9 am our Uber dropped us off at the entrance to the pyramids, only a few blocks down from our inn. A sizable school group was emitting a chattering ruckus that only kids can manage as they waited in line and we were immediately approached for a camel ride. Yes, please. We’d like to take all of our earthly possessions and sit atop a gangly beast for cheap price at this very moment! Smiling politely, we shook our heads and instead maneuvered towards our place which was down a less frenzied dirt road amid wild dogs, a horse or two and local men shuffling about in jellabiyas (Arabic man dresses.) Oh…and beyond a high stone wall, some stabels (yes, that’s how it was spelled), and some generally India-esque landscape, those legendary peaks were also looming before us. The fatigue from our long overnight bus ride was beginning to set in as we climbed the stairs to encounter our view for the next two days at the Pyramids Overlook Inn. Holy crap. What a moment that was. Real the full story.

Honorable Mention: Eiffel Tower Sunset Picnic with Friends, Paris, France

We are so grateful that two of our favorite people came to visit in July! And what a week it was. Especially the last night, which was capped off with another item on Mandy’s 60 by 60 List…a proper French picnic, with a perfect sunset, under that dreamy little icon. Mandy had been wanting to get Greg in this exact GPS coordinate since 2008 so this was quite an achievement. It was also our friend Megan’s first visit, which, like Mandy, she’d be lusting for since her early days of French classes. Mandy and Megan have been good friends for 8 years. They met while working at a club in Portland, Oregon together. Read the full story.

Amazing Animal Encounter

Hercules the Alpaca, Arequipa, Peru

Como se llama? It wouldn’t be Peru without a lame Spanish joke about their cutest critter, nor without snuggling up with a baby alpaca and touch testing all the different varieties of fur found on said critters. And we found a wonderful place to do just this at Sabandia Mill, set in a vast agricultural valley 25 minutes outside of Arequipa. While there, we met self-named “Hercules” and spent over an hour with this lovable little alpaca. He made us laugh so hard because while we were standing there, he made these adorable little whimpering noises and kept trying to peep around us. He craned his neck and grunted, paced a few steps, and whimpered some more. It took us a few minutes to realize that we were standing between him and his food on the opposite side of the pen. Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: Toucan Rapping our Window, Guamal, Colombia

It was a long, brutal day of travel from Zipaquira to Guamal. What was supposed to be a five hour bus journey turned into 15 hours, thanks to a series of accidents, getting stuck in a neighborhood outside of Bogota as our behemoth bus tried to edge itself around corners designed for a VW Bug, and pausing way too long for seemingly no reason (while baking in a hot box with the “tranquilo, tranquilo” locals.) In addition to being forced to watch “Marvel” in Spanish literally three times over, we didn’t arrive until 2 am and didn’t eat after lunch. Our sweet hosts, Ricardo and Amparo were there waiting upon our arrival at the language school where we had planned to teach for the month of January.

After very little sleep, we were awakened at 6:30 am, thanks to a thud on our window. As we began uttering WTF obscenities, we soon became astonished to peer outside and see what flew into our window was in fact…a toucan. A whole family of them. We had been looking for one of these for months in Panama and when we least expected it, and needed a pick-me-up, one literally came knocking on our door…errrr…window. Unfortunately our teaching experience in Guamal didn’t work out, but we still got to experience this amazing opportunity while there.

Most Mouth-Watering Meal

Cevicheria Callhua Cocha, Arequipa, Peru

In Peru, ceviche has been declared to be part of Peru’s “national heritage” and even has had a holiday declared in its honor. The classic Peruvian ceviche is composed of chunks of raw fish, marinated in freshly squeezed key lime or bitter orange, and salt and pepper. One of our favorite things about travel is going to the countries where our favorite foods were born. Therefore, upon arriving in Peru, Mandy immediately dove straight into what she had been longing for ….a giant plate of ceviche made with sole fish, piled high with red onions and a side of yams, which is surprisingly a tasty combination. At left, an appetizer called Casa Atun, which is bright yellow potatoes blended with oil, lime juice and, most importantly, Peru’s ají amarillo, and then layered with a filling of tuna, onions and peppers. OMG, what a mouth-watering surprise! Cost 15 sols or $3.75 for appetizer and entree. Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: Homecooking by a Turkish Granny, Mardin, Turkiye

While in Mardin, we stayed in what was decidedly the oldest digs we’ve ever laid heads in…a utterly beautiful 5th Century stone Roman house which was a fantastic value of $12 a night, which we found on Airbnb. (Please note, we got a discount because we stayed one week.) It had been in the family for an inconceivable 450 YEARS. Crazy! Because our hostess, a little Turkish granny type, was a renowned local chef (who had appeared on TV), we also sprang for some local SE Turkey concoctions which she created for us. Our dinners, which all had a lovely and much-desired kick of spice, were 90 Lira (~$5) and breakfasts 50 Lira ($2.80) and were tastier than any restaurant we went to. Our favorite featured the best Yaprak Sarmas (stuffed grape leaves) we had ever eaten, eggplant/veggies, Tarhana soup, rice/chicken, and a shepherd’s salad. Read the full story.

Best Experience Featuring Alcohol

Port Wine Tasting, Porto, Portugal

When in Porto…you partake in Port(o). So, for Greg’s birthday, we decided to splurge (with our free Delta Airlines fun money) on a nearly private Airbnb experience tour with C&D Porto Local Tours for $43/each. It took us to three lesser-known tasting rooms not slammed with tourists on the Villa de Gaia side of Porto. This ended up being an exceptional, yet slightly intoxicating decision of this 20% boozy delight. By the way, we learned from our guide that the average Portuguese adult drinks FOUR liters of wine per WEEK!! (port among others!) They are the biggest wine drinkers in the world. Our favorite overall was the Tawny, the middle wine, which aged in wood, brownish in color, and often has nutty or caramel notes. Our guide said, for him, “it tastes like Christmas” and we had to agree. Apparently, it also goes well with cigars, but we didn’t test that theory. Without the cigar, however, it was bold, sweet and full-bodied and we loved this one most. Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: Cantillon Museum of Gueuze & Brewery Tour, Brussels, Belgium

This was a pilgrimage destination for Greg, and in fact, for many sour beer lovers, visiting this brewery usually ranks as must-see beer destination in Belgium. If you are a fan of Belgian beer, or beer culture (yes that’s a thing… especially in Belgium) you cannot visit Brussels without visiting Cantillon. What’s so special? Cantillon, brews Lambic beer, which is a very obscure peculiar sour spontaneously fermented style of beer that is only produced in a handful of breweries in the world. Because of the spontaneous “wild” fermentation every Lambic beer is unique, and at Cantillon, you can not only see but taste the tradition, culture, and uniqueness behind their beer. The brewery has quite a fascinating backstory and certainly has played a role ensuring the Lambic and Gueuze style beers were not lost to obscurity after the Second World War. Cantillon is also the only remaining Lambic brewery still operating in Brussels making it very much a dying breed. It’s rare to find a pub to grab an exemplary pint in and get a rich cultural experience.

Best Hike

Hiking was a challenging thing in 2022 thanks to Mandy’s foot pain that developed during the Salkantay Trek en route to Machu Picchu. Fortunately, after six months of mostly self-therapy, by September she was good to go again.

Colca Canyon, Peru

This hike is absolutely phenomenal if done in the right season. And February happened to be great, unlike our experience the following month at Machu Picchu. From Cabanaconde (3287 meters/10,827 feet), which is deemed by Lonely Planet as “the edge of the true canyon experience,” we decided on the 3 day/2 night option. We wanted to dip our toes in as much of this divine canyon as possible. The first night we spent on the far west side of the canyon at Llahuar, which is known for having the most striking views and hot springs. And for the second night, we spent in the heavily touristed “oasis” at Sangalle. Fortunately, low season and the pandemic seemed to keep crowds at a minimum. Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: Pigeon Valley, Cappadocia, Turkiye

Our favorite hike in Cappadocia was the Pigeon Valley Trail, which dropped us down in the canyon giving us a totally new vantage point en route from Uchisar to Göreme. It featured more green splotches than anywhere we’d seen in Cappadocia yet, distinctive rock formations we had never seen anywhere in the world, and lots of cave dwellings and tunnels ripe for discovery. It was also an ideal length as we’re easing back into hiking of about 1 1/2 hours and 4.3 kilometers. Cappadocia is beyond magical! Read the full story.

Best Underground Experience

Kaymakli & Derinkuyu Underground Cave Cities, Cappadocia, Turkiye

From Göreme, we chugged 20k south to Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, by far the most elaborate and enthralling underground cave cities we’ve ever seen. This tangle of underworld tunnels and dwellings, up to 17 levels deep, was designed to allow up to 20,000 people and their livestock to live their lives in total secrecy and protect themselves from Muslim Arabs during the Arab-Byzantine Wars between 780 and 1180. 

It continued to protect citizens as late as the 14th century when Christians needed a safe haven from the threat of the Mongolians, and once again during the Ottoman era when protection was needed from the Turkish Muslim powers. It was not until 1923 that the caves were completely abandoned and it was rediscovered in 1963. Apparently, people from nearby homes are still finding gateways to the upside down. What history! (Culture Trip). It was utterly fascinating! Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: Deir el-Medina Worker’s Tombs, Luxor Egypt

Although we appreciated all the temples and tombs of Luxor, unsurprisingly our favorite were the ones few people visit… the site of the Deir el-Medina which consists of the houses, the remains of the village and their own color-blasted necropolis associated with the community of artists, artisans and workmen engaged in the cutting and decoration of the tombs in the Valleys of the Kings and the Queens during the New Kingdom (c. 1500 to 1100 B.C.) That’s right…hundreds of male masterminds devoted themselves exclusively to the creation and decoration of the tombs of their pharaoh. And these workers of the royalty were far from slaves. In fact, they were brilliant artists and treated quite well, while alive and apparently dead too based on their tombs. Read the full story.

Best Splurge

Each year, we place all of our gift money in a separate bucket which we reserve just for those special things we probably wouldn’t do otherwise, or to supplement our budget for special experiences and meals.

Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride, Cappadocia, Turkiye

Riding in a hot air balloon was a dream that started at age four for Mandy when she first saw Dorothy hop on board in “Wizard of Oz.” Unfortunately for her, Dorothy only went to the ceiling of the munchkin dome, so it would be necessary to take it a step further. This fantasy, on both of our “60 by 60 Lists,” glided over fairytale chimneys and chiseled canyons, just as the sun peeped up from the horizon. It was absolutely enchanting and there is no place like Cappadocia to do it (says every bucket list and travel blog ever.) However, it definitely wasn’t cheap and dipped into our splurge account a whopping 500 euros! Read the full story.

Honorable Mention: Rainbow Mountain, Peru

Rainbow Mountain, or Vinicunca, launched us to the highest point we’ve ever been at 5036 meters (16,522 feet or more than half of Mount Everest.) We’ve never seen a natural wonder more radiant! It’s also insane how rapidly the weather changed up there. We experienced sun, clouds and a complete white out of the mountain in our 30 minutes on top. This is a site which has blown up in popularity over the last few years thanks to it being plastered all over Instagram and in travel magazines. Also, in reality, Rainbow Mountain didn’t really exist until 2015. Or rather, the mountain had always been around, but its most sought after feature was concealed for centuries under massive layers of snow and ice. And then, most likely due to climate change, it progressively melted away. So that’s the unfortunate truth. ?

We actually debated if we should even do it because it’s so touristy. But, in truth, we’re really glad we did because we lucked out with decent weather, found a small tour group to go with, and got there before the “crowds” arrived. Being during a pandemic and low season helped significantly with this however. Before COVID, there were about 10-15,000 people visiting per day and in February, there were around 500. Read the full story.

Best Country Overall

Turkiye

If it weren’t for Mandy’s foot situation, we wouldn’t have even gone to Turkiye this year. In fact, we were originally scheduled to fly to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in August and spend three months traveling the “The Stans.” But things worked out fine. Mandy healed for the most part in August in Istanbul, and Türkiye remains firmly in our top five countries after our third and longest visit. We saw new lands this time which opened our eyes to even more depth, more variety and more culture…confirming it’s undoubtedly a fascinating country that truly has layers upon layers of discoveries. Plus, we have friends here now. In fact, if it weren’t for a couple of major downsides, Türkiye is somewhere we could easily call home one day. Regardless, it was hard to leave a country you love so much…one that you could easily spend another three months in, if it weren’t for our visas expiring…. That said…we’ll be back. Again and again! See all Turkiye posts.

Honorable Mention: Portugal

Portugal was also not somewhere we had envisioned staying so long, but as aforementioned, life threw us a curveball and took us to the rural countryside unexpectedly. And it was here, living a storybook and peaceful life, that we fell head over heels for the country. We landed on a 7-acre cherry farm beneath the Portuguese sun which was a wonderful and healing respite. In addition to having dozens and dozens of fruiting cherries at the pick and call (ha), we had full access to lemon trees, (which was weird after living in Latin American Lime Land for so long), fresh herbs, a swimming pool, car, and farm-fresh chicken eggs. And we must admit, while living there, we continually fantasized about building our own wonderland one of these days with a very similar vibe. It’s coming. See all Portugal posts.