2

Oh, The Places I’ve Gone in 2013

Just as predicted, 2013 was quite the year for travel!   I visited not just one, but two new countries this year — Norway and Finland.  I’ll have to admit, I definitely fell in love with all things Nordic.  Here’s a quick look back …

Oslo, Norway

Oslo

An amazing March and April were spent in Norway, based mostly in Oslo.  Although I worked a lot, I made sure to also visit some of the city’s highlights, like Frogner Park, the Holmenkollen Nordic Skiing World Cup, the Oslo Opera House, and the Nobel Peace Center.  It most definitely will not be my last trip to Oslo!

Gausdal, Norway

Gausdal Valley

One of my absolute favorite adventures of the year was taking a weekend trip to Norway’s Gausdal Valley to meet relatives and see the farm where my great-grandfather grew up.  I still can’t really put into words how much this trip touched me.

Trondheim, Norway

Trondheim

A 7-hour train ride north of Oslo lies Trondheim, where I spent one of my last weeks in Norway.

Groß Pankow, Germany

Gross Pankow

Groß Pankow was the perfect weekend escape from the city’s oppressive summer heat.

Finland

Finland

While Finland was not on my travel list at the beginning of the year, I jumped at the chance to attend a conference in Jyväskylä and then added a weekend getaway to Helsinki.  Both cities charmed me completely.

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels

Once again, I took advantage of travel for work and enjoyed the charms of Brussels.

Seattle, USA

Seattle

Finally, to round out the year, I traveled home for a relaxing Christmas holiday with family in Seattle.

2014?

It looks like London, and hopefully Malta, are on my travel agenda for 2014.  Everything else still remains to be seen for the new year, but one thing is for sure — it promises lots of new adventures!  And on this last day of 2013, I really couldn’t ask for more.

Where were the favorite places you visited this year?  Where do you hope to travel in 2014?

0

Holidays in the Northwest

I’m the midst of baking pumpkin pies for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations, but couldn’t resist popping in to wish everyone who celebrates a happy holiday!  Hope these next days are relaxed and restful and everything you wish for.  Greetings from Seattle to your part of the world!

Seattle Harbor at Sunset
Seattle harbor at sunset
Downtown Seattle at Dusk
Downtown Seattle at dusk
Tip of the Space Needle
Tip of the Space Needle
0

InstaFriday | Puget Sound Sunset

Looking out over the harbor.
Looking out over the harbor. Via Instagram.

My first evening in Seattle  treated me to mostly clear skies and a gorgeous rooftop sunset.  Since then the skies have been mostly cloudy and dark, and there was a bit of snow very early this morning.  Even though I’ve been reading and writing and working on my dissertation every day, it’s been from the comfort of my favorite coffee shops or with views over the Puget Sound, and you certainly won’t hear me complaining about that.

Are you traveling  for the holidays?  

For more Instagram photos from the past few days in Seattle, follow me there!

9

Books of 2013 and 2014

It’s about that time to start reflecting on the year that has passed — and my very favorite way to do that is by reviewing the books I’ve read…

Read in 2013

2013 has been a year full of really wonderful books.  Although I only read eight, I fell in love with nearly every single one.  Many had such a profound effect on me that I still can’t find the words to properly write about them.  Most recently that was The Fault In Our Stars — deeply sad, but not in an overtly emotional way, if that makes sense.  Similarly, Code Name Verity left me absolutely speechless.  If you’re looking for a good read, I can recommend any of the books on my list from 2013.

  1. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
  2. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
  3. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
  4. Tenth of December by George Saunders
  5. Zen Under Fire by Marianne Elliott – My Review
  6. The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee – My Review
  7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
  8. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – My Review

To Read in 2014

If you’re friends with me over on Goodreads, you know my to-read list is impossibly long.  Which is why for 2014, I still have books leftover from 2013 to read.  But a Kindle is at the top of my Christmas list, so I imagine I’m going to be tearing through books like crazy this year!

  1. Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
  2. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
  3. Wake by Elizabeth Knox
  4. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  5. Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie
  6. Bossypants by Tina Fey
  7. Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
  8. And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
  9. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

What are your favorite books from this year?  Are there any I should adding to my list for 2014?

For more year-end book reviews, check these posts out:

P.S. Make sure to check out Click Clack Gorilla’s Year in Books 2013 and Book Lover Blog Hop for more great lists of books read this year!