I was chatting to my daughter yesterday and remarked that I had been particularly blessed this year. Usually when you get to the end of the year you kinda feel like there is more that could/should be done before the year ends (well I do), and the last few days of December are spent cramming in just a few more activities. But this year I can truly say that I have had a year jam-packed with adventures, and for that, I am truly grateful.

Die with memories, not dreams
So to that end I decided to list my 2017 adventures, and was astounded at how much I had actually done, and how many places I have actually been to besides all my Camino 2017 practice walks that took me to some fantastic places. So this is my final blog for 31 Days of Gratitude – Day 31 – 2017 in review.
January
New Year’s Day swim 01.01.2017 Broadstairs Beach, Isle of Thanet, Kent

New Year’s Day, Broadstairs
Wedding Dress shopping with my daughter

wedding dress shopping…so much fun
Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England

A visit to the isle of Wight
Places I went while I was there; Nettlestone (1086 Domesday Book village),
Bembridge Windmilll, Brading Roman Villa, Carisbrooke Castle, Cowes, Ryde, rode on a Hover craft, The Needles and Quarr Abbey.
a quick trip to Cowes – east and west
HoverCraft on the Isle of Wight
the outside area of Brading Roman Villa
Chocolate Box perfect – quintessential England – Shanklin Isle of Wight
Carisbrooke, Newport, Isle of Wight
The Needles and the Marconi Monument, Isle of Wight
East Cowes Marina
And Osborne House
Exterior views of Osborne House and across the grounds to the Solent
Queen Victoria – Osborne House, Isle of Wight
gifts for the Empress of India, Osborne House, Isle of Wight
The Durbar Room, Osborne House
Victoria and Albert who between them created a dynasty that spread across the world – family portraits
beautiful passageways with exquisite sculptures, finely furnished rooms
Osborne House, Isle of Wight – seaside home for Victoria and Albert
aerial view of Osborne and the house
Magic Lantern Festival – Chiswick Park, London
Magic Lantern Festival at Chiswick Park
Magic Lantern Festival – Chiswick House, London
lifelike figures – exquisite
Magic Lantern Festival – Chiswick House, London
Canterbury, Kent

Canterbury, Kent
February
Oxted, Surrey – the Greenwich Meridian runs through the town

A closer look at Oxted
Limpsfield, Surrey – a Domesday Book village
Limpsfield, Surrey
Limpsfield High Street
St Peter’s Church, Limpsfield – a pilgrim’s church
Down House – home of Charles Darwin

Down House; home of Charles Darwin and his family
Tatsfield, Surrey – a Domesday Book village

South East England’s highest village; Tatsfield. Ref wikipedia: “In Anglo-Saxon England, Tatsfield lay within Tandridge hundred. In 1086 it was held by Anschitill (Ansketel) de Ros from the Bishop of Bayeux. Its Domesday assets were: ? hide. It had 2 ploughs. It rendered 60 shillings (£3) to its feudal overlords per year.”
Tandridge & Crowhurst, Surrey

Tandridge & Crowhurst
Dublin, Ireland
ireland
Dublin
Trim Castle & Trim, Ireland
Castle Trim, Ireland
Colourful houses in Trim, Ireland. #architecture #Trim #CountyMeath #ireland?? #islands #traveldiaries #CindysTravels
March
City of Winchester, Hampshire, England

Winchester
Torquay, seaside resort – Devon

Torquay
April
Pisa, Florence, San Gimignano, Poggibonsi, Sienna, Lucca – Italy
Florence, Italy
I visited the tomb of the Medici today; Cappelle Medicee. May I just say; OMG!! The Chapel of the Princes is just overwhelming. These are the coats of arms of the Duchy. Wonderful wonderful designs inlaid with marble, lapis lazuli and other stunning materials. #Michaelangelo #Medici #tomb #mausoleum #Florence #Italy #Florence2017 #traveldiaries #livinghistory
I visited the tomb of the Medici today. Cappelle Medicee is just overwhelming. The Chapel of the Princes is yet another grand and striking mausoleum erected between 1604 and 1640 by the architect Matteo Nigetti following the designs of Giovanni de Medici, who practised architecture in a semi-professional manner. The Mausoleum, with its large dome and lavish interior ornamented with marble, was conceived to celebrate the power of the Medici dynasty which had successfully ruled Florence for several centuries. The octagonal room designed to contain the bodies of the Grand Dukes is in fact almost entirely covered with semi-precious stones and different-coloured marbles. The sarcophagi of the Grand Dukes are contained in niches and complemented by bronze statues. Ref:
http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/Medici_chapels.html #Medici #CappelleMedicee #Michaelangelo #Florence #Tuscany #Italy #artwork #medievalart #livinghistory #extraordinary #traveldiaries #CindysTravels #Florence2017 #loveItaly
Florence, Italy
Another mind-blowing day. Visited the Galleria dell’Academia today when I saw Michaelangelo’s David (just wow) and other sculptures (unfinished), and stood TWO INCHES away from a Stradivarius violin ?????? That nearly made me cry!!! I saw an embroidered altar piece frim 1313!!! I mean seriously!!! ?????? I visited the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum (extraordinary genius) and visited Opera Di Santa Croce where amongst many others I saw the tombs of Galileo and Michaelangelo and Da Vinci as well as art by Donatelli and many many other old masters. Wow. My head. #Florence2017 #Italy #BasilicaDiSantaCroce #Michaelangelo #Donatelli #LeonardoDaVinci #Galileo #OldMasters #art #exquisite #extraordinary #Stradivarius #violin
Florence, Italy
I dreamed of Florence, and Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca 😉 all listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites except Lucca which seems to possibly be…
Piazza de Miracoli, Pisa Leaning Tower of Pisa Duomo Santa Maria Assunta Baptistry of St John and the Old City Wall
Ponte Vecchio, Florence – that most famous of bridges
Poggibonsi, somewhere in Tuscany ???? I’m on my way to San Gimignano atm. Impulse trip. Probably not the best idea on a Sunday ?????? But nevertheless here I am. I have 60 minutes between train and bus so went walkabout. I should be in San Gimignano by 2pm, so plenty of time to explore. #Tuscany #Italy #traveldiaries #CindysTravels #Europe #Florence2017 #adventure #Poggibonsi #walledcity #SanGimignano
And so my day in San Gimignano comes to an end. What an extraordinary place!! I’ve climbed 2 towers ???? visited numerous museums and churches, a Roman ruin, walked up and down and around, seen frescoes that just leave you gasping and now I’m sitting on a bench in a forgotten corner eating the best gelato I’ve ever tasted from Gelateria Dondoli – Gelato World Champion 2006/2007 + 2008/2009. I can testify; it is delicious and now I’m enjoying the quiet and the view. My bus back to Poggibonsi leaves at 19:05. What a brilliant birthday trip. So glad I decided to visit. #SanGimignano #Tuscany #Italy #traveldiaries #Project101 #walledcity #UNESCOheritagesite #UNESCO #UNESCOWorldHeritageSite #walking #walk1000miles #loveItaly #Florence2017 #CindysTravels
May
Newcastle, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Newcastle, Ireland
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Belfast Castle
sculpture on the banks of the river Lagan
Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland
me at the Giant’s Causeway
Dunluce Castle; a now-ruined medieval castle in Northern Ireland. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim. Built by the MacQuillan family around 1500, the earliest written record of the castle was in 1513.
the Giant’s Causeway
Dark Hedges – Game of Thrones, N. Ireland

The Dark Hedges – scenes for Game of Thrones were shot in this area
Sevenoaks, Kent, England
June
Tonbridge, Kent, England
a beautiful horse sculpture in front of Tonbridge Castle
Ironbridge, Shropshire, England – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ironbridge, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ironbridge, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ironbridge, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lenham, Kent, England

Lenham
July
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales route – Southwark to Canterbury
Battle of Britain Airshow, Headcorn
Battle of Britain Airshow, Headcorn Kent
Battle of Britain Airshow, Headcorn Kent
Battle of Britain Airshow, Headcorn Kent
Battle of Britain Airshow, Headcorn Kent
St Augustine’s Way – Ramsgate to Canterbury
The St Augustine Trail
St Augustine
Minster Abbey
a dainty little hamlet – Stodmarsh
Finally through the city walls and so to Canterbury Cathedral
August
Arundel, and Arundel Castle, West Sussex, England
the Market Town of Arundel; a Domesday Book village
Arundel Castle
Cathedral in Arundel
The Parish and Priory Church of Saint Nicholas Arundel
Kings Arms Hill, Arundel
The Norman Keep, Arundel Castle
Arundel coat of arms
Arundel Castle West Sussex
Bromham, Houghton House with my lovely friends Lynne & Tim and Elstow (birthplace of John Bunyan) – Bedfordshire, England

Bromham, Houghton House, Elstow
Zip Line with Zip World in London with my daughter
September
Walked the Caminho Portuguese – Porto, Portugal to Santiago, Spain 240 kms – Both UNESCO World Heritage sites
O Recuncho do Peregrino Albergue – Miguel our host; the best
The scallop shells of O Porrino, Spain
The 999 arch aqueduct in Vila do Conde
Igreja Matriz de Vila do Conde
Me, Agata and Jakob in front of the Muro de Azulejos in Povoa de Varzim
Caminhos De Santiago – Apulia – Esposende
Santuário de Santa Luzia, Viana do Castelo
Torre do Relógio (Clock Tower), Rua Direita (Straight Road)- renamed Rua Ricardo Joaquim Sousa, this straight ancient street is still known locally as Rua Direita and leads directly from the archway in the clock tower to the river, a courtyard alongside the church, a gateway in the city walls.
These walls look pretty impregnable to me!!!
Fortaleza Valença – a fortress started at the beginning of the 13th century and relating to the reign of King Sancho I – composed of narrow lanes, tunnels and fortified walls; muralha primitiva
In the past, pilgrims coming from Portugal had to reach Galicia, Spain by crossing the river Miño on a boat, but lucky me I could walk across via the bridge 🙂
looking back at the cathedral, charming little pilgrim sculptures, streets of Tui
An hórreo; a Galician granary, a fabulous sign board; O Porrino 9.5kms and scallop shells decorate a wall at the garden cafe of O Chiriringo Ribedelouro
Bo Camino, Mos. Get your passport stamped here. I loved the way they used the scallop shell to register different languages
walking in history
69.971 kms to Santiago
Ponte de Burgo, Pontevedra on the Camino de Portuguese. what a thrill to see this 🙂
Early morning in the spa town of Caldas de Reis
34. kms to Santiago and I’m adorned with amulets
boots
church
Calle de Dolores – The Way to Camino de Santiago
10.1666 kms to Santiago de Compostela
Praza Santiago de Compostela
Susana and me outside the Cathedral in Santiago
Coimbra, Portugal – UNESCO World Heritage Site
Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain

Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
October
Montgomery Castle, Montgomery, Wales

Montgomery Castle, Montgomery, Wales
November
Caernarfon Castle, Wales – site where Prince Charles was crowned Prince of Wales

Caenarfon Castle, Wales
Ffenistogg Railway Line Train ride; Caenarfon to Portmadogg through Snowdonia

Ffenistogg Railway line Caenarfon to Portmadogg, Wales
Climbed Mount Snowdon, Snowdonia National Park, Gwynedd – highest mountain in Wales

Mount Snowdon, Wales
Montgomery, Powys, Wales – The Treaty of Montgomery was signed 29 September 1267 in Montgomeryshire. By this treaty King Henry III of England acknowledged Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales.

Montgomery, Wales
December
Snow in Wales

Snow in Wales
Christmas in Broadstairs, Isle of Thanet, Kent

Christmas 2017 with my delightful family
And in total, between 01.01.2017 & 31.12.2017 I have walked well over 1100 miles.
And last one for today…scenes from today’s Camino practice walk…from Broadstairs to Kingsgate. 1.5 hours. 6.32 kms. 9937 steps. Of course if I didn’t stop to take so many photos….???? What a fantastic day. My daughter joined me at Kingsgate where we stopped for tea, then I walked back home. All the dark images are facing south and the blue sky images facing north. #Camino2017 #Broadstairs #Kingsgate #seaside #walking #walkbritain #mapmywalk #englishcoast #seasidetownsofbritain #isleofthanet #Kent #scenicbritain #englandsbigpicture #blueskies #winter #water_captures #CindysTravels #traveldiaries #capturingbritain_coast #igerskent
My #Camino2017 practice walk took me to Ramsgate today. When I set out the sky was a pale yellowish line on the horizon. By the time I reached Ramsgate it was turning to pink…very pretty. I took some photos and headed back along the coast….however…if I had stayed just 15 minutes longer I would have seen a most spectacular sunset..although I did catch a little of it when I looked back. Just gorgeous. #sunset #RamsgateRoyalHarbour #englishcoast #isleofthanet #seasidetownsofbritain #harbours #sunrise_sunset_aroundworld #mapmywalk
Had an absolutely brilliant walk to Ramsgate again tonight. Started out clear with blue skies and massive clouds on the horizon, watched a beautiful sunset from the harbour wall, then some seriously cool wave action before heading back, and halfway home it clouded over and started to rain…needless to say I got soaked LOL. But oh how exhilarating it is to just walk and walk….8.7kms, 1 hour 40 minutes, 11349 steps #walking #Camino2017 #practicewalk #mapmywalk #Broadstairs #Ramsgate #seasidetownsofbritain #sunset #seascape #clouds #RamsgateRoyalHarbour #cloudscape #blueskies #isleofthanet #capturingbritain_coast #CindysTravels #traveldiaries #photosofbritain
Colour me blue…stunning day on the #isleofwight #sunset #walking #mapmywalk #walkbritain #placesofuk #englishcoast #TheSolent #seascape #water_captures #CindysTravels #traveldiaries #capturingbritain #winter #capturingbritain_coast #harbours #everything_transport #visitisleofwight
Shapes and lines…and what I saw on my walk today. #fromwhereristand #isleofwight #islands #placesofuk #englishcoast #TheSolent #englandsbigpicture #CindysTravels #traveldiaries #walking #mapmywalk #nationaltrust #visitisleofwight #adventure #capturingbritain_coast #capturingbritain
Okay so I had to concede defeat. I got as far as Priory Bay but the tides in and the footpath is a quagmire.but I did discover this amazing place…I thought it may be a hotel but there wasn’t a soul about..so I just sqizzed around and left. Now I’ve jumped on the bus. I still want time to explore Sandown. #isleofwight #CindysTravels #traveldiaries #capturingbritain_coast #beautiful #igerswight #seascape #TheSolent #englishcoast #englandsbigpicture
So, Sandown is not at all what I expected. It has an air of faded grandeur…of good times gone by. Hotels boarded up, paintwork faded and peeling….still from afar it looks splendid. The bay is beautiful too. #Sandown #isleofwight #architecture #faded #daysgoneby #CindysTravels #walkbritain #placesofuk #visitisleofwight #traveldiaries #seasidetownsofbritain #englishcoast
Scenes from Seaview to Sandown on the #IsleofWight Although part of my journey was by bus, I managed to walk a combination of 4-5 miles. I’m really excited about the #walk1000miles challenge for 2017. Certainly gives me a massive target to aim for besides my #Camino2017 practice walks. #walking #walkbritain #placesofuk #capturingbritain #adventure #travel #discovery #CindysTravels #traveldiaries #capturingbritain_coast #visitisleofwight #islands #seaside #seascape #igerswight #igersuk
A quick whizz around Seaview today during my break and after my adventure to Bembridge. #Seaview #isleofwight #placesofuk #blueskies #capturingbritain_urban #EnglishCounties #englandsbigpicture #visitisleofwight
I had a fabulous walk from Seaview to St Helens today…I would have made it to Bembridge too except I took the wrong road ?????? anyway, it was a beautiful day and I enjoyed my walk.11.2 kms / 19,108 steps and plenty photos ?? Here are some scenes of St Helens. #Seaview #StHelens #isleofwight #walking #walk1000miles #walkbritain #placesofuk #islands #historicbritain
taking a rest on Titsey Hill
different paths; different journeys
the many paths in life we get to choose…..
Reaching my ‘Proclaimer’ goal on Newcastle Beach in Ireland
Becoming a Proclaimer 🙂 – heading now towards 1000 miles
I have walked 500 miles 🙂 and I will walk 500 more
views of the Titsey Place Estate near Oxted in Surrey
sunrise, sunset – Isle of Wight
Horestone Point & Nodes Point
What an extraordinary year; 2017.
p.s. Days 14-30 Days of Gratitude will follow shortly….I eventually ran out of time 😉
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