A review of our year
Now, this is not a self-indulgent look back on how much we've achieved, this is not about us. It's about the trips we took, the lessons we learnt, and hopefully, inspire you for your travels.
We start close to home.
One of the things we have taken on-board is to see your world through the eye of a tourist, therefore you don't need to go a million miles to explore a whole new world.
So let's get started
![The Pin image for our post - 'Our 2018, and another magical year'](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Our-2018-and-another-magical-year-II-Pin6.jpg)
![The stunning Gullfoss waterfall captured in mid-March with ice still remaining around the edges. A must-see on Iceland's Golden Circle.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Gullfoss-with-Ice-and-snow-2018-drive-iceland-iceland-self-drive-self-drive-holiday-iceland-driving-tour-iceland-V5.jpg)
It starts with our city - London
![The entrance to the Playhouse Theatre in central London advertising the 'Glengarry Glen Ross' production](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Glengarry-Glen-Ross-at-the-Playhouse-Theatre-things-to-do-in-london-theatres-in-london-V5.jpg)
The show was the brilliant, 'Glengarry Glen Ross' with a star-studded cast, purchased through 'LoveTheatre', but that was just the one highlight of the weekend.
We love exploring London; its history is so often in plain sight. Take for example the Inns of Court, when practising law was banished to outside the walls of the City of London. More of that in 'From the Bar to the Temple'
![A pathway leading to the brick chambers of the Middle Temple in London's legal district](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Inside-Middle-Temple-hidden-london-things-to-see-in-london-legal-london-V5.jpg)
![A close-up of a historic Blue Place to Herman Meville, author of Moby Dick, who lived in this building in 1849](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Who-knew-blue-plaques-hidden-london-things-to-see-in-london-historic-london-V5.jpg)
Why not check out 'The Round Blue Plaques of London'
We were lucky that in 2018 the capital was celebrating the 2nd Lumiere light festival, so we headed out after dark to discover 'The Lighting of London'. It brought a bit of sparkle to the winter nights.
![An illuminated hedgehog family as part of the Lumiere London art project in London during the winter of 2018](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Hedgehog-family-Lumiere-London-visit-london-things-to-see-in-london-V5.jpg)
It may have been cold, wintery, with sleet in the air, but that didn't temper Janis's enthusiasm for a cemetery. So before we left the city, we headed to one of London’s “Magnificent Seven”, Brompton Cemetery.
It took us a while to locate the last resting place of the suffragette - Emmeline Pankhurst, but we were not going to leave before we had.
It may have been cold, wintery, with sleet in the air, but that didn't temper Janis's enthusiasm for a cemetery. So before we left the city, we headed to one of London’s “Magnificent Seven”, Brompton Cemetery.
It took us a while to locate the last resting place of the suffragette - Emmeline Pankhurst, but we were not going to leave before we had.
![The Main Avenue, Brompton Cemetery, historic london, magnificent seven cemetery, things to see in london](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Main-Avenue-Brompton-Cemetery-London-England-UK-V5.jpg)
We have a little book on our shelves that we sometimes delve into when we're about to hit an area of London.
Packed full of historical facts, and broken down into the different regions of London, it's a great resource to help you see what's hidden in plain sight.
Available in Kindle & Hardback editions, it's an excellent addition to anyone's collection who loves London.
Iceland, a return for unfinished business.
![Iceland's route one crossing a spit of land, with water on both sides, towards ice-capped mountains](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Just-outside-Breiddalsvik-iceland-itinerary-iceland-self-drive-tours-iceland-road-trip-iceland-ring-road-V5.jpg)
![A small red boat moored up in a tiny Hjalteyri harbour in the north of Iceland](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/A-boat-moored-up-in-Hjalteyri-harbour-places-to-visit-in-iceland-visit-northern-iceland-visit-iceland-V5.jpg)
![A side profile of Janis behind the wheel of our hire care as we pass through a snowy landscape](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Janis-driving-Etta-in-Iceland-iceland-road-trip-visit-eastern-iceland-touring-iceland-V5.jpg)
![A band of green lights of the Northern Lights over the mountains just outside Reykjahlíð in Eastern Iceland](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Northern-Lights-outside-Reykjahlid-things-to-see-in-eastern-iceland-places-to-visit-in-iceland-visit-eastern-iceland-visit-iceland-V5.jpg)
If you're tempted to tour the Land of Fire and Ice and would love to discover the whole country, then take a look at this DK Eyewitness book. This Top 10 Pocket Travel Guide is invaluable, I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more.
You can now grab the revised copy.
Our Portuguese Road Trip
![A stairway built into the sandstone rocks at the Ponta da Piedade, leading to the azure blue waters of the Algarve at the southern tip of Portugal](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/The-stairway-at-Ponta-da-Piedade-Algarve-Portugal-R4.jpg)
![A lit square after dark in Guimarães, Portugal where diners sit at restaurants lining the square and others walkthrough the historical old town.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Largo-da-Oliveira-at-night-guimaraes-portuguese-road-trip-road-trip-portugal-visit-portugal-V5.jpg)
![The view from the base of the steps at Bom Jesus do Monte to the chapel 116 metres or 381 feet above, in the heart of portugal that we visited as part of our portuguese road trip.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/The-view-from-the-bottom-Bom-Jesus-do-Monte-Portugal-R2.jpg)
![An elderly gentleman is standing next to the waist-high bronze town sign for León in Northern Spain.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Youre-in-León-León-Spain-R2.jpg)
Our recent new found love is Portugal, it is such a beautiful country. While planning our trip, I used the DK Eyewitness books. I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our north to south Portuguese road trip, now you can grab the revised copy.
A gathering in Rotterdam
![The iconic bright yellow cube houses are set against a blue sky with fluffy clouds in Rotterdam, Holland](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Cube-Houses-things-to-see-in-rotterdam-places-to-visit-in-rotterdam-not-to-miss-in-rotterdam-V5.jpg)
![The decorated ceiling of the Market Hall in Rotterdam above its food market.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Inside-the-Market-Hall-Rotterdam-Netherlands-R3.jpg)
It's a fabulous city, and we loved learning its history, soaking up its culture and diving into the chic side of the city.
Looking for an alternative to Amsterdam? You really should consider Rotterdam, it makes a great mini-break.
Ypres, and the road to Remembrance
![Looking through the red brick & cream stone archway of the Menin Gate in Ypres to the bell tower of the Cloth Hall in the distance](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Menin-Gate-ypres-menin-gate-ypres-memorial-ypres-ww1-memorial-V5.jpg)
![A grassy trail between mature trees and an undulating landscape carved out of the battlefields of world war I.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Hill-60-world-war-I-belgium-WWI-belgium-great-war-battledfields-V5.jpg)
![The Commonwealth War Graves Cross of Sacrifice on top of a German bunker in the Tyne Cot cemetery near Passchendaele, Belgium](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/The-Cross-of-Sacrifice-on-top-of-the-Tyne-Cot-Passchendaele-Belgium-V5.jpg)
Amiens, France
![The quayside in the centre of amiens, france, at dusk, with restaurants lining one side](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Quai-Belu-at-dusk-Amiens-France-V5.jpg)
We love France; it's history, culture and its flavours.
Amiens was a perfect end to a trip that started in Rotterdam, and of course, we had to end with the ultimate traveller - Jules Verne.
![The Dewailly clock in the centre of amiens just after dusk with the notre-dame cathedral in the background](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Dewailly-clock-visit-amiens-visit-the-somme-hidden-france-V5.jpg)
An English Road Trip
![A small pleasure boat heading under the Henley Bridge in front of the The Angel on the Bridge pub in Henley on Thames](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Angel-accross-the-Thames-Henley-on-Thames-England-V5.jpg)
![The 18th-century neo-classical domed-circular Radcliffe Camera in the centre of Oxford](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Radcliffe-camera-Oxford-England-UK-V5.jpg)
![Looking down 'The Street' in the picturesque village of Castle Combe in Wiltshire](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-Street-Castle-Combe-visit-wiltshire-historic-england-explore-the-cotswolds-places-to-visit-in-the-uk-V5.jpg)
![Little rowing boats moored up on the River Avon, with the Holy Trinity church in the background, in Stratford-upon-Avon](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-river-Avon-with-the-Holy-Trinity-church-in-the-background-Stratford-upon-Avon-Warwickshire-England-UK-V5.jpg)
Wimbledon
![A clear plastic beaker with domed lid and straw, full of Pimms and lemonade, held aloft in front of a game of tennis at the centre court of wimbledon during the finals.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Pimms-and-Lemonade-Tennis-Wimbledon-London-England-UK.jpg)
Dover Castle
![Dover Castle's outer walls draped with the standards of Henry II, and flying the flags of English Heritage & the Union Flag.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-inner-walls-of-Dover-Castle-Dover-Kent-England-V5.jpg)
![The rear view of the centrepiece statue of a seated airman overlooking the English Chanel at the Battle of Britain Memorial](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Looking-out-over-the-White-Cliffs-Battle-of-Britain-Memorial-Capel-le-Ferne-Kent-England-UK-V5.jpg)
The French Road Trip
![A bright square, called Place Favier, in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence under the dappled shade with a couple of colourful red tables and chairs, under parasols, of a local restaurant.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/A-lttle-restaurant-in-Place-Favier-St-Remy-de-Provence-France-V5.jpg)
![two small motor boats moored on the lake annecy on a beautiful sunny, but hazy, day in september](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Moored-on-the-Lake-visit-annecy-best-place-to-visit-in-france-discover-annecy-V5.jpg)
I love nothing more than planning a trip through France and so often I use the DK Eyewitness books. I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into discovering more.
We used a previous version of this book to plan our French road trips, now you can grab the revised copy.
A French day trip
A trip that came a little out of the blue. Eurotunnel had an offer on, a mid-week day trip crossing for £25. Too good to be true. But where to go? Then we hit on an idea.
It was close to the 100th year of the end of World War I.
We live in a small village in Kent, as with all towns & villages in Britain, there's a war memorial. Ours has 33 names of those who fell in the 'Great War'.We did a little research, and located the memorials for those in France and set about tracking them down.
![The Eccles War Memorial and Clock, Eccles](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/The-Eccles-War-Memorial-and-Clock-Eccles-Kent-Emgland-UK-V5.jpg)
![The Memoria Wall either side of the Cross of Sacrifice at the Loos Military Cemetery, France](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-cross-of-sacrifice-in-Loos-Memorial-France-V5.jpg)
The German Christmas markets
![The Christmas Tree in front of the illuminated Brandenburg Gate at dusk.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-tree-in-front-of-the-Brandenburg-Gate-Berlin-German-Christmas-V5.jpg)
![A group of people in front of a small, brightly lit, children's Ferris wheel.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/The-little-Ferris-wheel-Bremen-German-Christmas-Markets-Germany-V5.jpg)
![The decorative illuminated entrance gates to Hamburg's Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas market at night with the Rathaus tower in the edge of the shot.](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/An-entrance-to-Rathaus-Market-at-night-Hamburg-German-Christmas-Markets-Germany-V5.jpg)
![Looking over the red rood tops of the huts of cologne's dom christmas market at night with the central christmas tree and it's blanket of twinkling fairy lights](https://www.ourworldforyou.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/A-view-over-the-Dom-Market-cologne-christmas-market-cologne-at-christmas-german-christmas-markets-V5.jpg)
So that's it
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