Best of 2013 – By the Seat of My Skirt

Africa, France, Germany, Greece, Madagascar, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zanzibar — By Kelly on April 6, 2014 8:58 PM

This post is late, but I enjoyed reliving 2013 putting together the “Best Of” list!

 

BEST ADVENTURE: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

 

BEST CHALLENGE/ACHIEVEMENT: Summiting Kilimanjaro – 19,340 feet!

 

BEST HOME AWAY FROM HOME: Stäfa, Switzerland

 

COOLEST CREATURE: The Lemur

 

BEST FIRST IMPRESSION: Naxos, Greece

 

BEST DAY HIKE: There is a great hiking trail Glarus, Switzerland that takes you up 1800 meters to a mountain pass and loops around for stunning views of Klöntalersee lake and the alps.

 

BEST CANOE TRIP: Canoeing down the Tsirbihina River, western Madagascar

 

BEST RANT: I will not sell out my travel!

 

WORST TOILET: The toilets of Kilimanjaro

 

PRETTIEST WATER: Emerald Bay, Madagascar

AND Paje Beach, Zanzibar

 

COOLEST DOORS: The doors of Geneva, Switzerland

 

BEST PLACE TO GO ON SAFARI: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

 

BEST ACCOMMODATION: Paje by Kite, Paje Beach, Zanzibar

 

BEST PLACE TO VISIT A MASSAI VILLAGE: near Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

 

COOLEST PLACE TO EXPLORE: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park Madagascar

 

 

FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE: Along the banks of the the Tsirbihina River, Madagascar

 

 

BEST PLACE TO RIDE A SCOOTER: All around the island of Naxos, Greece

 

 

CUTEST CAT: Lazy Lion seen on safari in the Serengeti, Tanzania

 

STRONGEST PEOPLE: The porters of Kilimanjaro

 

BEST CATHEDRAL: Kölner Dom, Cologne, Germany

 

BEST SMILES: Kids on the banks of the the Tsirbihina River, Madagascar

 

BEST BOOTS: Solomon – no blisters while climbing 7 days on Kili!

 

BEST PLACE TO DINE AT SUNSET: At Paradiso, Naxos, Greece

 

SWEETEST CULTURE: Swiss, so sweet, polite, and honest!

 

BEST RUINS: The Parthenon in Athens, Greece

 

BEST PLACE TO BBQ: On a hilltop in Stäfa, Switzerland overlooking the lake of Zurich

 

BEST GLACIER: On the top of Mt. Kilimananjaro

MOST PICTURESQUE CITY: Naxos, Greece

 

BEST OYSTERS: Leucate, France

 

OLDEST TREES: Avenue of Baobabs, Western Madagascar

 

BEST HOMEMADE MEAL: Dinner at Daves, Naxos, Greece

 

BEST GUIDE: Nolavy Robène who guided us down the Tsirbihina River, western Madagascar

 

CITY THAT TAUGHT ME THE MOST: Athens, Greece

 

 

BEST SUNRISE: At the top of Kilimanjaro, seeing the sun glistened upon the glaciers after climbing all night.

 

BEST SUNSET: Seen on safari in the Serengeti, Tanzania

 

MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY: Greece

 

BEST PLACE TO KITEBOARD: Paje Beach, Zanzibar

 

WINDIEST & MOST RAD PLACE TO KITE: Sakalava Bay, Madagascar

 

BEST PLACE TO MEDITATE: EIAB Retreat with Thich Nhat Hahn in Cologne, Germany

 

SWEETEST MOMENT: When Tom picked me a bouquet of flowers while biking through Venice, California.

 

BEST THRILL: Jumping a little higher at Paje Beach, Zanzibar

 

BEST BEACH: Mikri Vigla Beach, Naxos Island, Greece

 

MOST PEACEFUL PERSON: Thich Nhat Hahn – photo taken at EIAB meditation retreat in Cologne, Germany

 

COOLEST CRATER:  Ngorongoro Crater, where lots of cool animals roam

 

MOST MEMORABLE PERSON: Sandy who I met in Madagascar. “This place is totally flipped out!”

 

SADDEST MOMENT: When the ducks died on the Tsirbihina River, western Madagascar

 

BEST PLACE TO CHILL: On a puff on the beach in Naxos, Greece

 

BEST PLACE TO CAMP: On the quiet bank of the Tsirbihina River, Western Madagascar

AND

On Mount Kilimanjaro high above the clouds!

 

MOST EMBARASSING/FUNNIEST MOMENT: Cultural taboo when catching the bouquet at a Swiss wedding

 

BEST JUMP: Tom kiteboarding in Sakalava Bay, Madagascar

 

BEST NATIONAL PARK: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park Madagascar

 

BEST PLACE TO PLAY HIDE & SEEK: Naxos, Greece

 

COOLEST CHAMELEON: Found in Madagascar, where all the cool creatures live!

 

MOST ROMANTIC COUNTRY: Naxos, Greece

 

 

MOST EXHAUSTED MOMENT: When I finally reached the summit of summit of  Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft!) having climbed for 7 hours through the freezing dark of night. Summit was reached after 6 days of climbing!

 

BEST VIEW: Summit of Mt. Zax, Naxos, Greece. At 1000 meters up you can see the other islands on on a clear day Turkey

 

BEST RESTAURANT/FOOD: Greek! – Matina Tavern, Naxos, Greece

 

BEST PLACE TO SPLURGE ON A ROOM: Grand Hotel, Diego Suarez, Madagascar

 

CUTEST LEMUR: Bamboo Lemur just look at that face!

 

BEST LAKE: Lake of Zurich, Switzerland

 

COOLEST CLOUDS: Seen while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

 

BEST BRIDGE: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park Madagascar

 

BEST PERFORMANCE:  African Scenic Safari Crew bidding us farewell with their song.

 

BEST BONFIRE: Huntington Beach, California

 

BIGGEST KITE: Dave’s 17 meter North Dyno he flew kiting in La Palme Pond, Luecate, France

 

BEST BIKE RIDE: Manhattan Beach to Malibu, California

 

FAVORITE PHOTO: Young Malagasy boy canoeing down the Tsirbihina River, western Madagascar

 

BEST GUIDES UP KILI: Bones, Antipas, Dennis

and Barak!

 

FAVORITE LOCAL SHOTS: Lovely Malagasy Ladies

 

COLDEST MOMENT: Summit night on Kilimanjaro 13 tops and 5 pants!

 

BEST SUP: Newport Beach, California

 

MOST CROWDED CAMPSITE: Base camp, Mt. Kilimanjaro

 

MOST SPONTANEOUS ADVENTURE: Madagascar, no plan, no problem!

 

BEST KEPT SECRET: Naxos, Greece

 

COUTRY THAT WOWED ME THE MOST: Greece – I was wowed by the history, beauty  & food!

 

BEST PLACES TO VISIT AGAIN:

Greece: So many islands, so little time. So gorgeous, so interesting, so yummy, I must go back!
South Africa: I was only in Johannesberg for 1 day and only got to visit the hospital
Madagascar: The island is huge, so much left unexplored! I want to visit the South next.

Best of 2012

Best of 2011

Tags: Best of, france, Greece, Madagascar, Switzerland, Tanzania, Zanzibar