Looking back at 2015, the year the map finally filled in

If anyone had told me on New Year's Day how 2015 would end, I would not have believed the list: three cities I had wanted to see for years, a torn ligament, a new camera, and the Taj Mahal at last. It began with confusion and difficulty, and turned into one of my best years of travel. My job made much of it possible, and the blog, started at the end of 2013 and then neglected for a year while work took over, finally found its rhythm.

The year in numbers

Three cities had been on my list for a long time, and all three happened this year: Berlin, Paris and Barcelona, along with other corners of Europe and a holiday back home in India. The blog recorded 24,000 views in 2015, arriving from 163 countries. Thank you for reading, for commenting, for finding me on social media and for the encouragement.

Carnival, confetti and dumplings

Having lived in Bonn, which sits very close to Cologne, I began the year with a post on free things you can do in Cologne. If you are in that city in November or February, look out for the Carnival, which is as loud and as mad as carnival gets.

Basel has one of Switzerland's biggest, too: Fasnacht, held every February over three days. Expect to be hit by confetti at least once. I wrote about the Basel Fasnacht here, and this guide to basic Swiss-German is worth keeping to hand if you go.

March took me south to Tuebingen, a small German town that feels lifted from a storybook. I like nothing better than walking a new place until it starts to make sense. Tuebingen also served the best dumplings with mushroom sauce I have eaten; I have never found that flavour again. There is a post on walking around the small Swabian town of Tuebingen.

Two new series

I launched Travellers' Tales and Mythical Mondays this year, both built on the same interest: stories, other people's experiences, and the way a place is understood through them. The response has been generous. One of my most-read pieces of the year was Myths, legends and folklore from Spain.

Easter, Costa Brava and a yacht

I spent Easter in Vienna, and had the worst train journey I have ever experienced. That story is now on the blog.

A high point of the year was TBEX in Costa Brava, my first travel blogging conference, where I met a roomful of people whose work I admired. I later wrote up the 10 things I learnt from that first event. It was also the year I tried scuba diving for the first time, explored Barcelona and had my pocket picked in the same trip. Every experience teaches you something, even that one.

Barcelona itself was a delight: a beach hostel, sailing at sunset on a yacht, and a great deal of very good food. Straight afterwards I made a quick trip to Lucerne with friends, which was a feast for the eyes.

Berlin, and Paris at last

June took me to Berlin for a conference, with enough free time to see as much of the city as I could. I loved its atmosphere and promised myself a proper stay this year, ideally in summer. My post on 15 things to do and see in Berlin covers the highlights, and I also took an in-depth tour about the city during the years of Divided Berlin, thanks to Context Travel.

One trip had been planned since 2012 and cancelled repeatedly, and it finally happened: Paris. I had been there more than 20 years earlier with my parents, and I had wanted to return ever since. I stayed in two different parts of the city, the 12th arr. and Montmartre, and saw Notre Dame, the Catacombs, the Louvre, Versailles, the Eiffel Tower, Shakespeare and Co and the Alexander Bridge, among others.

Heidelberg, then a ligament

From September the weather turned cold. Anyone who reads this blog knows how fond I am of Heidelberg and how often I recommend it. That month I took a friend there for the weekend and showed her around, choosing the first week of September because the castle illuminations and fireworks were due that Saturday. Sleeping in a hostel in a city where I once lived felt strange, but wandering my favourite spots with her was a pleasure. I also wrote 10 reasons why you will love Heidelberg.

Picture courtesy: Heidelberg Marketing

The following week I went hiking in Switzerland's Emmental region with friends, twisted my ankle and ruptured a ligament. The lesson is that I need to work on my fitness before the next hike. We still made it to the Kambly biscuit factory afterwards, where we learned to make a great many delicious biscuits.

Brno, Basel and Milan

After a month of rest and a heavy stretch of work, I went to the Czech Republic, though not to Prague: Brno, in Moravia. The food and beer were excellent, but what excited me most was standing where Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics, lived and worked. It is a pity his work went unrecognised while he was alive.

November disappeared into work again, apart from a visit to a dear friend in Karlsruhe. The Herbstmesse in Basel was as good as ever, and this year I learned much more about the traditional food. I also joined a photography group and began working out what my new camera can actually do.

December meant preparation for a conference in Milano, and a flight to India straight after. I had visited Milan earlier, but only for a day, so this time I saw far more and bought the Milan city card, which proved very useful.

One sight I will not forget: Santas riding Harley Davidsons through Basel on 5 December, St Niklaus Day. The year also taught me how many strange and quirky Christmas traditions Europe keeps, and Christmas being my favourite season, I never tire of visiting Christmas markets.

India, and the Taj Mahal

The icing on the cake was India. The north was cold and foggy, and people advised me to abandon my Agra plans, but I was determined. I had thought about going to Agra every year and never managed it; for six months the wish had been insistent. On a winter day that turned out warm and sunny, I finally stood in front of the Taj Mahal. While I was there I also saw Fatehpur Sikri, built by the Mughal emperor Akbar.

And, as every year, I met my school friends. Time and distance do nothing to friendships like those; we can go years without meeting and pick up mid-sentence.

The five posts read most

1. Walking through Divided Berlin: the city at the time of the Cold War
2. Myths, Legends and Folklore from Spain #MythicalMondays
3. 10 tips to enjoy for free in Cologne
4. 15 things to do and see in Berlin
5. Tips for visiting Paris when you don't speak French

So that was my 2015. What did you enjoy most in yours, and what are you planning for 2016? My own wishlist has the Northern Lights on it, in either Iceland or Lapland in Finland, plus Rome and the Amalfi Coast. We shall see how much of it happens.

Wishing you a happy and successful year ahead, and do keep me posted about your travels.