I love doing this summary of what was the year that ends.

I do it for my birthday when I raise my desires for the next cycle; and I also do it by the end of the year, to remember everything that has happened in recent months and review that I could modify to make it even better in the cycle that starts.

2016 was a very intense year in many respects, both personally and professionally, and one with my best travel and blogging accomplishments until now.

A year with many changes, often surprising, but looking at them today all have a meaning.

Perhaps the phrase that sums up 2016 for me is:

Dreams always come true if you believe so.

How was your year and your best travel of 2016?

I organized these events with letters and not numbers just to play a little and to follow the numbering that is done in the airplanes … to leave it a little more on a travel tone.

 

A. Traveling with LATAM Airlines

I started the year with great excitement, as I was invited by a very important brand to travel with them. And it was nothing less than, until then, LAN Airlines.

I was able to live with them two very important milestones as was flying in the first a350 of the Americas that also meant for me to know a destination dreamed since I was very young when I looked at the map of South America: Manaus.

A few months later I would be flying in a unique event: The first flight as the new LATAM Airlines. It was a very exciting event because it marked a milestone in history, and it was very special for me because in the middle of the flight I heard how they told the story of my first flight to all passengers!

 

This incredible event was featured in the second edition of the new VAMOS Magazine, and also, at page 172, my experienced was there for all the passengers during June.

These experiences were very valuable for me, not only as a blogger, for my experience and work with such a recognized brand, but also for the incredible people I met during them.

 

B. Rio de Janeiro Carnival

I guess everybody has those events with which we always dream to participate.

As a child, I always watched the Rio Carnival parades on TV and was dazzled by the music, colors, and energy that lives there.

This year I fulfilled the dream! And also I fulfilled the dream with my mother who also had a lot of desire to live this experience.

 

C. Brasil.

Buzios and Paraty

Brazil is a destination that I regret having waited so long to visit.

Today is one of my favorites and is a country with a lot of diversity.

The coast near Rio de Janeiro has one of the most beautiful beaches in the country, calypso waters, palm trees and caipirinhas served on the beach. Do you have any doubts?

I really love places like Paraty, full of history, and in which I can go for hours taking photos of its cobbled streets.

 

D. Rancagua

Instameet and my first public speaking

Years ago I did not visit this city near Santiago and this time was a very special occasion: The first Instameet organized by the community of that city.  We had a cold day in which we toured the city photographing and meeting other members of the Chilean Instagram community.

We had a cold day in which we toured the city photographing and meeting other members of the Chilean Instagram community.

It will be a day that I will always remember because it was also here that I gave my first massive talk.

I was always really afraid to speak in public, but here I felt calm and very happy to be able to tell my story and now I can’t stop!

 

E. Valparaíso.

Photography, encounters and more photography. Visiting Leonardo Murialdo School.

As I had my base in Santiago de Chile, I made many trips to Valparaiso. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Chile, declared UNESCO heritage and with an unceasing cultural activity.

The people of Santiago have the privilege of having the coast less than an hour and a half trip, which makes it possible to take trips for a day to enjoy the sea and photograph the beautiful hills with their colorful houses.

It is among those trips that I also had the honor of being invited to tell my story as a blogger and travels to the students of the Journalism and TV Workshop of the Leonardo Murialdo School, at Larraín Hill. Giving a talk for children was a challenge for me and turned out to be a wonderful experience and lots of learning for me.

 

F. Iquique, Pica and Salitreras.

TV and radio interviews

And escaping the cold in Santiago, I went to know an area of northern Chile that was pending (although I think I was much cooler there than in Santiago, lol).

The north of Chile is magical, full of history and incredible landscapes. Abandoned saltpeter plants and vestiges of pre-Hispanic cultures are all around the city of Iquique.

I ate the best mangoes of my life in Pica, which although they are small are very tasty!

In addition, I was invited to two local radio programs and one TV Station telling how it is to live a life of traveler and of what I do like a Travel Blogger.

G. Peru and Machu Picchu.

My mother’s dream and mine at Titikaka Lake

More than 13 years ago began this adventure of traveling the world and never stopped.

Peru has an important place in my heart because it was the first destination to which I ventured alone outside of Chile.

On that first trip was pending to know Lake Titikaka and for those things of life were several times I planned to go but something happened in the way that prevented me. Today I understand that it was rather myself, that I should be in the emotional place where I am today to really enjoy this place.

The experience was incredible.

In addition, this trip had an extreme point of happiness, I was able to accompany my mother to fulfill her dream traveler of all her life: to know Machu Picchu. Seeing her face radiating so much happiness is how you always want to see your parents and I am proud to have shared with you this moment so beautiful.

 

H. Bolivia

Encounters and dreams

There are places that remain in your heart forever and my return to La Paz had several very important reasons.

Going back to this city after so many years and seeing it from above from the cable car was wonderful!

I was finally able to visit the Market of Bruges and calmly walk its streets, take pictures of everything and really enjoy the city.

 

 

I. Santiago.

Friends, second Instameet and a radio interview

Although when I returned to Santiago I did not want to be there for anything (I spent almost a month locked up at the edge of the depression I think) everything that we decide and happens to us in life is because we have planned something much better with it.

My return to Santiago was wonderful after a few months!

Part of these friends are the organizers of the Instameet and we live the second great meeting in Santiago with almost a thousand people gathered!

My days in the city were wonderful, learning, teaching and communicating. I was invited to tell my experience to Radio FM Palabra 106.3, where we talk about travel, passions, and entrepreneurship.

The best of this season in Santiago was to connect with beautiful people, talented and passionate about life. It was them who made me see this return as necessary.

 

This is the first time that my friends are going to leave my trip to the airport and without a doubt this was a milestone in my life.

J. Madrid

The end of the year was wonderful for me. It began with my first visit to Madrid, a destination with which I always dreamed to be.

A city far more entertaining than I thought and an absolute paradise for foodies, with tapas and tapas everywhere.

K. Christmas Markets in Strasbourg and Germany

My fear of traveling to Europe in the winter, -because I am not very friendly to the cold- dissipated quickly.

Being in Europe on the eve of Christmas is one of the best ideas for any traveler who likes Christmas as much as I do.

This time I had a mission: to go through as many Christmas markets as I could.

And I managed to visit many in Germany and returned to my favorite in Strasbourg.

Today I can say happily that already the smell of vin chaud, glüwein, navegado or whatever you want to call it …I got tired of it.

L. Prague

The time before the end of the year was much more perfect than I even imagined. , and if it is a dream traveler,

And if we talk about traveler’s dreams., travel to Prague was on my list since forever!

I can’t believe that I was really walking the streets of this city that seems out of a story (with a castle and everything).

Although being crowded with tourists, Prague is a beautiful city and got to have a special view after Christmas. It also allowed me to see the most beautiful Christmas tree he has ever seen.

 

M. Berlin

And I closed the year in a new city.

Another destination that I fantasized about since I was a girl, when I was a history fan and wondered what it would be like to stand in front of the Berlin Wall.

Being there I felt shivers for many reasons, both to know more deeply what happened there but also to realize how powerful we are as human beings.

 

While watching the fireworks in Berlin I recognized how much good I had lived in 2016 and above all I realized that when you get clear what you want and want something with all your heart, if you leave behind the fears that prevent you from getting it, you will have it.

I wish you to have a beautiful 2017, full of your best travel and adventure!

 

 

Already have travel plans for 2017?