Countdown – 10 Favorite Photos of 2017

On the last day of 2017, I decided to gather the 10 best photos of the year. For those of you who already follow us on social media, you’ve probably seen a few pictures of the countdown. Nevertheless, I wanted to see the entire list in one place and share with you my personal favorite photographs that we’ve taken so far. Even if we haven’t yet covered all the destinations on the blog, I hope this will be a nice teaser for future articles. I’ll be counting down from 10 and will include 2 photos from all 5 countries we have visited this year (Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Malta).

Here are my 10 favorite photos of 2017:

#10 View from Becheci Peak, Transylvania, Romania

I’m kicking off the list with one of the first travels of 2017 in which we toured our immediate surroundings, the Niraj Valley, during a small road trip for my birthday. I love this photo because it captures the essence of Transylvanian back country: green rolling hills, dusty roads and small villages.

#9 Festetics Palace, Keszthely, Hungary

This architectural wonder is a true gem in a lovely town in Western Hungary. Whilst the Baroque-style building is as impressive as they come, I especially loved the meticulously-maintained private castle gardens. It’s an attraction which the entire family (including the children) will certainly enjoy.

#8 Lake Jasna, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

One of the most eye-popping attractions we’ve seen this year are the two man-made lakes a few kilometers away from the mountain village of Kranjska Gora. Slovenia has so many amazing places that it was very hard to pick merely two favorite photos. I ended up choosing this one because I love how uncrowded this beautiful place is with the two fishermen trying their luck for a catch.

#7 Kavarna Region, Bulgaria

One of the biggest surprises of the year was located merely 40 kms south of the border with Romania. The Kavarna area offers so many amazing attractions, from sea kayaking to amazing nature reserves and divine food. You can read all about the ultimate guide to your trip to Kavarna, Bulgaria on the blog.

#6 Valletta, Malta

The tiny capital of the small archipelago of Malta located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea is set to impress. With tall walls serving as the ultimate protection against the enemy, the city is a haven to travelers who love fine architecture and are eager to learn about local history. With the new year rolling in, Valletta’s status of European Capital of Culture is well-deserved. I am just glad I got to photograph these narrow streets on a rainy day without the crowds which will surely flood the city in 2018.

#5 Mud Volcanoes, Buzau County, Romania

A place I’ve written about just recently on the blog, Buzau County offered us attractions we’ve never dreamed of. Its natural landscape is surreal, unique and very green, even if its roads are subpar. The Mud Volcanoes are definitely worth a visit, but there’s also plenty of other places to see, don’t hesitate to read about the Top 3 Must-Sees in Buzau County.

#4 Székesfehérvár, Hungary

After spending just a few short hours in the city, I can definitely proclaim that Székesfehérvár is one of the most beautiful cities in Hungary. I absolutely loved the architecture, the city center and we haven’t even visited one of its top attractions, the Bory Castle. For that (and more of the city), we will definitely be back!

#3 Zelenci Nature Reserve, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

Not initially in our itinerary, we decided to visit Zelenci on a whim. Although we didn’t even find the path leading to this emerald wonderland at first, I am really happy we eventually did encounter the trail, because it led us to one of the most memorable places in all of magical Slovenia.

#2 Yaylata National Archaeological Reserve, Kavarna, Bulgaria

My favorite shot during our trip to Bulgaria, I just love the natural cave frame of this shot and the sea serving as the perfect turquoise backdrop. The reserve boasts a myriad of attractions, ranging from protected flowers to ancient archaeological finds. This is the only photo of the 10 on which I’m actually present, right next to Vlad from Eff It, I’m On Holiday (RP took the photo).

#1 Fungus Rock, Dwejra Bay, Island of Gozo, Malta

The countdown ends today with my all-time-favorite photo of this year. It was taken during my last trip of 2017 in mid-November on the fascinating island of Gozo in Malta. I actually managed to capture this moment from atop a moving double-decker bus as we were closing in on Dwejra Bay. Even though I went to the same place on foot to photograph this mystical place from a stable position, the picture taken from the bus is still somehow much better.