Our 3rd Blogiversary – in 3 Takes

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

The date of my 3rd blogiversary hit me by surprise this year. (Honestly, I’d totally forgotten about it!) I was doing a little site maintenance last week and noticed the date of my first post – November 29th. Right away, I knew what I wanted to do – show some of my favorite photos of the last three years but there was no way to weed through more than 2,500 images in two days and decide which ones to use.

I registered my blog about 3 years before I started blogging. Even though I was traveling, I couldn’t seem to get the writing part going. That is, until two of my friends and I made it to southern Africa. Three weeks in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Lesotho and I returned with so many wonderful and memorable experiences, I could hear myself telling the same stories over and over. I needed a medium that would allow me to share my stories and photos – my usual travel journal wouldn’t do. Then I remembered the blog I registered and never used.

Shortly after I returned home, I looked up my blog, downloaded my photos – almost 1000 images – and began writing. Surprisingly, the words flowed and even more surprisingly, they haven’t stopped.

My blog and I have grown considerably since those first tentative moments three years ago. I’ve met and befriended readers and bloggers and can proudly say there’s no group more supportive. It is because of you that this 3rd blogiversary is possible.

In Take One, I’ll go back to where it started – that trip to southern Africa. We visited Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, and Sani Pass, Lesotho.

If you can only visit two continents in your lifetime, visit Africa. TWICE! – R. Elliott

3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Entrance to Victoria Falls
3rd Blogiversary, Vic Falls
Victoria Falls Rainbow
3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Victoria Falls
Lunchtime at Makalolo Plains
Lunchtime at Makalolo Plains, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
3rd Blogiversity in 3 Takes
Lone bull elephant at Mbisa, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Mandela House, Soweto
3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Iconic Soweto Watertowers
Looking down, Table Mountain
View from Table Mountain, Cape Town
3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Table Mountain Tablecloth
3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Jackass Penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Town
Vineyard in Stellenbosch, South Africa
Vineyard, Stellenbosch, Cape Town
3rd Blogiversry in 3 Takes
M’hudi Wines’ Oupa Rangaka
3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Durban trees
3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Sani Pass Hotel
3rd Blogiversary in 3 Takes
Durban Rickshaw
Morning on the Golden Mile, Durban
Morning on the Golden Mile, Durban

 Some of the people we met…

It’s been a while since I saw some of these photos so that made it even more difficult to decide what to include. But it was great looking back at the wonderful time we had.

I still keep in touch with several of the people we met in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The first time I visited Africa, a friend told me it would change my life. It took the second visit for it to happen.

Coming up tomorrow, Take 2: London, Paris, Toronto, and New York.

Linking up this week with Travel Photo Thursday, which Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox organizes. Be sure to head over and check out more photos from locations around the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 comments on “Our 3rd Blogiversary – in 3 Takes”

  2. Ohh Marcia, Happy Anniversary! I’m so glad that you’re back-tracking. I’ve been to many of the places you’ve featured in this post and it’s been a lovely trip down memory lane as we lived in South Africa and Lesotho for many years. How I miss it all 🙂

  5. What a fantastic post and Happy Blogiversary to you, Marcia! I met you through Suzanne Fluhr and because of your Foodie Tuesdays my blog took off. I met so many people of which most are now friends there! I love your pictures of of your beautiful journey and coming to your blog and your cooking is always so comforting. It’s like home cooking no matter what the topic is that you share. All of our best to you, our friend! 🙂

  7. Congratulations Marcia. It’s amazing how quickly the years slip by with the blogs. I loved seeing your photos and it seems to me that you have the dance moves – something I was not blessed with. Hope you stick with the blogging for a lot of years to come.

  8. I loved virtually traveling back with you, Marcia. These pictures are so beautiful. Happy Blogoversary and I’m so glad you kept writing. It has been a joy to have virtually met you and share your travels with you. Looking forward to the rest of the posts.

  9. Lovely pictures and congratulations on your 3rd Blogiversary.

    “If you can only visit two continents in your lifetime, visit Africa. TWICE! ” – thumbs up to R. Elliot!

  11. Congrats on your Blogiversary. It’s interesting that you registered your domain long before you started publishing. Looking at these photos, I can see why this trip was a turning point that inspired you to start sharing your journey. I’m so glad that you do. Here’s to many more years and posts to come!

  12. Heartiest congratulations, dear Marcia! How beautiful and inspiring to know about your writing journey. Your pictures and thoughts echo your love for travel, both – the outer one and the inside. I am so happy to have met you in this big online world and having the privilege to have shared a few moments with you! I so hope life will be kind enough to give us the opportunity to do the same in person someday.

    Wish you many more years of joy – of travelling, sharing and learning – and I look forward to doing the same with you – here’s to many many more! Keep Blogging! 🙂

  13. CONGRATULATIONS, Marcia! And may your blog go from strength to strength in the coming 3 more years at least! Love your pics, especially of the food. 😉

  14. Fabulous photos as always. Happy Blog Anniversary! We share the same date. I started Mirth and Motivation on 11/29/2008. Great minds think alike. 😉
    Eliz

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