Me and 2021 - Photography Lovers End of Year Contest

For me, it has been a year of great challenges, but also wonderful experiences, as perhaps for all of you.
As a cruise ship concierge and tour guide, I was used to traveling, conquering new places, taking great photos. The pandemic, as you know, affected the whole world, but its effect was most felt on ship tourism, and it was the reason I spent more time at home with my family.

I chose this picture to be the first in my post since it describes my feelings when I found out I will not be able to travel in 2021 as much as I used to travel before. I sadly encountered this ship monument as I was on a trip around my homeland.

However, this situation also has its benefits because I was able to spend more time with my loved ones and especially my lovely niece who can always stand as a model and radiates so much positivity with her smile. She often visits me and makes me feel like a small child. I forget that I am a grown person and love to play with her.

As I said I am used to traveling and even in 2021, I was able to find occasions to travel even closer distances. Sometimes I was just driving around in the city or went on a longer trip in the mountains.

I love cloud-covered skies and never miss an opportunity to get a few shots.

Most of my time during the year was spent away from the city in the village where my mother lives. It is the most wonderful place in the world for me. A place where people and nature are in complete harmony.

If anywhere you can call fruits and vegetables "Bioproducts", it can only be in a rural paradise where the crops are grown with natural fertilizers and without any chemical treatment. My mother and I were taking care of the garden and in the end, got the well-deserved harvest.

What is a country house without chickens and а rooster? I wish you can try the taste of our natural eggs.
And the best way to wake up in the morning is to hear the sound of nature. Rooster crowing loud in the early morning is the most enjoyable way to wake up (even sometimes it is only 6 am 😄).

And cats are everywhere in the garden. They were born at the beginning of the year and grew up around us. Although they almost destroyed my mother's flowers with their games we love them so much 😃

Take a look at this picture. It reminds me of the time when I was working (or trying to work) on the computer and they were constantly peeking out the window.

Can you guess how many cats there are in the picture? :)

And these cuties won't let me work at home. They are constantly coming in and walking on the keyboard. In nature, I guess, there are no other creatures more curious than the cats 😁

Here's one of them, Val. All grown up and now living in my apartment. Sometimes I get the feeling he misses the freedom, but I think he's happy warm inside, especially on these cold winter days. And anyway I will take him with me to my mother's village in the spring.

My brother works abroad and rarely comes home. I managed to capture this lovely moment when his little daughter and I were waiting for him at the airport to spend the Christmas holidays together. We managed to see the plane landing and she was the happiest child in the world. She even said, "Oh, the plane is so small in the sky. I can not see papa, but I am sure he can see us from there" ❤️

And Christmas is a holiday for all of us to come together and be close to one another. It is wonderful to spend these holy days with my family. And the time at home is what makes us truly happy.

At the end of my post, I want to pay tribute to all our loved ones we lost in 2021.
I choose this photo because it looks like the Heavens have opened over the bodies of the departed to receive their souls into Paradise.

Let us pray for their souls! 🙏

This was my year expressed through the pictures I took. It hasn't been an easy time for all of us, but difficulties make us stronger.

Let's wish a calmer and happier 2022 for everyone. Never stop smiling and of course, keep posting interesting stories:)

❤️I set this post to 100% Hive Power because I believe in HIVE!❤️

Thank you for your time and support!
You are welcome to dive into my future posts.
I will keep on drawing stories with pictures from my trips.
Have a beautiful day, be healthy, and may the force be with you!

Yours,
George