While most North Americans shiver through the winter months and wait for the spring, Ottawans are embracing winter's chill and enjoying the annual Winterlude festival. This three-week celebration takes place during the coldest time of the year, when temperatures often plummet below -20°C.

After almost five years of construction, Ottawa’s O-Train Lines 2 and 4 finally opened on January 6, 2025, expanding the O-Train network south from Bayview to Limebank and Airport Stations. These two lines collectively known as the Trillium Line connect downtown Ottawa to several diverse neighbourhoods, including the charming Little Italy, always busy South Keys, and quiet suburban Riverside South, as well as Carleton University and the Ottawa International Airport. Despite the brutal cold weather, I set out to explore the new line and I'm very excited to share my photos with you.

Fort Lauderdale, often dismissed as yet another suburb of Miami, unexpectedly revealed its character that exceeded all my expectations. Having driven through the city countless times, I was pleasantly surprised to finally discover its unique identity, particularly along the scenic Riverwalk. What would have been a few hours killed in Starbucks before taking my train, turned out to be a nice stroll along the water's edge overlooking luxurious yachts, high-end condos, posh crowds, and nature which is never too far in Southern Florida.

Many countries can say they built railways, however very few can brag that they were built by the railways. Canada is one of the few where the railway was the reason the nation exists in its current political borders. Despite various natural and man-made obstacles, the Canadian Pacific Railway linked Montreal and Toronto to Vancouver in 1885. In early 2025, my wife and I had a chance to enjoy Canada's spectacular landscapes firsthand on The Canadian, a four-night train journey from Vancouver to Toronto.

The Juan de Fuca Trail in British Columbia, my first solo backpacking, had truly a therapeutic effect on me. The connection with nature, campfire conversations with fellow hikers, and enduring physical challenges were exactly what I needed as I was going through many changes in my personal life. The numbers for this trail can't do them justice, but I’ll try anyway: 47 km over 4 days and 3 nights, a total elevation gain and loss of 1,800 m, 441 floors climbed, and 3,700 calories burned on average per day. The level of happiness: insane.

As the year comes to a close, I'm looking back at my favourite photos of 2024. From breathtaking natural landscapes to vibrant cities and heartwarming moments with people, my top 20 photos of the year showcase the diversity and beauty of Planet Earth. This year's selection features visuals across four categories: people, nature, cities, and trains, each one telling a unique story that I hope will leave you inspired to explore and preserve our beautiful world. The image below captures the Canadian Pacific Kansas City holiday train, which goes on a seasonal journey to bring holiday spirit across the many communities in Canada and the United States. May the 2025 bring health, joy, prosperity, and peace to your home!