After three and a half years and thousands of submitted blog posts, I have decided to officially say goodbye to my Suzy Stumbles Over Travel segment. I originally came up with the idea as a way to highlight travel writing that might not always be noticed in the grand scheme. I think in the end I accomplished my goal. I watched small sites become big travel blogs over the course of those three and a half years. Not to say I was responsible, but it has been nice to promote the little guys over the years and watch them grow.
This facet of my site, while enjoyable, was a time consuming one. I spent much of my weekend reading, tweeting and commenting. When I was traveling last month, worried about getting a Suzy Stumbles post up from week to week, I realized that I didn’t have the time anymore to travel and write along with continue this segment. I have decided to focus more on my own writing and truly make this site into what I want it to be. Letting go of Suzy Stumbles will allow me to write more about my travels. I thank all of those who submitted over three and a half years. Obviously the segment wouldn’t have existed without you. To close out this column, as I have for years, I bring you this week’s and the last Suzy Stumbles Over Travel.
The 5 Favorites This Week
“Why We Won’t Travel To North Korea” From Everywhere Once
Submitted by Brian
Everywhere Once has one place on their list that they won’t be visiting even once. The traveling couple explains why a place like North Korea isn’t high on their travel list.
“Buying Train Tickets in Ukraine-Is There a Name for That?” From Needle Girl Haystack World
Submitted by Laryssa
In this travel tale, Laryssa finds herself struggling to purchase train tickets in Ukraine. After being quoted the tourist price for a ticket worth far less, she experiences the unexpected kindness of a stranger simply due to her Ukrainian name.
“Lessons My Opa Taught Me About Travel” From 100 Miles Highway
Submitted by Katherina
Travelers draw inspiration from other travelers. In Katherina’s case, she finds her travel mantra through the beliefs of her grandpa. From deeming language barriers nonexistent to valuing travel and life over working too much, she learns a few treasured lessons from an older traveler.
“Moon Over Mongolia” From Colleen Brynn Travels
Submitted by Colleen
Through photographs and words, Colleen takes us to Mongolia. As she describes a much simpler life in Mongolia, she finds comfort and luxury in a simple can of beer.
“‘Why are you REALLY traveling?’” From The Barefoot Beat
Submitted by Mariah
After six months on the road, Mariah is asked about the meaning behind her travels. She explains how much travel has changed her over this time period and yet she still can’t answer the question plan and simple.
Thanks again for submitting over the years!
Wow… I feel so lucky and blessed to have been included in your last stumbles over feature….
Thank you for all your hard work. I don’t know how you did it! You are incredible!
Hi Suzy, thank you so much for choosing one of my posts for your last Suzy Stumbles post – it is an honour! I am really looking forward to reading more about your travels from now on.
I feel very luck to have been included last month so thank YOU. Excited for your future posts!
As always, happy travels 🙂
You’ve included my posts a few times in this feature Suzy so thank you so much. Sad to see Suzy Stumbles Over Travel go but excited to see what new things you’ll bring to the site 🙂
I’m a bit sad to read that it’s your last suzy stumbles post but I can totally understand you. Since I discovered your blog, I have been a big fan of your weekly stumbles, always a good read.
Happy travels and I look forward to read more of you 🙂
Suzy,
Can I just say a massive thank you for all your support and the efforts you’ve put into Suzy Stumbles. It was a fabulous idea of yours and certainly helped those relatively newbies such as myself get going on the travel blogging world.
I’d often log in on Monday morning to see that my site received lots of hits overnight from such as Stumble Upon thanks to your efforts.
There is little doubt that it was immensely time consuming for you. I just hope it was as enjoyable for you as it was for us.
I was also hoping to share my latest post http://flightsandfrustration.com/the-number-one-reason-to-travel/ with you which seems to have generated a lot of interest and I think would please/interest your readers too.
Best of luck with developing this site with your own writing. You are one of the first travel bloggers I came across and I always enjoy your perspective on travel.
Aw, that’s a bummer. I liked reading it. =/
Dear Suzy,
You have been the most generous person on social media that I have encountered in my three years! You literally helped my blog get noticed with your stumbles. Your dedication to this endeavor has been monumental. I can’t believe you have been doing this weekly for so long.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for including me in so many stumbles Suzy! I am grateful to “know you” and hope that we can meet in person some day in some fabulous city – Paris!!!!
Cheers,
Priscilla/The Weekend In Paris
Hey Suzy,
I’ve always wondered how you had enough time & energy to read all these dozens & dozens of posts every single week then select your favorites and promote them all. So I can completely understand why you’ve decided to finish up your Stumble segment.
I had to stop doing my Weekly Traveler’s Interviews after 2 years for exactly the same reason. At some point we all have to decide on our utmost priorities and how to best allocate time.
I must say I’m sad about your decision, for purely selfish reasons of course. But I don’t blame you one bit.
Thanks oh so much for helping spread everyone’s posts all these years! I can verify that your promotion of my own posts definitely drove visitors to read them! Thanks much for your efforts and good will.
Enjoy your new freedom & time to do your own writing and travels.
Big hug, Lash
I certainly thank you for turning me on to some really cool blogs out there. Yeah it gets hard to keep up with some commitments and you need to do what’s best for you of course. I look forward to seeing all of your new posts 🙂
I feel a little disappointed… I came across your blog only 3 months ago! I couldn’t be part of your 3 and half years of sharing other blog posts. Anyway, I thank you a lot for choosing my ‘South Mumbai Wanderings’ post on your last stumble!
Thanks so so much!!!
All the best for your travel and writing!
Sorry to see this feature go, but can understand how time consuming it must be. Thanks for all the times you have selected our articles for this excellent feature.
Thank you for doing this for so long!
Thanks so much, Suzy, for promoting our site. We’re going to miss your stumbling, GCL. Looking forward to continue enjoying your travel writing, though.
Thanks for featuring Backpack ME on Suzy Stumbles Over Travel since the very beginning.
And looking forward to reading more about your own travels from now on! 🙂
THANK YOU for what you have done with this series. Your work never went unnoticed–I for one enjoyed participating by submitting posts and reading the ones you chose. Thank you for being so generous to other travel bloggers!
I can definitely understand the time and attention it took to do this and really appreciate having had you choose one of our posts! All the best to you in the future!
Thanks so much Suzy for all you’ve done! It’s been a great ride, hasn’t it? Best of luck to you – and we’ll keep reading your fabulous posts! -Veronica
What a shame to see this segment go…but I completely understand why you’ve decided to do so. Looking forward to seeing all the awesome content you’ll now have time to create! And thanks for choosing several of my submissions over the last 6 months!
It was a great run. Good on you for keeping up as long as you did. And letting go when you wanted.
Thanks for the shoutouts!
Suzy,
Thank you so much for including so many of our posts. You are always so helpful to us.
Thank you!
I think you definitely made the right decision to end the feature — but there’s no doubt it was a popular part of your blog (and thanks to your diligence, many other blogs too).
It must feel so rewarding to have kept up with it so regularly over 3.5 years – congrats on that! Still plan to check in with your blog regularly to see what you’re up to 🙂
Thank you so much for all your do Suzy! It was through your stumbles that we discovered some blogs that we probably wouldn’t have and you also helped bring our blog posts visibility to others as well. Sincere thank you and best of luck with the rest of your blog!