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The Year 2020 – Musings, Reflections, and Gratitude

The year 2020 took us all by surprise. As we all collectively went through the same experience of the immense change in all our lives and started to live new normal, there were many times I felt gratitude. In February, I had my last trip to Colombia, and I never dreamt that year would turn out like this. Just 2 weeks after, life completely changed. We all had so many plans. Places to go, things to do. And one by one, they all get canceled. Many families and individuals struggled, in so many ways. In a year that has been universally challenging for everyone, the whole planet plunged into uncertainty. All our lives changed overnight.

The Year 2020 - Tijana in Cartagena
Tijana in Cartagena. Little did I know that February would be the last big travel I took in 2020. It’s so important to be present at any given moment and to soak it all in.

Time to Connect

With friends, family, and strangers all over the world going through the same restrictions and challenges, we grew closer no matter where we came from. Empathy and understanding of our life changes and losses were connecting us. In hard times, I often think the best of humanity comes forward in the biggest crisis.

I am very grateful to the heroic first responders and the people who keep shops open and deliver us necessary items – we strive to help each other and to ones in need. Lot’s of small art organizations and talented performance companies need help now to survive – consider donating to any cause you can. I am writing my donation checks this week to many in need.

Zest & Curiosity – A Creative Outlet for All of Us

Over the year Zest & Curiosity has become my creative outlet and an important place to reflect and connect with the community. I am sharing a brief summary of the most read articles and saying thank you to the many wonderful guest contributors without whom this immense effort would not be possible. I enjoyed diving deep into curiosity and learning through their contributions to many new interesting topics. You are all wonderful! My heart is full.

Our dear readers, I am so grateful for all of you, and I hope we bring you joy. Your comments, messages, and reaching out brought me some wonderful conversations and beautiful friendships. That is what our community is about. Reaching out and inspiring each other, discoveries and sharing this world full of surprises. Especially, in times like this.

The Year 2020 – Most Read Articles on Zest & Curiosity

Casa Brutale - The Year 2020 Top Post

Architecture: Casa Brutale

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Jean Nouvel Desert Rose - The Year 2020 Top Post

Architecture: Jean Nouvel

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Richard Serra Qatar East-West/West-East with Tijana Kalita Dress - The Year 2020 Top Post

Art: Richard Serra in Qatar

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Nicola Bertelotti - The Year 2020 Top Post

Photography: Abandoned Places

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Cambodia - The Year 2020 Top Post

Travel: Beloved Cambodia

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Mary Remy-  The Year 2020 Top Post

Dance: Mary Remy

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Colombia  The Year 2020 Top Post - Zest & Curiosity

Travel: Colombia

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The Year 2020 – Top Contributors

Petar Pavlov – Love and Touch has a Memory

Sofie von Frenckell – Argentina and Chile, Darwins Trail

Horst Hamann – Americana

Horst Hamann, discovering America one trip at a time.
A snowy storefront in America by Horst Hamann

Gjoko Muratovski – Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright

Colin S. Johnson – Iceland Blue Ice Caves and Egypt

Andrej Vidovic – Pierre Soulages and Marina Abramovic

Pepe Arcos – The Beauty of Underwater World

The Year 2020 – Zest & Curiosity Growth

Over the year, Zest & Curiosity has grown from 263 to over 11,000 monthly users and is read in 161 countries! I am beyond humbled and grateful for our little community of art, culture, and travel lovers. I met so many amazing people through our common passion. In this difficult time for us all, it was our place for joy.

Big News – Our Shop of Wonders is Open

Bojana Ginn Art - The Year 2020 Top Post
Art by Bojana Ginn.


We also just opened a shop!

During our lifetime we collect hundreds of memories and experiences. While our journeys are vastly different, we all collect tokens or mementos to remember those precious moments. At Zest & Curiosity, we search for items with character, quality, and most importantly a story. Explore our shop and discover lovely surprises.

We will offer a variety of products from fine art, fashion, to local treasures and dreamy design items from all around the world.

For the first time, we are very excited to collaborate with the artist and offer you a gorgeous piece of art from Bojana Ginn for purchase. This is a limited one time only opportunity to own a collectible piece of art. This exclusive work will be available only for a limited time.

We will also donate 10% to charity. That means you can bring hope to families, children and seniors who are hurting and in need this holiday season. Thank you for your interest!

– Zest & Curiosity
Inquire about Bojana Ginn artwork

The year of Pause Button and Reflection

The year 2020 was also a year of reflection, as the world hit a pause button. I took the time to reconnect with my dearest ones and all friends, made new friends, cooked more, painted and sculpted, and did some home improvements, I would have never done before.

Also, I took the time to sort photos from past journeys and revisit places in my mind and heart. Often, I reflected on life and found peace doing things at a slower pace. Even there was plenty to do, I could focus more. I immersed myself in nature more than in art museums, which normally I would not do. It was a year about small victories and little joys, and when you open your mind, you find them all around.

The Year 2020 Musings - Tijana
Poetry walks. On Thursdays, I go on different trails with a dear friend and we read poetry to each other.


Even I am missing art and travel, normal interactions, spontaneity, in my heart I am grateful for what I have and what can give to a community. I am looking forward to the year 2021 and to new beginnings, to finding again what we treasure the most. I know it’s been a tough year for most of us, but I believe transformations come from a big crisis.

Wishing you all health, prosperity, love and happiness in 2021. And a world in better place.

– Tijana

Join our email list

If you haven’t already, do join our email list for 2021: Art and Travel – the wonder of it all. We write nice emails to bring you joy.

Thank you for everything, yours

– Tijana

The Founder and Editor-in-Chief

Zest & Curiosity

11 comments

  • Kim Costello

    I really enjoy the fresh around the world visions I see when I look at your emails! Thank you.
    May the upcoming Christmas and New Years bless each of you!
    Kim Costello

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      You are so kind Kim, this made my day! I just adore our community of curious art and culture travel lovers. I am wishing you all the best for the holidays, and promise you many more delights in 2021! Thank you.

  • Roberto Melendez

    It has been a real pleasure Tijana, to enjoy your publications and posts you share.
    This 2020 gave challenging time to all humanity at the same time gave us the opportunity for the best we have, a tremendous demanding task.
    It is been almost a battle where we have casualties and loses as in any other combat, still light is at the end of the dark road.
    We are more conscious of what it needs to be improved, and the importance of each individual, because together we are the world.
    A better world just depend on the individual ideas and more important individual actions, that together shape society and leave legacy, as a society what our legacy is still in the making.
    Thank you for your sharing, and the best is about to begin with this upcoming year 2021 !
    Roberto M.

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      What a gracious and beautiful response Roberto! so true, in this challenging year full of losses and uncertainty for us all, the best is to strive for the better, and build community. we created one with Zest & Curiosity and I am so glad that it brought you joy. Wishing you all the best in 2021, health, prosperity, joy, and happiness! Thank you for being a part of this journey!

  • svetislav

    It has been a special pleasure to read your contributions during this year, Ms. Tijana. The same is expected in the coming year, because that is the moment when all problems are excluded and what you offer in the post with your subtle choice is absorbed, and it thus rests and informs. I want you and others to live better and safer in 2021 without Corona, masks and insulation. Beware and be healthy!

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      Oh, Cece, where even to begin with gratitude for your support, for generously sharing your thoughts, and for the friendship? I am so glad that our paths have crossed and that we old have built together this amazing Zest & Curiosity community. Wishing you all the best in 2021 – adventure, health, poetry, love, prosperity, and happiness! Let us leave all these challenges behind us and built a better world.

  • Roberto Melendez

    Thank you for your kind words Tijana and I believe a better world is so possible when we join ideas, purpose and actions.
    For a better tomorrow that starts now !
    Cheers and the best of live in the year to come !

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      I so much appreciate this Roberto, and all your support and interesting exchange of thoughts. You are a part of this journey and without all of you, this would not be possible. Wishing you all the best, in the abundance!

  • svetislav

    In 2020, she warned us to finally understand that health is the most important thing in a person’s life … I wish everyone a successful 2021.

    • zestandcuriosity (author)

      so true. our focus completely has changed. I wish you a healthy, prosperous, and beautiful 2021! To new beginnings! And thank you for being this part of the Zest & Curiosity journey.

  • Agnez

    I think this web site has some very excellent information for everyone. Thank you.

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