2020 Photo Contest
We’re delighted once again to share the results of our European Experiences 2020 photo contest, held in January 2020. The contest was open to everyone who participated in our 13 trips in 2019 to Cornwall, the Luberon, Chianti, Alsace, the Périgord, the Cotswolds or our European Christmas Experience trip. The rules for this year’s contest were the same as previous years. Each traveler could enter one or two photos that best represented their personal experience during their trip; they were also asked to provide a few sentences about their photo and why the experience was meaningful to them.
Our daughter Kelly Wood managed the contest again this year, and the two of us (Kathy and Charley) were the judges. We didn’t know who submitted any of the photos, and we worked together to determine the final group of winners.
A Few Words from the Judges (Kathy and Charley)
This was the third year we worked together to judge the contest. It’s a very rewarding project but also very challenging! Although we agreed on many photos, no surprise– we also had some different opinions. We were truly touched by all the photos. Some are outstanding from a technical standpoint, and so many of the descriptions are thoughtful and inspiring. But most importantly to us, every photo and its description represents a unique memory from the traveler’s experience, an experience that we shared along with them. It was extremely difficult to choose only 15 photos for special prizes.
As always, there was a wide variety of photos submitted, representing many different aspects of our European Experiences trips: breathtaking scenery, small details, unique experiences, memorable moments, delicious food, special people, cute animals, and much more. We first worked independently to review the photos and identify our favorites. Then we worked together to compare our thoughts and make our final choices.
We selected 15 photographs that reflect the broad scope of a European Experiences trip, considering first the photo and then also the description. We wanted to represent all our destinations and to include photos different from each other and different from those highlighted in recent years. Kelly helped keep us on track, since we could select only one photo from each person, which also required a few adjustments in our choices.
And now… the Winners!
Congratulations to Marguerite Milland of Newport Beach, California, our 2020 grand prize winner!
Marguerite’s winning photo is of a beautiful doorway in the town of Greve during her Chianti Experience week in June 2019.
The Chianti Experience was Marguerite’s second trip with European Experiences. She and her husband Mark Viles also joined us for The Luberon Experience in 2018.
We’re very pleased to award Marguerite our grand prize– a $500 credit on a future European Experience trip. She’ll be putting this prize to use in September 2020 when she and Mark join us for The Cornwall Experience.
In addition to the grand prize, this year we selected four runners-up. They will each receive a $250 credit on a future Experience trip.
- Freda Cameron from Durham, North Carolina for her photo of the colorful Colorado Provençal from the Luberon Walking Week. This was Freda’s third European Experience trip.
- Jerry Cook from White House, Tennessee for her photo from a walk near Bonnieux during the Luberon Walking Week This was Jerry’s first European Experiences trip.
- Keith Eyrich of Irvine, California, for his nighttime photo of the harbor at Mousehole from The Cornwall Experience. This was Keith’s fourth European Experiences trip.
- Mindy Smith of Quincy, Massachusetts, for her photo of three special women from the Return to the Cotswolds week. This was Mindy’s second European Experiences trip.
Ten other photographs were selected for special recognition in this year’s contest. These travelers each won a $50 Amazon gift certificate (or a $50 credit on a 2020 or 2021 trip). See all 15 winning photos below, along with what each traveler had to say about the experience represented in their photo. Winners are listed in alphabetic order in each category.
Thanks so much to everyone who participated in this year’s contest! Special thanks also go to Kelly Wood for her excellent support for this year’s contest. She’s always been an important member of our European Experiences team!
Grand Prize Winner
The Chianti Experience – June 2019
(Marguerite from California, USA)
I love the random messiness of this old wooden door in Greve, the concrete stones revealed under the crumbling pink stucco and the roses climbing up the side. It all combines to create such a rustic kind of beauty, which I love.
Runner-Up
The Luberon Walking Week – September 2019
(Freda from North Carolina, USA)
The Colorado Provençal colors astound! From my vantage point to view the trail ahead, there are slices of breathtaking yellows, oranges and reds rising up to the brilliant blue sky.
Runner-Up
The Luberon Walking Week – September 2019
(Jerry from Tennessee, USA)
“Walking along a road just outside of Bonnieux on a September afternoon.” This photo is the one I show people when they ask me what my trip was like. No words necessary.
Runner-Up
The Cornwall Experience – April 2019
(Keith from California, USA)
Mousehole was once a prosperous fishing town. I thought this view captured the relationship between the village and the harbor. Also, I liked the way the night lights were reflected in the water.
Runner-Up
Return to the Cotswolds – July 2019
(Mindy from Massachusetts, USA)
How can you not feel joyful when looking at these 3 fabulous women? Seeing Jo and Sandra again from The Lygon Arms when I “Returned To The Cotswolds” was like seeing family. Learning how to make Sticky Toffee Pudding with Jane at our barbecue was the “sweetest”! The Lygon Arms will always have a special place in my heart.
Special Recognition
The Chianti Experience – June 2019
(Alan from California USA)
This late afternoon view from our hotel window shows the subtle verdant beauty of the Tuscan hills, in the heart of Italy, which has charmed so many over the millennia.
Special Recognition
The Chianti Experience – June 2019
(Cheryl from Illinois, USA)
While wonderful food and wine, charming villages, and breathtaking views were the hallmarks of our week in Chianti, the Florence American Cemetery offered a profound reminder that 4,393 Americans found their final rest here following World War II. Some crosses are inscribed simply, “Here Rests in Honored Glory a Comrade in Arms Known But to God.” I was grateful for this visit to reflect and remember.
Special Recognition
The Cornwall Experience – April 2019
(Dan from Maryland, USA)
Cape Cornwall — Not far from touristy Land’s End, we found Cape Cornwall with its sturdy buildings, lonely hilltop monument, and the vast stretch of the Irish Sea beyond. Cornwall is built to last.
Special Recognition
The Luberon Experience – May 2019
(Jane from Illinois, USA)
From lone red poppies bobbing beneath grapevine rows to a jaw-dropping (Stop the van!) solid crimson carpet in one poppy field, to purple irises at our picnic near the gray cliff of Lioux, to purple, pink, and white flowers arcing upward from rocky ruins at Abbaye de Saint Hilaire, to pastel sweetpea and bright zinnia bouquets at marchés, we enjoyed the Luberon’s flowers. Apparently, the Saignon resident who lives here appreciates the beauty of flowers as well./em>
Special Recognition
The Périgord Experience – July 2019
(Joan from Massachusetts, USA)
Le Jardin fleuriste — This lovely cutting garden is one of the many gardens of the Eyrignac Manor Gardens. Wandering through the different gardens was a JOY. Le Jardin Fleuriste particularly charmed me with the riot of color and variety of blossoms. To realize that for 500 years the same family has owned the property is a testament to the meaning of French Heritage.
Special Recognition
The Chianti Experience – June 2019
(Linda from Illinois, USA)
We were delighted to share in the color and liveliness of the weekly market in Panzano. A great opportunity to see the vibrant culture of the area, and of course the bounty of local food and products!
Special Recognition
The Cotswolds Experience – July 2019
(Maura from Montana, USA)
Sudeley Castle: I loved the garden bench facing the garden gone wild, while the sculpted, tended garden is in the opposite direction.
Special Recognition
The Luberon Walking Week – September 2019
(Patti from Tennessee, USA)
The last afternoon and last walk of the week was in the Aiguebrun Valley/Silvergues area. There were numerous surprises along the path, and the massive mountain walls and breathtaking vistas were my favorite. In this photo the vertical and horizontal layers of rock and vegetation were subtly highlighted by the later afternoon light and was a fitting culmination of this unforgettable week.
Special Recognition
The Luberon Experience (May 2019)
(Peggy from Virginia, USA)
View from our bedroom window at Le Clos du Buis, welcoming us each morning to another exciting and glorious day in the Luberon!
Special Recognition
The European Christmas Experience – December 2019
(Sarah from Missouri, USA)
Salzburg is beautiful anytime. However, at night in winter looking across the River Salzach towards the old town, the City seems to glow. This view captures the Hohensalzburg Fortress as well as many of the church steeples, all landmarks of the City.
Click here to see a slide show of all the entries.
We hope you enjoy the different perspective each photographer offered of their European experience! Thanks again to all the travelers who shared their memories and entered our European Expereinces 2020 photo contest. Everyone who entered will receive a special gift.