Travel was a significant part of my life before the pandemic. Working as a freelancer, I’ve had the privilege of taking my “office” with me, and I took full advantage of that luxury. The pandemic was one of several challenging years, and travel stopped for me months before the world shut down. While I’d like to say that I could fuel that part of me in other ways, it just didn’t seem the same. Coming back to travel in 2024 felt like coming home again.

Of course, like anywhere else in the world, Syracuse had a few unexpected personality traits that took me by surprise. It’s hilly terrain by far being the biggest surprise. I wouldn’t describe Syracuse as a pretty city because its age is obvious. It is one with lots of character though making it a unique and interesting city.