Thursday, August 13, 2015

MY TRAVEL JOURNAL FAIL


Remember all those art supplies that I put so much thought and effort into packing for our trip to San Miguel? What a waste! Pretty much the only thing I ever got around to using was a pencil and a few scraps of watercolor paper. And, the only way I managed to use those was to finally skip yoga class one morning and sneak downstairs to sketch a couple of the fountains before everyone else came down to breakfast. I don't know about you, but I find it to be very intimidating when people gather around to watch me sketch!





Not wanting to waste this beautiful, hand-bound journal I found when I first got there...


I am now scrambling around, after the fact, trying to fill a few of its pages with some of the bits and bobs I picked up here and there.

Some local art found in the Artisans' Market
Post Cards and Cash Register Receipts
Thankfully, I have my trusty point & shoot camera, which makes it easy to take pictures on the go. Plus, I did manage to jot a few notes in my regular journal each day, to help me recall details when I share these photos on the blog with you. It wasn't until I started getting comments on the blog posts like "It's as if I'm traveling with you" and "Thanks for taking us along on this trip" and "I never thought of going to San Miguel, but now it's on my list!", that I got to thinkin'. Maybe I'm not giving this blog enough credit. At first it was just my "voice" -- the one I'd finally found after a lifetime of being an introvert in "a world that can't stop talking"! Then it became a creative outlet, and a gratitude journal of sorts. Could it be a travel journal as well? One not only about travel through cities and countries, but also about our journey through life?

Perhaps.

6 comments:

musingegret said...

I've been sending your link to my friend who visited San Miguel years ago to remind him of how absolutely gorgeous it is! (He thanks you.) We've begun to plan a trip for next year, thanks to you and your pics/essays. I knew the "journal of the journey" was going to be terrific! Becky, thanks again for maintaining/sustaining this blog.

Hill Country Hippie said...

No, thank YOU for being such a dedicated, long-time reader!

Anonymous said...

Haven't been but everyone says it's grand. Love your pics. I think "travel" art supplies are overrated. The experiences are what count, you bring back the impressions and create this beauty. xox

Anonymous said...

I've finally giving up trying to journal on trips and, as Corrine says, just enjoy the experience. I still usually come home with stacks of goodies and a plan to journal, but I'm not as devoted as I once was. Like you, though, I nearly always share photos & highlights on my blog, which I've come to realize IS a journal and one I don't have to find a shelf for! Loving reading about your trip, Becky. Sounds like someplace I want to visit someday!! :)

Connie Akers said...

Becky, I have to chuckle as I too had a journal & art supplies on the trip & only got a couple of partial sketches done. The pace of the trip was faster than I'd ever experienced.

You've got a great blog that is very inspiring so don't underrate it. If you'd ever like to get together & work on art journals sometime I'd enjoy that too. I love bookmaking & all kinds of crafts.

Hill Country Hippie said...

Thank you ladies, and yes Connie, getting together to share journaling projects sounds like a wonderful idea. By the way, did I ever tell you about Lucky Star Art Camp? Most of the gals leaving comments here are friends that I met there, and I think you'd really love it. Either google it, or just scroll back in my blog to last November and read about our adventures there. They bring in some great instructors (including two of the friends above)!