tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6600373857497031892024-03-13T03:47:04.973-07:00global localtravel notes from the road and the in-between.
inspired by: bourdain, abbey, dillard, solnit, kerouac, theroux, ms. charlotte, de botton & other wanderersGemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.comBlogger194125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-18359242086146318882012-11-07T18:00:00.000-08:002012-11-07T18:00:01.559-08:00watercolor/7<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrtqnSfjID4/UGKEl8_LMBI/AAAAAAAAFLs/mFoQZ_tRyLc/s1600/cayo+jutias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RrtqnSfjID4/UGKEl8_LMBI/AAAAAAAAFLs/mFoQZ_tRyLc/s640/cayo+jutias.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Cayo Jutias, Pinar del Rio, Cuba</td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com1CD, Cuba22.7081166 -84.024673322.6788211 -84.06415530000001 22.7374121 -83.9851913tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-59715409772347435662012-10-31T18:00:00.000-07:002012-10-31T18:00:00.122-07:00watercolor/6<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37R5alNSvS4/UGKEuHkNPiI/AAAAAAAAFL8/WIFEXg_Yui0/s1600/cua+dai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37R5alNSvS4/UGKEuHkNPiI/AAAAAAAAFL8/WIFEXg_Yui0/s640/cua+dai.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Cua Dai Beach, Quang Nam province, Vietnam</td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0Cửa Đại, Hội An, Quang Nam province, Vietnam15.8848443 108.381614815.8695718 108.3618738 15.9001168 108.40135579999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-84508032489888330812012-10-24T18:00:00.000-07:002012-10-24T18:00:03.190-07:00watercolor/5<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bBXsDvrkDy4/UGKEgzi7KYI/AAAAAAAAFLU/01wDf4Kn-7U/s1600/aguascalientes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bBXsDvrkDy4/UGKEgzi7KYI/AAAAAAAAFLU/01wDf4Kn-7U/s640/aguascalientes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Aguas Calientes near Laguna Verde, Bolivia.</td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-90538838793886308412012-10-17T18:00:00.000-07:002012-10-17T18:00:02.570-07:00watercolor/4<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EoUWLXnkcj8/UGKEkQpDifI/AAAAAAAAFLk/DMuYnV475Do/s1600/caye+caulker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EoUWLXnkcj8/UGKEkQpDifI/AAAAAAAAFLk/DMuYnV475Do/s640/caye+caulker.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">The Split. Caye Caulker, Belize.</td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0Caye Caulker, Belize17.7624037 -88.004506217.7019167 -88.0834702 17.8228907 -87.9255422tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-71227307087414533382012-10-10T18:00:00.000-07:002012-10-10T18:00:02.739-07:00watercolor/3<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_jzLG-QI54M/UGKEn3l-nEI/AAAAAAAAFL0/4l98Y7WJ_2M/s1600/chichi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_jzLG-QI54M/UGKEn3l-nEI/AAAAAAAAFL0/4l98Y7WJ_2M/s640/chichi.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Santo Tomás Chichicastenango, El Quiché, Guatemala</span></div>
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Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com04a Calle, Chichicastenango, Guatemala14.94438 -91.11049714.454457000000001 -91.742211 15.434303 -90.478782999999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-54536582255079539692012-10-03T18:00:00.000-07:002012-10-03T18:00:00.074-07:00watercolor/2<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37A_f3r13Wg/UGKEwgvmhoI/AAAAAAAAFMI/gONcuVriSD4/s1600/cuco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37A_f3r13Wg/UGKEwgvmhoI/AAAAAAAAFMI/gONcuVriSD4/s640/cuco.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Playa Cuco, El Salvador</td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0Playa El Cuco, El Salvador13.1666667 -88.113.1512057 -88.119740999999991 13.1821277 -88.080259tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-26426445428246070042012-09-27T18:20:00.000-07:002012-10-01T22:26:54.572-07:00copenhagen flower market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MLLR4hYQRVc/UGJz9BlquTI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/zgHzsmfthfM/s1600/DSC_0884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MLLR4hYQRVc/UGJz9BlquTI/AAAAAAAAFJ0/zgHzsmfthfM/s640/DSC_0884.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-1751279808037399462012-09-26T18:00:00.000-07:002012-09-26T18:00:05.369-07:00watercolor/1<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-66eszxdXuC8/UGKEh7hFLcI/AAAAAAAAFLc/m2NNgcuPjdY/s1600/altiplano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-66eszxdXuC8/UGKEh7hFLcI/AAAAAAAAFLc/m2NNgcuPjdY/s640/altiplano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">View of the Altiplano near the hot springs, Boilvia</td></tr>
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During my 5 years traveling I often traveled with postcard-sized watercolor paper, a couple collapsable brushes and a set of watercolors my mum gave me on my 10th birthday. I've finally made the time to scan the paintings I didn't send to friends or family and figured this was the place to share them.Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0Sur Lípez, Bolivia-22.525242774383898 -67.532958984375-22.5545772743839 -67.572440984375 -22.495908274383897 -67.493476984375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-71364864129952757112012-09-25T20:24:00.001-07:002012-09-25T20:26:50.179-07:00puerta/4<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia, Uruguay.</div>
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Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-57340747773577478462012-06-22T13:44:00.000-07:002012-06-22T13:44:00.315-07:00puerta/3<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqmDeFwFhK8/T9-SBfff3JI/AAAAAAAAFIk/6gorKDwxz7o/s1600/DSC_0914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqmDeFwFhK8/T9-SBfff3JI/AAAAAAAAFIk/6gorKDwxz7o/s640/DSC_0914.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;">Colonia del Sacramento, Colonia, Uruguay.</td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-33963825246629315132012-06-20T13:48:00.000-07:002012-06-20T13:48:00.167-07:00wall/4<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLBrl3tSHgY/T9-ScpKbaRI/AAAAAAAAFIs/hoAuflfy73c/s1600/DSC_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eLBrl3tSHgY/T9-ScpKbaRI/AAAAAAAAFIs/hoAuflfy73c/s640/DSC_0064.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santiago de Chile, Chile.</td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-12942042058336299242012-06-19T18:54:00.000-07:002012-06-19T18:54:00.601-07:00finding the postbox<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1iXEgbwb9Oc/T9vaLjMYpSI/AAAAAAAAFIQ/X6aLrxdkurs/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1iXEgbwb9Oc/T9vaLjMYpSI/AAAAAAAAFIQ/X6aLrxdkurs/s640/DSC_0099.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Buzon. Havana, Cuba.</span></td></tr>
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I think postcards are absolute magic. They arrived tattooed and stained from their journey, and every crease or wrinkle tells a story. </div>
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My favourite postcard arrived in Guatemala after a long journey from Cambodia (thanks Mikee!) and I often have wondered about its route from Asia to Central America. </div>
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A different friend sent a postcard from Egypt which took 7 years to reach the States -- there must be a great story hidden behind that battered piece of cardstock. </div>
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I have sent countless postcards during my travels, I love the entire process from buying them to popping them in the postbox. Though my favorite part is the writing of them (I love to find a nice cafe and sitting with a cup of coffee and a good pen) the most satisfying step is the sending of them. Especially because going to the post office is always an insight into a country-- everything from what they choose to put on their stamps to how much bureaucracy is involved with the sending of mail gives me a better understanding of the country where I find myself. </div>
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<br /></div>Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-55757648288099794802012-06-17T15:06:00.000-07:002012-06-17T17:31:16.850-07:00puerta/2<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xAS3psSXrnA/T9uxlCNgpVI/AAAAAAAAFH4/KaSA_y_F2vk/s1600/DSC_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xAS3psSXrnA/T9uxlCNgpVI/AAAAAAAAFH4/KaSA_y_F2vk/s640/DSC_0535.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">uxmal, quintana roo, mexico.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-3559778853451387522012-06-15T17:51:00.001-07:002012-06-15T19:38:56.130-07:00wall/3<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">ciudad de puebla, puebla, mexico.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-91678201177744778842012-06-05T11:08:00.000-07:002012-06-15T19:36:46.083-07:00puerta/1<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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sand pedro de atacama, chile.</div>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-70495849184504496402012-06-03T11:04:00.000-07:002012-06-15T19:37:51.311-07:00wall/2<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: small;">bigote. cuidad de oaxaca, oaxaca, mexico.</span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-20950801669721489412012-06-02T11:20:00.000-07:002012-06-15T19:33:48.053-07:00dreams of summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Living (wandering?) in the Southern hemisphere is a funny thing for my brain to wrap itself around. The last few weeks have been filled with crisp fall days but I can't shake my excitement for Northern hemisphere summer. The moments before I fall asleep at night are filled with imaginings of Pimms cups, BBQ pizza, late afternoon tea, brisk swims, and gorgeous sunsets caught from the end of the garden. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">pimms no. 5</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipNBKwdNV1k/T8kHlBXEnDI/AAAAAAAAFHg/9m3wCBqR3cc/s1600/DSC_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipNBKwdNV1k/T8kHlBXEnDI/AAAAAAAAFHg/9m3wCBqR3cc/s640/DSC_0345.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">bbq pizzas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">summer roses</td></tr>
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<br />Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-73476649001082544942012-06-01T10:52:00.002-07:002012-06-01T11:10:28.255-07:00wall/1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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frida. san cristobal de las casas, chiapas, mexico. </div>Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-72193215409830364272012-02-14T14:04:00.000-08:002012-06-01T11:09:41.390-07:00reasons to love chile...<i>las once </i><br />
nectarines<br />
<i>manjar</i><br />
olives<br />
good wineGemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-12422475932932857962012-02-06T22:00:00.000-08:002012-02-06T22:00:06.484-08:00today you find me in: buenos airesJanuary has taken me from Austin, Texas to Buenos Aires, Argentina. 3 days into February I find myself sitting in a very posh cafe just outside of the <i>Microcentro</i> with a view of blooming <i>palo borrachos</i> with their gorgeous pink flowers scattered across the green of the neighboring park. I'm in town visiting Courtney who is busily working on her expenses on the other side of the table. Summer is in full swing here, walking along the streets one can hear the air conditioners humming in full swing, their condensation dripping on unwary pedestrians floors below.Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-11686682761336696212011-03-03T22:10:00.000-08:002011-03-03T22:38:39.491-08:00settling in...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I’ve been meaning to write on this blog for months, but it seems in being settled I have less time for everything.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">It appears to me, that regularity takes up more time than my inconsistent day to day wanderings ever did.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">I suppose it is because I fill up much of my spare time boiling beans, grocery shopping and going to the gym.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">All that sounds quite mundane and boring, but quite the contrary, to me the novelty of being in one place still hasn’t worn off.</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Antigua is an interesting place to live, at the very least I love living by volcanoes. I stare at them on my way out in the morning, watching the inconsistent ashy rumblings of Fuego spill across the morning sky. At night, as I am walking home, I choose a route which allows me to stare contentedly at the hazy silhouette of Agua. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 3 years of being self contained I feel funny trying to grow roots. I constantly feel like I should be packing my bags and to move on—but I like the notion of being settled. It has its pleasant aspects—cooking for oneself, having routines, meeting people or at least making slow attempts at doing so. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all I still haven’t gotten my sea legs or land legs, and my job doesn't make it any easier. Most of January I spent out of Guatemala and February didn’t fare much better. Maybe I’ll never really stop and grow moss or roots but for now I like the sensation of trying.</span></div>Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-70130154372786035302010-11-11T17:24:00.000-08:002010-11-11T17:24:55.158-08:00niagraAsk alex, I am a water fall cynic, but Niagra took my breath away. I was just in Toronto for a business trip, which took me to the fantastic town of Niagra and the falls themselves. From my 16th floor room at the double tree I could see one half of the falls and the amazing mist which they create.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0l2dI7xpABc/TNyWqqRN3OI/AAAAAAAAE5M/4eWaMlub3Gc/s1600/DSC_0506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0l2dI7xpABc/TNyWqqRN3OI/AAAAAAAAE5M/4eWaMlub3Gc/s400/DSC_0506.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>In a half hearted attempt to rid myself of a hangover I went for a run down to the falls and was blown away. They are big, I mean kind of huge. The air had that great crisp early winter chill where just breathing feels like it is doing your body good. The water is the color of liquid jade, and the mist is freaking amazing. Actually, I think I will let the photos do the rest of the talking...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0l2dI7xpABc/TNyXDykmDRI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/7G9t0CL2ZuQ/s1600/DSC_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0l2dI7xpABc/TNyXDykmDRI/AAAAAAAAE5Q/7G9t0CL2ZuQ/s320/DSC_0504.JPG" width="211" /></a></div>Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-8951166037538505622010-11-11T17:14:00.000-08:002010-11-11T17:14:33.570-08:00pausaSometimes life tires me out. Getting on my plane from Bush internat'l to Costa Rica two nights ago I was struck just how f'n tired I am right now. Leaving the life of a paid wanderer behind I thought would provide a bit more stability but the last three weeks have been anything but stable. Not that I can complain, I've been surrounded by friends, been inspired by the company I work for, been more excited and enthusiastic than I've felt in a LONG time, and drank a wee bit too much. And maybe that is exactly why I am tired. Living life to the extremes tires a person out. I spend so much time running from place to place like a crazy woman, drinking it all in, but everyone needs a pause, a break, a moment of stillness. <br />
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Traveling for a living has taught me this. To search out that place between breaths, between places, between people. To search for a quiet spot in the in between. I am learning how much I need this to survive. How I need to make a little time each day where I am alone, not talking, not working, not really doing anything. And how stopping for a moment we realize the absolute beauty which surrounds us.Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-67628545086600750802010-10-22T18:20:00.000-07:002010-10-22T18:20:19.776-07:00november is here... well almostI like to forget what month it is. I realize that we have almost 10 days of october left but as I am missing out on Halloween I've decided to forgo the end of October and move straight into November. Plus we've just gotten our first winter rains here in Northern California so I feel fully justified in this calendrical adjustment. <br />
Today I drove up to Kenwood in Sonoma county under the rainy skies, passing by fields of grape vines, their leaves turning a fall yellow. The hills are yellow too, that ruddy yellow of dried grass, but a couple more days of rain will turn them their winter silvery gray. As I drove I was thinking about the normal descriptors people use for gray: gun metal (or maybe that is for cars), steel, aluminum, etc. I decided that the sky was the color of that pale almost white ash that develops in flakes on burning logs, ash gray. And the light was flat, pressing the hills into a painted backdrop of burnished gold grass with the dark olive stain of oak trees lining the clefts in the hillsides. It was a pretty drive.Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660037385749703189.post-49678706795036347212010-10-22T18:05:00.000-07:002010-10-22T18:05:11.050-07:00packingMy room looks like a bomb went off, which is not a real deviation from standard practice, but gives me anxiety all the same. I've realized that 3 years of living out of a back pack has given me some strange habits; the one at hand being a deep desire to know that I am all packed up and ready for the next day's adventure. The problem is that this packing for this departure is a bit more complex than my normal day to day packing and repacking of Poppy (my Osprey waypoint 65L pack). In the next two weeks I have to brave November in Toronto, the beginnings of the dry season in Costa Rica ( I just checked the weather there: a high of 80 with thunder storms), and then I wrap it all up by moving to Antigua, Guatemala... for a year.<br />
Moving is not my favorite activity, though the prospects of having my own little place where I can grow a basil plant and make coffee and put up photos sounds AMAZING. Right now I am focusing on those images rather than the overwhelming feeling that thinking about packing brings up. ufff.<br />
Catch you in Guatemala or Chepe or Toronto.Gemma Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09935792091896752622noreply@blogger.com0