Paris- Travel Journaling Pt 1

Travel Journal Paris- Galia Alena

Walking the streets worn smooth with stories
Leaves slipping to the earth
I feel a crack in my life open,
It's always this way with travel...
Something pulses through
wants more
I hear the stories dance with mine
"Where do you belong on this tiny blue planet"
Impossible seed
Soft and longing
Demanding more and less
Precious seed
When and how you'll bloom I couldn't say
Nor what kind of fruit you'll offer,
Only that you'll stir the stardust in my well
And whisper to my soul...

Travel Journal Paris- Galia Alena

Paris first appears as both quaint and familiar, a cliche on every corner but soon I am walking in step with the rhythms of her stories. I feel the stones beneath my feet and glimpse the flicker of a past disappear around the corner ahead.
Our apartment is on ÃŽle de Saint Louis, right next to ÃŽle de la Cité, where Notre Dame sits regally, and a short walk to a fabulous food market where the quiches and pastries call me back. Through the night I am kept awake by the christmas lights that flicker outside my bedroom window as the Boulangerie directly across the way prepares croissants for my morning coffee. 

Every day we walk. Miles and miles through the streets where there is ever the sensation that not only do I walk through the city but also through the centuries. Lives past whisper to me between the constant sirens. Ghosts surround me with their tales of revolution, of poetry, of commerce, of art, of wars, of occupation, of liberty, fraternity, equality. I feel as if I could slip through a portal to another time (Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris feels totally plausible). The stories tease me, perhaps because they are in French, perhaps because I am not here long enough to grasp their fleeting breathe, perhaps because they are meant only to taunt as is often the way with ghosts- a reminder of the speck of sand that is our time, our lives. Raven is ever present, in case I should ever forget, reminding me of magic and voice, of story and song- you never know what you'll find when you travel, an element of lost which opens doors to finding, seeing, hearing. "Are you listening? Are you ready to sing" she caws.

Travel Journal Paris- Galia Alena

I've been back for less than a week now, shaking the mist of surrealism that travel can bring from living outside normal reality, settling back into routine, snuggling with my babies (one of whom managed to get herself sick so she could have a whole day of snuggling on the couch with me and movies) and marking the end of year portfolios for my photography students.                  Grateful to have the cast removed from my arm days before flying out, it healed enough that I was able to journal while I traveled. How magical to slip into a rhythm of walking, eating, browsing, shooting, looking, absorbing, listening and journaling. The days filled with sights, inspiring galleries, stone stories, weary feet and then collapsing by night to good food, company, wine and the blank page only to rest up long enough to do it all again the next day. And the company I kept- Gogh, Picasso, Nin, Rodin, Monet, Cezanne, too many to list, too many to even begin to absorb, I just have to trust that somewhere my subconscious is holding tight to what they shared with me. Only time will tell.
Travel Journal Paris- Galia Alena






I still have photos to download (having only looked at the ones I took with my phone so far) and more journal pages to share over the coming weeks as well as my time in London. Until then I will sit with the memories as they wish to unfold. 

Travel Journal Paris- Galia Alena

Comments

  1. wow, G.! your journal pages are amazing! and your paint set - well loved and beautiful!

    you always inspire me!! thank you!

    xoxo

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    Replies
    1. Thank you sweet lynne, you always inspire me too my friend

      as did Paris, and all the masters... sigh... so good

      Gxx

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    2. yeah, so good...

      if you want to paint with this travel set in your hands, can you attach the water container to the side of the set? i really love this set...

      xoxo

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    3. You can lynne, there is a photo with the water thing (it slides in) and a link to it here: http://galiaalena.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/in-my-travel-kit.html , it acts as a lid to hold it altogether and as a water container.

      Of course I had no idea where it was when I was packing so left without it ;)

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    4. thanks, G... i must have this little set - take the paints out of the cotman set i have now (which i took the cotman paints out of long ago) and put them in one of these. it's *perfect*.



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    5. It comes with the little pans of paint which you can fill with your own colours once you have used the paint in them, and you can probably fit another two pans in. It's perfect for taking out with you wandering.

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  2. Your artwork is wonderful! Thank you for sharing it! Love your blog!

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  3. Love this. DO you do your pages while you're traveling or when you get home? What do you take with you?

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    1. Thank you Terry. A bit of journaling before, during and after- it takes awhile to digest it all. These were all done on the road though. My kit: http://galiaalena.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/in-my-travel-kit.html
      Gxx

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  4. This is wonderful… Your water-colour sketches are gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing with us all… Blessings of beauty, Cat xo

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Cat, Blessings of beauty to you too.
      Gxx

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  5. Gorgeous journal pages and words Galia. xoxo

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Gxx

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