13 Moments from 2013

It’s that time where we round things up, count things down, make new promises to ourselves and welcome the new year. Every Christmas my mom mails out one of those yearly round ups, a mini paragraph for each member of the family, and, I have to say, seeing my year through her eyes opened mine up a little bit. I have had what can only be described as an amazing year. It was everything 15 year old me could have wanted and so, so much more.  

Oh, The Places I’ve Been

Before I left France, I mailed a box home to my family. Inside this box were a number of things: letters from friends, postcards and coins I’d collected during my travels, a Ramos kit I wanted my brothers to have,  a carry on bag I was returning to my family because I’m thoughtful like that, that map of France I’d pinned places on and, finally, a scrapbook that I’d made of all the places I’d gone and things I’d done since I’d left Canada. I waited. And waited. AND WAITED. for them to get this box because I just wanted all the praise of a job well done. Unfortunately….

Goodbye Prague

 

Things I like about the Charles Bridge: the fact that you can see for miles around. The architecture nearby and the sunset on the Vltava River and even though I didn’t buy anything, walking on the bridge and looking at all the little tourist trap carts loaded with paintings and earrings and magnets.

Then there are the creepy, faceless babies and the upside down horse (I also saw the hanging man, but no pictures because I was terrified he was going to drop on me if I stood under him too long). I get that art is supposed to try and evoke all sorts of different emotions, but I have never felt that…uncomfortable and unable to look away.

Also saw the love locks which themselves are like a work of art, blending in with the colourful graffiti that surrounds the entire area. (There’s graffiti everywhere, though I’m told it’s not as bad as in Berlin.)

Last, but not least, is the Petřín Lookout Tower. I’ve always loved seeing the way cities light up at night, the way you can see the traffic winding through and the lights flickering, trying to figure out which buildings are which.

It really was a wonderful trip. It had never been on my list of places to travel. Like, ever. But I’m glad that I went, that I took a chance on it. Who knows, I may even go back at some point.

Things I’m Loving:

+ This notebook – (Considering getting this for myself to jump start my scrapbooking of my European tour.)

+ This hot chocolate – (Because just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean we have to give up the hot chocolate. Especially with the snow that fell the other day.)

+ This post – (It’s an old post, but I read it about once a week since she’s posted it just because it just…I don’t know. It resonates with me.)

+ This stationary – (I don’t know whether I’d want to print this out for myself or mail it off for friends. Let’s be real: I’ll do both.)

Hello Prague

 

 

Somehow, even though I was lamenting the fact that I had basically taken no pictures while I as in Prague, I ended up with a lot of pictures to post. As with my Paris trip, I’ll be posting photos in separate posts to make them easier to handle. I’m thoughtful like that.

These are from day two and three out. (Day one was New Year’s Eve and consisted of us running out to three different stores to find batteries because my friend had forgotten to pick some up the day before. So I got acquainted with the tram and the shops she frequents quite quickly. The other part of New Year’s Eve consisted of us dodging fireworks and counting down to midnight next to a crowded bridge surrounded by beer bottles and cigarette butts. Ah, the romance.)

The first two pictures are in the Old Town Square, where the astronomical clock is. I do have a picture of it, but it was taken at night and turned out kind of meh, so!

The rest are from when we wandered around on day three to St. Vitus Cathedral. I promise that we saw more than just the cathedral/castle that day, but it was a lot of climbing and there’s only so many times I can stand feeling like ‘just another tourist’. Which is terrible, I know, especially because it leads to me moaning about the fact that I ‘have no photos’ and that’s just not attractive. It’s something I’m trying to work on, as weird as that may sound.

“What are you doing?”
“Oh, just trying to be more touristy. You know, take more pictures, pose up against walls and statues and the like.”

Most people don’t have to try. And then, there’s me.

Things I’m Loving:

+ These heroines – (Not only are the stories fantastic but the photography is breathtaking. The first one just gets me.)

+ This documentary – (The idea that someone was dedicated enough to follow through on this is inspiring in and of itself.)

+ These tips – (Because I’m slowly (painfully slowly) trying to do a wardrobe overhaul.)

+ This interview – (The science behind picking pockets.)