Journaling Travel MemoriesGood day to you! I am so happy today as my new carpet is being installed in my den. Do you remember, I decided to do an overhaul of this room prior to Thanksgiving? I ordered a wall unit to give the room a facelift and ordered a new carpet. Now that the carpet is being installed today, the wall unit will be delivered and set up on Monday - just in time for Thanksgiving!  I took down the old window treatments and bought new ones -- they didn't work so I had to return them. But, I know I will find something simple this weekend. Okay, so enough of my decorating. Here we are again, Throwback Thursday. This week, I'll be taking you once again, to China from my 1991 travel adventure. Today, I'll be telling you about our visit to the Beijing Zoo and the Summer Palace, much of which is coming directly from the journal I kept, each and every day of this trip of a lifetime.  Elisa & Cheryl at The Summer Palace, Beijing, China (circa 1991) (CLICK PHOTO FOR ARTICLE) I just love walking down memory lane with trips from years ago. One thing I have learned and strongly suggest, is that you keep travel journals. Although we always remember our experiences, the small details, the anecdotal stories, the little nuances - these are things that often fade from our memories. But, when you document things, you have a treasure from your trip that you can read for years to come and share with others! Here are a few tips for keeping a travel journal if you never have: 1) Type it or Write it There is no right way to journal. Whether you are comfortable with a small notebook and pen or your laptop or favorite electronic device, as long as you write. 2) Journal Daily It's not necessary to document every single detail. Jot down the highlights of each day as well as the sights you see. 3) Keep it Personal Some of the best memories are those that recount what you were feeling at the time. If you have a funny or emotional moment during your trip, make sure you make mention of it - it will make you laugh or pull at your heartstrings later on 4) Record Important Facts Long after your trip is over, many of the historic facts and figures will fade. Jotting these down will help you to feel as if you are back on your journey when you read your account of the trip. 5) Get Others' Perspectives In my travel journals, I always like to get the people I'm traveling with to add their two cents here and there to the documentation. It makes it more fun to read later and rounds out the experience.  Well, I'm off to finish my Throwback Thursday article for your reading pleasure today!! Have a super day!! -E  | A Day of Viking HorsesHappy Thursday Everyone!!! What a fabulous morning we had! While everyone back in the states is still in their sleepy slumber, we were having the time of our lives! Out horse back riding through the countryside of Iceland. Through the rivers and streams we rode on these wonderful Icelandic creatures! You can be sure that I will be writing a review on this lovely family run riding stables. It was an awesome and amazing experience!  Getting ready to ride!  Getting a kiss from 'Lucky'!  Grinning from ear to ear! Once we were on the shuttle back to town the kids had noted "the next time we come here, we are definitely doing that again!" Guess they want to come back to Iceland!!!  Dessert Time! After lunch we met up with my friend Priscilla, and headed into town and the market to pick up a loaf of bread to feed the birds at Tjornin Lake and then over to C is for Cookie for some amazing Apple Pie, and toasty hot drinks...to be reviewed on Foodie Friday tomorrow!!! While walking into town Priscilla realized that she forgot her phone and had to head back to her room to grab it. We agreed to meet up ahead in the Old Town City Center; however after that we never found her until already sitting and enjoying our desserts! In the meantime the kids and I fed the very hungry birds in the blustery rainy weather. Definitely the worst it's been since we've arrived. But that didn't stop us from enjoying yet another super vacation day here in Iceland!   But that didn't stop us from enjoying yet another super vacation day here in Iceland! Btw - Cosette woke up with a yucky cough yesterday - after all of our crazy efforts to see the Northern Lights. And tonight it was our decision to postpone our tour - based on the weather, the Aurora forecast, our schedule tomorrow morning and Cosette's cough. We're still running around town, so these pictures were posted on the website after the Daily email went out! And here is a fun TBT picture for your entertainment!  Me and the kiddies circa 2002  |
