I've been absorbed back into school life this last week. Reacquainting myself with the secret lives of six and seven year olds. One foot still in Istanbul, the other planted firmly in the classroom.
Which is to say I abruptly ended my travel stories. And you know I am nothing if not thorough, with a compulsion to conclude everything I start. Which is to say, I'll return where I left off. Probably. Eventually.
Because there are some things I still need to tell you. About our unorthodox car rental business in Izmir conducted on the trunk of the car using sign language. About the South Aegean Sea where we swam for 2 days in a row and rented chairs from a man named Rambo. About a drive we took at sunset up a narrow mountain road into a lovely village in our swim costumes. Or maybe I'll just post all the travel journal pages and let you puzzle everything together.
It's all folded in between these pages. The ordinary and extraordinary. Small compartments of magic that a line or an image carry.
I added quite a few full page photos when I returned home. The majority of the journal was completed in Istanbul, but I leave blank pages for the pictures, which I print out on Office Max thin double-sided matte photo paper on my Canon MP 620 printer.
I'll include a video from Sister. Who is much steadier with a camera that I am.
Love your travel journal (and your sister's journal) - thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Carole | Sunday, October 03, 2010 at 02:20 PM
Thanks for the info.... I was wondering how you added digital photos to your journal while traveling. Mystery solved.
Posted by: Cindy Wills | Sunday, October 03, 2010 at 02:42 PM
You should really start a travel business where you take groups to different parts of the world and then help them make a travel journal on the way! What do you think girls? Or you could win the lottery and travel more so we would never have to wait too long in between the journals! Take Care!
Posted by: Rainy | Sunday, October 03, 2010 at 03:02 PM
I love that you call your sister "sister". And I don't want your trip to end yet--I hope you will tell us more!!
Posted by: Janet Ghio | Sunday, October 03, 2010 at 08:02 PM
Looks like an amazing time and an amazing journal. I have a question for you...Do you journal while you are traveling or once you return home. I have always found it hard to journal when traveling without all my journal "things" plus when traveling with others who don't journal, it's hard to fit in the time to do so. Just curious.
Posted by: Kimberly | Sunday, October 03, 2010 at 08:26 PM
Have really love seeing your journal and your sisters come together... they truly inspire! I totally agree with Rainy's comment re you should host journaling trips. What a cool idea, to take a trip with you guys and journal together along the way. You should really think about that!
Your pages are just amazing and I love the full page photos that you have included with the eclectic mix of ephemera.
Thanks so much for sharing. "my" trip to Istanbul with you guys has been wonderful!
Posted by: pennyhilling | Sunday, October 03, 2010 at 11:09 PM
As always, your journals are so enjoyable to look at. They are a feast of pleasures for the artist's heart and anyone else needing a respite from the daily grind. Thanks for sharing all the bits and pieces from a journey that it's obvious you had an amazing time. Wishing you the gentle transition between your journey, back to the tiny hearts and minds of furture adventurer's.
Posted by: Susie LaFond | Sunday, October 03, 2010 at 11:52 PM
What a treasure! thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Spindelmaker | Monday, October 04, 2010 at 12:10 AM
Lush lush pages, I like seeing the writing there as well as pattern and image. Thanks for the specific info on photo paper and printer - you KNEW we would ask.
Posted by: susan w | Monday, October 04, 2010 at 05:40 AM
Very, very cool!!! Your journals are such EYE CANDY!!! Thanks for letting us peek! And a great video too!
Posted by: Dreaming Bear | Monday, October 04, 2010 at 07:59 AM
The journal is amazing and thanks for sharing the sequences of how you go about it. The full page pics definitely add much to the journal. Your blog makes my day!
Posted by: Angela | Monday, October 04, 2010 at 08:22 AM
Ohhh, ohhh, ohhh. So much to savor and study in your Istanbul posts. I'm chafing to find the time, but I shall, soon. Plus I have your upcoming school-year worth of adventures with the children to look forward to. An embarassment of richs. Muchas Gracias.
Posted by: Charlotte | Monday, October 04, 2010 at 04:47 PM
I really like the full page photos. And thanks for the tip on the thin matte paper ... the paper I get from Staples or Office depot is almost card stock weight which makes the pages very thick. I'll check out Office Max and see if there's a difference.
Posted by: Jan | Tuesday, October 05, 2010 at 07:55 AM
your pages are amazing! always so full of color and life. thanks for letting us peek into your travels. there are so many stories to be told.
Posted by: nicole austin | Tuesday, October 05, 2010 at 11:10 PM
Yum! Love the journal! Loving orange myself lately too!
Sheila
Posted by: Sheila | Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 02:30 PM