Lingo in Transit

Travel, Languages and Life

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  • An Ode to Paris

    An Ode to Paris

    What is your favourite city in the world? And why is it really your favourite city?

    For me, it is Paris yet everytime I sit down to write about Paris I just don’t know how to explain this city. I struggle to find the right words and right combination of words. I can’t even pinpoint what exactly I like about Paris as it’s not just one physical building or area.

    To put it even more abstractly, it moves my soul.

    I think it’s the culture that I like. But as an outsider, can I truly understand what the French (or Parisian) culture is? Perhaps it’s what I think the culture is or what the culture that is presented to the rest of the world is. Or is it some sort of obsession for my inner Francophile?

    It’s the accessibility of second hand bookstores and the Bouquinistes that line the Seine with their classic Parisian prints and old books.
    A hommage to what once was yet still is.

    And all this, is expressed on every street and every turn. This external placing is almost as if it’s to stimulate the inner life and inner thought.

    Maybe it’s knowing great artists of every kind once walked these cobbly streets and sat in these same cafes looking out to the world passing by. The journeys and stories that travel in the expansive tunnels under this city and on the streets.

    Maybe it’s also the relationship to food. Enjoyment in the time it takes to create food- the longer the better. All the al fresco dining and how busy every cafe always seems to be at any time of the day. Humans simply enjoying the day. It’s enjoyment.

    Enjoyment of food, time and the arts.

    It is time and connection. A melange of past, present and future all co-existing ironically and purposefully. Remembering and keeping the arts alive like perhaps it is needed in all the blood that runs through us today.

    It’s the symmetrical apartments with their red flowers tumbling over the iron railings from the tiny balconies. Lines that lead the eyes on a building, towards a building and across town. It’s the little architectural blemishes on lamp posts, doors and bridges. The attention to detail and willingness to make something beautiful.

    Not only for the eyes but the soul.

    Is it all this and more or do I have my rose coloured glasses on?

    Other posts you might like:
- Sightseeing Around Paris
- Trying A Croissant Baking Class in Paris
- Provence In A Day
- Mon Premier Post En Français
  • A Taste of Guadalajara, Mexico

    A Taste of Guadalajara, Mexico

    Next town on our Central Mexico Tour after Guanajuato was the town of Guadalajara. After Mexico City, Guadalajara is the 2nd most populous region in Mexico. This region is well known for contributing Tequila and Mariachi in Mexican Culture. The annual Guadalajara International Film Festival is held here and the Guadalajara International Book Fair which is the largest in the Americas.

    Other Mexico related blog posts: 
    Top 8 things to do in Mexico City 
    My first impression of Mexico 
    Day trip from Mexico City to Teotihuacan 
    Day Trip to Bernal 
    A Day in Queretaro
    • View over Guadalajara

    Our time here was just down to 2 days which is definitely not enough but we got a taster. We had been on the go every 2 days or so changing cities and then walking all day so we were quite exhausted by now. We decided not to wonder that far in our free afternoon and found a nearby outdoor market that was going on to meander around leaving the historical sites of the centre untouched.

    • Jardin Hidalgo

    For dinner, we went to the Lindavista suburb where we spent some time in Jardin Hidalgo. There’s some sort of dance exhibit with traditional Mexican dancing that was occurring so we stopped to watch whilst waiting for our dinner reservation. Dinner would be at the El Parián de Tlaquepaque. This is an outdoor dining canteen with restaurants all next to each other in this courtyard. There are lights above and all around us and not only do we have our tastebuds going but also our ears. Mariachi bands are around to play whatever mariachi music you want. At this stage, our group are not so knowledgeable about what songs we liked. Now, I could listen to celito lindo on repeat with no problem.

    • Cazuelas Voladoras: Tequila with a bowl of citrus juice to sip on in between
    A video I recorded of the mariachi band at dinner

    Day 2

    Day two was somewhat of an adventure. We were going for a day trip to Tequila for…..you guessed it, Tequila! Our guide was not accompanying us today but assured the small group of us that we would be joined by an english speaking guide once we arrived in Tequila. When we arrived, it became apparent that we would not be getting our english speaking guide that day. A lady working at the plantation was happy to help and took us through the tequila making stages from agave to drink. Of course, then came the best part where we got to try some!

    • Piñas

    Tequila is made from 100% blue agave and much like Champagne, Tequila can only called Tequila if it is from this region and labelled Made in Mexico (hecho en Mexico). The agave takes approximately 6 to 10 years to mature to which it is then harvested by hand by jimadores where they cut the leaves revealing the piña (pineapple). The piña is what is then used to make Tequila via a process of baking, sugar extraction, fermentation and distillation. Aging of the Tequila is then done in French or American oak barrels for varying lengths of time and can even be aged for 3 years or more! The darker the Tequila, the more aging it has undergone. Unlike in countries outside of Mexico where Tequila is served in shot glasses with salt and lime, in Mexico, Tequila is slowly enjoyed on its own. After learning about the extensive process of growing the agave and how Tequila is made (and still regretting not purchasing one of the aged bottles from this plantation), no more shots for me!

    • Barrel tourist bus

    After lunch, we got to spend some free time in the town of Tequila although it was quite hot by now with temperatures in the 30s. Tequila seems much to be a tourist town with many stores on the main street selling the usual souvenirs. At the end of the street there was a square with cafes where we sought some shade and a nice cool (non alcoholic) drink. When walking around, I came across this beautiful mural at the Municipio de Tequila Jal (local council office) of what appears to be mother nature ontop a pyramid with a piña behind her giving life to Mexican culture, Mexican landscape, history and way of life.

    On our way back, our little group were reflecting on the day we had and all the assumptions on how we thought our day would be like. Turns out it was nothing like we all had imagined but we were still happy to have spent the day out, learning about the Tequila making process and seeing the town of Tequila. To me, that is the fun of travel, you never quite know what you’re going to get.

    No rest for the wicked, next stop Patzcuaro!

  • The Role Of Libraries In Our Communities

    The Role Of Libraries In Our Communities

    This post contains affiliate links where I will earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links and will not cost you anything extra.

    Libraries. Open to all with the possibilities of imagination, knowledge and curiosity. Stay as long or as little as you please. When was the last time you visited your local library?

    My interaction with libraries has changed with growing up but it is still a place I frequent. As a kid, I remember being so excited as it meant I got to borrow a new toy. I got to stand on the brown wooden step ladder and flip through the toy catalogue which were sleeves in a binder at that time.

    Photo by Shunya Koide on Unsplash

    Once I could read, I was always looking for my next adventures book, crawling along the floor so I could get a better view at the books on the bottom shelf. Once I ventured out of the safe short shelves of children’s fiction, I borrowed books about the weather and loved looking at all the cloud names, even if I couldn’t really pronounce or remember them. I loved the books about deep sea and all the weird and wonderful creatures that never see the light of day.
    When I was a teen, the library offered me a chance to load up on more books than I could read for the school holidays.

    Library Card Tote Bag

    I have recently been thinking about what more libraries can offer. A place that brings more people together across all walks of life. I did a quick research of the local libraries in this city. It seems local libraries are not all made equal. But I find the myriad of activities gives us a glimpse on what is possible with libraries:

    – school holiday kids groups
    – english conversation groups
    – writing workshops
    – author talks
    – art exhibits
    – computing classes for seniors
    – scrabble nights
    – book clubs
    – creative workspaces
    – craft sessions for kids

    Library Card Socks

    I would want my libraries to be the hub of active events for the whole population across age groups to promote being active and socialness, a separate place to chat to curb loneliness, bus services to and from the library for the less mobile, games nights, safe spaces for people to access services in person, more crafting groups and conversation interest groups for all ages. There could be cultural talks, conversations around sustainability and ethics or science. Move some of the events that are hosted in pubs into our libraries where they can be accessible for those who prefer more quiet environments and are not pressured to buy anything.

    In Finland, you can borrow power tools and sporting equipment. Attached to some of their libraries are also public balconies, movie theatres, creative makerspaces, karaoke rooms and even a doorway to the supermarket next door.

    What is your relationship with your local library like? What sort of events does your local library have and what events would you like there to be?

    Can we make libraries better places to foster culture, education and a better sense of community?

  • Day Trip to the Southern Highlands, NSW Australia

    Day Trip to the Southern Highlands, NSW Australia

    I have travelled alone internationally and domestically but the final frontier was to travel alone in my own state. This was accomplished a few weeks back. I took some leave from work, packed an esky and off I drove for a day trip to the Southern Highlands.

    I love travelling alone. I like taking the time to walk about, going into any store that tickles my fancy and taking way too long to decide if I want to purchase this or that. I like to search for peaceful places or places with nice views or beautiful buildings.

    The Southern Highlands is about a 1.5 hour drive south west of Sydney. The land is quite fertile and temperatures mild so there are vineyards a plenty. It’s the home of the annual tulip festival and farm stays. The day trip out to the Southern Highlands was what I needed. Leaving the higher density and concrete world behind me, I was in amongst the rolling green-ish hills (it’s summer here so more like…..yellow), driving between National Parks and going at 110km/hr.

    On this particular trip, I was doing just a day trip. I had gotten some tips prior and made a list of what my day was going to look like. You might be wondering why I had packed an esky. I was told of a really nice handmade jam (condiments) store and I thought that I would probably be buying something from that store. Not that I usually eat jam but I can’t say no to having a peep into a local store especially with handmade items.

    The first stop was Berrima, a small historical village. Unfortunately as this was a day trip, there were no vineyard stops planned (don’t drink and drive kids). There was a place that I wanted to visit nearby, Berkelouw Book Barn, however it was closed this day for a private function. I had read that there are wild platypuses in the Wingecarribee River and found a walking path along the river. I have never seen wild platypuses in my life and did feel a little ashamed at the lack of Australian wildlife I have seen in the wild. Despite my attempts at being still and hoping that I wouldn’t come across a snake, the only wildlife I saw were ducks and lizards!

    • Looking for platypuses

    There were a few stores along the main street of Berrima and I had a little wander around. I came across The Little Hand Stirred Jam store selling jam and other condiments offering an array of deliciously lipsmacking combinations. I came away with the selection pictured above and into the esky they did went. Since, I have tried the rhubarb jam and can confirm that it is marvellous and not too sickly sweet! I’m sure I will be back.

    Next stop was the Red Cow Farm Gardens. This is a privately own property and garden which is open to the public for a small entry fee. The garden features 20 garden rooms and has a lot of tree cover and benches which is perfect for a warm summer’s day. There’s also a nursery if you wish to add to your own garden. While there were still some blooms left, I can only imagine what spring would look like. I think I also spotted some apple trees.

    For the afternoon, I drove to Bowral which is the biggest town in the Southern Highlands region. I’m sad to say that I didn’t take many pictures that afternoon. I had lunch at a cafe and then walked around the town (popping my head into odd stores and deciding if I wanted to buy this or that). One of the stores I was most looking forward to going to was Dirty Janes, an antique warehouse. There were so many odd bobs and beautiful bobs. I came across these ‘retro whiskey glasses’ and suddenly recognised them. We had these glasses at home when I was a kid! I’m going to have to check to see if my parents still have these.

    My last stop was to the Gumnut Patisserie which seems to be the holy grail of trips to the Southern Highlands. This Patisserie has won various Pastry awards at the Sydney Royal Easter Shows. I was here on a weekday so didn’t have to queue very long but if you’re vendering here over the weekends, best to get here early (with your esky!). There were so many goodies but having my waistline in mind, I settled for the almond croissant and vanilla slice to bring back home with me.

    Exhausted, I started my drive back to Sydney. The ice pack in my esky was now liquid but it was still cool and containing my new kitchen friends. It looked so far on the map but wasn’t that bad and I got to get outside the city and some place new. Needless to say, I slept like a rock that night.

  • Hello 2021

    Hello 2021

    Happy New Year Everyone!

    I rang in the New Year asleep as I normally do. Staying up late is just not my thing and I don’t want to start the New Year feeling slugish. It’s so ironic that we want to start the year fresh, motivated with our New Year resolutions yet there’s such a general culture of staying up late, parties and drinks to wake up late, groggy or hungover on the 1st.

    Am I optimistic about this year? Hmmm, not sure. There was a hype at the beginning of every year of all the possibilities that the new year will bring. I think I’ve taken off my rose coloured glasses, the start of 2021 will be much like what the end of 2020 brought. We still can’t travel, economies are rumbling along on wooden wheels and the pandemic is still rampant (amongst other world happenings). Here, masks are now mandatory in indoor spaces like supermarkets, public transport and beauty salons following an increase of cases over the Christmas holidays. I don’t even know which state borders are open to who at the moment.

    I had 2 weeks off work which felt like a lifetime ago now and it was such a pity that it rained most of that time during the 2 weeks. The last thing I wanted to do was spend more time indoors!

    If 2020 taught me anything, it was that it’s important to remain adaptable and to keep growing. I have regularly made myself New Year Resolutions with varying degrees of actually completing them. Some of them are quite loose like “read more” or “minimalise” whilst others are more targeted “save X amount”. I like the mix of goals and I don’t want to feel guilty and stressed about reaching my list of resolutions. It actually doesn’t bother me that much but I like having goals to work towards and focus my energy on in all aspects of my life.

    Do you make New Year resolutions? What do your resolutions consist of? How are you feeling at the start of this New Year?

  • 12 Month Blogging Reflection

    12 Month Blogging Reflection

    If anyone says that blogging is easy, don’t believe them. I’ve certainty placed a lot of pressure on myself to post regularly and it really helped with getting me to write and edit even when I just felt like watching Netflix. I’ve gone through times when my brain was like a desert to other times when I had so many posts being drafted I didn’t know what I was writing about anymore. It’s hard coming up with ideas sometimes and I think at one point I was trying to write for the crowd and restricting myself when I shouldn’t have. I’m still trying to break this mould.

    I want to thank all of you for reading. It’s so daunting to decide to share parts of my life and thoughts with an audience. I know we shouldn’t fear the judgement of others, only of ourselves, but it’s hard to shake off. Especially as someone who dislikes conflict and confrontation, I’ve spent much of my life holding my tongue and not saying much. I’ve come across such kind, supportive and inspiring bloggers and readers here from across the world. Thank you for taking the time to read, comment and like.

    I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s writings on life, adventures and general interests, I’m even embarassed to admit how much time I actually spend on here reading and looking for new blogs to read. It’s nice to find a place with more thoughtfulness, ruminating, crafting and be swept away to all parts of the world. It really tickles the dreamer and traveller within me. Sometimes I think why I can’t be friends with all you lovely people in real life but I guess there’s just not enough hours in the day for that.

    I, like many others I would think, am hoping for a more ‘normal’ 2021. Whatever that’s going to look like. At least we’ll be able to write about it.

    Stay safe and see you all next year!

    Interested in starting your own blog? Sign up with wordpress here.

  • Blogmas 2020- Day 23: End Of Blogmas

    Blogmas 2020- Day 23: End Of Blogmas

    It is the end of my blogmas! That was harder than I thought it would be and I now know why bloggers are drafting blog posts well in advance of December. But here we are, a few days out from Christmas. I hope you’re in the full swing of the Christmas spirit. I’ve been decking my eyelids out in some glitter because there’s not enough glittery shimmer at any other time of the year. My end of year break is well under way and despite it raining (and more pandemic cases)- my Christmas spirit cannot be dampened!

    I hope that you find some peace during this time of the year. It will certainly be quite different for most of us. Whether it be spending time with family, alone or adopted family or having your plans undergo some last minute changes due to what is currently happening, I wish you many smiles and an e-hug.

    Thank you for reading along during Blogmas 2020 and hopefully dancing alittle. It made me ensure that I kept in mind the process of being creative, keeping in mind the small things in life and being pensive in the crazy rush to the end of year. Why does time seem to get faster as the year progresses?

    Whether you’re now recipe planning and prepping, have it all sorted or are doing the last minute scramble- I hope you have a lovely Christmas (or holiday season)! Look after yourselves!

  • Blogmas 2020- Day 21: Dancefloor December III

    Blogmas 2020- Day 21: Dancefloor December III

    This is the last Dancefloor December of 2020. I do hope you’ve enjoyed these random assortments of tunes that you may have not heard in a while. The Dancefloor December today is an oldie but a goldie. It’s been 25 years since its first release. I hope you’ll have a spring in your step as you start your day with this one.

    I invite you to the dancefloor.

  • Blogmas 2020- Day 19: Newness

    Blogmas 2020- Day 19: Newness

    When was the last time you consciously did something new?

    New hairstyle, new clothing combinations, new cafe, new way of thinking or new walking path?

    If you’re like me and have been home much of the year, routine got the better of me. I wore much the same things day in and day out. I rarely did my hair and much less used any make up. I took the same route on my walk and I did the same thing after work. I still tried a new recipe every now and then but my days and weeks soon all started to look the same and I was spiraling into a land of no motivation. It didn’t help with the whole 2020 thing and spending more time indoors.

    While there is much talk that routines are good for you to achieve goals and to leave your brain on auto-pilot, it is equally as important to bring in the new. It shakes things up, can increase excitment and happiness and it’s just less boring!

    This is what I love so much about travelling. Everything is new, there is so much to see and it makes me finally feel like I am actually living (and not staring at a screen all day pushing buttons on a keyboard) and not just making a living (but not actually living).

    I found some pictures of me holding new things that I tried on my travels and have included them here.

    It’s time to do something new.

  • Blogmas 2020- Day 17: Enjoying Jewellery

    When was the last time you wore a piece of jewellery that you had not worn in a really long time? This could be years or months. Perhaps you’re saving it for a special occasion…..whenever that comes around or maybe it’s a keepsake that was gifted or passed down to you. Why not wear it today or tomorrow?

    Enjoy the every day I say.

    Jewellery to me has always been about adding something fun. There are so many designs from different periods and a range of mixed media, colours etc. It can be as simple as you want it to be or as extravagant. Even if I’m at home, I still like to pick out some earrings to wear.

    Jewellery can be used to mark special occasions, gifts from loved ones (or ex loved ones), different places around the world, handmade, personalised, gifts from when you were young or passed down. There is just so much breadth which makes owning and wearing jewellery so unique for each and everyone on of us.

    You may or may not have already read that this year I started my own earring making online store. I’m quite particular about earrings and which shapes would suit my face. Much like thinking corporate clothes are boring, I like to have fun with statement earrings. The more colour the better. I feel like my creative brain works better when I’m wearing colourful earrings. Particularly fitting considering that earrings that I had made so far, feature so much colour.

    Handmade Frida Kahlo’s from my online store

    Are you wearing something today that you’re particularly fond of?