Nuit Blanche {Paris + beyond}

Nuit Blanche has long been one of my favorite nights of the year. Even before I was living in Paris, I'd intentionally plan my visits to Paris to be here for the first Saturday in October to profiter from the sleepless night of art installations and events happening all around the city. This year marks the 10th anniversary edition, and to celebrate, new neighborhoods (including mine – Saint Georges!) are participating. The event is free and is designed to make art accessible to all, by taking it out of context for one night only, and giving people an excuse to explore the city in new ways. The entire program is available on their website, and over on Vingt Paris, I have created an insider's guide to Nuit Blanche with some of my own favorite picks for the night, including helpful links to the program and iPhone app.

Other cities celebrating Nuit Blanche tomorrow night (Oct 1st) are: Brussels, Belgium, Brescia, Italy, La Valette, Malta, Kosice, Slovakia, Oran, Algeria, Toronto, Canada, Kyoto, Japan, and Palestine.

Oct: Port-Vila, Vanuatu, Brighton & Hove, UK
Nov: Miami, Florida, USA
Jan: Bologne, Italy
Feb:Montreal, Canada
Mar: Buenos Aires, Argentina
April: Florence, Italy
June: Amsterdam, Netherlands, Tel-Aviv, Israel
Aug: Singapore, Loulé, Portugal
Sept: Riga, Lettonie, Skopje, Macedonia

Click here for more dates and information for the growing network of international cities participating in Nuit Blanche.

Paris Address Book

Habitué is the French word for "regular." For this guide I wanted to create a resource of my favorite places in the city that I find myself frequenting the most (it's part cheat sheet for myself when trying to figure out where to take my friends when they visit – I have 3 here this week, for a total of 7 this month!). You'll notice that there aren't that many restaurants on the list (not eating out is how I afford to live here), so you can trust that anything I do list is pretty budget friendly. For other guides I've written, check out the Design*Sponge city guide, Frugal Paris, a Paris design tour, Amèlie's favorite addresses, where to stay in Paris, Paris by season, and the Tour de France arrondissement project (with the help of fellow Paris bloggers). Enjoy!

75001 - 1st arrondissement

• Jardin du Palais Royal – inner garden of Paris
  6 rue de Montpensier
• Jeu de Paume – museum in the Tuilleries, worth checking what's showing
  1, Place de la Concorde
• Colette – trend shop with interesting exhibitions
  213 rue Saint-Honoré
• Ekobo – showroom of French line of bamboo homewares make great gifts
  4 rue Hérold
  
  

75002 - 2nd arrondissement

• La Cantine – co-working space for freelancers or travelers
  151 rue Montmartre, Passage des Panoramas
• Passage des Panoramas for general exploration
  

75003 - 3rd arrondissement

• Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature – awesome museum of hunting and chasing
  62, rue des Archives
• Marché au Enfants Rouge – outdoor market, great for lunch
  39 Rue de Bretagne (closed Mondays)
• Merci – concept design shop with charming cafés
  111 Ave Beaumarchais
  
• Bonton – children's concept shop with photobooth
  5, boulevard des Filles du Calvaire
  
• Bob's Kitchen – lunch spot with great juice and fukomaki rolls
  74 Rue des Gravilliers
  
• Candelaria – taqueria with secret bar lounge
  52 rue de Saintonge
• Le Petit Atelier de Paris – I cannot leave this shop without buying something
  31 Rue Montmorency (Thurs-Sat 1pm-8pm)
  
• Rue Montorgueil – market street

75004 - 4th arrondissement

• Café Chinois – tea room, lunch spot and giftshop
• Falafel – so many choices, pick your favorite
  rue des Rosiers
  
• Le Petit Fer à Cheval – stand up wine bar with resto in back
  30 Rue Vieille du Temple
  
• La Cuisine Paris – cooking school in French & English
  80 Quai de l’Hôtel de Ville
• BHV – department store lust for craft and office supply sections
  rue de Rivoli, across street from Hôtel de Ville
  
  

75005 - 5th arrondissement

• La Mosquée – salon du thé serving Moroccan-style mint tea and visit to the mosque
  39, rue Saint-Hilaire
  
• Jardin des Plantes
• Rue Moufftard
• Sugarplum Cake Shop – American style bakery
  68 rue du Cardinal Lemoine
  
• Shakespeare & Company – bookshop and readings
  37 Rue Bûcherie
  

75006 - 6th arrondissement

• L'avant Comptoir – standing room only wine bar with delicious tapas
  9 Carrefour de l'Odéon
  
• Luxembourg Gardens
• Pâtisserie Viennoise – Hot chocolate in a French cosy café setting
  8, rue de l’Ecole de Méecine
• crêpes – go for a galette for a savory lunch followed by a sweet dessert crêpe
  crêperies along Saint André des Arts
  

75007 - 7th arrondissement

• Musée Rodin – intimate museum with wonderful sculpture garden
  79 Rue de Varenne
  
• Le Roussillon – easy going neighborhood resto and bar
  186, Rue de Grenelle
  
• Chez Do – hole in the wall Thai place sur place or emporter (get the bo bun!)
  20 Rue Jean Nicot
• Secco – aka the pink bakery for easy to-go lunch
  20, rue Jean-Nicot
  
• Picnic on the Champs de Mars when the Eiffel Tower twinkles every hour at night

75008 - 8th arrondissement

• Parc Monceau – where families go when school gets out, or go for a jog
  

75009 - 9th arrondissement

• Kooka Boora – easy going neighborhood coffee shop with free Wifi
  62 rue des Martyrs & 53 ave Trudaine
  
• La Fourmi – laid back bar with late night french fries
  74 Rue Martyrs
  
• Le Sans Souci – divey bar with good food and an excellent planche
  65 rue Pigalle
  
• Les Pâtes Vivants – noodles pulled before your eyes
  46 rue du Faubourg Montmartre
  
• Chartier – great deal for a 3 course meal in a classic and lively setting
  7, rue de Faubourg Montmatre
  
• Musée de la Vie Romantique – for tea in the garden
  16 Rue Chaptal
  
• Pizza di Loretta – yummy pizza by weight in a friendly environment
  62 rue Rodier
  
• Galeries Lafayette – for the French department store experience
• Rue des Martyrs – market street with local shops
• La Carmine – great pizza and stellar 5 Euro paninis to-go
  61 Rue des Martyrs
  

75010 - 10th arrondissement

• Point Ephémère – chill bar along the canal, drink outside before 9pm
  200 Quai de Valmy
  
• Chez Prune – bar buzzing with locals along the canal
  36, rue Beaurepaire
  
• Le Comptoir General – unexpected space for a weekend mojito
  80, quai de Jemmapes
  
• Artazart – best design/photo bookstore in town
  3, quai de Valmy
  
• Petit Usagi – lunch time bento boxes inside Le Citizen Hotel
  96 Quai de Jemmapes
  
• Passage Brady – this street is the secret world to Indian food in Paris
• Nanashi – bento-style meals in a fresh and nicely designed space
  31 rue de Paradis
  

75011 - 11th arrondissement

• Bastille Market – every Thursday and Sunday morning
  (my chicken lady has the U-shaped stand closer to Brégut-Sabin)
  Blvd Richard Lenoir
  
• Studio Harmonic – professional dance studio (I love Nathalie's hip-hop)
  5 passage des Taillandiers
  
• Café de l'Industrie – French resto with a good vibe
  
  17, Rue Saint-Sabin
  17, rue Saint-Sabin
  
  17, Rue Saint-Sabin
• Lazy Dog – design bookshop
  25 rue de Charonne
  

75012 - 12th arrondissement

• Marché Aligre
• Promenade Plantée / Viaduct des Arts – raised garden on former viaduct
  along Avenue Daumensnil
• Parc de Bercy
  
  

75013 - 13th arrondissement

• Buttes-aux-Cailles – area of Paris that feels more like a village
• Chez Gladines – Basque food worth the wait with hearty portions
  30 rue des Cinq Diamants
  
• Teng Frères – mega-Asian grocery store in heart of Chinatown
  48 avenue d'Ivry
  

75014 - 14th arrondissement

• Jim Hayne's dinners – every Sunday for the past 30+ years
  reservation required for address (book early)
  

75015 - 15th arrondissement

• Parc André Citroën – contemporary park in Paris
  

75016 - 16th arrondissement

• Palais de Tokyo – contemporary museum open to midnight
  13, avenue du Président Wilson
  

75017 - 17th arrondissement

• Batignolles – bars and restos with local, chill and inviting French feel
  around Square des Batignolles and along rue Legendre
  
• French Touche – local shop supporting independent hand-made artists
  1 rue Jacquemont
  

75018 - 18th arrondissement

• Le Rendez-vous des Amis – low key bar with terrace and cheap drinks
  23 rue Gabrielle
  
• Chéri Bibi – resto where 3rd Monday of the month hosts 10 Euro fixed price meal
  15 rue André del Sarte
  
• Shopping along rue des Abbesses
• Café des Deux Moulins – Amèlie's café and the most touristy place on my list
  15 Rue Lepic
• Coquelicot – easy breakfast or lunch with outdoor terrace
  24 rue des Abbesses
• Sacre-Coeur – best at night on the steps with a bottle of champagne and good friends
  
• Les Puces Saint-Ouen – maze of Paris flea market (check this map!)
  Porte de Clignancourt
  

75019 - 19th arrondissement

• 104 – Former funerary hall turned contemporary art center w/ café, bookstore & Emmaus
  5 rue Curial
  
• Parc Buttes-Chaumont – perfect picnic place, complete with temple of love
  
• Rosa Bonheur – hip chalet-like escape for drinks and dancing
  inside Buttes-Chaumont (Wed-Sun, closes at midnight)
• Le Bar Ourcq – chill bar along Basin de la Vilette with balls for petanque
  68 Quai Loire
  
• Go to the cinema at one of the theaters along the Basin de la Vilette
  

75020 - 20th arrondissement

• Père Lachaise – endless cemetery that feels like a romantic walk in the park
• Parc de Belleville – low key, local park
  

Great Paris resources:

• Paris.fr – the city's excellent guide to what's happening (market + swimming pool lists!)
  
• GoGo Paris – my favorite app for things in the city
• My Little Paris – the latest and greatest in Paris, with a special charm
• Vingt Paris Magazine – current events
  
• 10 Days in Paris – hip list of happenings
• Picselo – local Paris spots through the eyes of a French stylist

Foodie go-tos:

• Paris by Mouth
• David Lebovitz
• Foodspotting
• Le Fooding
• Co-lunching
  

{Map created for the Tour de France: Paris series}

Common Courtesy – RATP

Besides getting you from place to place, the thing public transportation is really great for is people watching. I get extra joy in observing tourists, but locals can be pretty fun to watch too. The latest campaign 'Restons Civils' from the RATP, the public transportation operator for Paris, takes a fun and entertaining look at some serious issues that face the system. With over 10 million riders each day, even some of the more unpleasant occurrences – loud cell phone talkers, those with lack of hygiene, last minute pushers, gum spitters, and turnstyle jumpers – can even get to the most seasoned public transportation traveler. While the issues are real and serious, I love the way that they've decided to use animals as a way to add humor and poignancy to bring attention to the issue, while also using the numbers from the bus and metro lines, to graphically further make their point. It definitely makes you look – and hopefully laugh too.

P.S. The RATP has one of the best apps for getting around Paris.

{Reston civils publicity via RATP}

Sub City

If I have the choice between taking a taxi or public transportation, I'll take public transportation in a heart beat. Not that anyone is a fan of being stuck in traffic, but if you're on the bus, at least you can be doing something while you wait. In Paris I know the metro so well that I know where I should get on the train to catch my correspondence. But the thing I often don't think about when taking the metro is what happens as I emerge from below. Sub City by Redglass Pictures, a NYC based production studio, has taken a fresh look at transportation by looking at the way people leave a station. It's fascinating the way the slowed-down video and music make it feel really romantic – which is probably true if we were to truly slow down and take in the world around us. The first Sub City went underground in NYC, and Paris is their most recent edition.


{Films by Sarah Klein and Tom Mason; Concept by Jennifer McClory}

Thanks, Landon for the tip!

Boarding Pass - Joe Lukawski

This summer in Fez I was lucky to experience the intense yet relaxed travel style of journalist and film-maker Joe Lukawski. After an extremely focused filming session (we were down there for the Fez Festival of Sacred Music), more often than not some café sitting and mint tea sipping was in order, or lunch at Rachid's. After summer travels around the US, Joe is now back down in Fez for his fulbright, working on a documentary film about the water systems of Fez. I posted about it last week, but you can learn all about the film and support Joe over on Kickstarter. Thanks, Joe and best of luck raising the final funds!
last trip taken:
New York City

next trip on deck:
South America somewhere I hope

one place you would go back to again and again:
Fez. I've been many times, and its always different. There's always something new to discover in Fez and about oneself.

place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
Cairo. It's a shock to the senses at times, but a lovely city with fantastic people in it.
preferred method of transportation:
4x4 when possible. Walking is nice too.

place you've never been but dying to go:
Anywhere in South America, so many vibrant cultures and gorgeous places it seems.

place you'd never go back:
I'd never go back to.... well, I'd probably go back at some point or another. Laisse-tomber.

most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
The West Bank with Merrit Kennedy, Ally Krupar and Sofia Unanue was emotionally charged, beautiful and unexpected.

how do you prepare for a trip?
I usually don't prepare enough. I guess I just grab a bag, my passport, my cameras and go.

how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
I try not to over-record. I like to keep my memory for places, faces and feelings sharp; but when the moment is perfect I snap a photo or two, sketch a detail I'd surely forget or write a quick journal entry to ensure proper transmission.

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
I like photographing street scenes, and love photographing doors and windows.

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
Six or seven hundred when I shot a lot of digital photos. Now usually two or three rolls (getting expensive!). Sometimes none.

what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
I currently travel with my Nikon 20/20 fitted with a 50mm f1.8, a little Kodak HD video device, a great handmade notebook I picked up in Brooklyn and a few pocket Moleskine notebooks with perforated pages.

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
Since on most trips I find myself filming something for someone and getting stuck behind Final Cut Pro, I actually prefer to just pile up my used rolls of film until I am planted somewhere firmly enough to process them and to need to feel like I am still traveling.

favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
My favorite souvenirs are, to translate literally, my memories of the place and people I spent time with. I generally spend my whole budget on food, drink and transport; so buying, packing, shipping, etc... are not my scene. However, I've made the habit of picking up some eau de fleur d'oranger and some berber linen every time I pass through Morocco.

what is your latest project?
I am currently raising money to produce a documentary on the waters of Fez focusing on the medieval water system, problems with access to water, and the urban planning and development work aimed at restoring the rivers running through the old city. More on the project, as well as your chance to donate to the film here.

Links:

• Joe Lukawski
• Hidden Waters of Fez
• Kickstarter Campaign

BOARDING PASS is a weekly column exploring the creative ways people travel.

100 Years of London Style

Every time I go back to the US I can't help but notice the lack of style (or put-togetheredness) of the average American in suburbia. Although not without certain flaws, I think Europeans have style down pat, even if it is all black more often than not. This video of 100 years of East London style in 100 seconds proves that London has it going on and has over the ages.

The promotion was created by The Viral Factory, UK and directed by Jake Lunt in order to commemorate the opening of Europe's largest commercial center, Westfield Stratford City.

Thanks for the tip, Despina!

Hidden Waters of Fez

Over the past two years in France I've met some amazing people doing incredible things. I didn't meet Joe Lukawski until late spring (as we bonded over our theses, both themed around Morocco), but still in the short time I've known Joe we managed to help develop new curriculum, brainstorm plenty of ideas, and collaborate in Fez for the Fez Festival in June. This fall Joe moved to Fez, Morocco for the year as a recipient of a Fulbright, where he'll be using his expertise in filmmaking to create a documentary surrounding the water systems of Fez and the problems now facing the city, while also presenting new urban developments. Joe has big visions for this film, and unfortunately his grant does not cover production costs (which would include equipment and employing local cameramen), so he has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the money needed to create a top-notch film which will be made available in French, English and Moroccan Arabic. Please watch the video below and read more here for more on Hidden Waters: a film on the waters of Fez. Even the smallest contributions can make a big difference, so thank you for your support!



{Images by Omar Chennafi}

Planes, Trains and Yesteryear

If I could go anywhere right now, I'd travel back in time. Ever since Midnight in Paris, and even Mad Men, I've been aching to live life as it used to be lived. Granted those times weren't without their own issues, but I think at the same time it gives us an appreciation of the time we live in now. This week Margaret gave me a sneak peek at the newly launched Orient Express, A Journey Like No Other campaign which highlights travel around the world through the classically elegant Orient Express trains and hotels through a cast of characters which are treated more like episodes – than videos – in an ongoing tale of travel. While they are tales of luxury in a way I typically don't find myself traveling, I think the campaign does an interesting job of capturing your attention through a unique style that fosters daydreaming. I'm selfishly finding myself dreaming about Venice... but you can dream about their various destinations here.
In a similar spirit of yesteryear, I can't wait for the new American tv series, Pan Am, debuting this Sunday. Sometimes referred to as Pan Am, the Real Stewardesses, it sounds like a bad twist on some of the more unfortunate reality series of today. But what it does is take a Mad Men style setting of the 1960s and tell the story of travel and elegance of the past and the legendary Pan Am stewardesses who embodied a certain style and persona beyond just a career on an airplane. One thing is for sure – times have changed.The series debuts on ABC (US) Sunday, Sept 25th at 10pm.


{Top 2 images via A Journey Like No Other, bottom via ABC}

Maison Objet {recap}

{My love of neon in a new form by French designers Tête au Cube}

My latest design article for VINGT Paris magazine just went up and it's all about the latest edition of Maison + Objet. The article is half guide (aka planning your own trip virtually or in person) as well as a peek inside my favorite tendence (trend) room – Objets Privées.

While for most people, Maison Objet is about seeing the latest and greatest in design in a marathon of sorts, for me M+O is about catching up with many of my favorite designers I've been lucky enough to meet over the years. Here are a few of my favorites and what they're up to this fall, along with a couple new finds.

While going to visit Elodie at Mud Australia, I was so pleased to get to meet Mud owner's Shelley and James. Their stand was one of my favorites this year with their colorful porcelain line hanging from above.

It has become a tradition that Ekobo is always my first and last stop at M+O. This year their Elements Collection really stood out as a fresh addition to their entire line of beautiful and functional bamboo homewares. In Paris you can visit their shop at 4, rue Hérold in the 1st.

Anne Hubert of La Cerise sur le Gateau continues to have fun with her home line, and after having a baby several months ago, has added a new children's line.

Not everyone can introduce their new products and say "this is my new creature," but Donna Wilson can. Every year her stand is fun and colorful, and this year I particularly loved her knitted hot water bottle covers.

I love the colorful patterns of Les Touristes. My table cloth is from there which I picked up at their shop in the Marais at 17 rue des Blancs-Manteaux.

Atelier LZC is one of the first French designers I discovered years ago, before I was even a designer myself. Their work has felt the same for a long time, so I'm excited to see this new bout of energy.
Thanks to Felicia I had met Jeanine of Afrochic during a Paris Design Week opening. It was so nice to get to talk with her and her husband a bit more about their first M+O experience as an exhibitor and to see their new line. I love that Jeanine used to work as a lawyer before pursing design.

Finally, I didn't get a good shot, but I love that Fiona of Bluebellgray has expanded her floral bedding and pillows into an accessory line with great totes. They're not online quite yet, but stay tuned.

Click HERE for my guide to experiencing Maison Objet - it's exhausting for sure!

Boarding Pass – Maggie High

One of the things I love most about travel is the way in which it can bond two people, even if you've never met, through lived/shared experiences. Although not on the same voyage, Maggie High and I were lucky enough to experience a 10-country adventure around the world on a ship on Semester at Sea. Clearly it's something that rubbed off on us both as she's off in South Korea teaching, and I'm in Paris. In addition to her travels, I am a big fan of how Maggie is using her blog, A Spoonful of Sugar, as a platform for experimenting with design (she first contacted me with questions on the best resources to teach herself design), and able to use the platform as a tool for further exploration alongside her travels. Thanks, Maggie!

{Maggie and Spencer at Monet's Gardens}

home town:
I grew up out in the country in Modesto, California. I spent my childhood climbing haystacks, learning to sew, and raising animals for 4-H. My mom is very creative so I was constantly making things out of odds and ends around the house as well.

{Caye Caulker, Belize}

where you live now:
I'm now living in Suncheon, South Korea teaching English to children ages 4-13. My husband and I got married in May, went on a beautiful three week honeymoon to Belize, then packed up our things, and flew to Korea! It was a crazy couple of months but I'm very happy here. It's both challenging and rewarding to teach. Everyday is different and the kids can be very fun. I laugh more at this job than any other I've ever had! It's wonderful.

{Temple details : Busan, South Korea}

last trip taken:
We took a trip to Hong Kong at the end of July. Hong Kong is amazing. I saw a sign there that dubbed it "Asia's International City" and it's so true! I think you can find anything in Hong Kong! We ate some delicious food, marveled at the soaring skyscrapers, and loved all the city had to offer. We rented an apartment using Airbnb.com and I'm so glad we did. It was so nice to have a couch to come home to and a kitchen to cook in (although, it was TINY!). I think grocery shopping while traveling is so interesting. I love seeing what's available and I was happy we got the chance to do that in Hong Kong.

{Hong Kong skyscrapers}

next trip on deck:
We are planning on heading to the Philippines for Christmas. I hear it is absolutely beautiful with unspoiled beaches and kind, laid back locals. It will be a nice respite in the middle of the winter.

{Tea shop in Hong Kong}

one place you would go back to again and again:
Monet's house and gardens in Giverny, France. I've been twice and it is my favorite place in the whole world. All the beautiful flowers make me swoon and I love the lily pond. The big boxy house with its great, old kitchen is so cozy; it takes me back to another time. Plus, the surrounding small towns are charming. I love all of it! I feel like I'm in a dream when I'm there. For me, no trip to Paris is complete without a trip out to the country to Monet's.

{Kyoto, Japan; [right] Monets house and gardens at Giverny}

place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
This totally depends on the friend. If they're looking for a Euro vibe, I'd say Amsterdam or Berlin. If they're looking for something tropical, I'd say head to Belize or the Philippines. If they're looking to travel in the States, I'd say start in San Diego and drive up the California coast, camping along the way, all the way up to one of the best state parks I've ever been to, Patrick's Point. If they want to have the biggest culture shock of their life, I'd say go to India or Africa.

{Indian ladies; [right] Korean mud festival}

preferred method of transportation:
Public transportation.

{Fountainbleau, France}

place you've never been but dying to go:
I've been dying to visit Barcelona ever since I read Carlos Luis Zafon's A Shadow in the Wind. It's a great novel and totally enchanted me. I'd also like to see all that crazy architecture they have. Those curvy buildings look like they just crawled out of the sea.

{The Belfast Wheel}

place you'd never go back:
Kansas. It's so dull.

{The Amazon : Tena, Ecuador}

{Near Hampi, India; [right] Yosemite Falls with bird}

most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
In one hundred days I sailed around the world on a cruise ship while visiting ten countries with six hundred other students. Semester at Sea is the greatest thing I have ever done.

{BAHIA!}

how do you prepare for a trip?
I usually read up on what there is to do at my destination to get an idea of what the place has to offer. I get this from blogs, Lonely Planet, Twitter, asking friends, or sometimes even novels. Then I make up an outline for where I'd like to go. I do this to get an idea of where I should enter and exit the country/city/island/whatever. The middle is always very vague and always open to change along the way. At this point in the planning, there are often a couple things I really want to do so I make those a priority. I also always make sure I have some down time to just sit and people watch, lay on a beach, or wander the streets.

{Mall/bus station : Gwanju, South Korea}

how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
I record my travels mostly with pictures. Sometimes I use a journal or sketch book which usually becomes more like a scrapbook because I love taping and gluing things into my journals. I'll often leave room for pictures in the journal, too. My husband and I did this on our first trip together. It's great to read about what we did from both of our perspectives. We also documented card game scores, fun quotes we heard/saw, and other random tidbits that really make it fun to go back and read.

{Heart rose, Monet's garden}

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
Flowers. I love flowers. I also like landscapes and patterns.

{Black-eyed Susan at Monet's house}

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
It used to vary greatly. Sometimes I would want to capture everything and sometimes I would want to experience everything and not be bothered with capturing it. Now, I try to always balance the two out the best I can. Otherwise, I get burnt out or end up with about four crummy pictures. It's easier to balance now that I travel with my husband because we trade off with the camera. In Hong Kong we took about 550 and we were there for six days.

{Double decker bus, London}

what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
I currently have a Panasonic DMC-ZS10 point and shoot. Spencer just said, "it's pretty damn good for a point and shoot" and it really is. It's a good little camera for now but we are hoping to get an SLR as our Christmas present to ourselves. I also take a moleskin sketchbook for writing, on the go scrapbooking/collages, and sketching. It's also good to be able to draw pictures for people when there is a language barrier and hand signals aren't working!

{Pisa, Italy}

{Door knocker : Pisa, Italy; [right] Livorno, Italy}

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
After a trip, I like to go through the photos and pick my favorites. I start editing them and thinking about my favorite things we did, saw, or ate. Spencer and I have a travel blog that we work on together, called Destination Exploration. We try to update it both during and after traveling. Some things we post about right away and some take some time to write and get posted. We also post on Flickr and Twitter. Twitter is more on the go and up to date and Flickr usually gets updated within a couple weeks of the trip. I also post pictures on Facebook for family and friends who don't read blogs or Twitter. I also post some of the prettier things/photos on my personal blog A Spoonful of Sugar. A Spoonful of Sugar is more of a lifestyle blog edging more and more towards design.

{Amsterdam}

favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
My favorite thing to buy while traveling is local art. I got this awesome painting of women dancing a traditional Afro-Brasilian dance in Bahia, Brasil while on Semester at Sea and it's my all time favorite souvenir. However, buying art doesn't always work out if I'm backpacking since I just don't have the space for it. In that case, I'll get something small like a ring, postcard, or magnet. Sometimes, I don't buy anything at all. If I don't like it, I don't buy it. I don't feel a need to buy something to bring home from every place I go.

Links:

• Blog: A Spoonful of Sugar
• Travel Blog: Destination Exploration
• Twitter: @muchlovemaggie @dexploration
• on Flickr

BOARDING PASS is a weekly column exploring the creative ways people travel. Look to your right for the complete list of participants.