Portugal, itinéraires de voyageurs

Who said a scrapbook has to be for after a trip? Why not use one to help plan your next trip? Julie Sarperi of Les Carnets de Traverse (and star of yesterday's Boarding Pass) has teamed up with illustrator Laure Fissore to create a beautifully designed itinerary through Portugal in book form: Portugal, itinéraires de voyageurs. Since I moved to Europe, Portugal has been high on my priority list of places to visit and this book has me itching to go even more now! Special thanks to Julie for the images, so we can take a peek inside!






Pick up your own copy of Portugal, itinéraires de voyageurs!

Boarding Pass – Julie of Les Carnets de Traverse

Hands down Julie Sarperi of Les Carnets de Traverse is running one of the best travel sites out there (or any site for that matter). As soon as I discovered her work through Hejorama, I was instantly enamoured. Her website is like an interactive scrapbook that is beautifully designed with sound, and is proof of the ways the tangible can be translated to the digital in exciting and engaging ways. Recently she re-launched her blog which does a fantastic job of taking interesting content and making it relevant through simple, yet beautiful imagery, and my favorite part, maps that contextualize where the post is located. Her blog is in French, but using Chrome you can do the auto translate and get a good idea of what each post is about. She responded to all the Boarding Pass questions below in French. Since she has so much beautiful imagery (she is a designer after all), I thought it'd be more fun to keep this post bi-lingual, with my translations in English. Stay tuned tomorrow for a post devoted to her new book on Portugal. And be sure to visit her sites - her work is even more impressive there. Thanks, Julie! –Anne
Self-portrait :: Paris

last trip taken:
L'Islande ! Superbe pays ! Un voyage mémorable, 100 polaroids... et un carnet de voyage en vue.

Iceland. A superb country! A memorable trip, 100 polaroids... and a 'carnet de voyage' [scrapbook] in the works.

Japan

next trip on deck:
Je vais donner des cours de graphisme à La Réunion en mars/avril, ensuite en juin je suis invitée à un mariage finlandais à Helsinki (avec le soleil de minuit !), et cet été... 1 mois en Inde ! Je ne sais pas encore dans quelle région, mais je suis déjà surexcitée !

I'm going to give a graphic design course in March/April on the Island of Reunion, then in June I'm invited to a Finnish wedding in Helsinki (with midnight sun!), and this summer... 1 month in India! I don't know what region I'm going to yet, but I'm already excited!
Carnet :: Helskinki, Finland [view the digital carnet/notebook]

one place you would go back to again and again:
Le Japon, un pays vraiment exceptionnel. Mais de façon générale, je préfère les lieux inconnus, le changement, la surprise, parce que j'ai trop tendance sinon à prendre mes petites habitudes... même au fin fond du Japon !

Japan is a really exceptional country. But in general, I prefer lesser known locations, the change, the surprise. Otherwise, I have the tendencies to follow my little habits... even in the depths of Japan!
Polaroids :: Tokyo

place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
l'Islande, pour les paysages et la rudesse de la nature. C'est beau, je crois que cela fait partie de ces pays "objectivement" beaux, que tout le monde aime, d'une façon ou d'une autre.

Iceland for the landscapes and raw nature. It's beautiful. I think it's one of those places that is "objectively" beautiful and everyone likes, in one way or another.
Iceland

preferred method of transportation:
Train, bus, bateaux... en fait tous les transports publics où je peux regarder le paysage défiler, m'abandonner au mouvement, le nez collé à la vitre ou les cheveux au vent... selon la météo.

Train, bus, boat... any form of transportation where I can watch the landscape go by, stay in one place, nose pressed to the window and hair in the wind.... depending on the weather.
Polaroid: Ireland

place you've never been but dying to go:
L'Argentine, la Patagonie, l'Antarctique, quelque part par là-bas.

Argentina, Patagonia, Antarctica, somewhere out there.
Polaroids :: Sumatra [view the digital carnet/notebook]

place you'd never go back:
Difficile à dire, aucun je crois. Mais j'ai la mémoire sélective : si un voyage était nul, je l'ai sûrement oublié !

Difficult to say, none really. But I have a selective memory : if a trip was bad, I probably forgot!
Polaroid :: Helskinki

Polaroid :: Tokyo

most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
Le Japon car c'est un vrai choc culturel, tu as cette agréable sensation de ne plus rien maîtriser, rien comprendre, mais sans jamais être vraiment perdu, car les Japonais sont d'une grande bienveillance. L'impression de pouvoir se perdre sans fin, sans jamais rien risquer.

Japan because it was a real culture shock. You have this agreeable sensation where you're not in control, nothing makes sense, but you're never truly lost because the Japanese are very helpful. The sense of power is lost, but you have nothing to worry about.
Carnet :: Japan [view the digital carnet/notebook]

how do you prepare for a trip?
Je fais un tour sur les forums de voyage, blogs, je réserve le vol, l'hébergement pour la (les) première(s) nuit(s), parfois une location de voiture, et hop ! Pas de plan figé. Les seules fois où je prépare un peu plus, c'est en cas de festivals ou de fêtes : dans ce cas, je prévois l'hébergement car tout est vite complet.

I make my way around [online] travel forums and blogs, I reserve my flight, find lodging for the first night(s), sometimes rent a car, and go! No set plan. The only time I prepare a bit more is when I'm going for festivals or celebrations – in this case, I make sure I have housing before everything is booked.

how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
J'écris beaucoup dans des petits carnets, je prends des images polaroid, numériques, parfois argentiques. J'aime changer de matériel photo selon les destinations, un peu au feeling. D'ailleurs c'est toujours difficile ce moment où je dois choisir quel polaroid prendre, quels films, couleur ou noir et blanc ? et cet argentique, allez... il est tout petit. Ça manque vite de place dans le sac à dos : tant pis pour les vêtements.

I write a lot in my small notebooks, I take polaroids, digital photos, sometimes other methods. I like to change the type of photo according to the destination and feeling of the place. Other than that, it's always difficult to decide which polaroid to take, which film, color or black and white, and then there are is the silver print... it is all small. It takes up space quickly in my backpack; too bad for my clothes!
Notebook :: Portugal

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
Les plats, la nourriture en général, les étals de marchés, les assiettes... J'aime tellement manger et découvrir de nouveaux goûts !

Dishes, food in general, market stalls, plates. I very much like to eat and discover new tastes.
Polaroid :: Tokyo

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
Sur 1 mois, en moyenne une centaine de polaroids, et environ 1500 photos numériques (je suis en cure de désintox).

Over the course a month I average 100 polaroids, and about 1,500 digital photos (I'm in rehab!)
With Polaroid camera :: Norway

what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
J'ai toujours les mêmes carnets et les mêmes stylos. C'est mon côté grand-mère. Les carnets sont au format passeport, ce sont ceux de chez MUJI. On dirait vraiment des passeports en fait, j'aime bien, et puis c'est dans le thème :) C'est surtout que le papier est très agréable combiné avec mes stylos japonais (Sakura Pigma Micron 01). Avec ça, j'ai des trousses, où je fourre mes trouvailles, ticket, plans, tout ce qui me semble intéressant. Mes polaroids sont rangés dans des boites en métal, entre deux élastiques. J'ai aussi des feuilles de calque pour éviter qu'un polaroid encore humide ne se colle à l'un de ses petits camarades.

I always have the same notebooks and pens. It comes from my grandmother's side. The notebooks are always the size of a passport, which I purchase at MUJI. They really look like passports, which I love, and that's the theme. And of course the paper and Japanese pens (Sakura Pigma Micron 01) work well together. I also keep small packets where I keep my findings, tickets, plans, anything that interests me. My polaroids are arranged in metal boxes between two elastics. I also place special sheets which I place between the polaroids when they're still damp so they don't stick to each other.

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
Je sauvegarde les photos sur disque dur, je scanne les polaroids (mieux vaut être prudent en l'absence de négatif !). J'écris des articles au fur et à mesure sur le blog, les bonnes adresses, les bons plans. Les photos de stickers sont mises en ligne. Ensuite, je commence le carnet de voyage en lui-même. La durée est très variable... Pour les carnets de voyage, parfois jusqu'à 1 an après. C'est beaucoup mais heureusement j'ai mes petits carnets. Sans eux, je serai perdue. Je n'ai qu'à les ouvrir, et avec mes photos à côté, tout me revient !

I back-up my photos on a hard drive, I scan the polaroids (necessary to be cautious without any negatives!). I write articles right away and post them on the blog with good addresses and itineraries. I load the photos stickers series online. Then I start with the "le carnet de voyage" itself. The timing differs. For the "carnets de voyage," often it's one year afterwards. It's a lot, but luckily I have my little notebooks. Without them I would be lost. I only have to open them, and along side my photos, it all comes back to me.
Polaroid :: Julie in Sumatra

favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
Des trucs graphiques, tickets, sacs en papier, affiches, magazines locaux, étiquettes, livres... J'adore aussi tout ce qui est trousses, pochettes, boites : je m'en sers pour les voyages suivants. Mais par-dessus tout : mes photos, mes polaroids. Si je devais sauver un truc des flammes, ce serait ça, sans hésiter.

Anything graphic, paper sacks, posters, local magazines, labels, books... I also adore small kits, pouches, boxes which can help me organize my future travels. But above all, I have my polaroids. If I'm ever in a fire and have to save something, it'd be my polaroids without a doubt.

Portugal

Sumatra

links:

• Les Carnets de Traverse
• Travel blog
• Online shop
• Les Carnets de Traverse : Portugal [book]
• Les Stickers Autour du Monde
• Facebook
• Tumblr
• Flickr
• Twitter @LilouTravel

Boarding Pass is a weekly column exploring the creative ways people travel.

Introducing Wayfare

Yesterday was a big day I've been waiting for for awhile now: the official launch of a new travel/lifestyle e-magazine called Wayfare that I've been so lucky to a part of. Dive right in, or read on for a bit more background on how this came to be and who exactly we are (from my perspective).

Back in early fall Erica Dublin, editor-in-chief and co-founder of the magazine (alongside Josephine Courant), contacted me, knowing my background in design, travel and blogging, about being part of a new online publication that brought travel into the forefront with fresh eyes. We all felt like it was an untapped niche, or rather one that could use a new twist: lifestyle and good design. In the process we wanted to create a new platform for bloggers to share their work (we don't feel people read blogs the same way they did even a year ago). As we looked more at the project and all we wanted to do, I knew it'd be a large undertaking, and was craving a new collaboration, so I pulled in Lauren O'Neill, a graphic designer based in northern Virginia. It's funny now to think we first met on twitter, I featured her on Boarding Pass, we met for coffee once on a trip home, and I knew she'd be the perfect person to help out on this project. So with me in Paris, Lauren in Virginia as my co Art Director, and Erica, Josephine and Eliza Sarasohn in San Francisco, we did something very few people attempt – we put together a publication almost completely virtually and thanks to the power of the internet (and Skype!).

At one point I realized the magazine felt a lot like my thesis in a new form, so I'll break down some of the highlights according to these four themes from my thesis:

1. The Quest for Experience
2. The Desirable Place
3. Digital Dialogue
4. The Entrepreneurial Persona

1. The Quest for Experience
With companies like Airbnb and Vayable these days, experience seems to be a central player in what is often referred to as "the sharing economy." People are searching for human contact beyond what is written in a guidebook. Blogs are one way that content takes on more of a voice, because the author is more accessible. We also wanted to see how we could change this experience, where their work is not just shared in the form of a blog post, but inside a "magazine" all while making travel more accessible, and approachable. In front of your computer we hope it provides a welcome escape, or download the version for iPad and read it on any tablet device (more interactive versions to come) while you're on the go.

Many of the current online magazines attempt to take a print magazine and put it on the web. Pages are filled will too much information or text that is too small and hard on the eye. Even turning pages are mimicked online, but why does an online magazine have to attempt to replicate what's already being done? We wanted to re-think what an online magazine is and how it works and try to push it in a new direction. We used the iPad as inspiration for the format and interactivity. We no longer saw the need to design spreads, but rather thought of each "page" as a screen. The original version of the magazine had a lot more interactive elements and features to "play" with, but in the 11th hour we made a change to make sure the content stayed accessible for everyone. Don't worry, we're working towards publishing to tablet devices in the near future, so you have that level of "experience" to look forward to too. In the meantime, check out our "field guide" in the opening of the magazine for some of our special features.

Another thing I've noticed lately is that particularly with design blogs they feel covered with products these days and less and less often is there a story behind it (or the creator). We're hoping to bring something more meaningful, with several layers of information that grow and are enhanced over time. Everything in the magazine is linkable and credited by name (not just the word "via" or a number that is hyperlinked). We want the magazine to be a showcase for people, places, and even products to be celebrated beyond face value, for a richer experience.

2. The Desirable Place
What I found in my thesis was there was a shift from tourism advertising from beautiful landscapes to publicity and projects that now showcased people, interaction (with a local) and engagement. Now people are just as important to creating a desirable place, if not more so. Our entire team represents different perspectives, but we all crave making the most of a place through a local perspective. In this respect, we're interested too in the way that we as travelers contribute to the way we see and record a place.

Once again with people at the center of "place" we wanted to create a community that supports and celebrates our contributors. With Pinterest in the news there is a lot of issue of artists' work spreading without being credited. We think the contributors on our team have done amazing work and we want to celebrate them as much as possible, give them full credit and all their names are clickable. We hope if you like something you'll go explore and learn more about the person behind it; maybe even contact them. This is all part of the new, more "interactive" experience as well which is a blend of online and off-line worlds.

3. The Digital Dialogue
Blogs added a mechanism for conversation through comments further increasing the 2-way mode of communication and the encouragement of dialogue. Often these conversations are continued through Twitter or Facebook as well. We wanted to create a magazine, that is not something you read and put away; rather something that you want to keep going back to and engaging with in new ways. As I mentioned earlier, the ways in which people read blogs has changed (do you read blogs the same these days?). Our blog works to speak directly to the content in the magazine, but rather than repeating information, we're adding extras like extended interviews and recipes, as well as out-takes and extra images we loved from photo shoots to help give more insight into the articles and the people behind them. So many magazines forget to edit, and feel like a lot of a same on repeat. We hope we can be both well edited and well curated. Ultimately, we hope the magazine gets friends and families talking and planning their next adventure, and that they feel inspired to share their story. And while some may be skeptical, I also think a publication like this has a ton of potential to do interesting things with advertisers in new and exciting ways.

4. The Entrepreneurial Persona
It still amazes me that I got to be a part of this incredible project thanks to the fact that I have a blog. For me it's a sign that if you're someone doing interesting things, people will find you. In a way, that's how we scouted a lot of our content for the first issue: unique storytelling through online photo-essays on Pictory, Jordan and Paul Ferney as a blogger and painter moved who moved their family to Paris and which has inspired their work, the way Emily Richmond could raise money on Kickstarter to fund her around-the-world adventure in a sailboat, or the Carlson family, a family from the mid-west, moved to Burundi, Africa with a passion for coffee and to help local farmers earn a living wage (all while doing an amazing job recording their experiences on their blog). Creativity can come in many forms. In a rough economy, I think people and projects like these are the way of the future. Additionally, they are all great storytellers and have a story worthy of telling. We did our best to share their stories, but hope you will continue to explore and engage deeper with those pieces that struck a cord with you. Now, go see for yourself.
So there you have it, what has turned into my manifesto of the current state of travel and online magazines. I'd love to hear any and all feedback: what pulled you in most, what you'd like to see more/less of... any thoughts. I'm especially eager to hear from people who are not necessarily in the design, travel or blogging world. We'd love to keep pushing this publication to be the best it can be. I'm already blown away what we've done with a team of 5 of us part time + amazingly talented contributors.

Enjoy our PILOT issue online now at wayfaremag.com (click here for the direct link inside the magazine). There's more daily on our blog, and you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. We're still fresh off the launch, so stay tuned for more to come!

UPDATE: I only worked on the pilot edition of Wayfare.

{image: Wayfare pilot issue; cover image by the talented Peggy Wong; tag for Wayfare by Lauren O'Neill}

How Not to Be a Tourist

Code name HNTBAT or How Not to Be a Tourist is a site that caught my eye several months back, but I'm only now getting around to posting about. Starting with the major cities, HNTBT keeps expanding to share insider information on how to visit a place and avoid sticking out like a sore thumb. Each location is approached with a sense of humor, which is made even funnier by the fact that it's strongly based in reality. Broken down into DRESS / ACT / LIVE the various categories give you a sense of the place from what do wear to how to carry yourselves, with insider tips from people who know best. The way information is broken down as comparison (aka photo of what you should be wearing and what not to wear), helps get the point across quickly and in a memorable way. Also, it's participatory in that you can leave your own comments to help set things straight if you disagree (or laugh with them if you feel it's spot on). Woven into each section are fun little extras like playlists that help you feel the part, mini polls (i.e. When it comes to macarons are you more Ladurée or Pierre Hermé?), catch phrases only a local would know and the current weather (illustrated). From the design to the content, it's just a fun site to visit even if you're not going anywhere. And if you are going to one of their featured destinations? It's a must see!
For more HNTBAT Paris, click here. For all other cities, here! The official website is way more fun to visit than looking at the screen captures. Well done, HNTBAT!

P.S. Don't miss my "I Heart Looking Like a Tourist" guide to packing for Paris.

{images via HNTBAT}

To Resolve

{Jon Ashcroft's resolution. More of Jon's work.}

I've mentioned it before, I'm not one much for New Year's resolutions. Quite frankly, they cramp my style (I've been regular-ing the pool/gym and then one day you're going to come in and take over!?!). In any case, I finally found some resolutions I'm happy to get behind. To Resolve is a project that started from a conversation between Chris Streger and his now fiancé, Amy Kirby. The goal was to create a way for people to stick to their resolutions rather than tucking them away in a drawer. The results are stunning, and here – of course – are my favorite resolutions that encourage people to travel.

{Melanie Leduc's resolution. More of Melanie's work.}

{Tim McCraken's resolution. More of Tim's work.}

{Joe Bacigalupo's resolution. More of Joe's work.}

There is TONS more – and always adding more – inspiration over on To Resolve. The project even has templates so you can start designing your own, and visit the about page to submit your own. And coming soon, the top 12 resolutions will be made into prints for sale.

Thanks for the awesome tip, Caitlin!

On Pinterest

Pinterest, the virtual pinboard of inspiration, has been all the rage for awhile now. My hesitation to jump on board has been multi-fold. For one, there are hardly enough hours in the day to get what I need to get done, nor to I need yet another excuse to get lost deeper in the web than I already am. My main concern has been about crediting. I'm a huge proponent of giving credit where credit is due, and furthermore, I always and digging into information to find out who is behind a website, photo or whatever it may be. For me the story behind the image is just as interesting as the image itself.

In the past week I've seen so many people and organizations joining in from Design*Sponge to my alma mater and even the US Army. Like most of social media, I think one of the most interesting things about Pinterest is the various ways different groups can use the pinboards in unique and interesting ways. The possibilities are still young and developing, but it's exciting seeing creativity in action.

I started an account awhile back, but I wasn't sure the best way to use it. Then it hit me – it'd be a fantastic way for people to discover my Boarding Pass series in new ways. And instead of strictly being able to search for information by the person featured that week, now the content and inspiration can be cross-referenced. And most importantly, I'd be able to give credit to the source behind the image... that is until it's re-pinned, and beyond the original website, the source information disappears into the nether-nets. I didn't get too far into my board inspired by "Boarding Pass: Travel Journals" when I came across this Business Insider article looking at the legalities behind the site. Now I feel myself completely torn how to move forward. If it's going to be pinned, I'd rather it go to the initial source, and I love all the inspiration and ways of organizing it for new ways of referencing, but when credits disappear, it kills me. What about you? What are your thoughts on Pinterest?

If you haven't checked it out, you can see my first semblance of a pinboard here.

P.S. Speaking of giving credit, I'm still a huge fan of this "Giving Credit" poster by Pia Jane Bijkerk.

Show Your Love

Perhaps this video really would have been more appropriate to share yesterday, but I much more prefer the idea that love should be shared every day rather than just one day a year. Recently I posted Time is Nothing, a timelapse video of Kien Lam's adventures around the world. Now he's back at it – once again with his brother as composer – with a Valentine's short inspired by his travels and the things he heard along the way, as one collective love letter. I'm smitten by the simplicity and beauty of foreign languages.

Boarding Pass – Emily Westbrooks

Originally from China Village, Maine, Emily Westbrooks is behind the blog From China Village, with the idea that no matter how far she may be, she is still a product of her home. After studying American government and working on presidential campaigns, these days life has taken her to Dublin, Ireland. Her site is a lifestyle and design blog with a Dublin focus. You can also find Emily's best Dublin tips on the Dublin Design Guide she wrote for Design*Sponge, and is a regular Dublin correspondent for PoppyTalk, with her column, Dispatches from Dublin. All I know is that she has me craving a trip to Dublin now (I've never been). Thanks, Emily!
Emily in Montmartre

last trip taken:
Edinburgh, Scotland with five girls from my book club
Edinburgh sky with birds

next trip on deck:
Spring will be full of travel for me - Edinburgh (again) in March, Barcelona in April, Spain and Berlin in May!Eiffel tower with horse and carriage

one place you would go back to again and again:
Cliche, but Paris. We've been twice since moving to Dublin and I could go back every year.
Louvre

place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
Dublin! No, really. I'm on a bit of a crusade to tell the world how much more Dublin has to offer than Guinness, pubs and leprechauns. I'm working on a series of Dublin e-guides at the moment and I should have them out by summer time. There's just so much to do here that most people never hear about!
Dublin bikes

preferred method of transportation:
I am a huge fan of subway systems in cities as quick transportation - they're the best people watching as well! As a former motorcade planner for presidential candidates, put me in a rental car and I'm a happy girl. I like having the freedom to get lost off the beaten path - I've found the most beautiful views and scenes that way.
Maine coast trip

place you've never been but dying to go:
Oh, the list could go on. One of the toughest things about living in Europe and having family in America is that we take a long summer holiday to Maine - and I don't want to use any time visiting anywhere else. It means I never travel around America anymore, and I really miss it. Some day, we'll do a road trip through the south and the midwest, places I missed during my campaign travels. Of course, then I have a sister-in-law in Zimbabwe who I'd love to visit, and I'm always trying to convince my husband we should go stay in a cabin in Sweden or somewhere in northern Europe.
Exploring Ireland ballymoney

place you'd never go back:
I'd never say never, but we spent 18 hours in Las Vegas and that was more than enough for me.
Edinburgh shadows

most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
Three years ago, I hopped on a one way flight to Dublin, it's been been the most memorable trip that's lead to lots of smaller trips. Some of my favorite weekends have been traveling to the ends of Ireland - such a wild place!
Dublin at night

how do you prepare for a trip?
To be honest, if I'm traveling with my husband, I let him do most of the research and planning. He loves that part, and he has the patience for finding great restaurants, shops he thinks I'll like, and for picking tourist attractions we'll both enjoy. Luckily, he doesn't seem to mind that he does a lot of the grunt work, as long as I'll be in charge of snacks! We're great traveling partners because we like a similar mix of doing and relaxing. He loves history and I love art, so we each take the lead on different excursions.
Abbesses metro.

how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
I take a million photos - of buildings, scenery, people, patterns, architecture and food.
Saint Germain tree

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
I don't think I have a specific favorite thing to photograph. Instead, I like taking photographs of absolutely everything - I always end up capturing something I didn't expect when I go through the photos later. I'm realizing, though, that I have a bit of a penchant for photographing blue skies. Perhaps living in Dublin leaves me in awe of clear blue skies!Portland Observatory Tower
Edinburgh dusk

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
Probably lots less than a real photographer, but a hundred each day of a trip, maybe more.
Regarde le ciel [Look at the sky], Paris

what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
We often travel with budget airlines around Europe - which means packing very light! I pack my camera, laptop, iTouch, little lined notepad, and I always bring one of those little fold up grocery bags so we can pick up groceries to make breakfast and lunch when we're staying in an apartment.
Austria chapel

Austria picture frame.

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
In the last year or so, I've found my best travel journal is my blog. Writing about my travels for an audience means I analyze where we've been, what I liked and didn't like, and any tips I want to remember - all quite quickly before I forget! This year, I'd like to start compiling a yearly book of our photos from trips in Ireland, America and abroad so we have an annual compilation of our travels.Emily in Austria
Sommellier in Austria

favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
I've brought back creamer and sugar sets from a few places, my favorite set is from Amsterdam with tulips, but since our apartment doesn't have a lot of room for trinkets, I've switched to artists' notecards. I like finding pretty cards with paintings or drawings by a local artist. Someday when we move to a bigger place, I'll finally get to display them all!
Chesnuts in Paris

LINKS:

• blog: fromchinavillage.com
• on Twitter: @emilyholmes
• Dispatches from Dublin on Poppytalk about design and craft here
• Dublin Design Guide on Design*Sponge

Boarding Pass is a weekly column exploring the creative ways people travel.