Madrid

My first time in Madrid, I was nervous. I had abnormally high expectations for what is ultimately just another city. At that point, I was knee-deep in work, a tad socially isolated, and exhausted. I would wake up, thinking, "It will work; I can juggle these workloads today and I'll have time to myself by 10 pm." Never happened. I needed a break. My boyfriend suggested a trip, and the flight from Amsterdam did seem intriguingly short and cheap in comparison to heading back to the States to see family. So, I went to Madrid.

My expectations, as previously stated, were quite high. I needed a respite from life, a guarantee that things weren't all that overwhelming after all. And although Madrid wasn't a cure-all for my overloaded plate, I did immensely enjoy having the opportunity to eat tapas, speak Spanish once again, and meet some amazing people if only for a weekend.

Barcelona

“The shops were well illuminated and there was movement and life… I did not decide to go to sleep, even though I wished to, so I could rise early and contemplate, in daylight, this city, unknown to me: Barcelona.” – Hans Christian Andersen

Barcelona is a beautiful, weird little city. It stunned me, the amount of character and sharp edges it has congruent to it's quirk and slow nature. I had never gone, but as a kid always dreamed of being there--someday. My dad was in the military and traveled Spain in the '70s, and I remember this old, tattered briefcase he had filled with letters and blurry photographs; there was such a nostalgia to the items, something I couldn't quantify through my own narrow experiences. 

I think I most enjoyed the things I found most familiar to me; they shattered this romanticized illusion of the city I had previous to my visit. Instead, there were skateboarders abounding. It is a cool little place with hip eateries and cafes, and I can't wait to go back. 

[PERSONAL] A Hiatus

A long while since writing, here's an update. 

A hiatus from writing was synonymous with overworking; this is perhaps a warning to designers and other creatives to take some time to decompress, journal your thoughts, and work thoroughly on body, mind, and soul. 

I will include entries retrospectively, but a lot of traveling happened! I had the wonderful opportunity to visit familiar faces, new friends, and to document my travels with a nifty little camera I found with my partner in Barcelona months ago. It was an exercise in restraint and thoughtfulness using the damn thing; so used to digital visual documentation, it was a beautifully challenging shift in mindset to think before taking that snapshot, with each roll being precious and the reveal of developed memories so much sweeter.

Next few entries will be about travel; I will revert back to design in the entries that follow that, perhaps because there's so much more to cover in those topics (plus, travel pictures)! They won't be strictly about design principles, but rather about the logistics and management of designers, one's own work, clients, etc. 

Regards,

Alisa