THE TIME FOR ARMCHAIR TRAVEL
The fact that we’re in lockdown and unable to travel at the moment has got a lot of us thinking about places we’ve been, and places we long to visit. I’ve been thinking about the word ‘wanderlust’, isn’t it pretty? Meaning; a strong desire to travel, and I think a lot of us are feeling that desire quite strongly right now as we near the end of spring and approach the summer, the season where the majority of us would pack a bag and escape to a the destination we’ve been looking forward to, and dreaming of for months. #wishiwasthere is a popular hashtag right now, and I can understand why.
Mercado de Colón - Valencia, Spain
After seven plus weeks of lockdown in the UK, and travel plans being at a halt for the foreseeable (and rightly so), we’re fantasising about the places that we’re longing to visit and that many of us already booked. I’d booked to go to Verona with my mum and sister at the end of June to attend an Opera Festival, and I’m really happy to say it’s been rescheduled for August 2021. We’re so lucky it wasn’t cancelled altogether.
Going on holiday is so enriching isn’t it? I’ve been thinking about all the levels of joy that it brings, which isn’t just about the sunshine for me - although who doesn’t love the sunshine. It’s so important for my eyes to see new things, experience new cultures, taste new foods, visit awe-inspiring architecture, see the fashion and hearing (and dancing!) to the local music. I LOVE taking pictures, I think a lot of us do, and I enjoy documenting the trip with images of the sites, colours and people. Oh, and the hotel interior, this is obviously quite a big thing for me (but that’s an entirely different, dedicated blog post!) The photos below were taken when visiting one of my favourite cities, Valencia, and you can read more details about that trip here.
Travelling helps to open your mind and makes you appreciate that there’s more than your way of living life. Meeting new people from new places enhances your understanding of the world and exposes the importance of hearing the views’ of others. A stressful job, a mundane routine, a struggling relationship, travel can help you disconnect from the every day tiresome struggles, as well as the attachment to your phone, emails and social media.
Flamenco dancing in Nerja, Spain
Shopping on holiday is one of my favourite things about travel, from the simple supermarket, to famous food markets long with tourist shops to designer streets. I enjoy window shopping the wide range of offerings and I like to mark a trip by buying something traditional or local to that place. Something that I can display in my home to look at, treasure and remember the trip by. These travel souvenirs not only work as great conversation starters with guests but more importantly, allow your home to tell YOUR story.
Some of my treasured travel souvenirs, including tapas dishes, a decorative fan and hand-painted plate.
A staple buy for me is often an interior design or fashion magazine representative of the city or country, so I can bring home new inspiration and style ideas, along with postcards, trinkets, ornaments, fabric, sometimes a leather item and frequently a novelty shot glass! (You must know by now that I like a bit of kitsch!) As a lover of ceramics I’m always drawn to the local artisan pots and crockery, and particularly when in Spain, I like to bring back a different pattern of tapas dish or plate to add to my collection.
Venetian masks from, well Venice
If it is that we can’t, or don’t want to board an aeroplane or train any time soon, we can absolutely make the most of the sites in our own fair country, when they are able to reopen safely. Some favourites of mine are Chatsworth House, Salt’s Mill and walking in The Roaches, in good old Staffordshire, my birth home. I’ve always wanted to go to Kew Gardens and Chelsea Flower show too, so maybe that could be possible for later in the year, or next year.
The photos in this post are my own holiday snaps from cities I’ve been lucky enough to visit. The items that I’ve collected mean so much to me and fill my home with personality. They have a transportive energy at this time, allowing me to think back to my favourite cities, beaches and hotels, as we’re encouraged to stay indoors, giving my head the chance for escape.
So, In lieu of jetting off anywhere soon, I’ve put together some armchair travel recommendations to inspire some casual dreaming, general inspiration and wonderment. I would also love to hear your recommendations too.
TV
Paul Hollywood Eats Japan - Channel 4
The Americas with Simon Reeve - BBC iPlayer
Travel Man: 48 Hours In - All 4 (this inspired us to go to Valencia)
Joanna Lumley’s Hidden Caribbean - BBC iPlayer
Hollywood - Netflix
Killing Eve - BBC iPlayer
Studio 54 Documentary - Sky Arts
Film
Midnight in Paris
Priceless (France)
Eat, Pray, Love
In The Mood For Love (Hong Kong)
The Darjeeling Limited
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Lost in Translation
Reading
Living In Style Paris - Caroline Sarkozy/Reto Guntli
Venice - Jan Morris
Queen of Fashion - Caroline Weber
Tropical Deco - Rizzoli
Wonderful Things - Tim Walker
Stay safe, stay dreaming.
