My Travel Journal

Here's a look at my travel journal…. I could never do scrapbooking, I think I’m too messy, unorganized, and I don't follow any rules.  Is not personal, its just that I’m not good at it.  But when my friend Glory gave me a Smash journal  I couldn't be more thrill…something I wouldn't mess up.  

I just love to collect keepsakes from my travels, from business cards to napkins, all the little details that remind me of the special journey.  Usually I combine them with photos, mostly from my cell phone camera.  I use apps such as ArtifactUprising, Printic and Print Studio, they all have their own characteristics in sizes, style and paper…I recommend all of them.  

I’m waiting for a few more photos to arrive, so I can finish my Brooklyn pages…and then, I will share it with you.  Also, I make shadow boxes of my travels, but that would be another post…for now, just remember to always Wander!!!!!!

Hibiscus Tea

Having picked some tea, he drank it,
Then he sprouted wings,
And flew to a fairy mansion,
To escape the emptiness of the world....
-Chiao Je

Tea, so important in some many cultures.  I like tea, or ar least, some of them.  Since I was little, my grandma use to go to her backyard, and grab fresh herbs and flowers, and make wonders with her tea.  For every pain, there was a recipe, for every sorrow, there was always tea.  My son has developed an interest for tea, and its culture, he has become quite an aficionado.  So when in Brooklyn, we decided to go to Bellocq in Green Point.  This place was Magical, the athmosphere was so enchanting, we didn't want to leave.  They have an excelent selection of exotics teas, and they make there special blends too.  The service was excellent, we were greeted and oriented very well.  I bought for myself the special blend “Corazon de Cien Fuegos”.  

It consists of Hibiscus, lemongrass, cinnamon, rose petals, lavender and cornflower.  This is MY tea…I will always drink it.  When making tea, you have to be very carefull, to much exposure of the tea, or too hot water, can damage the taste.  For this specific blend, I poured 2 cups of water in a pot, and let it almost boil, when you see the little bubbles starting to appear, is time to take it off the stove.  Pour the hot water in a clean tea pot, and add 3 teaspoons of the blend in the mesh…let it stand for five to ten minutes.  If you like sweet tea, add honey when hot, if you like to drink it cold, as soon as the honey has melted, put it in the refrigerator.

When I was going to discard the used herbs, I notice the beautiful reds and pinks stains in my hand, and decided to play a little with it…and started to paint with the tea petals.  It was so beautiful, the most wonderful paint there is, directly from nature.  I noticed once dry, the colors turned to the blues and purples shades…just like magic.  I played a little with my food, made some art, drank some very good tea…this day, was a good day…

I recommend the book The new Tea Companion, if you want to learn more about tea.

Thanks for reading!!