travel journal

wonder | wander | women crossed another item off our bucket list: we went to Switzerland! Some dear friends hosted us in the gorgeous city of Bern and we were so excited to explore the mythical land we had only known through media like Heidi and The Sound of Music.

View of Bern from the Rose Garden

Lately we're working harder on keeping a journal while on the move. We love art and travelling, but it's hard to balance both when on a trip. There isn't much time to draw when walking and moving around, but there are quiet times that are perfect for resting and journaling.

Flying time is ideal for journaling, but when the trip is just starting, what is there to journal about? It's a good space to plan the pages you'll be using, do a visual version of your itinerary, or keep your hands busy when the window is full of clouds and a child is kicking the back of your seat and keeping you awake.

Collect ephemera during the day (train tickets, receipts, tourist maps) and assemble it around your journal entries later. Some people carry washi tape or a little glue pen with them, but others prefer to travel light and paste in everything later. We use a combination of glue and "tip-ins", that can flip up to reveal more drawings or writing space.

Drawing on-the-go is a rewarding challenge because it creates a loose energy to the page. It looks unfinished, but adding collage, more thought-out drawings, or written entries later will look more polished. When the view outside is not so scenic, I like noting down fellow travellers' outfits or working on drawing exercises.

There will be blank spaces. Your priority is enjoying your holiday and spending time with the friends or family who came with you. But prepare to create memories for later by saving pages, keeping papers, and doing small placeholder doodles or pencil notes in your journal.

Since the days of film rolls are long over and phones have a lot more room for photos than digital cameras, follow the advice of Bill Cunningham and "use the camera as a notebook". Take lots of photos for reference. If you take a selfie, you can take another picture of the same place and use it for a candid self-portrait. It's a good way to fix the memory in your mind.

Surprise discovery of the HR Giger Museum in the quiet town of Gruyéres!

Photos can aid memory, but unless you are a seasoned pro it's hard to capture the specific emotions that come with the memories of a visit. We like to draw little cartoons, doodles or sketches of our experiences. Whatever your drawing skill level, it's a great way to capture and relive your holiday in a more personal and emotional way.

Don't forget to write your thoughts as you go, either in the early morning while having coffee or breakfast, or at night before bedtime. Journaling just a few lines a day will create a peaceful space in the most hectic holiday and also help you reset for the day. Later when you get home and organize your scraps, photos, and souvenirs, you'll have some beautiful pages that will bring you back to your holiday every time you see them.