Wish You Were Here - Segovia

The warm Spanish sun hits my skin as I step from the crowded bus. I squint up at the huge arches of an ancient aqueduct stretching far across the Segovian landscape. The sky is vivid blue. A big sky. The kind of sky you find in the Australian outback on the other side of the world. And then I see them. White trails zig-zagging across the blue expanse. Symbolic of travel to places past, present & future. I continue to marvel at them throughout the day. Every time I take in the view from a parapet or look up to admire an a church steeple or Roman arch I see more vapour trails tracing across the sky & I think of you & wish you were here & not there on this day!

Rowena

Wish You Were Here - San Sebastián

My sister and I spent 4 days here one July when we were both feeling far less than awesome. It’s special to me because regardless of how we felt when we arrived, it made us laugh, smile, and cry. We rode bikes through tunnels with the wind in our hair – laughing and photo bombing each other’s photos. The hot sun and beaches were refreshing. We experienced the local food and fresh food markets, buzzing pintxos bars packed with fanatical Spanish soccer fans, and electrical thunder storms. It is special to me because of all of those things, but mainly it is special to me because I was able to share it with one of my favourite people, my sister.

Lucy

Wish You Were Here - Palm Canyon

Spiritual land of the Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians. Stark rocky gorges & barren desert meet an oasis of Washington Filifera(California Palms).

Thanasi

Wish You Were Here - Bath

Despite travelling to many parts of the world, there was only ever one place I swore to return to, even though I still haven't done so. There is a saying about 'trip of a lifetime'. I refuse to believe such an expression as we should always try to do it again. That place for me was Bath in the United Kingdom. I still ache to return.

Daniel

Cornersmith

Wish You Were Here - Dotonbori

Dotonbori: 8pm. It's loud, bright, and heaving with people. It leaves us feeling more alive than we have in years. Holed up in a dimly lit izakaya, we drink beer and sake. We eat like kings. I steal one of his cigarettes and he decides then and there to quit. We talk about love, and heartache. We talk for hours. And then we emerge, back into the lights, and the heartache is forgotten. We are separate from the world. I hold his hand. Walking feels like dancing.

Jen and Steve

Wish You Were Here - Tathra

Greetings from Tathra. I've been coming here since I was a boy and now my kids go here too which is pretty special. I love the main beach - it's postcard pacific perfect and everyday its colours and mood are different. I'll never get enough of Tathra.

Peter

Making the most of Summer

Gazpacho, ruby red grapefruit drinks, polka dots, foxes and fun.

Frugii Braddon

I have recently come to the realisation that I am a little obsessed with ice cream. Actually it has been pointed out to me a few times of late...and really when I had to have emergency ice cream with the best person I know from Dubbo a few weeks ago, that really should have been a sign.

But anyways, enough of that - Frugii ice cream is great, even though I've referred to it as Fugilli the last few years since I first noticed it at the Farmers Market. I remember accidentally buying a tub of salted butter caramel ice cream to take home. In retrospect a terrible terrible idea, though great for increasing my dairy intake. 

Frugii now has its own shop in Braddon and is underpricing its very good ice cream at $5 a pop for two scoops. It is located in the building with all the triangles on it at the top end of Lonsdale Street.

Wish You Were Here - Reykjavik, Iceland

The bay between the city and mountains in the background is vast although it may not appear this way, which is proof of just how monumental these mountains were. Some thought it strange that I was visiting Iceland in the Winter, and in the months preceding my departure I became accustom to some very strange looks when I enthusiastically told people of my upcoming travels. Many people felt compelled to me of how depressingly short the days would be, and how I should anticipate miserably dark and bitter weather, questioning my sanity for visiting at such a time. 

What you can see through the window is a typical sunrise in the Icelandic wintertime. Despite only having "daylight" for about 5 hours a day, it was entirely worth it, simply because the daytime sun offerings were either spectacularly at "sunrise" or "sunset". Each of these phases melted into one another, in a display of delicate pink, purple and blue hues that changed minute by minute. To me, the picture speaks for itself, and needless to say, the critics at home could not have been more wrong. At no moment in my wonderful trip did I feel an ounce of deprivation, regret or negative thought when this the daytime view that Iceland provided me.

Jo

Wish You Were Here - Lake Louise

My special place is Lake Louise in Canada. Geoff and I travelled there on a whim on our way to the USA. It rained every day. Geoff wanted to propose to me at Lake Louise. We went there on our last day in Canada. It rained and he didn't propose. The next morning we woke to a clear sunny day. We decided to return to Lake Louise before leaving for the airport. We hired a canoe and paddled to the middle of the lake. It was serene and beautiful. Geoff asked me to marry him. My initial response was "you can't ask me that when I'm at the front of a boat!" quickly followed by "of course!". We later found out that our daughter was with us while we we there.

Eleanor

Saturday night sounds

Wish You Were Here - Manly Ferry

"Dear _____". 

It happened today, I fell In love (remember I promised I wouldn't?). This gal is it. I have butterflies and all that stuff. You would laugh your ass off at me where I am now. I wish you were here to share my "moment". When I kiss her it's electric. When I hold her everything is ok. The saddest thing is that you're not around to meet her. I wish you were here to see me mate, but you're not. I'll never forget. Love to you. AB.

Trixie at home

I thought I'd written about Trixie a million times before, but for the life of me can only find Trixie here. 

Either way, Trixie the well travelled fox is home and seems particularly relaxed and happy...

I love visiting Trixie and Trixie's human family.

Fitzroy Falls

Australia amazes me sometimes. That you can get in your car, walk a bit, and look at this.  Just to get lost in your thoughts staring at thousands of trees, water pounding - downward on rocks. Thinking about everything for now and forever. 

Dream Cuisine

Dream Cuisine are popping up everywhere (Farmers Market, Braddon...) but their shop in Fyshwick is cute. Maybe we are starting to see a sort of gentrification of Canberra's industrial suburb? Get in quick kids before the hipsters take over.

All stops to Sydney

Fresh picked strawberry on Sheepwash Road

If someone asked me what my superpower is...

It would be negroni making*. This one free poured and about 93% better than the one I paid $18 for tonight. 

*Closely followed by unicorn wrangling. 

Love my suburb

Spotted and hearted in the hood.

Pop Up at the Sculpture Garden Restaurant NGA

Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Program has popped up at the NGA. I'm not sure how I missed this for so long, but I'll be back. Limited menu of simple food from locally sourced producers and a great place to bring kids who are interested in food and how it's grown and where it comes from.  Great place to bring adults who like summer gazpacho and pickles.