__it’s better to be a lion

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berlin, books, characters, courage, Germany, graphic design, inspiration, life, quotes, stories, travel, writing

“It’s better to be a lion for a day, than a sheep all your life.” – Elizabeth Kenny

I found this quote while I was visiting Berlin with my partner (the 18th to the 21st of Feb). For those who have ever been to Berlin, you will understand what a graffiti city is all about. What surprised me about much of the graffiti was that much of it was art. In high school, one of my favourite subjects was art and often we discussed topics such as postmodern art: ‘What is art, really?’. Graffiti has always been one of those interesting topics in regards to art. I don’t think EVERYTHING is inherently skillful art, even if everything is ‘art’. Therefore in my opinion, there was a lot of nasty graffiti that only tarnished the beautiful landscape of Berlin. And trust me, there was a lot.

__picture it & write

Tags

countries, life, photography, pirate, pirates of the caribbean, poetry, sea, ship, travel, writing

I urge people to join in, comment with your paragraph of fiction to accompany the image. It doesn’t have to follow my story or reflect the same themes. It can be a poem or in a different language (provide a translation please :)). Anyone who wants to join in, is welcome. This photograph has been reblogged under Ermisenda on tumblr.

Every fortnight we hope to host a photograph suggested by contributors. So, keep those photograph recommendations coming. Submit your favourite images (with credit) for next week’s Picture it & write!

Where would the wind blow me to next? I had visited countries from all over the world. Just when my crew would grow anxious after months at sea, we were granted with our destination. I loved experiencing the exotic incense, strange cuisine, mysterious languages, fantastical tales of another culture. The life of a traveler, a pirate, was one of riches and pleasure. My crew adored me. People embraced me with open arms, the merchants and the whores.

I stabbed the worn map with my dirty dagger. How much wealth could be drained from this petty harbour village? How many slaves could we chain on board? How many would beg for their lives this time?

- Ermisenda Alvarez

Everyone is welcome to use the button, just link them back to the Picture it & write category or Ermiliablog! :) Share your love for Picture it & write on your blog with the image below. Be proud, and stylish ;) !

__little books: convenient or not?

Tags

books, convenience, design, life, lifestyle, reading, travel, writing

I bought these little books when I was over in Spain for my holiday, visiting relatives with my  family. I have never seen them before in Australia but I do believe they are in English. They might be selling over here, I haven’t checked.

I was so amazed when I saw them. Little books! Whether animal or object, pretty much everything is cute when you see a “baby” version. I opened them. The papers are very thin, they remind me of the pages of a bible. The writing is small but I have never had any issues with vision and it’s still comfortable for me to read but then again… I haven’t read more than a few pages because I am currently reading Last Witness by Jilliane Hoffman. I do aim to come back to these babies.

Being a relatively frequent traveler and addict to books, I loved the concept of these little books. Books weigh too much! Even without referring to the act of long-term travel, I am one of those book geeks who loves to carry a book in my bag, in case I get bored.  I do read eBooks but I don’t have an ereader. In my opinion, nothing truly replaces the feel of a book in the hand. So, these books are small, light weight and there are pages to turn! They’re perfect, right?

While these books are brilliant to me, for an “on the go” basis, I still like being able to hold a thick paperback. But for others, maybe these books aren’t even good for the “on the go” purpose. Are they just TOO small? Is it really convenient to have books this size? What do you think?

- Ermisenda Alvarez

__travel must-list

Tags

blogging, books, habits, internet, items, life, relationships, technology, travel, writing

For those of us who travel, whether it be across the globe or to stay the night at someone’s place, what do you need to take? Do you take practical items, sentimental items or nothing at all?

When it come’s to a single night at someone’s place the main thing I need to take is my phone. It keeps me connected with my parents who still, even at 19, freak out if I don’t call. It’s my security blanket.

If I am travelling the globe, like I am now (from Australia to Spain – The Canary Islands), I need internet. I need my laptop. I do not need to be connected 24/7 but I must know that I have a source. The laptop itself is required because I know I can write (I can’t write with pen and paper very well) and I can edit my photographs. If I can get mobile internet the laptop becomes the pool of life for me. :P Slight exaggeration… but maybe not so slight.

__books don’t take you anywhere

Tags

article, books, Harry Potter, imagination, psychology, reading, the onion, travel, writing

Books Don’t Take You Anywhere – Excerpt from article

“For years, countless educators have asserted that books give readers a chance to journey to exotic, far-off lands and meet strange, exciting new people,” Education Secretary Richard Riley told reporters. “We have found this is simply not the case.”

According to the study, those who read are not transported to any place beyond the area in which the reading occurs, and even these movements are always the result of voluntary decisions made by the reader and not in any way related to the actual reading process.

This is an excerpt from the ‘Books Don’t Take You Anywhere’ article. An enthralling article written by The Onion. It’s brilliant, isn’t it?