Tag Archives: Daily Post

The diary of a Slow Traveller – Markets

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One Love of slow travel is being able to frequent the local market.  That means not just a walk through the local market as you take in the sights but the opportunity to visit and revisit a market that overtime becomes your local.

Ortigia Market from the Temple of Apollo

Ortigia Market from the Temple of Apollo

Our time in Sicily gave us the chance to visit the Origia Market on an almost daily basis for nearly 7 weeks. The market is nestled between the Temple of Apollo and the sea. By  the Temple of Apollo  vendors have stalls selling ceramics, belts and clothes and then a turn to the left and you have a wonderful choice of fruit, vegetables, bread, fish, meat and cheeses.

Fish & produce

Day One purchases

Day One purchases

On Day One there was no doubt we were  “ripped off”. Continue reading →

Diary of a Slow Traveller – A state of mind

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Slow Travel is a state of mind.

As I am writing my Diary of a Slow Traveller as a reflective diary,  I have good reason to scan the thousands of photos I took while traveling through Italy. They are definitely snapshots that capture a moment rather than a work of art.

My favourites are the ones that look out over an expanse of water. Sometimes its just looking out to see or across a lake, other times it’s at a lone sailing boat or a lone fishing boat.

Lake Como

Lake Como

Lone Sailor - Ortigia

Lone Sailor – Ortigia

Lone fisherman - Ortigia

Lone fisherman – Ortigia

These photos  were taken at Lake Como and Ortigia, Siracusa.  All were taken at a time when I could immerse myself for perhaps a few seconds or minutes in the scene.

They provided me a “sense of place”. Continue reading →

Diary of a Slow Traveller – 13 December, Santa Lucia Celebration

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We arrived in Siracusa just a few days before the major religious celebration of the city – the Santa Lucia procession. I’d read so much about Santa Lucia a Christian martyr who was killed in the Fourth Century and was genuinely excited that we would be in Siracusa to witness it. As I tweeted, sitting watching the people outside the Cathederal, I did feel the excitement building.

Street vendors

Street vendors

All morning the street vendors had been setting up to sell their wares – sweets, balloons, souvenirs of the festival, toys and mobile phone covers. There were also craft markets and special food stores where we bought some locally produced mandarin marmalade and thyme flavored honey.

Late morning outside the Cathederal

Late morning outside the Cathederal

Our wonderful Airbnb hosts invited us as their guests to join them for lunch Continue reading →

What’s on my study wall

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For the last three weeks I seem to have found reasons not to start typing my thesis. I know I have all year to get it done and it’s a minor thesis (20,000 words) but the time really has come. It’s already mid-February and I had planned to be well underway by now but I am not really that far advanced.

I’ve used the excuse that my laptop has been in for repairs eventhough all my files are accessible through Dropbox. Then it’s been I haven’t been able to access EndNote because it’s on my laptop. But really enough is now enough.

I’ve settled on my Research Question, to be honest I did that in December! I’ve identified my sample frame and have all the contact information. My ethics approval for my research is done.

Today my laptop will be back from its sabbatical and ready to go. Continue reading →

It’s been comfort music!

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It’s been a week of listening to safe songs. Back into study and focussed on my last few weeks before leaving my firm.

Where else to turn but Springsteen all week. It’s always safe ground for me.

Born to Run – always a great place to start

Growin Up – it’s about transition which occupies so much of my thinking these days

Rosalita – my favourite person’s favourite Springsteen song

We Take Care of Our Own – inspiring

Just like Fire Would – my week has been full of listening to Springsteen and this one is awesome in concert as well as an Aussie classic.

So that’s my Playlist of the Week