Discovering Bogota: From Jet Lag to Gold Museum Inspiration

Why We Chose Bogota Instead of Flying Home
From Spain, we flew into Bogota, Colombia. The flight options were less than ideal, and knowing how jet-lagged Andy and I would feel, we decided to spend a couple of nights in Bogota instead of rushing home after a short stay in a San Jose, Costa Rica hotel. We thought this would give us a better chance to recover from the jet lag.

A Surprising Twist at the National Museum
We had planned to visit two museums while in Bogota: the National Museum and the Gold Museum. Excited to start our day, we headed to the National Museum first—only to find out it was closed due to a water outage! We weren’t too disappointed, though, as we spent some time exploring a nearby park before heading to our next stop.

Exploring the Gold Museum: A Must-See in Bogota
WOW, what a museum! If you ever visit Bogota, the Gold Museum is a must-see. It’s packed with stunning exhibits that tell the story of Colombia’s rich history. Andy, who rarely buys museum books, even grabbed the coffee table book from the gift shop! That says it all.
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How We Spent the Day Immersed in Gold
Andy and I spent hours exploring the Gold Museum. Between reading the exhibit cards, admiring the intricate displays, and taking short breaks, the day flew by. I couldn’t resist sketching almost everything I saw. The museum is now one of my all-time favorites.

Artistic Inspiration from Ancient Gold Designs
Abstract art existed long before we recorded history! The gold jewelry and artifacts on display featured designs of bats, toucans, lizards, jaguars, birds, dragonflies—you name it, it was sculpted in gold! The negative space, lines, and intricate details of these designs captivated me. I purchased my own smaller book for reference in my studio and plan to incorporate many of these designs into my future artwork.

Dining and Rest After a Day of Exploration
After leaving the Gold Museum, we enjoyed a meal at a highly recommended restaurant. By 6 PM both nights in Bogota, we were fast asleep, exhausted from our travels and the full day of inspiration!

One More Set of Sketches to Share
I filled TWO sketchbooks while on this trip: the one I’ve shared so far and a “cabin/hotel” sketchbook. I never thought I’d fill both, but I did! Overall, the entire trip will influence me for years to come! 

If you'd love to see what was in my sketchbook kit, please check out my free ebook about my drawing kit! Click on these sentences to get your supply lists in time for holiday shopping! Maybe you'll find some super deals on some of the resources I share! 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone in USA! It's in two days from the publishing of this blog post. ​

Why We Chose Barcelona
​Since the Scarlet Lady’s last port was Barcelona, Andy and I decided to spend 10 days there. We had both been wanting to explore the city for some time, and this was the perfect opportunity.
Our Cozy Apartment Stay
The apartment was small but very practical. It was on a major rambla, had a small public grocery store on the base floor, and had some cafes close by as well as a metro stop. The two balconies overlooked the rambla, and the tree tops brushed right over them. It was a great spot to relax and recharge after long days of exploring.

Exploring the Contradictions of Barcelona
Barcelona is an interesting city full of contradictions. There are places that were built in the 1500s, and right next to them, there are modern, new buildings. There’s gothic gargoyles perched on centuries-old brick facades, and just down the street, you’ll find art nouveau details in the ironwork of sleek, contemporary buildings.
It’s the perfect blend of ancient and new. You can walk along bustling streets full of traffic, yet still be surrounded by old-growth trees and birds. Whether you’re sipping a cafe con leche inside or sitting at a sidewalk table people-watching, there’s always something interesting happening.
The Architecture: Old Meets New
​One of the most striking features of Barcelona is its architecture. On one street, you’re admiring a centuries-old church, and on the next block, you’re taking in the sleek lines of a modern building. The contrast is sharp, but somehow, it all fits together perfectly. Andy and I marveled at how seamlessly old and new exist side by side in this vibrant city.

A Stroll Through History on the Ramblas
I had wanted to visit Barcelona for a long time. My first and last visit included visiting distant family members, going to mass in another old church, and rushing along the rambla because we were going to be late for the tour bus’s scheduled departure.
This time was different. Andy and I took our time, window-shopped, stopped for snacks, and just enjoyed the city life. We wandered through the streets, taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells of Barcelona at our own pace. It was a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience!

Our Relaxed Adventure in Barcelona
In the end, we loved everything about our trip. Barcelona is a city where you can lose yourself in history, but still enjoy all the modern conveniences. From the balconies of our cozy apartment to the lively streets below, this trip was everything we hoped for and more. If it weren't for other places in this world to explore, Andy and I would return to Barcelona!

My Sketchbook Pages in Barcelona
If you're wondering, no, I didn't share all of my Barcelona a sketchbook pages, as there are 30 pages in my "walking sketchbook." These are just the highlights...and to me the more interesting ones to show. 

If you'd love to see what was in my sketchbook kit, please check out my free ebook about my drawing kit! Click on these sentences to get your supply lists in time for holiday shopping! It is Black Friday in the States just next week, lol! Happy Thanksgiving to USA!

The Trip That Skipped Valencia
I never made it to Valencia with my parents when we traveled through Spain. The bus tours passed right by the city, leaving it as a place I regretted missing—until now.
Arriving in Valencia: A Walk Through the Old Town
Our cruise ship dropped us off within walking distance of Valencia's historic center. The narrow, winding streets were packed with souvenir shops at every turn, a typical experience for a busy tourist destination.
Tourist Crowds and Short Time in Valencia
With only a short stop, we braved huge crowds at all the major attractions—churches, markets, and even a military defense structure. The cruise had shortened our visit due to an emergency onboard, leaving us with little time to explore.
Valencia Wasn't What I Expected
Valencia was not what I had imagined all those years ago. Though I missed it on my first trip to Spain, after finally visiting, I realized I hadn’t missed much after all.
Capturing Valencia in My Sketchbook
Even with the rushed experience, I managed to capture Valencia in my sketchbook. Here are some pages from the short, busy day we spent exploring the city!

If you'd love to see what was in my sketchbook kit, please check out my free ebook about my drawing kit! Click on these sentences to get your supply lists in time for holiday shopping!

I love picking up maps, brochures, stamps, etc while traveling, cutting them up, and gluing them down. It's also fun to doodle random small details of what catches my eye - like the dragon looking thing on the right in above photo. I'm just having fun! 

A Day in Malaga, Spain: Our Adventure Begins
Andy and I took a Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) bus after I made a quick list of three must-see places. We thought this was a good way to keep our day simple…

Our Must-See List, Keeping it Simple
🏰Gibralfaro Castle
🛒Atarazanas Central Market
⛪️Basílica de Santa María de la Victoria

The Cruise Ship Crowd Invasion
There were three cruise ships in port, meaning about 8000 swarming tourists and completely full HOHO…and Disney-style crowds and lines to get into everything (including the HOHO buses).

Finding Solitude at the Basilica
We hopped off at the loneliest stop. We had a great time at the Basilica de Santa María de la Victoria. We were almost alone. It was the last peaceful and lonely visit we had to any church! It was gorgeous!

A Tasty Stop at a Local Cafe
Across the street was a small cafe bar where we snacked on delicious empanadas and cafe con leches. There was almost no people watching!

Gibralfaro Castle: Overwhelmed by Tourists
We arrived at Gibralfaro Castle and walked around it. It was flooded with tourists waiting in long lines for entry tickets to its central areas. We walked away to the market.

The Chaos of Mercado Atarazanas
Mercado Atarazanas was so crowded, a local complained that he couldn’t walk to his usual stalls to shop. Shopping was impossible. Seeing the architecture was impossible. Andy and I left after trying to walk and browse maybe a half aisle of miscellaneous stalls, most selling foods we couldn’t cook anyway.

Souvenir Shopping Woes
Did we want souvenirs? Not really. Every port has so many souvenir shops! It’s sad that nowadays most of the stuff is mass-produced. What you get in one shop is the same you get in all of them. It takes a lot of work to find something actually made in the area (besides food).

Discovering Local Treasures
We found a delicious seafood tapas and wine restaurant. We then spent a little while in a bazaar shop. I found little practical things that I didn’t find in Miami. Andy actually bought Pirula some dog toys!!!!!! Instead of souvenirs, we bought stuff we will use at home. Those are the best kinds of souvenirs, anyway.

Wrapping Up Our Day
That was our day in Malaga, Spain.

If you'd love to see what was in my sketchbook kit, please check out my free ebook about my drawing kit! Click on these sentences to get your supply lists in time for holiday shopping!
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We went on a transAtlantic Cruise in April - May of 2024. 
We didn't advertise or share photos before or during our trip. We live in a place that house and pet sitters are recommended...so for our safety and those who help us, we just stay quiet on social media when we travel. 

I'm also pretty bad about taking photos. Since visiting Paris in 2011, sketchbooks are how I capture places I visit. 

Our first port was Funchal, Portugal.
Andy likes to say we visited the African continent because technically, Funchal is on the tectonic plate of Africa. Ok with me!
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Exploring Funchal: Our First Stop
We walked around with our friends Dave and Kay. They’ve been here before, so they led the way. Lucky me, a beer and pastry stop was planned…that stop being close to a pen and stationery shop…since my single fountain pen (or pen at all) ran out of ink within steps of the port.

​A Stroll with Friends in Funchal
The painted doors in the streets of Funchal’s oldest section were AWESOME. From ugly graffiti tags to almost fine art, I would’ve loved to photograph most of them. I leave the photos to Andy. I’ll stick to postcards and sketching.
Beer, Pastries, and a Pen Predicament
I didn’t try to buy any fountain pen at all in Funchal. Choosing a ballpoint is quicker! I want nice, prefer a happy color barrel, and definitely retractable with blue ink. Dave and Andy had time for a pastry and a beer while Kay patiently browsed the shop with me.
Discovering the Painted Doors of Funchal
After wandering the streets a bit, we sampled some delicious Portuguese port wines. We all agreed the aged 10 years was the best.

The Great Pen Hunt
If you care to look closely, you can see the ink and line quality changes in my sketchbook. You can tell when I stopped using my fountain pen and when I used a ballpoint.
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Sipping on Portuguese Port Wine
Funchal turned out to be more than just a first stop; it was a delightful mix of unexpected finds, good company, and new experiences. I can’t wait to see what our next destination has in store!

Sketchbook Tales: From Fountain Pen to Ballpoint
All in all, our adventure in Funchal was a colorful and flavorful experience. From the charming painted doors to the delicious pastries and the rich, aged port wine, every moment added a unique touch to our travel story. And yes, even the pen switch-up had its charm – it’s all part of the fun of exploring new places with friends!

Do you want to draw more?! 
Do you wonder what I use for sketching while traveling or just around my local area? Over the years, I've made my kit smaller and smaller. There's an ebook, free, with art sketching and drawing and coloring supplies resources here! You can get it just by sharing your email address. I promise, even our cats Mani, Niki, and dog Pirula doesn't get to know who's on my email list! Get it here!