Hi! I’m Angie, and I’m Addicted to Pens!!!
When Andy and I returned to our cruise cabin while in port in Funchal, Portugal, you bet I refilled my fountain pen!

Fountain Pen Refill in Funchal, Portugal
I went on vacation with only fountain pens and a single mechanical metal pencil. At least I took refill ink! What was I thinking!?

Shopping Memories with Tia: Art Supplies Over Clothes
Many years ago, I was shopping with my Tia. She was so excited about a department store sale! I happily helped her shop. I don’t care about clothes and shoes. Tia turned to me and asked what shopping does get me excited, since the department store didn’t. As soon as she asked, she answered her own question: art supplies! We began laughing while she continued to shop and I carry her packages.

The Joy of Stationery and Art Supply Shops
What does all this about refilling my fountain pen and shopping with Tia have to do with anything? Shopping for clothing, bags, or shoes? BORING. High dollar, ugly colors, bad fitting, hours of trying on clothes is NOT my idea of fun. It’s torture. Now, let me loose in a stationery or pen or art supply shop… oh yes please yes! Bonus if I can try out or touch anything!

The Beauty of Specialty Shops
Please notice I describe these shops as BEAUTIFUL. Lingering, exploring, and asking questions are encouraged. Staff enjoys answering questions! They even give extra information and tell stories!

Comparing Art Stores: USA vs. Costa Rica
The art stores I know in the USA and Costa Rica are functional. Lists with aisle numbers are encouraged if you don’t want to buy online and pick up or ship home. Good luck getting a cell signal to use the app, and better luck if you find a helpful store employee.

Memorable Pen Shopping Sprees
The last times I was set free in beautiful pen, stationery, or art supply shops were 2011 in Paris, France, and 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. I added 2024 Barcelona, Spain to my fun list now, lol!!!! 

If you'd like to see my favorite places to shop online (or in person) for art supplies in the USA, please sign up for my drawing kit email ebook! It's full of ideas for gifts for your favorite artist or yourself! 

PS: Happy Holidays, as it's mid-December when I post this! 

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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