Thoughts (and objects) to pack in my Barcelona suitcase this year

Tomorrow, early, I head off to Barcelona, my fifth trip to the Catalonian capital, my favourite city, London-excepted. 

I first celebrated this city in words when I made my first ever entry on this blog here in 2005.  Then again, I wrote about an incident in the Picasso Museum here.  As the city has always been such a huge source of inspiration to me, I'm excited to visit again, to see what it will uncover within me this time.  Though it's true, the Picasso book that I wrote of in the latter blog post has not yet materialised, I know there is still something there, waiting to be uncovered.  I've been toying with the idea of studying art history for some time, indeed I've recently been looking into the idea of an MA in the philosophy of art, though given my current commitments, I'm dreaming a couple of years into the future I feel...  All the same, I know that art will play a large role in my future life.  I hope to make art and to write about it and have made a small start this year by taking art classes with the wonderful artist Stephanie Wilkinson.   My current novel, in the final stages of development, also has an art -history sub-plot involving Modigliani's last mistress Jeanne Hebuterne.  So, given all this, what thoughts (and objects) am I packing in my suitcase this year?

1. A copy of Russell Martin's book 'Picasso's War'.  I am absolutely not ready to let my Picasso obsession go.  The discovery continues with this study of 'Guernica' a painting that I saw for the first time aged 20 ; it formed a deep and lasting impression.
2. An intense excitement about my son's new-found passion for architecture and a huge anticipation about his response to Gaudi.  He is already geared up, and has his itinerary prepared.  (He has also picked a biography of Mahatma Gandhi in his suitcase, an interesting choice for an eleven year old!)
3. A intense desire to avoid the internet.  I have just discovered there will be a PC with net access in my hotel room but I shall throw a beach towel over it.
4. A Moleskine notebook, a pastel sketchbook, soft pastels, a putty rubber, selection of pencils and a desire to express myself primarily visually.
5. Salley Vickers' novel Where Three Roads Meet, a meditation on Freud, our latest book club choice. 
6. A need for space to reflect and consider; space to be allowed to change my mind about things; space to develop ideas; space for visual stimulation; space to be with my children; space for laughter (although we always have that in our family, in bucket-loads).
7. Knowledge that whatever happens in the week ahead there will be something unexpected about it.  I like unpredictability and holidays always provide an element of that... a desire to go with the flow.
8. Pleasure at the fact that I am bound to make some choices out there and gain some clarity.  Isn't that the best thing about going away?
9. A longing for all that excites me about the city:  the heat; the architecture; the Gothic quarter; Gazpacho and Paella; memories that will surface; the Miro and Picasso museums; visiting my lovely friend who has a home there and dining on his roof terrace.
10. I want to be open to everything.  As I write professionally, I never write on holidays - journalling aside - but I know that what I experience there will feed into my future writing work.  I call this 'writing when not writing.'

What will you pack in your suitcase this year?   Will you take your writing work?  How do holidays feed your work and creativity?

Comments

[PG]

Lucky you! Barcelona is one of the only two places we have been to, before the Olympics, in 1992 I think. It was wonderful. Stayed on the Ramblas and the Miro museum was marvellous, (that huge rug hanging from the ceiling) he was so prolific. As we were only students at the time I don't think we appreciated it as much as we would do now.
(As you may have gathered, we don't have holidays, I don't think we even have suitcases...I can find creativity in my back yard if I have to!)
Have a marvellous time, STAY AWAY FROM THE INTERNET and fill the Moleskine.

[Jacqui Lofthouse]

Thanks Gretel. I did manage to stay away from the net for a whole week! And we all sat on my friend's rooftop one evening and painted on canvas as a family! I have developed a Miro obsession now...