Memories of Mexico.....and beyond

Every morning I am reminded of recent travel adventures to Mexico and beyond (Guatemala & Colombia). On my bar,where my coffee machine is, I have displayed the few small souvenirs that I brought home from my travels. I didn't buy too much on my travels because I had knew I would have to lug them from country to country. However, it makes me happy to wear my bright pink leather belt (not pictured) that I got in Mexico City or use my wool drinks coaster, from Oaxaca, when drinking my morning coffee. Along with the beautiful hummingbirds making me smile and giving me hope that every day is going to be great.

Here's some pics of the few small handicrafts that I brought home from Mexico, Colombia & Guatemala.

A beaded hummingbird. I actually bought a few of these and gifted to family and friends on my return. These were my favourite souvenirs from all of Mexico.

A Lucha Libre mask made by a handcrafter utilising a technique similar to papier machie and then handpainted by his wife! 

These artisans were staying in the same Art Residency as us when they were visiting the area for the once yearly Chapala Fair that brings creaters of Mexican handicrafts altoether for one big massive fair near Ajijic. I also bought two little handstitched blouses to send to my two neices living abroad.

This bird was gifted to me by a friend as I left Mexico and it reminds me of time spent in Ajijic, Jalisco.

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This cutie came all the way from the beautiful town of Antigua in Guatemala

The best way to start the day - a cup of coffee on a brightly colored Mexican wool coaster. Handcrafted in the shop that we bought it in and we even got to speak to the weaver who showed us all of the naturally dyed wool out the back of the shop in his home!

And then one of the final things I bought was this fun handpainted Mexican hat. I haven't had musch opportunity to wear it here in Ireland but I got to wear it recently in Spain. Here I am wearing the hat and coordinating with the PIGSY painting in the background!

Souvenirs really are fun things to buy when on vacation, and even a simple thing like a fridge magnet can bring back happy memories of past holidays with family and friends.

Let me know - what do you like to bring back from your vacations?!

Super Saturday - Phoenix Park Visit

Heritage Week 2025

For Heritage Week, I booked 2 tickets for an Architectural Tour of Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park. To get there we cycled to Dawson Street and folded our bikes to take them on the 37 bus to the Castleknock Phoenix Park Gates. From there it was a short cycle to Farmleigh.

Farmleigh, Phoenix Park

When we arrived to Farmleigh, which is the "State Guesthouse" we checked in for our tour in the Motorhouse and then being a little early we had time for a coffee at the Lake House looking out on to the water. 

The tour started promptly at 11.30am and lasted about an hour. Our guide was excellent and gave a really interesting tour. Here's a few photos that I took but they really don't do this house justice and I highly recommend you visit yourself to see this place that was a holiday home / country estate to the Guinness family from the late 1800's to 1999 when it was then bought by the Irish State and restored for civic and state use, including welcoming foreign dignitaries.

After the tour we visited the Cowshed Gallery and then cycled back to the city via the great cycle lanes on Chesterfield Avenue on the main road in the Phoenix Park. It started raining when we got close to the city so we headed to Capel Street for a lunchtime plate of wings in All Bar Chicken.

After this we cycled to Rathmines via the newly pedestrianised Parliament Street with the incredible vista leading up to City Hall. In Rathmines we did some printing in Rathmines Library. When we left the library we discovered it was raining heavily so we immediately ran over to the Omniplex and bought tickets for a screeening of Nobody 2 which was starting shortly. When we left the movie theatre at about 5.30pm the rain had stopped and cleared for the evening and the temperature was pleasant. I was glad of this because there were a few large outdoor events on in Dublin including the Robbie Williams concert in Croke Park and the College Football Game between Iowa and Kansas State in the Aviva.

Later we walked to Ranelagh and got a takeaway pizza from Rita's for dinner. We had split wings at lunch time and we split a pizza for dinner!

All in all a perfect Saturday with a great visit to the Phoenix Park and a lovely cycle all over the city from Southside to Northside and then back again.