On The Road

I started this blog as a means of detailing my travels around this part of the world. However, I've been away for a month and haven't written a bloody word!

So, I will try to make up for this now and attempt to document my trip thus far.

I started this journey on Monday, August 20 when I flew from Melbourne to Los Angeles. I spent 4 days there and was able to catch up with my good friend,Sara to have a new tattoo done. I adore my new tattoo and thus far have had many compliments on it in both English and Spanish.

After LA, I flew to Monterey on the California coast to attend a music festival to see Gogol Bordello. They were amazing! After the gig, I went to a local bar where Eugene Hutz did a DJ gig which was also fantastic. I met many great people and had a good boogie. I was too shy to approach him for a photo op. He had a chica with him that he seemed very preoccupied with when he wasn't spinning discs and I didn't wish to interrupt.

After my three days in this sleepy coastal town, I travelled via bus/train/bus to San Francisco. I adore San Fran. It has so much more than Los Angeles can offer. Great community feeling,people,food and cocktail bars. I arrived very late at night and stayed at a very nice apartment owned by a lovely guy named Josh. He wasn't staying there, he stayed with his boyfriend and allowed me to stay there alone. Whilst there, I wandered the city on foot, discovered 2 incredible Tiki bars; Smuggler's Cove and Tonga Room. The cocktails at Smuggler's Cove knocked me on my arse!

While in SF, I was able to finally meet someone I had been communicating with on and off. He was in a band a really liked and is now has a new band who happened to be playing while I was there. His new band is awesome and I had an incredible night. He was also very hospitable to me and it was lovely to meet him after all this time. I was a tad inebriated after first visiting Tonga Room and have a couple of their ultra potent drinks!

After San Fran, I flew to New Orleans where I experienced one of the most AMAZING cities! So much culture,tradition and the people are so fantastic. The night I arrived,my host Mike cracked open some beer and we went for a walk around the lovely neighbourhood. People on their porches saw us and all say "How're y'all doin'!" So nice! While there, I was able to see one of my all time fave band, The Jesus and Mary Chain at the House of Blues. They still have it. I also got to see Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers twice while there and they blew the roof off. The food is incredible in NOLA. The most special thing I experienced was attending a second line parade. To be able to dance behind the band, drink beers sold at the side of the road for two bucks and see people celebrate life as it should be is a sight to behold. I feel blessed to have taken part in it. To go to Frenchman Street and go from bar to bar and see incredible music is magic. Such a great culture they have- I hope it is never taken away. NOLA- fight for your right to party!

After NOLA, I flew to Austin,Texas and was hosted by a lovely couple- Joann and Xavier. By that stage, I was a bit partied out and needed some down time. They were like a family to me and looked after me well. There wasn't a lot to do in Austin and I wouldn't agree that it's the music capital of America but it's a place to see if you so desire. I think by this stage, I was just itching to get to Buenos Aires. Jo generously gave me a lift to the airport and I said my final farewells. My stays via Air BnB have been so wonderful. Nice places,good people. I can thoroughly recommend it if you come across this and wondering where you want to stay when traveling. It's cheaper and the people you meet through it are awesome.

Phew! That's my catch up thus far on my trip. I will write about South America soon. Promise.

News From The Bowl

So much for my promise to keep up to date with my blog. 


I think this has to do with the fact that I can't upload any pictures to my Mac thus limiting me from telling the stories I want to tell. I really do enjoy pictures with my words. 


As it stands, no photographs. Even my iPhone is on its last legs and won't speak to this Mac unless I wipe everything off of it. That's where Apple stuff truly blows.  Technology, you're letting me down.


In seventeen more days, I'll be on a plane winging my way to Los Angeles. I can't believe that it's almost here. I should be up and around,getting busy sorting stuff out today but I'm not. I'm having a bed in, watching The Sopranos and craving pasta as they serve it on the show all the time! Django isn't making it easy as he's crawled in and is snuggling with me. I think I'm just going to enjoy this moment as I won't be having them for a few months; cuddle time with my kitty who is so beautiful. I must dedicate a blog just to him soon. The photos will definitively be necessary for that one as he is a sight to behold.

The weekend has landed once more. Sin de la semana. I'm glad this one has nothing really planned-no real 'have to's'. I'm enjoying getting older and embracing quiet times and solitary comfort. I feared both of these for so long. Being alone was a state that never sat well with me. My greatest of all fears was rejection and strangely enough, it's something I don't worry about anymore. To quote a song line from Sinead O'Connor; "The whole time, I'd never seen/All I  needed was inside me." There's a joy and blessing in getting older. Why waste time,energy and money trying to look younger? No amount of botox or fillers can fix it unless you want to look like a freak. Youth comes from inside and no amount of money can buy that.

So, this chica is going out on a huge limb. Many have asked if I'm scared about my trip. Others have commented on how brave I am. I don't know if I'm either. This trip is definitely pushing me way beyond my comfort zone but that's the whole point.  People do buddhist retreats, yoga retreats, spiritual retreats. This journey is my meditation,my Vipashna,my prayer and my salute to the sun. I know I'm going to be in situations where I will be scared,alone,frightened,confronted and challenged. I'm not focusing on these things. I am thinking about adventure,food and the people I will meet. I don't want to focus on pick pockets, crime and other things that do occur in some of the places I'm going to. I figure as long as I come home alive and in one piece, all will be well!

I've lived so long in a deep well of negativity and depression. Of fear and loathing. What could be worse than that?

The First Twirl Of The Fork

And thus it begins.

Another blog I hear you sigh. I begin them and then I grow weary of what I write. I make the names of my blogs too personal and they belong to a time and place that I inevitably move on from.

A new chapter begins both in life and blogsville. I have named this one 'The Spaghetti Imperative' as it doesn't really mean anything and I like the sound of it. I updated my Facebook status one Sunday after a night on tiki cocktails that read; Spaghetti. Imperative.  One of my friends who lives in Hamburg commented that it sounded like a band name. I had been thinking of reviving my blog when it dawned on me; here's my new name. I just added 'the' and ta da- new blog name, new blog full stop.

Once I get my new camera and my Mac to talk to each other, I will be uploading photos and journalling  my life in words and pictures. Today officially marks five weeks until I embark on a five month travel extravaganza of North,Central and South America. My dream of having a birthday in Buenos Aires and spending Dia de los muertes (day of the dead) in Mezzeeko are coming true. I am indeed blessed and the universe does go out to bat for you. The term 'happy dance' doesn't even cut it.

So, the first blog. My introduction. Getting my feet wet again to plunge head long into writing. This time, I feel I have much to document and must pledge to spend time everyday or at least most days to keep this one current and relevant.

To those who have stumbled across this page, welcome. Jump on board and take this trip with me.