Istanbul

Finally the destiny chosen for the experimental trip was Istanbul. Almost no tourists due to bombs and other threats in TV. Great place, amazing food and exotic touch in the atmosphere.

Here some photos:

Experimental trip: Choosing a flight directly in the airport

A dream done! I've always wanted to do this experiment: Go to the airport and choose a flight to anywhere. But I went further and did it directly when I flew back from Amsterdam! Full tired after a few days non stop with no clean clothes, etc. A friend of mine was waiting for me in the airport. It was a stressful but funny experience. Let's open the door to random world. Planning to much leaves out a big part of the journey.

We chose a flight to...

Visit to Cafe Analog in Utrecht

I was invited by Desiree to visit her Cafe Analog.

She has created a space with warm atmosphere and full of love for an analog world. We talked a lot about notebooks and writing in general. She is taking seriously her passion for stationery. Have a look at her website to finde nice items and now also "The Orange Manuscript"! https://www.cafe-analog.nl/ . Thanks Desiree for these great moments!

I tried to explain some details of Donau's Journey there but I'm afraid its secrets are quite hide to see them in a first view.

No need to say Utrecht is a lovely place to visit.

Donau´s Journey explanations. Squares #2, #3, #4, #7 and #8.

Squares #2, #3, #7 and #8 are related iconic places in my travels.

Square #2 shows Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. I made them with a bridge shape in order to allow the river pass through them. Number 2 is linked to gestation and preparation, that's why an egg is waiting there in the beginning of the journey.

Square #3 is dedicated to my all time favorite island: Aitutaki, in Cook Islands, South Pacific. It has triangle shape (number 3) and it's an absolutely amazing place. Here a couple of photos I took there together with a photo from the air.

Photo from Google

Square #4 is dedicated to the power and material wealth, same as in card number IIII in Tarot. 

  

It's the representation of stability like the four legs in a table. A king shows the ambition for power and appearance. He looks back and we can't expect anything new or innovation from him. Red shoes are stylish Stilettos in this case, but clothes don't change the inner essence: Rotten meats of an human with costume to create an illusion of respect.

Square #7 is related to travels and, why not, old travels atmosphere. 

Square #8 contains many numbers 8, that's the Everest (8848 m high). The top of the world. I can see myself walking from the Base Camp at 5200 m high to some kilometers ahead. I can't imagine how is the feeling when climb much higher. Incredible place.

 

Life is itself a journey and places are just temporary scenarios.

Simple writing tools

Back to simple tools: Pencil and paper. I really love this verge paper texture and cream color. For me it provides the perfect atmosphere for writing.

Many times I was worried about waterproof inks or whatever archival quality tools and at the end nothing can beat basic pencils. Keeping the control and feeling the touch is very important.

Donau´s Journey explanations. Geometric links

The whole painting is one thing, this is one of the main ideas behind the project. Universe is one single entity and everything in the Cosmos keep internal links with each other. Nothing is isolated. One way to show that is the creation of references which can be found here and there.

It's easy to read the word "REF" on the Rotring tool I used to draw everything.

That's a geometric reference which links many items. All these things keep the same length:

       
 
  

 

   

Donau´s Journey explanations. Jellyfish sequences

There are 13 jellyfish in this little universe. They are elegant, cute and polite, wearing green and orange color.
  
Each color creates a sequence based in their square numbers.
Green: 5, 14, 23, 32, 41, 50 and 59.
Orange: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45 and 54.

The numbers of each sequence can be reduced to the same one digit:
5 for green: 5, 1+4=5, 2+3=5, 3+2=5, 5+0=5, 5+9=14->1+4=5.
9 for orange: 9, 1+8=9, 2+7=9, 3+6=9, 4+5=9, 5+4=9.

5 and 9 are special numbers with strong links to some cultures.

In the traditional board game of the goose if a player lands on a goose square after throw the dice, he jumps to the next goose and throw the dice again. Here we have jellyfish instead gooses but I've kept the numerology behind them.

Donau's Journey explanations. The traveler

I'd like to explain some details about the project Donau's Journey. It's not an easy task since it hides many messages in several levels and also contains personal information. I will elaborate separated posts with explanations.

Let's start by the beginning.

The traveller starts his journey in box #1. Apparently he has a physical body but he doesn't know his origin or any meaning related to his existence. He is just and AUTOMATON (I love this word).

This corner is dedicated to biological beings. We all are created and ruled by DNA. Incredible vegetal life, fascinating animals and more creatures will follow the evolution according to the code.

He uses the same body position than Le Mat in Tarot cards, with same red shoes and a stick pointing to Le monde (card XXI, The World). 

        

Nowadays the world is bigger and bigger so his stick points to the known universe shown in #21.

He walks forward knowing nothing but with great intuition. Red shoes will guide him along the river in this magical an unique journey, which is the journey of life, the journey of all of us.