International SMASH: Slovakia

This week has been pretty stressful. Working, playing, working more and hanging out with Mr. C. But no matter what happens good or bad I want to make sure I record it!!

Memory keeping on the road can be really difficult. We have a tendency to want to bring all of our supplies and if we don’t have something, can be over critical of our results. Often when I travel I have 3 different journal systems that I choose from depending on the trip type. You can read about these systems in my December Daily post on site in Lithuania here.

This week, for my Slovakia trip I decided to only bring the following:
    1. My International Smash folio, Bon Voyage Travel Journal + pen

    2. Three mini smash journal spot books

    3. Scissors + washi tape

    4. My instax and a few Studio Calico kraft butterfly stickers

Bringing limited supplies helps you to think more creatively…reach outside of the box and STRETCH your imagination.

For example on this Opera night page I used paper I bought at a little art store in downtown Bratislava and…yep…the hotel sewing kit!

Two minutes later after a little cutting, a few stitches and a couple laughs with Mr. C. I have a fabulous journaling block that only cost me about .10 cent euro and was made with completely found local items.

Another thing that can help you to be creative when traveling is to remember the importance of a pen. If you look below you can see that this page with the butterfly’s is a little boring and the items look disconnected.

A few minutes of sitting on the train or relaxing in the hotel room can create this…journaling captured in a series of doodles representing butterfly flight paths.

Don’t you love the instax photo on the above page? Accidental shot!

I hope you enjoyed this quick little look into my International Smash book and tips on travel journaling!

P.S. Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Mimi today!! You can read all about her birthday here.

The Slovak National Theatre

Mr. C. and I attended our first Opera last night, La Fille Du Regiment or in English The Daughter of the Regiment. I cannot say that Opera as a music form will become a favorite for us…or that the music transported us to a new plane of culture and enlightenment but I can say it was an experience we will never forget.

I just love the cover of the program!

Throughout the day several locals I spoke with told me how lovely the theatre was…the coat room, the bar and the lovely theater. When we first arrived we were pretty surprised. The bar, bathrooms and coatroom had a very dated look to them. We thought, why have all the tourism books recommended attendance so highly?

Mr. C. is such a ham, he made sure to crinkle his eyes in this photo because the show Lie to Me says a fake smile never has wrinkles (he was proving them wrong).

Then we entered the theater…it was so charming. I felt like I had stepped back in time as I looked at the various boxes and when we climbed to the very top floor it was gorgeous! More than even the architecture of the theater was watching the locals in attendance. In a range of different colorful outfits some they laughed and clapped while the Opera went through it’s libretto and arias on stage. I realized that while the theatre had some older portions that the performers were having such a wonderful happy time that they brought joy to their craft that I often find missing in many live performances. And the voices and costumes! So perfect. I cannot also forget the audience though strange to see children (as an American) at the theatre it was wonderful that the old were passing this art tradition to the younger generation.

I give you the Opera from the very top! (at least during intermission!)

If you have the opportunity to visit Slovakia I agree with the tour books and recommend that you take a visit to the old Slovak National Theater. If possible, dress in layers and buy a ticket for the main floor and after Act 1 climb to the very top to watch the theater from above for Act 2. I recommend layers as it was very hot in the top portion of the theater even during the Winter! Most importantly when visiting the Slovak National Theater cast out judgments on what makes a performance or theater perfect and enter with a heart and mind ready to receive the enthusiasm, joy and beauty of the Slovak National Theater. Enjoy!

To find out more about the Slovak National Theatre or La Fille Du Regiment you can visit:

Daughter of the Regiment: Wikipedia

Watch part of the Opera on YouTube!

Slovak National Theatre

Come back tomorrow to check out my Travel Smash book updates and new smash book releases from CHA!

Hello Slovakia!

The adventures present this week on the Mrs. C. Life Adventures blog will be coming to you from the heart of old town Bratislava in Slovakia! Armed with my new instax camera (did I share that Mr. C. bought me this for Christmas!), my travel smash book and an abundance of washi tape I will be recording my travel musings and adventures!



Slovakia is country number 19 in my 30 countries before 30 years project. That means 11 more countries to experience in less than 4 years??? I better get moving!

You can read about my adventures in the other 18 countries I have visited by going to the travel adventures page on the navigation bar above. Have a wonderful day experiencing your life adventures!