JUNE 2019
Hello July and goodbye June! June was an enriching month in so many ways. I spent half of the month in Canada and the other half in Malta and Germany. Let me share my June highlights with you and I invite you to tell me yours.
ARTS
At home, I viewed various art exhibits at the Luminato festival. Admission was free. Here’s a sample of Kristian Spreen’s Compositions exhibit with her pretty glass and underglaze art work. The vases were displayed behind enclosed glass windows with spot lighting so my photo had shadows in it.
When I was in Valletta, there was a show of beautiful (and likely very expensive) cars in St. George’s Square, to mark the 90th anniversary of auto sales in the city. I enjoy examining the car designs as I think they are another form of art.
The quantity of high quality visual arts that I saw really skyrocketed in June, thanks to my trip to Malta and Germany. I’ve shared my Malta highlights here, and plan to write about my time in Germany soon.
BLOGGING
My gradual transition from Blogger to WordPress has been good so far. I wrote four posts in June, two of them were on Blogger, and two on WordPress. I’m also redirecting readers from my blog on Blogger to WordPress.
I hope my change of blogging platform gives my blog readers a ‘like or better’ experience. If you’re following my blog, thank you. If you have my blog on your blog roll, please update it with its new URL. I greatly appreciate your support and patience.
A friendly reminder that the next Wellness Wednesday link up is on July 10. The optional prompt is Family. Please feel free to join in on the fun.
BOOKS
In June, I finished two books (Persepolis, and Oversharing) before going to Malta and Germany. That brought the total number of books that I’ve enjoyed reading to thirty-two so far for this year. I’ve picked up a few more books from the library for my summer reading.
CONCERTS
I attended four terrific outdoor concerts performed by Jordan John, Sandra Bouza, Denis Keldie, and Montreal’s Les Voix Humaines viol quartet. Admissions to these events were free. Toronto has an amazing number of free concerts in the summer. I try to make time to attend at least one every week.
The concerts I go to are casual where the audience can see the musicians up close. They are not the high-end productions in big arenas that cost a lot of money. Nevertheless, the music and vocals are superb.
When I was in Munich, coincidentally the outdoor Stadtgründungfest was on at Marienplatz, the main square in Munich, to celebrate the city’s 861st birthday. Marienplatz was packed with people enjoying the dancing, live music, and food and drinks at the on-site beer garden.
FAMILY
My family clan got together at the end of June to celebrate various good news in the family (birthdays, school graduation, new home, and new summer jobs). A lot of fun conversations and good food. We’ve arranged to meet again in July.
FRIENDS
I managed to have two meet-ups with my friends in June. One of them took place in Stuttgart, Germany, and the other was in Toronto. Both are longtime friends. I’m grateful to have enduring friendships regardless of the distance or time lapse.
HEALTH
In June, I did my daily meditation and walked outdoors every day. While at home, I worked out in the gym seven times, attended five yoga classes, and got in three swimming sessions.
I brought my resistance band with me for my strengthening exercises when I was away from home. I also used local ‘fitness amenities’ in Malta and Germany. Some are man-made like the stairs in Valletta, the swimming pool in my hostel, and some are natural resources great for swimming like the Blue Lagoon in Comino, and the lakes in Bavaria region in Germany. They were good reminders for me to continue my exercises to stay fit, and that one can do exercises without a gym membership! You know the saying ‘When in Rome…’.
LEARNING
I completed my daily online French and Spanish lessons in June even when I was in Malta and Germany. I spend about 15 minutes on each language and have been consistent with my learning activities. I view them as my brain exercises and they’re fun to do.
One other obvious learning source is from my travel. A new destination awakes my senses and provides ample of practical learning opportunities. For example, I learned to book a shared shuttle service from and to Malta airport, to take public buses and ferries in Malta, to ride regional trains and intercity trains in Germany, and to learn about the history of the various sights that I visit.
MOVIES
I saw five movies (one at home and four in-flight). In order of preference, they are Green Book, If Beale Street Could Talk, Captain Marvel, Spider-man Into the Spider-verse, and Isn’t It Romantic.
TRAVEL
My trip to Malta and Germany went smoothly from beginning to end. It was great catching up with my cousins and longtime friend in person. The weather was sunny and warm every day that I was there. This is another enriching and fulfilling trip that I treasure very much.
OVERALL
June was a wonderful month for me. I’m grateful for all the good things that happened. I’m enjoying July and the summer fun that comes with it. July has started off with a bang, thanks to Canada Day celebrations and fireworks on July 1st.
How was your June? What good things happened? I’d love to hear your comments.
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Natalie the Explorer 
Hi, Natalie – I love the glass and underglaze art in your opening shot. Your June was extremely varied and fulfilling. I love your steady passion for life and all that you achieve in just 30 days!
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Thank you, Donna, for your kind comment. I often feel there is much to explore, enjoy, and so little time. I try to make each day a really good day 🙂
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You had a lot going on in June!
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Thankfully it was all fun and positive events. Your ice berg photos made me want to go to Newfoundland next June or sooner.
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If you like wild, raw nature, Newfoundland is a great place to go. Not to mention the great people, food, craft beer, …
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It’s on my list. Hope to go there next year.
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Catching up with friends overseas makes it all so special. Such a decadent luxury!!
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Quite true, especially when my friend is very busy with her work.
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In comparison to your June, my June was much colder here in our Australian winter. I am longing for warmer days. Sounds like your life was full and rewarding, you inspire and remind me to move more in relation to exercise.
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Every day movement is good for our body. It’s ‘use it or lose it’.
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Another fabulous month. I love how you balance everything – and fit it all in. I’m actually, shock horror, drafting something for Wellness Wednesday this week. I know, exciting, hey?
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Very exciting! I look forward to reading your WW post.
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Oh, also I love the reading experience on WordPress. It’s easier for me to follow you through the reader pane too.
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The Reader is handy. Thank you, Jo, for your feedback.
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I hear great things about Malta. One of my friends’ mother is Maltese so has visited often but other friends have been as well and love it. I gather it’s quieter than Greece and similar countries.
I’m glad you enjoyed June and your Canada Day celebrations as well!
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When I was in Malta, the tourist crowd was not bad at all. I saw only one big cruise ship in the harbor. It was nice to see a lot more locals than tourists.
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I always enjoy your Wrap-Up posts Natalie because you fit so much variety into your month. Have a wonderful July and I do love the vases at the Luminato Festival.
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I’m very motivated to do fun activities 🙂
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You certainly are motivated Natalie and you enjoy so much in your life. Thanks for sharing at #MLSTL
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Thank you, Sue, for hosting. Have a beautiful week!
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You certainly filled your month again Natalie – lovely travel, time with family, books, movies and so much more! I’m also impressed with all the exercise your managed to squeeze in around it – you’re certainly ticking all the Midlife “retiree” boxes and setting a great example to the rest of us!
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It’s a fabulous phase of life and I intend to enjoy every day 🙂
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I’m just popping back from #MLSTL to say that I’ve shared this too Natalie x
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Thank you, Leanne. Have a beautiful week!
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You have such amazing, great energy, Natalie! I enjoy reading your positive posts. Live concerts are always fun and usually great talent. I enjoy seeing photos and reading about Germany. German is the first language I spoke, even though I was born in Canada. I also went to a German language school. I also have Malta on my list to investigate further. I am glad you were able to meet up with friends. Enduring friendships are priceless. A fun and interesting post!
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How great it is that you know German. I think it’s a more difficult language to learn than French or Spanish. I agree with you that enduring friendships are priceless.
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Your June sounds fabulous – the perfect mix of family, fun and travels. I haven’t studied French since high school but we’ve been watching French TV programmes (with English subtitles) and it’s all coming back to me now! I don’t really like flying but I love the in-flight movies! I also watched Green Book and If Beale Street Could Talk on my last trip. I hope your July is very jolly!
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It’s easy to lose our knowledge of a language when we don’t use it frequently. July is great so far. Hope your month is going well too.
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Good on you for keeping up your language learning even whilst away. Catching up with amazing freinds is always a blessing. Even more so when you’ve had to travel to make it happen.
SSG xxx
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I allocate 15 minutes for French and 15 minutes for Spanish each day so it’s not a big time commitment for me. I was glad to have found a time when both my friend and I were available to meet.
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Your June sounds like a great month, travel, family, fun! I haven’t seen Green Book yet but it’s on my list. I think your transition to WordPress is going well, from my end anyway. #lifethisweek
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Thank you, Deb, for your feedback about my move to WP. I think you’ll enjoy Green Book.
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My pleasure Natalie!
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June was a great month for you! Enjoyed the photos! Visiting from #SeniSal
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Thank you for your comment. I hope June went well for you, too.
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Sounds like you had a busy month, Natalie! Busy in a good way. Your trip to Malta and Germany sounds amazing. Good for you for keeping up with your French and Spanish learning. I started to learn Spanish but didn’t stick with it.
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I try to have some fun every day. Summer makes it easier to do things outdoors. Hope you’re enjoying July.
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Sounds like you have had a busy June, a lot of travelling! Lovely photos! I’ve never used Blogger but reading other peoples blogs, WordPress seems to be better.
My June has been, working, novel writing, blogging and kids.. the fun never ends.
Lovely and interesting post.
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Thank you, Marian, for your visit and comment. Sounds like you had a busy June. I hope July is going well and enjoyable for you.
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Natalie your word press site looks great. Simple and clean. You always manage to pack a lot of living into your days and weeks- good for you! I traveled some in June but no where as exciting as your trips. I spent as week in Michigan learning Enneagram and then a week at my daughters home in Nashville. I also worked in Iowa for a few days. I don’t have any photos to show for it! I need to get better about taking pictures!
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Thank you, Michele, for your feedback about my new WP blog. Your June sounds great, too, a bit of time with family, travel, work, and learning. I try to take less photos these days as it takes time to sort and decide which ones to keep.
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Another lovely and comprehensive post about you and what you’ve been up to Natalie.
Lovely! It looked rather warm where you went but I guess ‘that’s Summer!”
Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week’s optional prompt is Self-Care Sharing Your Story. I hope you will consider linking up again. Denyse.
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Thank you, Denyse, for hosting. I look forward to joining you next week.
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Wow Natalie, what a busy month! I don’t take many pictures, don’t keep track of books I’ve read, never go the movies or concerts, and so never feel I can do a good engaging monthly wrap up. Might try one someday because I enjoy reading other peoples! Visiting from #MLSTL and welcome to wordpress. Which theme template are you using because I like it alot!?
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Hi Pat – I use one of the free templates and customize it with the color palette and widgets that I like. I think the template name is Plane. Thank you for your feedback.
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How wonderful post. I see that You were busy. I was also, because I shot 599 photos from my unknown Helsinki. It took long time to organize them and t select those photos which I presented / will present in my posts.
Happy upcoming weekend!
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Helsinki is a nice city. Good for you to enjoy photography. Have a nice weekend!
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Wow, I thought I was a busy person, but you get a lot more done each month than me.
Jude
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I’m sure you got a lot done each month, Jude, just different things 🙂
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Still catching up on my blog reading. I love that you got to spend half the month in other countries. Looks like June was quite the month 🙂 The photos are beautiful and those stairs look like a killer. Note to self: must watch Captain Marvel
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Thank you, Sanch, for your comment. I’m glad you like my photos. June was a fabulous month 🙂 Hope you enjoy watching Captain Marvel.
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