Illustrated trip to Italy

On November of 2005, my wife and I went to Italy for three crazy days. I drew and wrote this during the trip pretty much as it happened during any down time we had. This journal was inspired by Craig Thompson’s Carnet De Voyage (Travel Journal). It’s BRILLIANT! I loved it so much I wanted to give it a try. I was also somewhat inspired by Enrico Casarosa’s Sketchcrawling sketchbook. Although I had only flipped through it at the time and I have yet to actually take a real close look at it. I was just aware that it existed. I have seen and read his Venice Chronicles journal though. It was a very interesting and entertaining read. I recommend it. His journal is in color and it’s just fantastic to look at. It’s also 124 pages long. Much better than my 12 pages. Obviously I wrote mine before he did his but he took a year to write his while I did mine during the actual trip and I didn’t add anything new once I got back home. I didn’t want my journal to become a job. I just wanted it to be fun to make. I hope you enjoy it.

Clicking on each page will make it bigger.

Pg. 1

Cate Blanchett, Italy, starbucks, mcdonalds, Caramel Macchiato, spanish music videos

Pg. 2

Philadelphia, italians hate americans

Pg. 3

airplane to rome, Saint Peter, Saint Paul.

Pg. 4

Vatican City, Mapquest, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict.

Pg. 5

Breakfast, martini, Vatican Museum.

Pg. 6

Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Metro station,

Pg. 7

Gold Digger, Coliseum.

Pg. 8

Forum, Platino, Italian Restaurant, ancient Roman Hobbit Hole.

Pg. 9

The Basilica of St. Pietro in Vincoli, The basilica fo St. Paul, Rush Hour

Pg. 10

Thankgiving Feast, crazy shuttle driver

Pg. 11

Sky bridge, Teenagers

Pg. 12

L.A.X., Del Taco, Home.

 

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17 thoughts on “Illustrated trip to Italy

  1. Bill Ho says:

    HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!! The last panel had me rolling! A great ending to a cool story of your trip to Rome.

  2. Luis, Great Italian story. I’ve been there a number of times, and am going back with my youngest daughter of 13 next summer. I love the country, and especially Rome. Seeing your great cartoons brought back so many memories. Dude, that IS one big pine cone! And the same guys in costume at the Coliseum yelled at us too. It’s a great city/country – especially for a Roman Catholic. Keep up the great work, man. It was cool meeting you in person, admiring your work from afar.
    Paul

  3. Hey! I just found your blog yesterday. My husband and I just got back from a trip to Rome last week. It was my third trip to Rome, but my first since converting to Catholicism. Isn’t it incredible?! I love, love, love it.

    I have an animator friend in LA, who works on Spongebob Squarepants. He said that the strike wasn’t affecting him – something about a different union. Anyway, I hope you are all alright. Congratulations on your baby!

  4. Luis says:

    Hi Katy,
    Thank you for leaving a comment. I will answer it on my next post so keep your eyes on the blog.

  5. Great story about italy. i loved the ending 😛 nice drawing by the way

  6. Luis says:

    Thank you, Komodo Dragon.

  7. Trina says:

    I just stumbled onto your website, it’s GREAT!!! I love your Rome trip, I took 11 youth to World Youth Day & felt like you did in your last pic when we arrived back in the airport in Seattle. I look forward to checking your site once a week. Keep it real!

  8. Luis says:

    Yay! Thank you.

  9. Raul says:

    Luis that was great! I had just been there the summer before! The Vatican literally blew me away! People can talk crap about Catholics, Our Vatican and our Pope all they want, but what other religion has given patronage to so many artists for so many masterpieces. I almost swallowed my tongue when I saw the Sistine Chapel. My entire field of view was covered with Michael-ma-langelo (‘member? ‘you member). The comic strip was really well done! 3 days of hardcore travelling will wear you out big time. You can see some of the stuff I painted here http://www.studioraul.com/Fine_Art_Raul_Aguirre_Jr_/

    very nice post! entertaining and funny. Love the style you chose! Expressive well constructed and cute as the dickens. Did I say “cute!?” Waitaminute!! DId I say “as the Dickens?!!” Ahhhhhhhhh!

  10. Luis,

    I love this story. Reminds me of the great travelogue comics Stan Sakai creates every time he takes a trip. Your story hits all the interesting points and you really give us a sense of your emotional state of mind as you make your way through the journey.

    I felt sad seeing you get all emotional at the Vatican (you Salvadoreans are as bad as us Mexicans!!)

    Hope to see more comics from you.

  11. Luis says:

    Thanks Javier,
    Means a lot coming from you.

  12. olha says:

    haha! you are so industrious! I wanted to do this too but seems like too much work!!
    You have very lovely style too

  13. Luis says:

    Wow, thank you so much olha. It WAS a bit more work than I thought it would be. It helped a lot that it was done in such a simple cartoon style. It also helped that I wasn’t being precious about the drawings.

    Your work is great too.

  14. Francois says:

    Loved this almost as much as I loved Carnet de Voyage.

  15. Luis says:

    WOW! Thank you so much! A great compliment.

  16. Luis says:

    Thank you!

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