If we were to see life as a journey, these travel notes could be the drafts of fragments of time. Frozen in time, the life drawings nature crystalizing the moments he experiences. These drawings are straightforward and direct graphic expressions of small portions of the architect’s thoughts. They therefore also convey his wishes and desires, his curiosity and quests as well as his surprise, disappointment or discovery. We have selected ten twentieth century architects, prominent authors of travel notes: John Ruskin, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Erik Gunnar Asplund, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto, Louis I. Kahn, Arne Jacobsen, Alvaro Siza, Enric Miralles and Michael Graves. All of them were pursuing some goal when travelling but weren’t always aware of it in advance. They were seeking answers but the fact is that their questions were more relevant than the answers they sought. And as such it is expressed in their drawings. The profession of the authors has always been present during their travels even if it was not considered in the course of the study. The graphic skills acquired during their academic education qualified them to use a common language. The prior and initial premise of the study is not to consider the authors’ professional work which has allowed us to make a different assessment by keeping their best known architectural work at a distance and approach them in a quieter and more reserved way than is customary. Their notes allow us to discover through subtle and not always obvious, folds some signs of their deepest thoughts. The calm observation of their drawings, the interweaving of them all, has led to the discovery of a rare kind of unexpected autobiography, probably outside of the intention of their authors. The decision to study their travel notes grouped by subjects instead of by author has allowed for a comparative analysis. We have studied and analyzed the distances they used to approach their models, the media and the various techniques they used to draw buildings, cities, landscapes or local traditions as well as the portraits of those closest to them. The exploration of these travel notes has allowed us to approach–its authors a bit more- in an intimate and personal way, revealing to us in our path their own discovery.