I am not the one for vacations. Instead, I like to take two-or-three day trips to clear out the cobwebs of the mind and change up the scenery, just so I recalibrate my world view. And that is why I surprised myself when I took a whole week off. I even left all my computing devices back at home — with the exception of my iPhone, of course — and went to Paris. And boy, did I need that break.
Paris is one of my favorite cities, even though I don’t speak a single word of French. I love it because I can enjoy the silence that comes with not knowing the language. I love it because I can get lost, and find history at every street corner. I love it because it teaches me a lesson: the weight of one’s past can define one’s future. I love it because I can visit all the artisans who toil away, making beautiful things at a pace that is anathema to our give-it-to-me-now society. I love it because of the food. But most importantly, I love it because I don’t have to talk. Just see, just hear and just be.
Today, I went back to work, feeling rested and in much better spirits. I caught up with my colleagues, read all the news, mulled on a few blog post ideas and finally got a decent cup of coffee. Paris, I will see you soon. Life, it is good to be back.
PS: Here are some of the left over photos from my visit to Paris. Enjoy!
Being as shoe-obsessed as I am, I know my shoe stores. And I can tell you one thing — New York-based Leffot is one of a kind store. So unique in both its ability to bring together great shoe brands, and at the same time, edit together a beautiful selection that appeals to wide-range of shoe lovers. And the reason for that is Steven Taffel, who in past life worked for Prada. He is a connoisseurs’ connoisseur. An avid shoe collector himself, he is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to shoes. He started the store because of his love for the shoes (and also to opt out of the fashion rat-race.) I interviewed Steven for a story and in the process we became friends.
If you grew up anywhere in South Asia, then you pretty much know that them Gurkhas are a bunch of tough nuts, who have played a very vital role in several wars including the second world war where they fought on behalf of the British. India’s only Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw once famously stated, “If a man is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Ghurka.” Gurkhas are professional soldiers and as a kid I came across many of these tough-nuts from Himalayan nation of Nepal. They worked as watchmen and professional guards in my hometown of Delhi. Over the years, Gurkhas have remained somewhere in my subconscious.
A few days after moving to San Francisco, I perchance walked by a Ghurka store – except it was selling ultra-expensive bags and briefcases. It was amusing for me to think of Gurkhas as a fashion brand and later that store closed and I forgot all about it. I never bothered to look-up the history of the brand and why they chose that name.Fast forward to now, style blogger and Americana enthusiast Michael Williams shared a video about Ghurka’s legacy that puts everything in context.
My second day in Paris was marred by me breaking the lock on my SD card which led to about half a day being lost when it comes to taking pictures. Of course, once I got a new card, regular service resumed, though I admit, I could do a better job of taking pictures. Anyway back to walking later tomorrow so that will bring back the creative spark.
I went for a walk last night in Paris. I took a lot of photos, and while I will sift through them eventually, here is a few I thought I would share for now.
A brief update on comments. As many of you might have noticed, comments aren’t working as advertised. It seems that you post comments, but are unable to see them. The problem isn’t in WordPress, but instead it is in the javascript that displays the comments. There is a bug somewhere and I can’t find the person who helped with the design anywhere. So unless, I find a way to fix this bug, I am sorry I can’t engage in discussions. That said, I do appreciate you leaving notes for me to read via the WordPress dashboard. Stay tuned — and express yourself by either liking the post or sharing it with friends via various social networks.
