Paris Memories

Paris in July has given me the opportunity to reflect on my one and only trip (so far!) to Paris in 2009. To say I fell in love with the city at first sight is an over used cliche I know - but it is oh so true! I was completely blown away by the architecture, the style, the food, the art - even the light seemed amazing in Paris. I actually cried when we had to leave after four days (even though we were going to London - another one of my favourite places in the world). My trip to Paris helped to open up a whole new world of literature for me as well - I had never really been interested in French literature before my trip but I find myself drawn to it now - and even though my knowledge of the language is virtually non existent I feel that my knowledge of the history and culture is growing all the time with my reading.

So, I will be using this time during Paris in July to remember my first time in Paris but also to discover new ways of experiencing the French capital from my eastern Australian home.

A Week At The Airport: A Heathrow Diary - Alain De Botton

I had heard about A Week At The Airport when we were travelling last September. Philosopher and writer, De Botton has been approached by the owners of Heathrow Airport to spend a week in the airport's new Terminal 5 as its very first "Writer in Residence". I admit that the whole concept sounds like a huge marketing ploy but I was also a little jealous - I would love to get paid to live in and write about an airport!

I have not read any of De Botton's previous and more extensive works so this 107 page book has really only given me a tiny taste of his work and his style. I can't say that A Week At The Airport was everything I was expecting it to be but it was a delightful, reflective and thought provoking read that has just made me want to jump on another plane as soon as possible!

De Botton starts off by declaring himself a lover of travel and the humble airport;

While punctuality lies at the heart of what we typically understand by a good trip, I have often longed for my plane to be delayed - so that I might be forced to spend a bit more time at the airport.

This quote immediately connected me with De Botton - I have also often made this wish!

The book seems to meander along with little structure or focus - and I don't say this in a negative way. De Botton has obviously chosen to write about those specific moments and people that have captured his attention during his week in the airport and yet each of his reflections could easily applied to broader situations - I connected with a lot of what he wrote about from my own experiences of being in airports. I especially liked the section about the emotionality involved in our experiences of meeting our loved ones at airports;

We may spend the better part of our professional lives projecting strength and toughness, but we are all in the end creatures of appalling fragility and vulnerability. Out of the millions of people we live among, most of whom we habitually ignore and are ignored by in turn, there are always a few who hold hostage our capacity for happiness, whom we could recognise by their smell alone and whom we would rather die than be without.

I had thought that this book would contain more in depth information about the structure and world of Heathrow Airport itself but I was not disappointed by what I received instead.

Has anyone read other works by De Botton? Would they recommend them?

Love At First Sight...

Unlike many others Paris has never been my dream destination - Italy did have that place taken - but since laying eyes on Paris for the first time in our recent trip I might have to do some re-thinking. As soon as we entered the city I fell in love - the history, the architecture, the streets, the people, the clothes, the patisseries! I was totally enchanted by everything I saw and experienced - can't wait to go back.
I am now really keen to read more about the city - both fiction and non-fiction - so if people have any recommendations please, please let me know!

Home Again

Back at home following our amazing 4 weeks away. Sometimes it feels like we have been gone for ages and at other times (like returning to work!) it feels like we have never left.

I think my body and mind are still trying to work out which time zone they are in but I am really looking forward to catching up on reading all of your blogging from my time away - I feel so out of the blogging loop right now but hopefully I will catch up soon. Please let me know if you think there is something in particular I should track down to read - and any great reading recommendations from your own reading over the past month - I can never have too many recommendations!

I'll also get around to letting you know what I have been reading while I was away - and the books I picked up on my trip (all I can say is that I am glad that Emirates had a 30kg allowance for checked in luggage!!).

I'm also looking forward to sharing some of my favourite moments and memories from my trip - when I get them all worked out in my own head! But for now I'll leave you with this photo at the top of my post - from the balcony of our hotel room in Paris. Ahh Paris!

In Ireland!

Just a quick post from sunny Ireland - yes, you read right - it is sunny in Ireland!! And it has been for our whole trip so far (keeping fingers crossed!). Have been visiting all the bookshops that I can find but I might have to cut back soon because my bag is starting to get very heavy and I haven't even got to Paris or London yet.
One of my favourites was Hodges and Figgis in Dublin - I just love that name!

Only 1 More Sleep!

Only one more sleep until we head overseas! I think I am organised - am looking forward to getting away and having an adventure.

The books above are the ones I will be taking with me - I think I have been very disciplined! I am sure I will buy more while we are away but to begin with I have;

True Pleasures: A Memoir of Women in Paris by Lucinda Holdforth. I have already started this one and I am really enjoying it. The author is an Australian woman who spends some time in Paris after finishing a job exploring the lives of famous women who have lived in the city and gained inspiration from it.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. This is the last book I have of this author to read - I have really enjoyed the other two so I thought this would be a safe bet to take on the plane.

Inside The Whale by Jennie Rooney. I bought this one when I was in Sydney a little while ago. It is not a big book so it won't take up too much precious room but it sounds really good - set in England around the time of WW2. Has anyone heard of this one??

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (audio book) - I'm not sure how this one will go as an audio book but I really wanted to take it and this was the only way I could fit it in!

So, I will see how I go with these and other books I find along the way. I will try and check into the blogging world while I am away but if not I will see you all when I get back in 4 weeks! Happy reading everyone!

Suggestions for Travel Reading Please!

It is now less than 5 weeks until we fly away on our trip to Ireland, the UK and Paris (but who's counting??!!) and I am starting to think about a book (or books) to take away with me.

I have already put The Secret Garden onto my ipod as an audio book - I gave a beautiful copy to my goddaughter for her recent 4th Birthday but I am ashamed to say that I have never read the book myself. I know an audio book is probably not the best way to appreciate and experience this one but I thought it would be a nice, light option for the plane or for when I'm feeling too wiped out for anything else.

I would love to hear from all of you about any suggestions you may have for other books I could take with me - both audio and hard copy. On my last trip overseas I actually did quite a bit of reading in those times at 3 and 4am when jet lag would not let me sleep! I am thinking I would like to have books set in the countries I am visiting - especially the UK (a place I love reading about even when I am not there) and I would love a book that isn't too heavy and yet has really good character development and involvement. I'm also thinking a nice historical novel from one of these countries or areas might be good?? I was thinking about taking The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters but I am thinking it might take up a bit too much room in the bag.

Any suggestions and ideas greatly appreciated!

Travel Excitement!

I am very excited as we have started meeting with our travel agent to officially plan our trip to Ireland and England later this year! I wouldn't call myself a well travelled person at all - it is really only in the past few years that I have started to explore the world in a way other than through books - but I am definitely hooked!

I am also excited about this trip because: 1) It will be the first overseas trip we have been on that I will NOT be combining with work or a conference and 2) We get to stay for 3 nights in Paris! Now I know that 3 nights is really not all that long to spend in that city but in our original plans we were only going to have the time to spend a day there - so hence the excitement over the 3 nights.

I would love to hear from you on what you think we should not miss when we are in Paris - and also London and Ireland for that matter! I would also love to hear any reading recommendations for the places we are going to visit - I always love to have done some reading on the place I am visiting before I arrive.

Dreaming of Florence

Last night I started the gorgeous book I had bought in Melbourne a few weeks ago, The Piazzas Of Florence by Lisa McGarry. I was looking for a non-fiction book to browse through while I really concentrated on the Olympics - I soon forgot about the Olympics.

I have a fascination and love of all things Italy - even though I have not been there as yet I have this feeling I will love it when I eventually make it there.

This book is simply stunning, inside and and out. The author (an American woman now living in Florence with her young daughter) talks about her favourite piazzas of Florence and accompanies her rich descriptions with beautiful hand drawn maps of the areas.

In one of the maps the author refers to the stationary and paper shop Il Papiro which I also adore. We are lucky enough to have two of these shops in Australia (Melbourne and Sydney) and I spoilt myself when I was last in Melbourne purchasing two hand made journals.

Oh to be in Florence right now!