“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” - Ernest Hemingway
I recently spent a month in Paris this summer, with stops at the French alps and Lisbon, Portugal. The month flew by and I easily could have stayed the full 90 days. A lot of people asked me what I was doing there, and to be perfectly honest, I ate really well, practiced yoga, drank plenty of coffee, studied French, saw a lot of art, hung out with friends from various walks of life, rode a bike everywhere, stand up paddled, and documented everything. It was magical, spectacular, inspiring, exciting, fashionable, and there was beauty literally everywhere. I wanted to immerse myself in Parisian culture, live life like a Parisian, explore, and be inspired both personally and professionally. I even had the chance to reunite with my Spanish “sister”, who I lived with in Spain and hadn’t seen in over 12 years. I really had no idea what to call this trip, since it wasn’t really a vacation or a full sabbatical. And by the way, the fashion in Paris is ridiculous. There are so many beautiful, yet expensive pieces everywhere. It’s great for looking but not so great on the wallet.
I recently started reading “The 4-Hour Workweek” and the author talks about Lifestyle Design, high-intensity learning, and taking mini-retirements regularly throughout life rather than working hard all your life just to retire in the end. As stupid as it might sound, I think the best way to describe this Paris trip is mini-retirement. Fortunately, living and working in NYC has allowed me to take 6-10 weeks each year away from the city, which is much needed at times. I highly recommend taking mini-retirements regularly and having an extended stay in Paris.
I’ll never forget riding a bike through Paris, getting lost, and ending up on Pont Neuf just as the sun was setting over the Seine and the Eiffel tower. It was truly magical, unforgettable, and the weather was perfect. I had a lot of moments like that where I thought to myself, “Is this for real?!” I even found myself stand up paddling on a beautiful lake in the French alps at one point, which was not planned. The French really know how to enjoy life.
I took a handful of photos, and didn’t really go too crazy this time. I was much more intentional about each photograph, and curating my work. Less is more. With that being said, here are my 10 favorite photos from the trip. I hope you like what you see!
Carpe Diem,
Reuben
1. Paris, also known as the City of Light
2. Portrait of a Parisian in Le Marais
3. The scene outside of my apartment in Lisbon, Portugal
4. One of the best views of Paris
5. Eiffel tower at night from Montmartre
6. Annecy, a small town in the French Alps
7. Sacré-Cœur
8. A beautiful mistake
9. Lovers
10. I accidentally stumbled upon this sunset over the Seine when I got lost riding a bike. Sometimes it pays to get lost.