India: The Intinerary

The first thing you have to realize is that India is massive. I remember my travel agent looking at my initially proposed itinerary stating “I hope you have a few months, because even with that, you will be on the road every day”. He likened it to an Indian visitor to the United States landing in New York, then traveling to Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Aspen, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, and Seattle, ending with a quick jaunt to peer over at the Grand Canyon before heading home. As such, our initial foray to India included some of the most traveled sites highlighting, of course, the best shopping locations.

Day 1 Arrive Mumbai
On arrival at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, you clear Indian Immigration and after collecting your checked-in baggage, proceed through Customs and out into the meeting area outside the arrival terminal. In the meeting area you are met by your travel representative who will transfer you to the hotel where your room is booked for two nights.

(The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Palace Wing Luxury Grande Sea View Room)

Day 2 Mumbai

Day 3 Mumbai to Delhi (Jet Airways)
On arrival at Delhi airport a travel staff member will be there to meet and assist you. He will have a car ready to transfer you to the hotel where your room is booked for one night.
In the afternoon you tour the Humayun’s Tomb built in the 16th century by the wife of Humayun, the second Mughal Emperor – a squat building, lighted by high arched entrances, topped by an enormous dome and surrounded by formal gardens, this is architecturally one of the forerunners of the Taj Mahal.
You also visit the Qutab Minar, built in the 12th century and one of the tallest towers of that time, characterized by a combination of Hindu and Muslim designs.
Later towards the evening, drive past the government buildings designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker during the early 20th century – the Rashtrapati Bhawan, the erstwhile Viceroy’s Palace and now the official residence of the President of India; the circular Parliament House; down Rajpath, the broad avenue which is the main artery of Lutyen’s Delhi, past the Secretariat buildings, topped with chhatris (domes); on to the imposing India Gate, the 42 meter high stone arch of triumph that bears the names of 85,000 Indian soldiers who died in the campaigns of World War I, the North-West Frontier operations and the 1919 Afghan fiasco.

(The Taj Mahal Hotel Club Room)

Day 4 Delhi to Agra
Early this morning you check out and drive Delhi-Agra (210 km)

Entering Agra, visit the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, considered to be yet another one of the forerunners of the Taj Mahal
On arrival in Agra in the early afternoon you check in at the hotel and straight away proceed on a tour of Agra Fort, a huge complex constructed out of red sandstone, and view its exquisite marble palaces; testimony to the power and artistic sense of successive Mughal emperors, Agra Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(Oberoi Amarvilas)

Day 5 Agra to Jaipur
Waking up early in the morning, you visit the Taj Mahal, the superlative expression of Emperor Shah Jehan’s undying love for his queen in order to see the monument in the soft light of sunrise.
Return to the hotel for breakfast and checkout, you drive Agra-Jaipur (232 km) later in the day, stopping by en route to visit the deserted city of Fatehpur Sikri. Here you can discern interesting facets of everyday life at the Mughal court in the 16th century. Built by Emperor Akbar as the capital of his empire, the city had to be abandoned due to lack of potable water – some of its structure her still remain in a remarkable state of preservation.
You may wish to take a brief stop for lunch at either the Laxmi Vilas Palace, Bharatpur, or at one of the numerous other similar facilities along the highway.
Continue on to Jaipur, you arrive in the early evening where you room is reserved for three nights.

(Oberoi Rajvilas)

Day 6 Jaipur
Early in the morning, drive through the Old City, stopping briefly to photograph the Hawa Mahal or ‘palace of winds’, before preoceeding to tour the Amber Fort that dominates the rocky hills surrounding Jaipur and guards one of the many defiles that lead to the city. Once the capital of the Rajput rulers of this area, the fortress is riddled with narrow passages and alleyways; there are magnificent halls with mirror work embedded in the ceiling and colorful painting on the walls.
Elephant back rides to the top of the fort ramparts is still a popular way to travel, but this has recently become a subject of much debate, and a very early start to the day’s activities is recommended in case you wish to use this option.

(Oberoi Rajvilas)

Day 7 Jaipur
In the morning you visit the City Palace and wander through the vast courtyards around which are clusters of museums housing rare collections of textiles, carpets, paintings and antique weapons of war. Continue on to Jantar Mantar, a medieval observatory with curiously shaped and oversized instruments that even today, are astonishingly accurate in their astronomical measurements.

(Oberoi Rajvilas)



Day 8 Jaipur to Jodhpur
Early in the morning you check out at the hotel and drive Jaipur-Jodhpur (295km)

Arriving in Jodhpur in the early evening you stay is booked for two nights.

(Umaid Bhawan Palace)

Day 9 Jodhpur
In the morning you tour the 15th century town set on the fringe of the Thar Desert and dominated by the gigantic Mehrangarh Fort. Entering the fort through a series of impressive gateways, visit its museums which exhibit an outstanding collection of the Jodhpur royal family’s memorabilia – jewelry, miniature paintings, portraits, armaments, elephant saddles, royal cradles and festive tents – time permitting, return to the hotel after visiting Jaswant Thada, the royal cenotaph.

(Umaid Bhawan Palace)

Day 10 Jodhpur to Udaipur (Alliance Air)
Your travel representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel where your room is confirmed for three nights.
(Oberoi Udaivilas)

Day 11 Udaipur

In the morning visit the Udaipur City Palace, actually a series of interconnected palaces massed into an impressive whole, with ground level and rooftop courtyards and gardens, a stunning peacock mosaic on one of the upper floors and grand views overlooking the lake – time permitting also visit the Sahelion-ki-Bari, the private royal gardens.

(Oberoi Udaivilas)

Day 12 Udaipur
In the morning you set out on a full day excursion to Ranakpur (90 km) to visit some of the most important Jain temples in India. The extremely beautiful Ranakpur complex lies in a remote and peaceful valley of the Aravali Range. The main temple in the 15th century complex is the Chaumukha, or four-faced temple, dedicated to Adinath, the first tirthankara. This beautifully crafted marble temple has 29 halls supported by 1444 intricately carved pillars, no two alike.

(Oberoi Udaivilas)

Day 13 Depart Udaipur to Mumbai (Jet Airways)
Early this morning our local representative will be at the hotel to assist you with checkout, after which he will transfer you to Udaipur airport for the flight to Mumbai

(Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Palace Wing Luxury Grande Sea View Rooms)

Day 14 Mumbai

Day 15 Home

Skylark

Nothing like forced bed rest to make one aware of the caducity of life. While recovering from a recent surgery, I finally had time to do all those things I have, for months, left on the back burner. I have also decided that I am not a “sitter”. I can’t sit still. I can only read, watch TV, troll the Internet for so long and then I go stir crazy. I’m a “do-er”. I would make the worst housewife. I’d be one of those who, midday, can be found strolling through the back garden in a rumpled robe, martini in one hand, upper in the other, of course with perfect hair and makeup, and a killer ass from having all the time in the world to work out.

Anyway, since I wasn’t supposed to lift heavy, move too much, or stay on my feet too long, I decided to help my poor newly designated “house-husband” with the chores by cleaning off my computer desktop. Whew, I’m exhausted. I did, however, come across some old picture files of past travels. I started this blog after our trip to India, so I never was able to share the experience. After the horrible recent events in Mumbai, this is probably more important that ever. Don’t let one isolated incident dissuade any intent to travel to this intoxicating destination. This is the perfect time to travel to India. Stay tuned. Over the next week I will give you a sampling of our trip. So put on your best Sari, pour yourself a warm cup of chai, and curl up to your camel. We are going on an adventure.

Let me call you Sweetheart

She was a phantom of delight
When first she gleam'd upon my sight;
A lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment's ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful dawn;
A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.

I saw her upon nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A creature not too bright or good
For human nature's daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.

And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A being breathing thoughtful breath,
A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect Woman, nobly plann'd,
To warm, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.

William Wordsworth's "Perfect Woman", for
my perfect wife. Happy Valentines Day.

Market Days

This week is normally a painful procession through floor after floor of kitsch and crap in order to discover the latest treasure or coolest new product. Usually packed to the rafters and reeking of excessive perfume and, later in the day, body odor and other unmentionables, the experience usually leaves something to be desired.

I don’t know if it was the dire economy or general lack of enthusiasm for retail, but this year things seemed much more collegial and genteel. Everywhere I was greeted with a smile and the individualized service seemed better than ever. In a renewed effort to find something exciting and different, I dragged my poor husband up and down every floor of every building, and low and behold, found some awesome goodies. Who knew the typical run of the mill isle could reveal such bold new ideas, a fabulous new direction, and breath of fresh marketing air.

We took a break from the Market one day to peruse Scott’s Antique Market – a must stop if you ever get to Atlanta the second weekend of the month. Again, remarkably, treasures at every turn, and the prices – better than ever. My husband remarked the one good outcome of the market turndown is that people are now selling items that haven’t been seen in the mainstream for years. We picked up some unbelievable finds at absurd prices.

Anyway, we are now looking forward to the New York show with renewed interest, invigorated for the next great retail adventure.

Resolutions

After a night of Veuve Clicquot and Auld Lang Syne, it is time for renewal and reinvigoration. It is time took look ahead, not with trepidation, rather with anticipation and exhilaration for what is to come. Turn over a new leaf, hell, turn over the whole tree and plant another. Start the New Year with a whole new list of things to do, people to know, and places to go. Write this list somewhere prominent; and this year, go for it.

We resolve to eat healthier, work out harder, live greener, travel further, spend more time with family and friends and pets (not necessarily in that order), cook together, buy more locally, drink less bourbon (Taras), return to vintage, craft more (Paula), embrace the inevitable, and welcome change.

So stay tuned to The Paris Market and Brocante, over the next few months, changes are coming which will indulge your senses, changes your perspective, and blow your design Gestalt. We resolve to keep you inspired.

Happy New Year

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming woo hoo, what a ride!’

I don’t know who to give credit for the above quote, but in the spirit of the Paris Market, we highly recommend your favorite spirit and the above words of wisdom to welcome in the New Year. So turn off the TV, put down that newspaper, resist the daily doom and gloom and celebrate with style. Go out with a bang, the gym membership can wait one more week.

Spread Happiness

It’s official; happiness is contagious. A remarkable study published by the British Medical Journal last month, concluded “people’s happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected.” It further stated that happiness, like health, should be viewed as a collective phenomenon.

How wonderful is that? Finally a contagion that is actually good to spread around.
In the coming winter months, let’s all go out and get infected. Become totally sick with happiness, and then spread it to all our family and friends, so they to can become ill with this delightful infliction.

Seek happiness, embrace happiness, and finally, spread happiness. We wish you a wonderful holiday and a happy and safe New Year. Remember to check us out next year. A whole new look is coming to the Paris Market and Brocante.

Just A Few Of Our Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things.

Now that we have you in the spirit, here are a few more of our favorite things for your favorite person.

1. Low Country Luxe Savannah Candle
2. Chapon Chocolatier Crème de Praline
3. Absinthe Decanter with perfect sugar cubes
4. Heather Moore Charm
5. Aesop Primrose Hydrating Masque
6. Santa Maria Novella Pomegranate Bath Soaps
7. John Derian Paperweight
8. Moustache Bomber Chair
9. Denise Disharoon geometric silver necklace
10. Elliot Erwitt coffee table book.

(Photo taken 11/25/08 by JAY W. FILTER of Milwaukee, WI)

Thanksgiving

The leaves are changing to a burnt orange and reddish brown, the sun hangs lower in the sky, the air is fresh and crisp on the nose, and one can begin to sense the holiday spirit in the air. This time of year the home seems to become more of a nest. The urge to curl up in a thick blanket with a cup of steaming hot cocoa is stronger than ever.

Nothing beats the doom and gloom of the daily news more than pulling out the old family heirloom decorations, adding some new treasures, and sprucing up the home with joyful warmth. Our goal this season is to bring both delight and contentment. We want to enhance your happiness quotient. Our store is brimming with the latest must-have products, holiday gifts, and decorating ideas. Already exhausted from the hectic pace? Visit our patisserie, rest your weary feet and try our newest indulgence Les Confitures a l'Ancienne Powdered Hot Chocolate while taking in the spectacle and listening to holiday classics.

Be thankful this season. Call your friends, call your family, kiss your spouse, hug your pets, smile, do something good anonymously, be humble, and give to the less fortunate. We only have one life and one world, make it wonderful.

It takes a village

After another incredibly busy quarter, my husband and I have finally had a chance to sit down, reflect and regroup. Fall in Savannah is chock full of social events, parties, and festivals. Friends and relatives tag-team visits to take advantage of the perfect weather. By the end of the season, we usually slump exhausted on the couch and discuss our upcoming holiday plans.

As retailers, the holiday season usually begins sometime in October and stretches through January. A four month riotous extravaganza of frenetic, intense hyperactivity. Needless to say, this is most often preceded by feelings of trepidation, excitement and contempt all rolled into a joyful angst.

This year, things have not felt as chaotic. For some reason the path seems easier. After some further reflection we both arrived at the same conclusion. Our staff. From our initial embryo of a store with our first employee, now to our constantly overwhelming business with 13, we couldn’t do without them. Our staff has grown and evolved into a cohesive team, facilitating every aspect of the business. From coffee bar to website, from warehouse to window display, our orchestra now plays a symphony.

So, thank you everybody, we love and appreciate our little village. Let us all have a great holiday season.