Thursday, 16 June 2011 14:47
Last Updated on Friday, 17 June 2011 10:36
Written by Casey Perkins
Cherrio Old Chap ... Bonjour!
I'm back in Albany after 9 AMAZING days in Europe! I had a wonderful time with new and old friends in England and France. The weather was perfect, the sights and sounds were magical, and the break was much-needed.
In the world of marketing we live and breathe our work and our clients. We do it because it's our passion and what we love. However, now and then we need a creative break. It feels so good to be back at work with my mind refreshed and maybe still a little part of my heart in London.
So I thought I'd share a few photos of my time in the Old World.
We saw the Bobby. They really are all over the place and they're very serious about their job.
This is a campaign throughout the city of London on their bus and tube systems. It's called "Together for London" ... pretty cool!
"I'll offer you my seat" | "And I'll say thank you" | 'A little thought from each of use. A big difference for everyone.'
This has to be one of the coolest bits of marketing that I saw. I just loved it!
After an amazing couple of days in Jolly Old England we hopped on a ferry, said goodbye to the "White Cliffs of Dover" and were off to the French port of Calais. France was really cool ... as a total Anglophile I thought England was better but that's just my personal opinion.
In France we saw famous works of art such as La Jaconde (The Mona Lisa), The Venus de Milo, Winged Victory and many more. In fact, the Louvre will wear. you. out. It's enormous and fascinating though and was really an awesome experience.
We also saw, in both England and France, many breathtaking churches, cathedrals, castles, and other historic sites. As a bit of a church architecture aficionado I was in LOVE with all of the beauty that has lasted for so many years. Stained glass windows are one of my favorite types of art. This one is from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Of course no trip to Paris is complete without a trip to the Eiffel tower and it certainly didn't let us down. The tower itself is fascinating and it is absolutely magical after dark.
The view from the top isn't so bad either.
These are just a few of the photos and memories that I made on my European adventure. Any time spent in a new place and culture is so beneficial to our understanding of our own hometowns and communities. I realized how much I really do love Albany and how (despite many people's disagreement) much we really have to offer. As I said before, the creative break and mental recharge that I received was invaluable. However, I also got the opportunity to view marketing, advertising and public relations through the lens of Europe and that was eye-opening indeed.
If you haven't taken a vacation recently, do it. Even if you just go down the road give yourself the opportunity to experience something new. See what other people are doing. Eat something delicious and different. Look at a piece of art. Take a nap and then go for a sightseeing walk.
I promise that you'll appreciate your job, your family, your friends, and your home in a whole new way.
Until next time...
