“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”
— Edith Lovejoy Pierce
We all know the saying — new year, new blog.
Okay, so maybe that’s not exactly how it goes, and maybe this isn’t exactly a “new” blog either, but as you may have noticed over the past few days, there have been a couple of big changes made to what used to be Rare Travels.
After a whirlwind weekend visiting good friends in Baltimore and Washington D.C., I’m excited to finally have a chance to tell you more about it:
New look
I’ve had my eye on the “Linen” theme for a while (made by the same company I used for my last design, The Theme Foundry — love them!), but I forced myself to postpone switching until I returned from India and would have the time to smooth out any wrinkles behind the scenes.
New name
What I’m even more excited about than the blog’s fancy new outfit is its fancy new name: The Great Affair. But as some of my long-term, die-hard readers might remember (i.e. my mother), this name isn’t quite so new. It actually predates Rare Travels, back to when I was in New Zealand. Here’s where the phrase originates from:
I first came across the phrase on a magnet in the Art Institute of Chicago’s bookshop. It was my senior year of university and most of the traveling I’d done up to that point had involved family vacations on the East Coast — even still, Stevenson’s words spoke to me like a yet-understood language on an ancient parchment.
Once I returned from New Zealand, a family friend suggested Rare Travels as a kind of pun off my last name (which is pronounced like a “rare-done steak”). I liked it, as it seemed to convey the philosophy of taking the way less traveled, but what I found people often asked was, “So have you had many rare travels?” I realized the name wasn’t doing its job — giving you a clear sense of what this blog is about.
So in a kind of re-branding exercise (yikes, does that sound corporate or what), I made it official: The Great Affair is back. On a content level, not much will be different. What is really changing is the lens through which this blog is read — that it’s not only about where you travel or how you get there, but the spirit behind it.
That insatiable desire for new places and different air.
The great affair of being caught up in the world and the adventure it offers.
To wrap up this little introduction of The Great Affair, I put together a wee video in which I try to capture the spirit of both travel and of life itself — the same spirit of adventure and movement I aim to celebrate here through the new year and beyond.
Without further adieu:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhjS50QZmFA
I LOVE the new look! Both of your designs that I’ve seen have been really streamlined, and the header is gorgeous! Admittedly I was a bit perplexed by the name at first – it doesn’t shout ‘travel’ like the old name did – but your explanation really fills it out!
To 2012, the old and new 😉
Thanks so much, Naomi! I’m glad to hear you like the new look. And thanks for your honesty about the name, too 🙂 You make a great point, and I’m hoping a revised ‘About’ section will help fill in the blanks about it being a travel blog. Here’s to a wonderful 2012!
Nice job. 🙂
And you’re focussing on the thing that for me is the biggest pull of travel – the Why. Why do we do these things? What do we expect to gain, and what do we *actually* gain? How do we change? What’s our responsibility to convey that knowledge? What does travel unlock inside us? What’s the difference between what we see and what we feel – and why has the modern world grown accustomed to focussing on the former and frowning on the latter? Isn’t subjectivity *everything*?
etc.
Read Alain de Botton’s “The Art Of Travel”? That certainly unlocked a lot of things inside me…
Thank you, Mike! So each of those questions you just asked are a chapter from the travel memoir you’re writing, right? 😉 Seriously love them, and I adore “The Art of Travel.” I first read it on a train ride through New Zealand and felt so challenged/enlightened/validated/etc by it. His quote, “Journeys are the midwives of thought,” has always stuck with me, and I really connected with the bit about why he sometimes prefers to travel alone. I’m hoping to explore this more philosophical side of travel and journeys this year! Thanks again for the comment and here’s to 2012 🙂
How the whole new look appears so slick yet glamorous, minimalistic yet conspicuously sophisticated, reminiscent of its former entity yet exuberant in its new identity and attitude – I’m adoring it. Header image – gorgeous. Outdone yourself once again you have Ms Rardon!
Though the ‘rare travels’ wordplay will always be a spot of nostalgia for me 🙂
What a fresh start to a fresh new year! 2012 is going to a promising one for you no doubt!
P.S. Nellie showed me your article in Wild Junket, all laid out. I have none but praises for it 😀
Dylan, my friend, only you could conjure up so many lovely adjectives 🙂 Thanks so much for your kind words, that means a lot! I really do have a good feeling about 2012–and that may have something to do with launching STL pretty soon, too 😉 PS – So glad you liked the WJ article, too. I’m excited to see it myself on Monday!
Loving the new look, all looks gorgeous and the video is beautiful – makes me very excited about visiting India later this year.
Thanks, Monica! When are you headed to India? And what parts are you visiting? I absolutely loved my time there–it’s such a fascinating country. Looking forward to meeting you in person soon and working with you this year on STL 🙂
I am loving the new look Candace! Simplistic elegance.
You look gorgeous in the header photo (as always!) and I do love the look of a good ink written typography.
I can’t wait to see where 2012 takes you especially after the excitement of 2011. 🙂
Haha you know my weakness–while I tried to go for readable fonts for most of the site, I couldn’t resist that one script for the header 🙂 But I’m so glad you like the new look–I decided it was time for a change, and am hoping the fresh look gets 2012 off to a good start! Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Perfect! It’s like Rare Travels all grown up. The site looks great – very inviting, and streamlined – I look forward to continuing with you on your adventures. Congratulations! x (p.s. Only thing missing is your list of writing awards – eg the Faber & Faber Prize…). x
Thanks so much, Paige! That means a lot coming from you. And yes, I’ll have to see what I can do about listing the prize 🙂 Looking forward to seeing you soon! x
I love the video, It is soo inspiring! I love that God has taken you to places I am scared to even think about.
Thank you, Maddy! I had such a great time with your class yesterday, and I’ve made sure my mom is going to send me all of your magic box poems once you turn them in 🙂 I’m so glad you liked the video, but don’t worry–I’m pretty scared sometimes myself. Not of the places themselves really, just being on your own can be hard. Even today on our ride to Dulles airport, my parents and I were trying to remember the quote, “Courage isn’t the absence fear, but doing what scares you in spite of the fear.” It’s a good one I always try to keep in mind. Thanks again for saying hi!
Love this Candace!!! So awesome. You are amazing and I’m proud of you. Now you can help me do mine! Love you, see you soon xxx
Aw, thanks babe! And I’m so proud of you…and I definitely can’t wait to help you out with your site in any way I can 🙂 So excited you’re back tomorrow xxx