A new generation of beautifully made travel guides is flourishing, giving our travels a different, more interesting angle. Bonjour Paris” and “Bonjour New York“, created by Marin Montagut are worth a place on the top of the must-buy list. Marin’s take on the world is joyful and easygoing, echoing his sunny and poetic imagination.

I found about “Bonjour New York” through Wovenplay, as the guide features their freshly opened shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Marin considers himself  an independent learner, with interest for art, fashion, architecture and chance encounters. In his guides, he depicts his world, a world that exists in no other guide and unveils the best kept secrets of this cities alongside colourful illustrations of important monuments and people.

Trained in London and Paris (Saint Martin’s School), Marin learned the trade by working as a set designer, decorator and mixed media artist. In 2010, he decided to create a company\website “Marin Montagut Production” where he shows his illustrated field guides and travelling experiences.

Marin likes to share his taste for contrasts and always strives to stay off the beaten path. His curiosity and love of diversity have lead him to travel to European cities to shoot the trendiest spots, to discover the secret world of luxury brands for which he created custom-made films (Diptyque, Roger Vivier) and to immerse himself in other cultures, in farflung places on other continents.
.
You can find “Bonjour Paris” and “Bonjour New York” (€12) :
.
IN PARIS : at Merci, 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, and Colette, 213 Rue St Honore, BookMarc by Marc Jabobs 17 Place du Marché Saint-Honoré, Artazart 83 Quai de Valmy.

IN NEW YORK: at  BookMarc by Marc Jabobs 400 Bleecker Street,  John Derian Company 6 E 2nd Street.