Eat Love Pray

Last night I watched "Eat Love Pray" with Mariana and a coworker. I have to say I was a bit skeptipal b/c it is 1) A chick flick, 2) Based on a book, 3) Has Julia Roberts in a staring role. None of these factors make a movie bad necessarily but the combination of the three tend to = over hyped and doesn't live up to anyone expectations. I mean when has a Julia Roberts role not named Pretty Woman been better than expected, when has a chick flick pleasantly surprised, and when has a movie ever been better than the book. Needless to say I had my doubts.

It was good. I don't think it will be for everyone but I liked it.
The main themes of the movie were, Travel, Love, Food, Culture and Self discovery. All of these things speak to me. I have made many journeys like the one in the movie.

The main thing I took away from the movie was the interesting connection between Love and Travel. I do believe (with only my own personal experience as evidence) that there is a major connection between love and travel.

Maybe our minds are more open to the world when we travel and then love arrives. Or maybe others can see our vaurnablity and seek to help and guide us during travels. Or maybe it could be that in need of love people naturally seek it out much like an animal will roam for food. I don't really know why the connection exists but I most certainly believe that to travel is to promote love.

There was one scene in the movie (I won't spoil it for everyone) where Julia Roberts love interest ask her to get on a boat with him for a weekend trip, just the two of them. This scene really demonstrates the connection between love and travel. He was not just asking her to go he was asking for a confirmation of love and a strengthening of their relationship.

I hope when everyone watches this movie they don't walk away thinking that Americans are rich, or that when life gets bad you should seek out a Guru in Bali or India. I really hope people don't leave this movie wanting to take extravagant trips to faraway places to be closer to God. I hope when people watch this movie they walk away with the idea that when you love someone you travel with them, or you travel for them, or you travel to them.

If you still don’t believe in the link between love and travel then why are foreign accents so hot? And why are vacations with loved ones the best part of any year?