Mérida, 2023

BOOK EXCERPT
Written By Hans Pauwels & Images By Reinhilde Gielen
 
 

MÉRIDA MORNINGS

She was already swimming when he woke up.

Their dog had claimed her spot in bed. Sprawled over the crumpled sheets and comfortably asleep, its paw touched his calf ever so lightly.

He marveled at the effortlessness and confidence with which she moved through the water. Even the slightest of gestures seemed to propel her lithe body. Every stroke triggered a bow wave on her forehead. Water resistance didn't seem to have any effect on her. She was on top of it.

It made him jealous.

He'd never been much of a swimmer. His legs always dragged him down. As sturdy as it was, his frame simply couldn't produce propulsion.

So he made coffee instead.

The black, low-cut bathing suit clung to her body when she got out of the pool. Water was dripping from her thighs when she reached for the cup. Tiny puddles reflected the pink of her toenails.

She was just as fascinating as she had been when they first met. Her allure still struck him in the midriff.

Mercilessly.

 
 
 
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Hans Pauwels & Images By Reinhilde Gielen

Reinhilde Gielen and Hans Pauwels explore the world in search of fascinating narratives behind concealed beauty. They create true stories about real people, real places, and real companies. Not just stories that stick, but stories that people lose themselves in because they convey timeless values.

As Aesthetic Nomads, Reinhilde and Hans work together as a creative duo for content and design. They collaborate closely with companies, organizations, and regions to create dynamic identities through voice, imagery, and storytelling. The brands they value and assist invariably endorse authenticity, tradition, and elegance.

Reinhilde is a fashion designer with lifelong experience as creative director for luxury fashion, food, beauty, and lifestyle brands. She is also an accomplished photographer, known for her captivating portrayals of everyday beauty. Reinhilde spends several months each year immersed in different cultures, soaking up their influences and capturing intriguing images of subdued richness and sophistication.

As a founder and CEO of multiple innovative companies in the food and technology sectors, Hans has traveled the world for business throughout his career. His newfound freedom allows him to join Reinhilde on her travels and pick up creative writing from where he left it at university. Along with well-versed business strategy papers, he writes vivid and anecdotal stories that blend travel, reflection, and exploration, always infused with humor and a dash of the absurd.

In their book, Aesthetic Nomads—A Chronicle of Beauty Unveiled, Reinhilde and Hans portray—in photographs and text—how unexpected interactions and contrasts reveal hidden beauty around the world.

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