It’s been a week since my last post and I have spent that time wandering around the streets of my new city, furthering my belief that Paris is indeed home. I’ve been cat sitting two furry little friends, and despite the existence of deep neuroses (on both sides, lol) we have been getting along splendidly. I spend my days enjoying the summer sun while wandering through cobblestone streets and majestic boulevards, retracing the footsteps of the likes of Jean Paul Sartre and Coco Chanel.
It’s been so nice being back and reconnecting with friends. There is nothing more heart warming than picking up the rhythms of old friendships. Two years later and we carry on without missing a beat. I’ve eaten better than I have in months, the result of exquisite cooking and good company.
I moved into a friend’s apartment, where I’ll be living for the next few months as I make arrangements for a more permanent housing solution. The apartment is well lit, beautifully decorated and lovely. In the heart of the 17th, I walk by the Arc de Triomphe every morning and am steps from the Champs Elysees. Randomly, I saw Queen Latifa eating at a cafe in the luxurious 8th arrondisement.
The Living Room
The Dining Room
The Kitchen
A few highlights from my week:
I started out Friday by doing some research at the incomparable Opera Starbucks. I’m happy to report that the outlining phase for chapters 3 and 4 are complete. Two cups of coffee and a few wifi cards later I happily crossed another writing goal off my list.
After a quick stop in the Marais to see Martin and Seb and I headed towards Rue Bretagne to one of my favorite Paris eateries, Cafe Charlot. They have the most amazing goat cheese salad. Even though I just had some, thinking about it makes me crave it all over again. 
The atmosphere is relaxed and the place is always packed. Service is (surprisingly) fast and friendly.
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By winter d’adulescent
On Thursday I met up with some friends to eat some Lebanese food and celebrate Happy Hour on the wonderful Rue Montrogueil. I practically lived here when I was on exchange in 2006, and in the past four years not much has changed. The same fish salesmen are yelling about the freshness of their catches and the little Italian place halfway up the street is still jampacked no matter what time you try to get a table. There is a bustle and energy to this street that I’ve always liked and I love to sit at one of the cafes and people watch.
On Wednesday I headed over to les Bois de Boulogne for a quick jog. It was so beautiful and green that I almost forgot I was in the middle of an enormous city! I only saw a small sample of the park but I’m excited to go back and rediscover more trails and jogging paths.
By vitruve
The days ahead…
I’m really enjoying spending the last few weeks of summer in such wonderful surroundings. I’ll be attending some of my first meet-up groups next week so I’ll let you know how it goes and if I make any new friends. 
September is going to be a packed month. I’m going on a hiking trip the first weekend of the month, followed by two weeks in Toronto for three speaking engagements (details to come). Finally, I’m really excited because my parents are going to come and visit me in the last week of September. I’ll be showing them the city and then we’ll be heading back to Switzerland to see my Godparents for a few days.
Meanwhile, as all of this is happening, the Annual Meeting of New Champions (Summer Davos) will take place in China from September 13-15. It’s going to be so exciting to announce the 2011 class of Technology Pioneers and we’re already preparing all the goodies we’re going to launch in the next few weeks.
Someone said to me the other day “before you know it, Thanksgiving will be upon us and then it’s just a race to Davos!” What?! I don’t care what anyone says, it’s still August right now and I plan to savor every single minute.
