Welcome, August.

I’m out on the terrace with Luigi this morning. It’s a fresh morning, weather-wise, and I am enjoying every second of it. Some sirens. A distant sound of someone on a megaphone/microphone announcing a sport. Otherwise, quiet. No gendarmes. The city is returning to its usual summer pace – even though the Games are ongoing. Remember, they take place in other cities, not just Paris.

I have two returnable/re-sellable tickets for final matches: women’s gold medal soccer and women’s gold medal basketball.

It will be warm again today, but the temps are dropping throughout the week. Finally.

I didn’t make it to le Petit Palais yet, but I still plan to do so. I need to keep my eye on the calendar. It’s already August, and the days will fly by.

I am meeting a friend later this evening.

Hélène and I met for a cocktail and catching up. There’s always news from one or both of us. Plus, I was to be meeting her daughter later, so we had about 90 minutes to chat before Alicia joined us.

We enjoyed another libations when Alicia arrived, and then walked around the neighborhood. I think we were in the 17ème arrondissement. We found a lovely place for dinner, and settled in for a traditional French meal.

I’m sorry I did not take photos.

Salmon tartare, du pain, et risotto avec des crevettes et des gambas. For dessert, I enjoyed crème brûlée along with Helene, while Alicia had two scoops of vanilla ice cream served with la tarte tatin – which is very traditional, and also fun to say!

It started raining. Actually, storming. Thunder, lightening. And me, without an umbrella. Oh mon dieu. I didn’t know we’d be out so late. Still, I should know better. The winds were blowing and the rain was coming down hard – and I was in a sleeveless tank with no umbrella and a full two blocks to walk/run to the Métro. Another adventure!

Three trains later – some quite full because a few Olympic Games in the area were ending – I was home, safe and sound.

After I put Luigi in his room for the night, I opened every single window, and enjoyed being chilly.

I slept like a baby.