Place des Vosges

I've been lucky to make new friends from all over the world this year. But when it boils down to it, nothing is better than meeting up with old friends after a long time apart.

Julie is a friend that I went to high school and university in Brisbane with. Like many of my Australian lawyer friends, she now works in London and has spent the last two years vacationing all over Europe.

On her weekend trip to Paris, we planned a rendezvous in the Marais. In true Parisian style, we were clad in dark coats as we meandered around the small streets and boutique stores. It was a beautiful Spring day so we stopped to soak up the sunshine in Place des Vosges - one of the oldest (and prettiest) planned squares in Paris.

If there is one thing you should know about Australians, it is that brunch is the most important meal of the day. Being in Paris, we swapped our usual avocado on sourdough toast for crepes and galettes at Breizh Cafe. We did as the Bretons do - sip on cider as we munched on the best kind of French brunch I could dream of.

Our conversation picked up right where we left off. Julie told me stories of living in London. I updated her on my fast-paced INSEAD life. And we both complained about the dark days of Big Law firms that we have hopefully left behind us. The chit-chat and laughter flowed as if nothing had changed in the two years that had passed.

Many of my classmates are spending their weekends gallivanting around exotic European locations. But as for me, I'm rather enjoying living next door to the ever-charming city of Paris.