Hi there, did you miss me? It feels so good to be back in your inbox. This newsletter is late (sorry!!!), and I haven’t written anything for Substack in the past month, but I’m going to blame it on the heat. I become someone else in the Summer; I’ve been busy making memories, making friends, gathering material and lying half-naked in front of my overworked fan. I’m assuming you’ve also been busy, so whilst my dispatches might be sporadic in the next couple of months (think postcards and letters home from camp, how fun!!), I promise to resume my regularly scheduled programming in September. In the meantime, if you want to hear from me, give me a call, hit my line or scroll through the archive.
Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
I spent very little time in London this month, but I made sure to make my few days count. Dinners with friends, late nights closing down the beer garden, Lime rides all over the city evangelising the benefits of a Lime Prime subscription. My mom came to visit, and I felt regenerated after a week of Pilates, cuddles, a visit to the Henry Moore exhibition at Kew Gardens, which I would recommend for anyone looking to touch grass whilst scrolling through a Sotheby’s catalogue (I’m a size Oval with Points in Henry Moore sculptures if anyone is feeling generous) and a night at the ballet.
A Blast from the Past and a Trip for Closure
This year also marked my school’s 75th anniversary, and I will take any excuse to go back on campus (and pet the ponies). The highest honour was bestowed on me when my new friends from the class of ‘85 told me they definitely would have wanted to hang with me back in the day.
I never met any of my grandfathers, but Alvaro was a close family friend and a grandfather figure. One of the funniest people I’ve known, we shared a love of living wildly for great stories. He passed away last year, and my mom and I went back to his family home where an exhibit commemorated his life.
Paris est une fête à quarante degrés
This past week was a love letter to friendships. Regina and I met five years ago in Florence whilst studying Italian, and at the end of the Summer, I went back to London, and she went back to Mexico. We kept in touch here and there, but when she was back in Europe a couple of years ago, I insisted on a mandatory London stop. We fell right back into old habits, as if no time had passed. This year, she’s spending the summer in Paris and once again we were reunited, picking up where we left off over a glass of overpriced Chablis at Les Deux Magots.
She kept telling me to brace myself for the heat, and I hate to admit that I thought she was just being dramatic; I’d survived many a heatwave in London. Paris in the heat is a different story though; I got off the Eurostar and stepped right into the seventh circle of hell. Still, I hadn’t been back in Paris in ages and refused to let a nearly sleepless night and a two-hour train delay stop me from having a great time. I’ve been a fan of Sophie Lou Wilson’s writing for ages, and had been dying to meet her in person. She was at a magazine launch that evening, and a promise of AC was all I needed to convince Regina to come along. I felt decidedly unsexy with sweat streaming down my legs as I fumbled in my Lime bike, trying not to flash the entire population of the Marais (though I doubt they’d bat an eye at a rogue nipple or a peek of lacy underwear). Thanks to the heat, the alcohol made its way to my head in record time, and Regina’s blood pressure had dropped, so we did the responsible thing and admitted we were unfit to cycle and walked to another bar to meet my school friends, Calypso and Lorenzo. I always say that what keeps me in London are the people, but a night with them had me trying to figure out how to move to Paris ASAP. We were never that close in school, but I experienced a heat-stroke-fuelled encounter of souls. We toasted to new and old friends.
A family-friendly interlude — My brother’s birthday was this past Friday, and he and my mother came to Paris so we could celebrate. We walked around the city and had dinner at Chartier, a long-time family favourite. Back at the hotel, we popped a bottle of Champagne and gave up on our plans of going out to watch the match. It was the perfect day.
Nothing but love and light in the most romantic city in the world. A picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower (with live music and tangled couples) will make a believer out of even the most ardent cynics, and as certified lover girls, my friends and I fully embraced the cliché. Maria Paula (Regina’s Roomate) and Sara (her childhood friend), share my personal brand of romance, and we bonded over our love of love as soon as I entered the apartment. They’ve taken hot girl summer seriously, and have been dating their way through every arrondissement and keeping us entertained in the process. Expect to read the best of their stories by the end of the season.
Julia’s June Recommendations – To Read, To Watch, To Eat
To Read - The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy
A wonderful book with a terrible title. This was recommended by Ismene Ormonde at the beginning of the year, but I’m glad I waited until I was being young and stupid in Paris to finally pick this up. Historically, I’m a huge fan of books where women have fun, and I’m also a big fan of seasonal reads. My essentials for braving the heatwave in Paris included tiny dresses, cotton shorts and flowy tops, and a copy of A Moveable Feast to gift to Regina, who was spending the summer there. I finished The Dud Avocado whilst lying in the sun in Jardin du Luxembourg (which resulted in an unfortunate tan line, but alas, toughest battles, strongest soldiers), recovering from a Chardonnay-induced hangover. The ideal setup if you ask me. The previous day, I had spent ages talking to Maria Paula about the importance of young hoe (complimentary) representation, and left her my copy inscribed with a note wishing her a summer full of love and adventure.
To Watch - The World Cup!!
I become a football fan every four years, and as a true Brazilian, every four years I claim that the Hexa is coming. Catch me with a pint in hand, screaming my head off at any match (my Friday night is sorted, Argentina x Cabo Verde is going to be epic). I bought face paint, I’m ninety per cent sure I know what offside is, I love an underdog and am a great time. Please send your watch party invitations my way.
To Eat - The Cheesewick Pizza from Napoli on the Road
A new favourite, I’m willing to travel an hour across the city for a slice. Trust me.
Honourable Mentions and Other Things Bringing me Joy
Long, hot, summer nights. No explanation needed.
Staying up all night, watching the sunrise and listening to the birds.
Waking up to the sound of the Notre Dame bells going off – headache be damned.
Going crazy at City Pharma. This is my favourite place in the city, sue me. I stocked up on essentials (A313, Bioderma Micellar water, Biafine) and also picked up a couple of bottles of Roger and Gallet shower gel (Neroli is the best).
Summer reads!! Loved contributing to Livia’s roundup and picked up a couple of other titles mentioned on the list.
I love a seasonal playlist, and I LOVE summer. I’ve been listening to this playlist on repeat.
Love this so much i will cry !!