Paris has an uncannily familiar feel to me, though I can’t quite put my finger on why.

I departed Italy on Sunday, July 4, catching an overnight train from Bologna to Paris. The long layover in Bologna was a bit of a drag, but once on the train, I found my couchette in a cabin where three women were already asleep. I settled in as quietly as I could, eventually being lulled to sleep by the gentle sway of the train and the rhythmic clatter of the tracks. My sleep was deep, though filled with vivid, almost paralyzing dreams.

As the train neared Paris, I awoke to the sight of the French countryside zipping past. A wave of excitement washed over me at the thought of exploring a new city. Once in Paris, I quickly handled the logistics—buying train tickets for my upcoming travels and taking a cab to my apartment, where I got the keys, paid the rent, and settled in.

Although I’ve been in Paris for just a couple of days, there’s an ease and familiarity here that surprises me. It doesn’t feel quite like home as New York City does, but there’s a comforting intimacy with Paris that’s hard to explain. Despite my limited French, I’ve navigated the metro and city streets with surprising ease, feeling completely at ease in this city.

My July is packed with travel. After spending 11 days in Paris, I’ll be in Brussels from July 15-19, then rent a flat in Amsterdam from July 19-27. The end of the month sees me in Berlin from July 28-31, before flying to Dublin on the last day of July to spend August there. In Dublin, I’m excited to be joined by a former colleague from my job in San Francisco, Jennifer. We plan to rent a car, exploring the Irish countryside and visiting major cities like Cork and Dublin.

Now, I must leave you, my dear readers, as I step out to explore more of the enchanting streets of Paris.