World Economic Forum Highlights

I just got back from an amazing long weekend in Davos and St. Moritz. Details and photos to follow. I cannot even get into talking about how absolutely fantastic it was, because I’ll be writing forever, but I am going to post some of my favorite sessions from the economic forum. Bored? Procrastinating? Watch the following videos. I really enjoyed them, hope you do as well.

Rethinking The Balance of Power in the Middle East . Fascinating, possibly because find myself perpetually confused about the relationship between countries in the middle east and between the middle east and the rest of the word.

Sarkozy’s Address .

Rebuilding Education for the 21st Century . If it isn’t all about education, as my grandmother and great aunts (all teachers) taught me, I’m really not sure what it is about at all.

Open Forum: Does Religion’s Claim To Truth Lead to Violence . Welcome into my life, Marcia Pally.

xo

J. Justine

I Dreamt, Or Maybe It Was Just A Thought…

…that my President announced at the State Of The Union address that our army would start leaving the countries we’ve brought war to. This is what happens when you watch bits of Across The Universe late at night.

xo

J. Justine

Bujumbura. Cooperate with me.

Airfare starting at 1700USD and 24hour flights with three layovers is NOT going to happen. But I would love to go to Bujumbura. Why is it so difficult to get to East Africa? Ok, fine, it’s not East Africa…it’s just Burundi.

xo

J. Justine

Gluten Free in Europe

This one is for Kirsten.

I went gluten free for a week. I tend to experiment a lot with my cooking and my eating – I always come back to my favorites: truffles, spinach and a nice Bordeaux. May God bless the vegans, those who eat gluten free, and those who successfully cut sugar out of their diets. For theirs is the most disciplined diet. I went gluten free in Switzerland, home of dipping bread in melted cheese and calling it a meal. For the record, that is why I love this place.

Was it impossible? No. Was it difficult? Yes. Perhaps its the popularity of fad dieting in the states that makes almost every diet socially acceptable in some way. Have you heard of the cavemen? But it’s not the same in Europe. Expect to run into some problems. But, I did find wonderful organic and health food shops tucked away with countless gluten-free products and healthy goodies.

I imagine gluten free in Barcelona won’t be impossible – last time I was there (fall 2006), I was on a paella and seafood a la plancha only diet, but for a long-term stay, that may get a little redundant, so check out these restaurant suggestions and shops. Thank you for reading, and enjoy Barcelona!

xo

J. Justine

New Years Resolution #387: Explore Asia

I’m thinking of Beijing in April and Singapore in June. Kayak alerts created. Just looking for decent airfare.

xo

J. Justine

Short Film Credit: First Spring, a contemporary film by Chinese art star Yang Fudong for Prada

Haiti

A good friend of mine just returned from Haiti, where she tends to spend most of her Christmases and New Years. She came back just before the earthquake. I emailed her to tell her she was in my prayers and she says, though most of her family members have been found, there are still a few who are missing.

Jesus. It’s really heartbreaking.

Please pray for Haiti.

Please give to Haiti. [If you need some ideas: Water. Health. Doctors. Builders. Haiti.]

And, please, please, keep giving – because one day the world will move on, our collective attention span seems to be short, but that day, the work in Haiti won’t be done.

xo

J. Justine

For Those Who Rack Up Ridiculous Phone Bills Abroad…

…like I, somehow, regularly manage to do. This article may save your bank account.

xo

J. Justine

Eye Candy.

Hello, I love this.

Suite Ile aux Oiseaux designed by Maison Martin Margiela, Les Sources de Caudalie.

I once sat in a wine bath, after a honey and wine wrap, at the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa in the Plaza. That will be happening again. I believe wholeheartedly in wine therapy, in its many forms. Perhaps a stay in the Suite Ile aux Oiseaux will also be happening.

xo

J. Justine

Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, The Plaza Hotel, Central Park South and Fifth Avenue, New York 10019

Les Sources des Caudalie, Chemin de Smith Haut-Lafitte, Bordeaux-Martillac, France 33650

As Emily Said…

In 1922, Emily Post wrote the following words…

In every country of Europe and Asia are Americans who combine the brilliancy which none can deny is the birthright of the newer world, with the cultivation and good breeding of the old. These Americans of the best type go all over the world, fitting in so perfectly with their background that not even the inhabitants notice they are strangers; in other words, they achieve the highest accomplishment possible.

But in contrast to these, the numberless discordant ones are only too familiar; one sees them swarming over Europe in bunches, sometimes in hordes, on regular professionally run tours. This, of course, does not mean that all personally conducted tourists are anything like them. The objectionables are loud of voice, loud in manner; they always attract as much attention as possible to themselves, and wave American flags on all occasions…In hotels, on excursions, steamers and trains, they insist on talking to everyone, whether everyone wants to talk or not. They are “all over the place” – there is no other way to express it – and they allow privacy to no one if they can help it.

My, my, time goes by and it seems the world doesn’t change at all. I’m regularly seated next to a person who wants to talk the entire flight – regardless of the book, iPod, or pillow I’ve pulled out, showing my intended activity during the flight.

The opinions of American tourists abroad are so low, it’s appalling. Sadly, this makes it difficult for other Americans to visit the country. Luckily, I don’t look American at first glance. I plan on adopting an indiscernible accept in the future if it continues.

xo

J. Justine

Excerpt from Emily Post’s 1922 edition of Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home.

What I Was Doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve

Warmest New Year’s wishes of prosperity and happiness from Paris. I’ve been here since the 31st, visiting friends and hanging out. There’s always this temptation in Paris that doesn’t exist everywhere. It’s the temptation to be sucked into the tourist routine – the Louvre, but just to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo; the Tour Eiffel; Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame.

I spent a summer studying in Tours, France during which I came to Paris multiple times and exhausted every single museum I could possibly think of – I mean, I even went to the oceanographic institute. So, I’ve seen what there is to see – multiple times, and while your experience at a museum or in a church or near a monument can be different each time, there are other parts of Paris to experience to do not necessarily involve standing in line with hundreds of fellow tourists, for example, The Experience I – details to follow.

So, I resolved, I would not do anything “touristy” during this trip. I’ve spent my time in Paris meeting new people and seeing old friends – literally hoping from restaurant to restaurant just talking and eating and sharing wine and enjoying life and conversation. It has been phenomenal.

New Year’s Eve was all about “meeting for drinks” earlier in the evening and then house party hopping. For my New Year’s dinner, I went to a kebab shop with a good friend of mine, shared a bottle of red we’d received earlier in the night when we met up with other friends and had a double crepe dessert.

Last night, I headed to Experimental Cocktail Club. A bit of background: A French friend of mine, knowing I’d be in Paris for New Years, sent me the Parisian city guide from Monocle magazine, his favorite. “I already knoooow what to do in Paris, thanks.” He laughed. “It’s not one of those kinds of city guides, just look, you’ll like it.” So I looked. And the suggestions were actually interesting, many of them were things I’d never done or even heard of in Paris. Listed as a bar to check out was Experimental Cocktail Club – the description reminded me of Death + Company or Little Branch in New York City. I wanted to go BADLY, but the online reviews complained of moody bouncers at the door and I didn’t want to suggest a place where their may be a problem getting in. So, when a friend told me to meet her there, I was beyond excited.  Tiny as it was, the cocktails were pretty much perfect. And the bartender wasn’t moody, just knowledgeable about fire codes. This place filled up fast, and by filled up, I mean there was not a single inch of floor on which to stand and with only two bartenders the wait time became significant. There should be no significant wait between your rounds of The Experience I. It’s delicious. Just order it. It was around this time that we decided to leave, but I will be back. Absolutely.

I met a friend at Tribeca for a bottle of pinot noir and conversation. I am sure he made me get off a few metro stops too early so that I could pass the Eiffel Tower at exactly 6p to see the light show. “I’ve seen that thing so many times! And it’s light show.” He laughed at me. “You still love it, yes?” Ugh. Yes. I do. He’s right. I cannot escape my francophilia, my Parisophilia, and sometimes that means things I’ve seen multiple times and try to pretend I’m above admiring.

xo

J. Justine

Experimental Cocktail Club, 37 rue saint sauveur, Paris 75002

Death + Company, 433 East Sixth Street, Manhattan 10009

Little Branch, 22 Seventh Avenue South, Manhattan 10014

Tribeca, 36 Rue Cler, Paris, 75007