Rich Nollen is one of the most respected healthcare business development professionals in the US and a global thinker, known for creating strategies that drive growth. As founder and CEO of Innovare HP, he specializes in demand capture and pipeline acceleration, helping healthcare brands forge meaningful connections and create lasting impact.
Paris. A city that doesn't just exist but breathes, through its cobbled streets, its layered history, its cafés filled with cigarette smoke and slow conversations. It's a place that doesn't beg to be loved, but it's impossible not to fall for it. Some cities dazzle, some overwhelm, but Paris? Paris seduces. And for my birthday, there was no better backdrop for reflection, indulgence, and, ultimately, a lesson in how to live.
Arrival: Stepping into the pulse of Paris
The journey started on the Eurostar, a marvel of efficiency, a direct shot from London into the beating heart of Paris in just over two hours. There's something to be said for arriving by train, emerging into a city instead of stepping off a sanitized jet bridge into nowhere. The moment we stepped outside Gare du Nord, Paris swallowed us whole, and I guess it's the only way to experience it.
Hotel Passy Eiffel: A place to exhale
Every great day in Paris needs a soft landing. Hotel Passy Eiffel, tucked away in a quieter part of the city, offered exactly that. No grand chandeliers, no over-the-top luxury, just a place to exhale, to reflect, to prepare for another day of walking until our feet ached and our souls were full.
Kozy Bosquet: Breakfast as a ritual
In Paris, you don't just eat, you linger. Meals aren't mere sustenance; they're punctuation marks in the day, moments to be savored, dissected, and remembered. At Kozy Bosquet, with its warm pastries and perfect espresso, we found this to be true. The avocado toast was not just avocado toast, it was the start of a day, the sustenance that allowed us to wander, to discover. And in Paris, discovery isn't optional, it's a requirement.
Île aux Cygnes: Perspective on the Seine
Paris doesn't always need to shout to be heard. Île aux Cygnes, the "Island of Swans," is proof of that. This narrow strip of land, man-made and unremarkable by tourist standards, offers a rare pause in a city that rarely stops. As we walked its quiet path, the Seine rushed by on both sides, carrying the weight of the city's restless rhythm. At the tip, a smaller, almost bashful Statue of Liberty stood with its back to the city, gazing westward as if longing for New York. In the distance, the Eiffel Tower loomed, unapologetically grand, while we remained in the humbler company of joggers, dog walkers, and the occasional local seeking solace. No fanfare, no spectacle, just a fleeting reminder that sometimes the best way to see Paris is to slip away from it.
The Louvre: Beneath the glass and sky
The Louvre was overwhelming, and that was the point. You can't see it all, you're not supposed to. We skipped the snaking line of tourists eager to shuffle through the museum's halls. Instead, we lingered outside, admiring the grandeur of the Louvre's exterior, the intricate façade, the elegant symmetry, the way the afternoon sun caught the glass pyramid and made it shimmer. It was a reminder that sometimes, the beauty on the outside is more than enough.
The small pleasures: Crêpes, coffee, and caramel
Paris is a city of small pleasures. A perfectly pulled espresso at Café Richard. A bite of buckwheat crêpe at Breizh Café Passy, where the salted butter caramel was proof that simplicity is often the highest form of sophistication. These were the moments that lingered longer than any landmark.
The Eiffel Tower: When cliché becomes magic
Some things are cliché for a reason. The Eiffel Tower at sunset is one of them. The way the light softened into gold, casting long shadows over the city, and the first sparkle of lights flickered on, it was the kind of beauty that made even the most jaded soul believe in romance. And then, in that fleeting, shimmering moment, it happened. A question, simple but seismic. A promise wrapped in four words. The world around us blurred, the tourists, the cameras, the noise of the city, all fading into irrelevance. It was just us, standing beneath iron and sky, hearts in our throats. Paris, a city that has witnessed a million love stories, held space for ours. And though it's seen it all before, in that moment, it felt like the first time.
Square de l'Île-de-France: Time in slow motion
Before saying goodbye to the city, we took a walk through Square de l'Île-de-France, a final lesson in the passage of time. Here, past and present blurred, history was not something confined to books or museums; it was something we stepped into. A reminder that places change, people move on, but some things, beauty, love, the need for a perfect meal, are eternal.
Bistrot De La Tour Eiffel: A simple lunch with a grand view
There are meals you forget before you leave the table, and there are meals that shape you. Lunch at Bistrot De La Tour Eiffel was the latter. No elaborate feast, just a plate of golden, perfectly crisp fries, salty and addictive, and a selection of freshly baked goods: flaky croissants, buttery pain au chocolat, and a rustic pastry that practically melted on the tongue. It wasn't fancy, but it didn't need to be. The beauty was in its simplicity, the kind of meal that didn't demand attention but lingered in memory. We sat there, unhurried, watching the city stroll by, and in that moment, Paris felt less like a destination and more like a familiar, welcoming friend.
Paris is not just a place, it's a philosophy. It doesn't rush, it doesn't compromise. It forces you to slow down, to notice, to appreciate. It teaches you that indulgence is not a sin, that beauty matters, and that sometimes, the most important thing you can do is sit at a café with a glass of wine and simply exist.
This trip wasn't just a celebration of another year, it was a lesson. A lesson in how to live, how to savor, how to love a city that will never love us back but will always leave us wanting more.
Read more from Rich Nollen, BSN, RN
Rich Nollen, BSN, RN, Healthcare Marketing and Strategic Growth
Rich Nollen is a nurse turned entrepreneur and the driving force behind Innovare HP, a healthcare marketing agency that's transforming how providers connect with communities. After transitioning from bedside to boardroom, Rich’s journey has been nothing short of wild, fueled by a passion to spark ideas, share stories, and empower others. With a growing presence across multiple states—including Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and California—Innovare HP is committed to making healthcare more accessible and impactful. Rich’s message: If a nurse can dream big and invest in change, so can you.
