Bonjour! We started off our day with breakfast in our hotel’s breakfast room. We ate breakfast items such as bread with nutella, croissants, and yogurt. Then we all got dressed in nice summer clothes and headed out for the day! 

Our first stop was Sciences Po Paris, the school of political science; to get there, we walked through Jardin du Luxembourg. At Sciences Po, we met up with Archer alumna Chloe ‘15 and her friend Valeria. The two of them gave us a brief tour and introduction of the school and then led us into a typical classroom. This is where they discussed their paths leading them to where they are now. From their relationship with the French language to immersing themselves in Parisian culture, they told very detailed and inspiring stories and shared their work in the environmental sector.

After experiencing the French metro for the first time, we arrived at the Galeries Lafayette - an incredible department store with beautiful architecture and many floors. There was a lot to take in at once, but most (if not all) of us were successful in finding something that spoke to us. It was so lovely to be in a shopping center much different from those we see in LA. 

 We walked to the Opera Garnier and had a guided tour of the beautiful interior. We were able to see the ornate reception rooms, original costumes from iconic shows and the famous staircase.

We went to La Recyclerie, had a tour of their facilities and learned about their environmental programs. They had a place to get drinks as well as an area for people to study, drink, connect, or work. We were able to see their gardens, their beehives, and a station where people could fix their household appliances or borrow tools.

In the evening, we went to Montmartre, the highest point in Paris. It was beautiful to see the city from afar and above. we walked around and got crepes along with paintings that the street artists made! We also saw the Sacré Coeur basilica, which Montmartre is best known for, and sat on a bench outside the church to take in the view. We finally came together as a group to have dinner in the center of the square we were in.

After breakfast and on our way to the Marché d’Aligre, we walked through the Jardin des plantes which had a beautiful view and a wide array of flowers and trees. The Marché d’Alligre was a beautiful farmers market and flea market where we could purchase delicious fruit like mangos and strawberries or cute bags, trinkets, and jewelry. Everyone there was really nice to us especially as not a lot of tourists visit the market.

Guyapi, a fair-trade and indigenous plant specialist, greeted us with a traditional Amazonian drink made from Guarana. We then listened to a presentation about the history of the slow food movement and Guayapi's efforts to bring indigenous knowledge and plant-based nutrients to French consumers. Afterwards, we did a taste testing in front of their shop.

We walked into the Musée d’Orsay and were in awe of the unique architecture of this museum. Within a former train station, the Musée d’Orsay is filled with sculptures and paintings from world renowned artists such as Rodin, Degas, Manet, Monet, and Van Gogh. 

The boat ride on the Seine had fantastic views of Paris. We were able to see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, and more. We also waved to a lot of people enjoying the beautiful day on the banks of the river.

After dinner, we took a short walk towards the Champs de Mars, a nearby park leading up to la Tour Eiffel. The beautiful sunset was dreamy end to our day.