Today was day 6 in Paris and day 2 of site visits! In the morning we visited Charles de Gaulle Airport just to the north of Paris in Roissy in France, and after lunch we visited the Galleries Lafayette right in the center of Paris.
CDG as it is abbreviated is the same airport we arrived at only days ago, so it was cool to have the background tour and see the parts of airports that no one really ever thinks of. We drove around the freight area for the most part, which did not have much traffic. I’m sure most people don’t even know it’s there! It is considered Europe’s main hub for cargo entry, and millions of dollars come in and go out on a regular basis. Companies like Fedex, UPS, and DHL all have huge European headquarters there, allowing them to access all parts of the continent. Something that the tour guide said that I found really interesting was that every month there are horses that have been chartered for the Saudi Arabian government that are shipped right out of Paris.
The Galleries Lafayette was also a great learning experience. It was basically like the French version of Nordstrom’s or Macy’s, but everything was very high end. The guide told us all about the history of the store from the 19th century up to today. She explained the absolute mastermind behind the marketing that went in to the business to draw women in and cater to their needs in a time when purchasing a single item could take weeks and even months. The store’s architecture was amazing. It has a pretty large dome that is decorated in an Art Nouveau style, but most of the store is very modern. The two really blend together, and in addition to a rooftop with 360 views of the city it just makes the store that much more unique.
We also learned that the weather can be quite unpredictable! Cloudy one minute, sunny the next, and freezing rain only moments later.
I can’t wait to see what else Paris has to offer!!
CDG as it is abbreviated is the same airport we arrived at only days ago, so it was cool to have the background tour and see the parts of airports that no one really ever thinks of. We drove around the freight area for the most part, which did not have much traffic. I’m sure most people don’t even know it’s there! It is considered Europe’s main hub for cargo entry, and millions of dollars come in and go out on a regular basis. Companies like Fedex, UPS, and DHL all have huge European headquarters there, allowing them to access all parts of the continent. Something that the tour guide said that I found really interesting was that every month there are horses that have been chartered for the Saudi Arabian government that are shipped right out of Paris.
The Galleries Lafayette was also a great learning experience. It was basically like the French version of Nordstrom’s or Macy’s, but everything was very high end. The guide told us all about the history of the store from the 19th century up to today. She explained the absolute mastermind behind the marketing that went in to the business to draw women in and cater to their needs in a time when purchasing a single item could take weeks and even months. The store’s architecture was amazing. It has a pretty large dome that is decorated in an Art Nouveau style, but most of the store is very modern. The two really blend together, and in addition to a rooftop with 360 views of the city it just makes the store that much more unique.
We also learned that the weather can be quite unpredictable! Cloudy one minute, sunny the next, and freezing rain only moments later.
I can’t wait to see what else Paris has to offer!!
This was such an awesome day! It was so fun to explore parts of Charles de Gaulle Airport that an average traveller would never normally see. The Galleries Lafayette was one of the most beautiful structures I have ever seen. It was amazing to learn the history of the architecture and the marketing design of the stores located in the building.
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