Today’s agenda consisted of a food walking tour and a bit of history of the area we had visited. We landed at Etienne Marcel, our last stop when taking the metro. Instructions to the destination were clearly stated in the World Strides App and the trusty Citymapper App, which is essential for navigating real-time public transport in Paris.
We started off in the old Les Halles district, which was initially known as the central Paris food market. This century-old place still has old railings right under your feet, noting that there used to be trolleys that ran through the district at one point in time. Our first food tasting of the day was clementines, highlighting the fresh produce that came to the market every day. People in France tend to grocery shop every day instead of once a week due to the lack of storage space and the produce rotation.
Fresh Clementines
The center part of this district is covered by a “lid,” also known as the canopy, which has gone through millions of dollars in renovation. Back in these underground space provided a space for unwarranted activity however with a police station cemented in the same space, these activities are no longer present. Within this lid is a variety of stores and vendors, a mall, perfect for a place to shop and explore.
The “Lid” of the old Les Halles DistrictThe “Underground City” Hidden Under the Canopy
Spiraling into the Food Tour
We then visited a chocolate shop in which had these a rich, creamy, and slightly bitter taste. Made with hazelnuts and cocoa beans, it was compared to as a better and healthier Nutella chocolate.
Single Servings of Specialty Chocolates
Samples Given to the Group
We then stopped by a shop to get our supply of baguettes to be shared with the group. It is important to note that baguettes should never be torn or eaten directly from as it is considered improper. With that in mind, we handed our baguettes to a cheese monger who sliced the baguettes to be enjoyed with our special array of cheese. It included cheese from a goat, a sheep, a cow, and even a blue cheese! It was also further supplied with cider, green olives, tomatoes, and cured sausage from our lovely guide, Bee!
Baguette Shop in which Served Other Yummy GoodiesAssorted Cheese Board and Tomatoes
After a flavor burst we went to cleanse our palette with two different pastries. A chocolate eclair and a chewy almond and lemon jam treat! These sweets were acquired from the oldest pastry shop known in town.
Oldest Pastry Shop in Town
Chocolate Eclairs
Chewy Lemon Almond Sweet
Our final stop was an old church in which had a 3-D art exhibition as well as a daily soup kitchen! Chefs were recognized even after passing and had their names places into this glass cube to pay tribute to their handwork and dedication.
3-D Art Piece InstallationAnt’s View of the Ceiling of the ChurchGlass Cube Containing Chefs Tribute Names
The Present
This tour was not only informational but also yummy! We got to taste an array of different foods, from snacks to desserts. Although this area had a scandalous past, the present holds a much brighter place for people to get all their market needs. It is a perfect place to visit just to stop by or to even sit down and chat over a cheese board; it is perfect for anyone.
On Monday March 10th (Day 3 of the trip) we went to the Louvre. The Louvre is a museum that holds a good portion of the most famous works in the Western world. The museum was once a palace but was converted to a public museum by Napoleon Bonaparte.
View of the exterior of the Louvre and the Louvre glass pyramid.
Our first stop in the museum was the Mona Lisa. This painting was created by Leonardo da Vinci who at the end of his life worked at the French court. Leonardo was never satisfied with the work, and it is rumored that the paint was still wet when he died. The painting is a lot smaller than it appears in images. Professor Cadero-Gillette had a pass that gave her “the right to speak” in the Louvre. This pass allowed us to get beyond the outer barricade and to see the Mona Lisa more closely.
View of the crowd around the Mona Lisa. Our view of the Mona Lisa from beyond the outer barricade.
After seeing the Mona Lisa, we stuck to two galleries on Level 1 of the museum. In these galleries we looked at art from the Renaissance, Baroque and 19th century. This portion was personally my favorite part. Many of the painting we took a close look at were ones I had learned previously about in art history class at UML. For example, we looked at a painting by Caravaggio titled The Fortune Teller. I had previously seen this painting in a Baroque Art class. This semester I am also taking 19th Century Art. Many of the paintings we saw in the 19th century gallery were works I had seen and learned about in class. These painting included The Oath of the Horatii, The Coronation of Napoleon, The Raft of Medusa and more. It was very surreal to walk through the galleries and see works of art I had only learned about and seen in classes.
Our study abroad group in the Paintings in Italy from 1250-1800 gallery. Oath of the Horatii by Jacques Louis David.The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques Louis David. Professor Cadero-Gillette and some members of our study abroad group in front of The Raft of Medusa by Théodore Géricault.
We had the afternoon free, so most of our study abroad group went to Galeries Lafayette. Galeries Lafayette is a department store from the 19th century. Paris is where department stores originated. This particular department store has a beautiful stain glass ceiling. While at the department store, we got lunch at DS Café. I really loved this café! I am allergic to eggs and a vegetarian, but this café had many vegetarian options and icons to indicate allergens. I got the risotto. Our waitress was also incredibly nice. She managed to remember all nine of our names.
View of the Stain glass ceiling at Galeries Lafayette. Risotto at DS Café in Galeries Lafayette.
After lunch we took the elevator and then a few flights of stairs to the rooftop of the Galeries Lafayette. From the top of the building, we had a breathtaking view of the city.
View of Paris from the top of Galeries Lafayette.
For the rest of the afternoon we did a little more exploring of the area around the Galeries Lafayette before heading back to our rooms at FIAP.
For dinner my roommate and I used our Navigo cards to take the bus to the 5th arrondissement (district). There we had dinner at a Greek restaurant called La Crète. The food was amazing! The interior was very cozy and traditionally European. It was an incredible way to close the day!
Waiting for the bus to go to the 5th arrondissement. Street view of La Crète. Decor in La Crète.
Visiting the amazing city of Paris can feel overwhelming at first. With so many famous landmarks and rich history, it’s difficult to know where to begin. That’s why doing a TOOTbus Tour was the perfect way to explore the city. Riding through the streets on a double-decker open-air bus allowed me to observe scenic sights and gain a greater understanding of where everything is located. Another great aspect of our day was also indulging in a typical three-course French meal. It was wonderful to taste the authentic food of the city. Taking a hop-on, hop-off bus tour and enjoying the typical Paris cuisine was such a great way to start in an unfamiliar place.
The Eiffel Tower
Getting Started
We started our bus tour boarding the TOOTbus at the Seine River. The weather was perfect, with sunny-cloudy skies. Upon entering the bus, we received a map and headphones that gave audio commentary on the scenery with occasional music. It was a great way to relax, take in the sights, and people-watch some of the best-dressed in the world. There are multiple different types of bus tours; we did the Paris day-time tour.
The Seine River
Iconic Landmarks & Breathtaking Views
One of the best parts of the TOOTbus tour is that it covers all the major attractions, giving you the chance to hop off and explore at your own pace. There are 10 different stops that the buses circle all day throughout the city if you decide to choose the Paris day-time tour like we did:
TOOTbus Paris daytime sightseeing bus tour map
Stop 1: Printemps / Galeries Lafayette:The two iconic Grands Magasins department stores, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, are located here, making it a prime stop for shopping. This stop is also a short walk from the Opéra Garnier. You will come to notice that shopping is a popular thing to do in Paris.
Stop 2: Opéra Garnier: The Palais Garnier (Paris’s historic opera house) is the centerpiece at this stop. You’ll also find cafés, shops, and the elegant Place Vendôme nearby.
Stop 3: Musée du Louvre: The iconic Louvre Museum with its famous glass pyramid is a great place to enjoy art, and just next to the Louvre is the Tuileries Garden, a historic park perfect for a stroll.
Stop 4: Notre-Dame / Quartier Latin: Notre-Dame Cathedral on the Île de la Cité is the highlight here (as it currently undergoes restoration). Across the river on the Left Bank is the Latin Quarter, known for landmarks like Sainte-Chapelle and the vibrant Saint-Michel area of cafes, bookstores (e.g. Shakespeare & Company), and the Sorbonne University.
Stop 5: Musée d’Orsay: The Musée d’Orsay itself is the main attraction at this stop, a museum of Impressionist art that was once a railway station, located on the Left Bank of the Seine. From here, you also get a scenic view across the river toward the Louvre.
Stop 6: Concorde / Tuileries: Place de la Concorde, Paris’s grand plaza famed for the Luxor Obelisk, is at this stop.
Stop 7: Champs-Élysées (George V): The Champs-Élysées itself is Paris’s most celebrated avenue, lined with expensive designer stores like Dior and Louis Vuitton. You will see the most well-dressed people in the world here, so be sure to wear something cute.
Stop 8: Trocadéro: The Trocadéro Plaza and its gardens offer one of the best panoramic views of the Eiffel Tower.
Stop 9: Tour Eiffel: The Eiffel Tower is right at this stop, towering over the adjacent Champ de Mars park. The bus stops perfectly in front to get a bunch of photos. This is the ideal hop-off point to visit the Tower or enjoy a stroll on the Champ de Mars lawns.
Stop 10: Pont Alexandre III / Invalides: The Pont Alexandre III is Paris’s most elegant bridge, adorned with golden statues and offering stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and Grand Palais.
The Louis Vuitton Store at Champs-Élysées
Why the TOOTbus?
Taking a TOOTbus tour is an easy and efficient way to explore Paris, especially if it’s your first time here. The ability to hop on and off at different locations makes it convenient to visit the places that interest you the most and gives you a feel for the unfamiliar areas.
Another one of the highlights in Paris this day was the chance to enjoy an authentic French lunch at the restaurant L’Oie qui Fume in the heart of Quartier Latin. The meal was amazing for not only our eyes but also our taste buds, offering an introduction to traditional French cuisine.
We learned that in France, it is very typical to have a long lunch break from over an hour to two hours (very unlike our 15-minute break in the States unfortunately). The break usually involves a traditional 3 course meal involving appetizer, dinner, and then, of course, dessert.
We had the option to choose from three appetizers, which included hot goat cheese salad with honey, onion soup with cheese and crusty bread, and country pâté. I chose the classic French onion soup, which was outstanding. There was a soaked baguette indulged in the onion broth with parmesan cheese on top. This is a very typical appetizer that is very popular, definitely worth a try.
For the entree, we got to decide between the preserved duck leg, grilled steak with pepper sauce and homemade fries, and braised pork filet with mashed potatoes and a creamy mushroom sauce. I chose the grilled steak; it was cooked medium rare and the flavors tasted so perfect.
Lastly, for dessert, we had the choices of homemade tiramisu, crème brûlée, and chocolate mousse. Although all three of these decisions sounded tasty, I couldn’t resist the crème brûlée, one of my favorite desserts. It is a classic French dessert made of creamy vanilla custard topped with a layer of caramelized sugar. The sugar is torched or broiled to create a crisp, golden crust, contrasting with the smooth custard underneath. It’s known for its delightful texture combination. Whenever I see this on a menu at a restaurant, I always choose it, so it was nice having an authentic version of it, which, of course, tasted outstanding.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the TOOTbus tour was a fantastic way to see Paris. Whether you’re short on time, looking for a relaxing sightseeing experience, or just want to take in the beauty of the city without exhausting yourself, I highly recommend giving it a try. There’s something so special about sitting on the top of a double-decker bus, feeling the Parisian breeze, and being able to take in the iconic scenes. And, of course, no trip to Paris is complete without indulging in the local cuisine. From the comforting French onion soup, followed by a perfectly grilled steak with pepper sauce, and finishing off with a delicious crème brûlée, every bite was an authentic taste of French culinary tradition. It truly adds enjoyment to the Parisian experience.
As an art major, one of the things I was delighted to do was view all the different mediums of art in Paris. The traditional arts and architecture are to die for. However, as a Graphic Design Major, I was also very excited to see how graphic design was abroad. Back in the States, we are quite typography-heavy. Nevertheless, this is an observation based on what was seen produced in class and in our current media.
Typography is the text you see on artworks and how it is placed, designed, aligned, and styled. Due to how strong the fashion culture is in Paris, I was expecting the graphic design works to be more simple; however, the only solution to this speculation was to view it in person. Now here we are!
Public Transport Advertisements
Creating posters, banners, and other promotional pieces are jobs that Graphic Designers are often tasked to do. Graphic designers play a large role in branding and often work hand-in-hand with the marketing and business teams. With intentional branding and advertising, Graphic Designers can create a narrative for the company that evokes feelings within the consumer and guides them to where we want.
Lady Gaga Coachella Advertisement at the Metro
With that in mind, by placing advertisements in public spaces, we can cater to a larger audience, therefore maximizing our reach. Putting them in public transport spaces in which people use everyday, it is a foolproof method.
Places in which people are expected to be on stand-by are key. People will unconsciously build a routine in which they are used to seeing a certain advertisement in a certain spot. Some may even read it at first glance. What matters is that such design is in their minds and at one point or another, they will read and analyze what design has been displayed. Their next course of action is up to them; however, if the design is effective, the next course of action would benefit the company.
Terre D’Hermes Ad at a Bus Stop
However, it is important to note that there are times when advertisements should not be used. After the TOOTbus tour we could view a variety of the Paris attractions all in one day. The actual advertisements on the bus included ones relating to the tour itself. Meanwhile, regarding the attractions itself, there was a void and or an absence of advertisements that did not directly portray the attractions themselves. Although it is not known whether or not the marketing is controlled in these areas, it is a good thing to note when thinking about intentional design and location.
Arc De Triomphe (View from TOOTbus)The Eiffel Tower w/TOOTbus Stop Ad
There are many ways to create an effective design. Whether it be slapping on a famous person to turn heads, or by adding a variety of colors to catch the corner of someone eye, design can be altered in an infinite amount of ways.
Something that I have noticed and hypothesized is that the Graphic Designing in Paris will be fairly simple. Paris has a large fashion presence and is known to have an extensive array of luxury brands and products. Furthermore, with such luxury brands, the product and the name read louder than the other aspects of the advertisements. Judging from what I have seen today, my earlier statement seems to be proven true.
Simplicity in Paris is Key
Down below is another fairly simple advertisement. The main model (Selena Gomez) and the main subject is the movie’s title (Emilia Perez). This specific poster adds a little flower accent into the design, but it overall does not interpret the whole piece at all. The text follows the overall color palette of the poster itself, and nothing is too bright or dull. The most important piece, the movie title, is big enough to where you can understand that it is the main point of the poster, but it does not distract you from everything else you can see.
Down below is a design that is far from simple. In my opinion, there is just too much going on. Consumers are not able to focus on what is being advertised, and there is too much displayed all at once that is all similar in sizes. The split image within this banner does not have a seamless transition into one another and looks like two separate images rather than ones from a similar narrative. On top of that, the logo is just slapped in the middle along with all the other information, interrupting the flow of the design.
Medical Banner on Metal Fence
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Everyone will have a different view and opinion and what design is “good” and what design is “bad”. Although we get taught the specific principles and rules to follow in UMASS Lowell, such methods might differ from country to country. Therefore, there is a high chance that what is expected and prioritized in graphic design in America might not be a priority in France. Within this blog, I touch upon which designs I personally found both successful and unsuccessful. As a graphic design student who steers towards the marketing pathway, I still have a lot to learn about everything. I hope to travel to many more places to find the most universal way to be a great graphic designer.
Follow along with students as they spend spring break in Paris, France, immersed in Art History, Music, and Culture. Instructed and led on-site in Paris by Jennifer Cadero-Gillette, Art History Program Coordinator, this course is a historical and critical examination of the aesthetic and intellectual similarities between art history, music history, literature and culture from Ancient Egypt to contemporary Art.
Emphasis is placed on an in-depth exploration of western cultures. In addition, this course provides an understanding of human creativity and expression through a comparative analysis of visual art and music.
Students will explore emblematic sites and local street art, enjoy local cuisine and cooking class, and experience culturally immersive activities such as a cabaret and museums.
