I kicked off my time in Paris by spending the opening ceremony at the Poland House. We were particularly excited to visit because my roommate, Savannah, is Polish. The entry fee was 30 euros, but once inside, all food and drinks were included. The House was beautiful, though it took about an hour by metro and train to reach, so it was a bit out of the way. However, it was located next to the Great Britain House and the Italy House. We passed by the GB House, which looked stunning, situated right next to a pond with a beautiful fountain. Curious about the entry cost, we asked the workers outside, and they explained their three-tier system: the bronze ticket, their cheapest option, was 150 euros, the silver ticket was 270 euros, and the gold medal ticket was a whopping 435 euros. After hearing those prices, we were very glad the Poland House only charged 30 euros.
One drink that stood out was the Polish version of Limoncello– cytrynówka, a Polish lemon liquor. The food was equally impressive, with offerings like apple crumb cake, ham, pickles with pasztet, and fish. Everything was delicious, and it was a pleasure interacting with people from a different cultural background.
The night was even sponsored by Looney Tunes, with Bugs Bunny making an appearance and everyone receiving their own pair of bunny ears. There were plenty of photo opportunities with the Looney Tunes characters, and they even had a basketball court and a place to get a temporary Paris tattoo. Two large screens were set up to play the opening ceremony, and there was ample outdoor seating. Although it rained for half the ceremony, we decided to stay outside and embrace the rain. It was such a fun night–shoutout to Savannah for the suggestion! This was one of my favorite nights of the entire trip.
The Swiss House was another amazing hospitality house. Entry was free, and you paid for food inside. I ended up returning a few times because they had the best-iced latte (and the only one I could find) in Paris! Everyone was so kind, and the food was delicious. I had a hotdog with a bunch of crazy toppings. The house had an On Cloud section, with brand ambassadors present since On was sponsoring the Swiss athletes. On is one of my favorite running apparel and shoe companies. A big-screen TV was set up in the middle, and they were preparing for a live band. Though we didn’t get to hear them play.
The Holland House was another highlight. The vibes were immaculate. The house was huge, with a large outdoor seating area, and inside, there was a stage with a standing area surrounded by seats. When we first arrived, we explored and walked around. TVs were everywhere, so I sat and watched the men’s 10,000m race (shoutout to Grant Fisher for placing third). As the night went on, they brought out a DJ, and it’s safe to say I danced the night away. They also brought out two female silver medalists in rowing on stage and they jumped around with the DJ. The music and remixes were fantastic, and everyone was just so happy to be there.
Exploring the hospitality houses was one of my favorite activities in Paris. It was amazing to experience different cultures in the heart of the city.