My visit to the Élysée Palace

​I have not visited the White House in the United States yet, but during a recent trip to Paris in February, I decided to stop by the Élysée Palace. The Élysée Palace wasn't exactly what I expected; I thought it would be glitzier. The Élysée Palace looks more like a government building than a palace. I was able to look through the gates and see the famous entrance used by the French president to greet world leaders and dignitaries. I must admit, it was thrilling. Furthermore, the Élysée Palace occupies a large space in an expensive Paris shopping district. No, I did not buy anything, but there was a nice jacket for a couple of thousand Euros, which was out of my price range. There is also a lot of security around the palace and the area. Nonetheless, it was an interesting experience because France is a major center for foreign policy, and a lot of international policy is handled there. An interesting fact is that the first French president used it as a residence in 1848. The Élysée Palace is a powerful international symbol.