La Tour Eiffel is a must-do...once or twice in your life! You endure long periods of standing around with a stifling mob for some moments of great views of the most beautiful city on earth. But it's worth it!
The tower is a marvel, too. The elegance and beauty and engineering of the ironwork never cease to amaze me. I learned today that 2.5 million bolts hold all of these pieces of iron together...what design and craftmanship!
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| The view eastward |
When we bought out tickets we were told that only the first and second levels were open. They provide marvelous views, so all is not lost. But when we got to the second level we learned that the final elevator to the top was indeed running. I led the way through a long, tight and narrow zig-zagging maze to get to the third floor elevator, only to find that it wasn't the line for tickets - that line was elsewhere! DUH!!! So we had to swim up against that very narrow, very packed stream of humanity to get out and find the ticket desk. I know that I've never said "pardon...pardon moi" so many times in the course of 5 minutes in my life. (There were probably other situations when I should have, but I didn't!) I let Lydia and Beth Ann buy their tickets for the top floor while I stayed on the second floor and found a bench where some nice Chinese people were resting (and who made space for me), and I had a bit of a sit-down! People were feeding the pigeons up here, tosing crumbs on the floor and even inviting them to eat out of their hands, so they all flocked over. And this was inside! Creepy. I should have thought to catch one to roast for supper!
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| Alexandre Gustave Eiffel |
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Flashbulb lights covering the surface of the
tower - at night they twinkle every hour |
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| Beth Ann and Lydia |
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| Houseboats on the Seine |
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| See, I was there too! |
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