An Eye-ful of the Tower

Sue has been great about getting us out of our Spanish wake-up-at-noon schedule since leaving Spain, and because we have just a few days here in Paris we want to make the most of them.  Sue also hates crowds (as does the rest of the family), so we got up at a reasonable hour today to climb the Eiffel Tower.

Our flat is a short walk away, and as such we get to see the Eiffel Tower up-close every day and night.  But it still beckoned to be conquered, so we paid for our tickets, and humped it up the 704 steps to the second platform.  From there, a quick elevator ride got us to the very top.  It's quite dizzying up there, and both Bryce and Sue start feeling dodgy when confronted with heights, so we stayed only about ten minutes or so before dismounting.

The structure itself is incredible.  It was built in the late 1800s, in just 2 1/2 years, and was the tallest structure in the world for about 30 years.  Charles Eiffel was a master of steel structures, having build several bridges before attempting this feat.  Once completed, he installed an office for himself at the very top, where he would meet special guests.  The office remains, and there are lifelike figures of himself, Thomas Edison and an assistant which you can see through the glass (reenacting a meeting he had with Thomas Edison). The Eiffel Tower is an inspiration to anyone who is considering creating something audacious, and this has become the world famous symbol of Paris.

The Eiffel Tower is also a photographer's dream.  Here's some of Sue's pix:

 

From our neighborhood at night

 

From across the Seine

 

From Arc du Triomphe

 

Looking down from the top. Note the shadow.

 

Looking up at the elevator.

 

Bill is 281 meters tall in this photo!