We were scheduled to go up the Eiffel Tower in the morning (as if we did not have enough by seeing it from the bus and the boat in the daytime, as well as from a park at nighttime the previous day). But I was told that this is another unique way of experiencing the tower. In fact, its creator, French engineer Gustav Eiffel, believed that this is the best way to see his work.
My husband was still unwell when he woke up in the morning, so I had to cancel his booking. We were also supposed to go to The Louvre in the afternoon, and he gave me the green light to cancel this for him, too. But he insisted that I still go because he knew how much I had looked forward to going up the Eiffel Tower. He also knew how much I enjoy going to museums and that The Louvre was on top of my list.
He told me not to feel bad for him. As much as he loved Paris, he didn’t particularly care for either tour, for he isn’t as much of an art, history, and culture enthusiast as me. He said that if it were a hike up a volcano or a trip to an open mine pit, he would force himself to get up and go. But for these, he’d rather nurse his cold in the hotel room and get some more sleep.
I left him two extra bottles of water and asked room service for some chamomile tea, a pot of hot water, some lemon wedges, and an extra box of tissue. He told me he’d call them again later for a bowl of soup for his lunch. I kissed him good bye for the time being and wished that he’d feel better. I did not want him to miss the cabaret show that we we were scheduled to see in Montmartre. He was already missing a lot in Paris, in my opinion.
Our tour company bought the tickets for the Eiffel Tower ahead of time so we didn’t need to line up at the ticket counter. They also got the express tickets, which enabled us to skip the queues and ascend by express elevator to the viewing platforms. We were thankful for this because that day, the crowd at the esplanade, right under the tower's "skirt" was overwhelming. We did stand there for a bit to look up and admire the tower from below. From there, you will realize how big it actually is, as you stare at the wrought-iron lattice work crisscrossing from the four pedestals.
The Eiffel Tower has three levels - the first level, the second level, and the summit. All three levels are open to visitors and they offer some of the most unique experiences in Paris.
The first level is the busiest and has the most attractions. There is the Cineiffel, which features a cinema auditorium with screens and “magic boxes” showing film animations about the tower, its creator, the story of its construction, and how the old hydraulic lift works. There is also an exhibition centre with art work inspired by the “Iron Lady” and I heard that this place hosts rotating cultural collections. Parts of the old spiral staircase are also on display. And there is the observatory where one can see in real time the oscillations that the top of the tower undergoes under varying temperature and wind conditions, as well as a transparent floor that offers a crystal clear view of the esplanade below. In addition, this floor also houses some panoramic tables, a souvenir shop, and The 58 Tour Eiffel Brasserie.
The second level features the observation deck 100 meters above the city. From there, you can soak in all the splendour Paris has to offer, including stunning views of the city's landmarks - the Grand Palais, Montmartre, The Invalides, and the River Seine.
Though I took the elevator from the esplanade to the first level, I was mighty proud of myself for taking the stairs to the second level - all 704 steps - despite being pregnant (the line up for the elevator was too crazy, so I thought I might as well start climbing instead of standing forever in line). But I was careful and I took my time, and I was glad I did it because I was able to see the latticework up close and admire the craftsmanship behind this "Iron's Lady's" skeleton.
I found out later on that Gustav Eiffel himself preferred climbing the stairs, as if he really wanted to feel the spirit of his great work. His pride was clearly evident when he himself would offer to personally accompany visiting dignitaries up these steps - Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, even the Queen of England. I could imagine him explaining the different facets of this tower to his guests as they climbed up.
I saw more souvenir shops on this floor, a buffet place, a macaron bar, and the famous Michelin-starred Jules Verne Restaurant that offers both a la carte and tasting menus.
I didn’t go to the summit. To get there, one has to take a different elevator - the glass elevator that requires a separate ticket, which was not included in our tour package. You could buy tickets from the second level, but I didn't bother because the line up was too long (and I made a note that for my next visit, I will make sure I pre-purchase tickets that include the ride to the summit).
At 276 meters, the Eiffel Tower's summit is considered the highest observation deck in Paris and has both an indoor and an open-air section. Gustav Eiffel's original office also sits there, as well as a scale model of the tower and The Champagne Bar.
I wished my husband were with me, but I told myself that if he would go with me next time, we’d visit the Eiffel Tower in the evening and have a romantic date – perhaps a nice dinner at Jules Verne and then a ride on the glass lift to the very top where we could enjoy the view of the "City of Lights," then cap the night off with wine and spirits from the Champagne Bar and make a toast. But if our child goes, too, then we'd make it a family affair (and it looks like it would be because when I last asked our son which places he wants to see in Europe, the Eiffel Tower is on his Top 5 list).
Photo Credits:
timeout.com, webuildvalue.com, toureiffel.paris, afar.com, fodors.com, bluefox.travel.com
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