Eiffel Tower

Tuesday 13-July-2010

Today we achieved a near miracle.  We arrived at the Eiffel tower 9:10am.  Megan got in the queue for the North Tower pillar and I went to the queue for the East pilar.  Sent Megan a text saing come to the east pillar queue.  Then a second text saying "run" as the queue was growing by the second.  Megan joined us and we waited patiently for 40 minutes before purchaisng tickets.  Then a bit longer and we entered the elevator.  We rode the elevator to the second level and immediatly joined the queue for the elevators to the top level.  This proved to be another good choice as this queue too seemed to grow by the second.

As expected the third level gave us a great view of the city.  We could see the Arch we cant spell and the little people on top of it with the aid of a couple of euros in the telescope.  We could also see the art gallery thats too big and the river Sein?. Amazingly in this modern age, te viewing gallery is only surrounded by 200mm mesh so you can feel the wind.  There are signs warning you to not put your hands or camera through.  As with most signs in France, they were basically ignored as we all put our cameras through to get a closer shot of some monument on the horizon.  Jemma contributed by allowing the wind to take her sunglasses through and deposit them on soemone far below and she to burst into tears. 

Took the elevator back to the second level.  Bought ice cream and a coffee.  Just because we could.  Then took the stairs down to level one.  Its fun to wrap around inside that hude steel structure.

As I write this, we are sitting at the first level having a picnic.  It is more spaceous and there are fewer people than at the other levels.  There are toilets, cafes and a cinema showing a history of the tower.  Included in this history is a shot of someone loosing their glasses only to have them fall neatly onto someone at a lower level.   We are sitting at a table.  Nearby is a fountain.  We look over the edge and see absolutely huge queues.  I guess some people will be queuing for 3 or 4 hours.  The astute amongst us can see the wheels that drive the elevators and a microwve dish bolted to the side of the tower.

Remember for next time
Buy tickets on the net and forward to cell phone (no need to print)
Come early
Bring picnic
If no kids, do take stairs esp if there is a queue for the elevator.