Ascending Eiffel

Of course our first real stop in Paris was the Eiffel Tower.

This was literally 10 minutes from our hotel, by foot. It was wonderful!

It’s just too tall to fit in the frame straight!

We had been warned that the line can get pretty bad, and it did loop around the plaza beneath the tower a bit. But in the end we only waited about an hour, and a quick hour at that.

Of course our wait was made better by attractive soldiers in uniform. ….though it also made it a bit unnerving too. We learned after the trip that Paris was on high alert as there had been some chatter about a terror attack plot. YEEESH. Glad we didn’t know when we were there!

Another thing that long lines allowed for was extensive self-portrait shoots. Yes, there are easily 100 self portraits in all my photos of the trip! 🙂

As you neared the ticket window, there was a bag check for security. Just guys with wands poking through your things, just before you bent around the line to see the bust of Eiffel himself.

TICKET WINDOWWW! We’re so close! After picking up our tickets, we were ushered around another corner with another security checkpoint, this time with metal detectors too. I’d rather have that then the alternative I suppose?

After security, we were pushed into a funnel of people to wait for the car to return and carry us to the first platform. It was an incline of sorts that went up a railway to the first observation deck. That way it could follow the curved legs of the tower.

We were excited to finally be on the car – but they REALLLLLY cram you in there, so personal space is NOT an option. Basically for almost the entire time you’re on the tower.

Once we were loaded in to full capacity, it was time to head up!

This lift took us to the first level, a larger space with a level just beneath that actually had shops and food for sale too.

Clearly we still had a long way up to go! Even though we weren’t to the top just yet, there were still plenty of chances for photos. And the views were spectacular!

The day was a little hazy but even so you could still see for miles around.

Sneaking a peak at Palais De Chaillot, which is across the Seine River northward, with the tall buildings of the more modern business districts ahead.I feel like a GD explorer in this shot. I mean, city behind me, and the telescope? WORLD. EXPLORER. WORD.

Of course we hadn’t even reached the top yet! So back to the elevator (and a brief wait for it) until we made it to the top.

Yup, that’s the top. And me in skinny jeans and flip-flops. Don’t judge me. Reef Slaps are the most comfortable flip-flops in the world. You’d wear them every day too if you had a pair!

What a city! And what a view!

The Arc de Triumph stands regally with tree-lined streets leading to it.

That’s the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur in the distance. We didn’t have the chance to get over there, but next time it’s a must see.

Now we didn’t only spend our time on the North side. Here we have a beautiful view of the Champ De Mars park from the Eiffel Tower looking south. And just to show of the zoom of my little Nikon S9500, take a look at the building at the end of the park. Can you see behind it? The two rings?

Yup, that’s a horse ring and somebody was trotting around doing practice jumps! And with my 22x zoom I was able to snag it! AWESOME power for such a little camera!

Hopefully nobody’s afraid of heights!

Once finished with our sightseeing on the Eiffel Tower, we took advantage of one of the many tour bus companies, and then basically exploded our memory cards because we SAW IT ALL AT ONCE.

But that’s enough for one post I think. Stay tuned for more today!

~ Beth