https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Télégraphe/@48.860208,2.3265907,13z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x47e66dbd8666757b:0xa6cd10a4f320982a
We were staying in a town house with three floors. We were glad of our time in Switzerland which prepared us for steep and dizzying stairwells. (Spoiler alert: nobody fell down these stairs but each trip up or down was always thrilling with a hint of terrifying).
After a relatively restful night, we set out the next morning. But first we reacquainted ourselves with our old friends Monsieur Croissant and Mme Pain au Chocolat. It was a joyful reunion.
We then headed out for our destination: the Eiffel Tower.
There was a small amount of trepidation as we headed to the Paris metro given the kids hadn't traveled via subway.
They did great. The metro station was easy to navigate (after ascending what felt like a mile into the earth).
Joey, Sammy and Lanna liked riding the train and seeing all the colorful stations.
The metro provided clear directions and we made a quick and easy transfer to another line to exit at Alma Marceau which put in walking distance to the Eiffel Tower.
Once back on the surface, we saw the Flame of Liberty. It was gifted to France by the International Herald Tribune in 1987, marking 100 years this English language paper's presence in Paris. It is a replica of the flame in the Statue of Liberty's torch and meant to symbolize the friendship of France and the United States.
Unfortunately on August 31, 1997 this torch became symbolic for something else. Underneath this beautiful sculpture a horrible car crash occurred. It was the crash that caused the death of Princess Diana and people often view this beautiful sculpture as a memorial for her.
We continued past and gazed at the tower wreathed in clouds.
On the other side of the bridge, we had great views of the Seine. They also had some boats unloading cargo with large trucks and giant claws. This suddenly became even more amazing than the Eiffel Tower to Joey and Sammy.
Fortunately we were able to re-direct them and we walked the rest of the way to the tower.
Despite the chill and clouds, the Eiffel Tower still had a huge amount of fans. The lines to get tickets snaked back and forth underneath the huge tower, so we decided to get some lunch and see if the lines or the clouds would improve.
This decision was a good one! We got some decent sandwiches and found an empty bench which gave us a great view.
As we finished lunch, the clouds started to clear!
We went over to get the tickets and saw that we had, at least, succeeded on the clouds vanishing. The lines fortunately did not get any larger, but there were still a few people waiting to go up the tower.
Lanna and I held down the fort as Alisa took the boys to the carousel nearby.
To help pass the time, I took some selfies.
The boys, meanwhile, were having a blast!
Joey chose a plane on the carousel.
Sammy decided to go with a train.
After a relatively restful night, we set out the next morning. But first we reacquainted ourselves with our old friends Monsieur Croissant and Mme Pain au Chocolat. It was a joyful reunion.
We then headed out for our destination: the Eiffel Tower.
There was a small amount of trepidation as we headed to the Paris metro given the kids hadn't traveled via subway.
They did great. The metro station was easy to navigate (after ascending what felt like a mile into the earth).
Joey, Sammy and Lanna liked riding the train and seeing all the colorful stations.
The metro provided clear directions and we made a quick and easy transfer to another line to exit at Alma Marceau which put in walking distance to the Eiffel Tower.
Once back on the surface, we saw the Flame of Liberty. It was gifted to France by the International Herald Tribune in 1987, marking 100 years this English language paper's presence in Paris. It is a replica of the flame in the Statue of Liberty's torch and meant to symbolize the friendship of France and the United States.
Unfortunately on August 31, 1997 this torch became symbolic for something else. Underneath this beautiful sculpture a horrible car crash occurred. It was the crash that caused the death of Princess Diana and people often view this beautiful sculpture as a memorial for her.
We continued past and gazed at the tower wreathed in clouds.
On the other side of the bridge, we had great views of the Seine. They also had some boats unloading cargo with large trucks and giant claws. This suddenly became even more amazing than the Eiffel Tower to Joey and Sammy.
Fortunately we were able to re-direct them and we walked the rest of the way to the tower.
Despite the chill and clouds, the Eiffel Tower still had a huge amount of fans. The lines to get tickets snaked back and forth underneath the huge tower, so we decided to get some lunch and see if the lines or the clouds would improve.
This decision was a good one! We got some decent sandwiches and found an empty bench which gave us a great view.
As we finished lunch, the clouds started to clear!
We went over to get the tickets and saw that we had, at least, succeeded on the clouds vanishing. The lines fortunately did not get any larger, but there were still a few people waiting to go up the tower.
Lanna and I held down the fort as Alisa took the boys to the carousel nearby.
To help pass the time, I took some selfies.
The boys, meanwhile, were having a blast!
Joey chose a plane on the carousel.
Sammy decided to go with a train.
While they were gone, the line slowly but steadily moved onward. They rejoined me and Lanna at just the right time. They only had to wait about 30 minutes until we got our tickets. That 2 hours really flew by.
The line to go up to the first platform was incredibly short by comparison!
Joey had a great time now that he was actually on the Eiffel Tower!
Lanna stretched her legs a bit as well. She enjoyed chasing her brother and meeting new people.
We were all excited to reach the top of the Eiffel Tower, so we got in another line to take the smaller internal elevators to the upper level. The chilly wind whipped through the tower and made things a bit uncomfortable. We took solace that the dozens of other people were helping block the wind (plus provide some warmth).
Finally we got into the smaller elevator and rode up to the very top! It was reminiscent of the elevators going up to the Space Needle and I enjoyed the rapid rise and increased view of the entire Paris area.
The area at the top had a nice enclosed space to look about as well as being able to walk along the outside. It gave us beautiful views all around.
We saw the Arc de Triomphe
We looked back down to where we had lunch earlier that morning.
We also learned that Gustave Eiffel had a private room made for himself at the top of the tower. He apparently had Alexander Graham Bell over near the time the Tower opened on March 31, 1889 as the room remains an exhibit with models of Eiffel and Bell hanging out up there.
Also, there is a bar at the top! It's likely mostly used for couples celebrating an engagement or drowning their sorrows on a failed engagement.
A friend of mine had recently proposed (successfully) up there and I was waiting to see if anybody else decided to pop the question. Nobody did.
The boys were a study in opposites after a few minutes up at the top. Joey was so excited on having finally made it here! Sammy, on the other hand, was pretty tired and cold. There were no pigeons to chase up there and he was ready to get off that thing.
We tried a few failed selfies (too much sun, too little space) and then got back in line to take the elevator down.
Before we left, I did want a picture of the tower's shadow across Paris.
Once that was accomplished we waited in line one last time and took the second elevator back to the ground.
Joey remained elated on the way back home. Sammy perked up and we were able to capture one last selfie before going below ground to the Metro.
That evening, Joey built a replica of the Eiffel tower in honor of the real tower. He was so thrilled to finally stand atop the Eiffel Tower! Sammy was so thrilled to finally be back home and playing with his cars!
Finally we got into the smaller elevator and rode up to the very top! It was reminiscent of the elevators going up to the Space Needle and I enjoyed the rapid rise and increased view of the entire Paris area.
The area at the top had a nice enclosed space to look about as well as being able to walk along the outside. It gave us beautiful views all around.
We saw the Arc de Triomphe
We looked back down to where we had lunch earlier that morning.
We also learned that Gustave Eiffel had a private room made for himself at the top of the tower. He apparently had Alexander Graham Bell over near the time the Tower opened on March 31, 1889 as the room remains an exhibit with models of Eiffel and Bell hanging out up there.
Also, there is a bar at the top! It's likely mostly used for couples celebrating an engagement or drowning their sorrows on a failed engagement.
A friend of mine had recently proposed (successfully) up there and I was waiting to see if anybody else decided to pop the question. Nobody did.
The boys were a study in opposites after a few minutes up at the top. Joey was so excited on having finally made it here! Sammy, on the other hand, was pretty tired and cold. There were no pigeons to chase up there and he was ready to get off that thing.
We tried a few failed selfies (too much sun, too little space) and then got back in line to take the elevator down.
Before we left, I did want a picture of the tower's shadow across Paris.
Once that was accomplished we waited in line one last time and took the second elevator back to the ground.
Joey remained elated on the way back home. Sammy perked up and we were able to capture one last selfie before going below ground to the Metro.
That evening, Joey built a replica of the Eiffel tower in honor of the real tower. He was so thrilled to finally stand atop the Eiffel Tower! Sammy was so thrilled to finally be back home and playing with his cars!
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