Eiffel Tower - November 22, 08

After seeing Arc de Triomphe and Disneyland Paris, we were finally able to check into our hotel and get ready for the day and get dressed in warmer clothes. It was freezing there. We ended up going to the Eiffel tower to stand in a line with hundreds of other people waiting to go to the top of the tower. By the time we made it to the top, it was getting dark pretty quick, but the sight was still amazing.

Originally the tower was built to impress visitors to the Universal Exhibition of 1889, the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) was meant to be a temporary addition to the Paris skyline. Designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel, it was fiercely decried by 19th century aesthetes. The poet Paul Verlaine would take a detour to avoid seeing it. It was the world's tallest building until 1931, when New York's Empire State Building was completed, the tower is now the symbol of Paris.

The first level is 187 feet high and can be reached by elevator or by 360 steps. There is a post office there too. The 2nd level is at 376 feet, separated from the first level by 359 steps or a few minutes on the elevator. The 3rd level is 899 feet above ground and can hold 400 people at a time.

And here it is, the Eiffel Tower.

A view from the ground looking straight up into the tower. According to Eiffel, he chose the complex pattern of pig-iron girders to stabilize the tower in strong winds. But Eiffel's design also quickly won admirers for its pleasing symmetry.

Waiting in line to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. We opted to take the double decker elevators instead of the stairs. It literally took hours for us to get to the top floor. The wait was well worth it though.

Here we are on the top floor. On a clear day it is possible to see for 45 miles including an awesome view of the Chartes Cathedral.

During this time of year the tower sparkles for a few minutes at the top of the hour. It's really fun to see, and kinda silly too.