Germany, Denmark, France
December 2010 - January 2011

Saturday, January 1, 2011

14: New Year's Day Paris

....late sleep-in.  Lazy grocery breakfast.  Headed back to the riverboat quay for our consolation cruise.  The boat-ride and the audio narrative that accompanied it gave us a fresh perspective on the city we had been exploring by foot.  Truly, Paris is a beautiful city with much to offer.

After lunch, we preceded to the Eiffel Tower for a last-ditch attempt at reaching the top.  Two and a half hours of waiting in the cold and €13 later, we were crammed into a large, two-floored elevator car in the south corner of the tower.  The climb to the first observation deck was amazing and the climb to the second observation was incredible.  The view from the second elevator car through the steel lattice of the tower on the shrinking city below gave each of us vertigo.  Views from the tower summit were truly magnificent.  A real must-see for any Paris visitor.


Passing under a bridge on the Seine.

Listening to the commentary on really large, cold, metal earphone devices.  Press 2 for English.

Musée d'Orsay from the river.  Did you know the museum was once a train station?




A mini Statue of Liberty

The napkin underneath Jon's Pepsi (served in a Pepsi glass) at lunch

The long wait at the Eiffel Tower was hard on all of us.  The little guy is simply a party balloon filled with flour, purchased from a trinket vendor for €1.50

The view of the tower from our spot in line.  The first elevator travels through the center of the leg in the picture.

A view of the elevator climbing up the shaft from inside the loading area.  It was warmer in there.

They really crammed people in!

Becky and the city.  She is so well illuminated because of the combination sparkling lights of tower and the slow shutter speed of the camera.  (The tower sparkled intensely once an hour)

Jon and the city

Becky at the top of the Eiffel Tower!

Alexander Eiffel still lounging in his top-of-the-tower chambers (life-size models, of course).  Wish we could have hung out in there

Wait, does the red line through the picture mean you aren't supposed to do that?

Calzone, Orangina, and a warm foot soak at the end of the day.  The calzone had a raw egg in it. mmmmm

2 comments:

  1. Super high five!
    You guys did it! and with style and grace too.
    Can't wait to see you guys and hear some stories.
    Much Loff,
    Cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your description here reminds me of the time we all went up in the St. Luis arch. Congrats on your fine accomplishment, and thanks for all the entertainment via your blog!
    My Favs from this post:
    pic #1: Wait, does the red line through the picture mean you aren't supposed to do that?
    pic #2: Calzone, Orangina, and a warm foot soak at the end of the day. The calzone had a raw egg in it. mmmmm
    quote #1:"The climb to the first observation deck was amazing and the climb to the second observation was incredible.
    quote #2: The view from the second elevator car through the steel lattice of the tower on the shrinking city below gave each of us vertigo."

    ReplyDelete