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 At
324m (1,063 ft) high, the Eiffel Tower is made of over 10,000
tons of metal and almost 3 million rivets. Its construction
was met with huge opposition from the French elite and they
called it a "metal asparagus" (among other, more
derogotory names). They said it would mar the face of the
beauty of Paris and be an open sore against the stunning skyline.
Now it plays host to over six million tourists each year and
has become the most widely recognized symbol of any city in
the world.
There
are three platforms a tourist can take elevators up to: one
at 57m (187 ft), one at 116m (381 ft), and the last at 277m
(910 ft) (which costs about $17 US). Some tourists are disappointed
when they get to the Tower that they cannot go all the
way to the top, but once they reach the third platform,
most Don't want to, anyway. The truth about the Tower is that
at the top platform it is very windy, very cold, and very
uncomfortable. Not very romantic at all. If you haven't been
there before and are considering making the trip to propose
to your loved one... well, you should definitely rethink that
plan. Sorry, Tom and Katie. There are a hundred spots in and
around Paris more romantic than the Eiffel Tower; I'll leave
it to you to explore and find out where they are... if you
find a good spot, email me and I'll post it on this page.
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When we were there, Paris was
still considered as a contender location for the 2012 Olympics.
I have since heard that they have been dropped from the running.
| Just because
it's not romantic doesn't mean it's not a good place to visit
during a stay in Paris. It's almost obligatory! When you go,
just make sure you take in a wide view of the Tower. Approach
the tower from at least a block away so you can get a real idea
of its girth. Take a walk around it; see it from every viewpoint.
There are so many good photo opportunities around the Tower...
not so much when you're on a platform, though, unless you're
taking pictures of the surrounding city. |
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Here
are two photos of the "legs" of the tower and the
stair access and elevator workings inside them.
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 Make
sure you schedule an adequate block of time when you visit
the Eiffel Tower. A visitor doesn't just get there, zip up
to the top, take pictures, then go on their way. There are
lines for everything. Lines to get a ticket, lines to get
on each of the elevators, lines for the gift shop, etc. Dress
warmly if you're coming during any time other than summer.
A trip to the Eiffel Tower is a half-day excursion.
When you
are there, beware of pickpockets. Here, more than at any other
monument in Paris, is a danger of your personal items being
lifted by a skilled Parisian thief.
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Another
thing people are always shocked to find out when they reach
the top of the Eiffel Tower is that the best views are from
the second platform, not the third. The third platform
is small, but has a neat "where's what" map of the
surrounding cityscape. Go to the third platform if you must,
just to say you wen to the "top of the Eiffel Tower",
but spend a good amount of time getting the pictures you want
on the second platform.
Some people
will tell you to go during the day and some people will tell
you to go at night. There are pros and cons to both. My advice
would definitely not to do both unless you are a professional
photographer. The skylines are stunning at night, but you
won't be able to make out the individual landmarks. If your
schedule is packed, you might want to go at night anyway,
when everything else is closed.
Below
are some of the stunning views of Paris from the second and
third platforms.
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A shot
of the elevator and all the anxious, freezing
tourists as they wait to descend to ground level.
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