La Tour Eiffel

by Danielle

Dan and I have never been up in the Eiffel Tower, not from lack of interest but out of extreme distaste for standing in lines. There are long lines to buy tickets, and longer lines for the elevators. We had heard it can be a two or three hour wait to go up, which in our opinion isn’t worth it and certainly could never happen with two little kids.

By chance Dan discovered that the city was testing a system of online ticket purchase to access the tower, so we jumped at the opportunity. Dan and Joseph went together one bright fall day and gave a rave review. They were able to walk straight up to the elevator and in a few minutes they were up at the first platform about a third of the way up the tower. [Note: tickets purchased online do not allow you to go to the top of the tower, just the first platform. But from the first  platform you can purchase another ticket -small lines here- to go to the top if you wish].  Their only complaint about the experience was that it was cold and windy.

Dan and I were going to go together another time but because Rachel had chicken pox, I went with a friend. Same experience. No line, amazing views, and *cold* as can be. But still we soaked up the view for easily 30 mintues, chatting and snapping photos.

There was so much wind that day that they closed the platform at the top of the tower, but strangely enough, not so windy that they cancelled the workers who repaint the tower. I could barely watch them swing back and forth above us on ropes. Whatever they are paid it isn’t enough.

I learned that the tower is usually repainted every 7 years, it takes a team of 25 people 18 months to complete the job. More info here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-03-31-eiffel-tower_N.htm

To celebrate the 120th anniversary of the completion of the tower, there is a nightly 15 minute light show. We thought it would be a special outing for Joseph, who has recently been enjoying the Christmas displays and lights around the neighborhood.