The Eiffel Tower
Today after class, some friends- Dana Sittler, Dana Sherne, Olivia, and Elise- and I chose to make our way over to the Eiffel Tower to view the City of Lights from the top. It was a beautiful day- unseasonably warm with not a cloud in the sky. Crunchy leaves tumbling and swirling as cars zoom by along the river banks while we approached the Champ de Mars, the park in which the tower is located.
Although the line was fairly long, good weather and company contributed to making the time pass quickly. Before I knew it, I was rising up, up, up. The higher we ascended, the greater the perspective I gained over the city; streets made sense in Haussmann’s scheme urbanization, quarters showed their distinct personalities, and monuments raised above apartment levels, glorifying the history of France.
After moseying around the second platform for sometime, we decided it was time to make the final climb to the pinnacle of the tower. The top itself has two levels; one is a glassed encased room that denotes various points of interest around the city, while the second is an open-air platform that provides an unobstructed panoramic view of the City of Lights.
Needless to say, the view was breathtaking! It was surreal to look down on the city and see the institutions soldiers have died for, monuments writers have glorified, and the streets I walk on a daily basis. I took some photos, but they can never really capture the beauty of Paris from above. Yet, nonetheless, I will post them to give you an idea of the layout of the city.
The weather is supposed to stay fair until Thursday’s rain showers. I hope to make some other touristy discoveries in the next two days. Stay tuned!
