Eiffel Tower

We visited the Eiffel Tower in January during our friend Rachel’s visit, and learned that the top portion is closed every January for maintenance. Since Brian had never been to the top, I figured we would pop up for a return visit. Of course, being winter in Paris, it was gray and cloudy. The wind kicked up significantly, which buffeted the tower and elevator as we reached the pinnacle. But it was still fascinating to see the views, and marvel at the engineering of the structure.

We took the elevator back down to the second level, but we were feeling energetic so we opted for the stairs the rest of the way down. We hadn’t had much of a sunset, but the dark was offset by the atmospheric tower lighting. I hadn’t visited the first level before and the holiday lights were lovely, and Pere Noel had a real beard and very fashionable suit. Tres chic! There is even an event space which I am sure has been used for weddings (very chapel-like) but that evening was set up for a candlelight concert. Who knew?

 

~Lucy

 

The sun briefly appeared and shone on Invalides

Lucy close to the edge

Eiffel's "apartment" I spared you the wax versions of Edison and Eiffel

The christmas globe on the 1st floor

The elevator has a mock driver showing how they used to be operated 

View from below

Light show in the garden

Wide angle lenses are fun

What it looks and sounds like on the hour at night, it was a bit windy out.

Wrapping Up Paris

 We did so much. We ate so much. We saw so many delightful things. I perhaps wrote too little. Here's a smattering of things I failed to tell you about.

At the Maison Europeenne de la Photographie 

Weird collection, but fun - MEP.

The holiday lights on Rue Cler.

Place Vendome Christmas Lights

Louis Vuitton went big on holiday lights.

Crevettes L'Amour. Aka weird art.

Rachel and I missed out on the Sacre Coeur dome due to snow. Brian and I went for it.

Good views, but the balustrade is very low. I'm surprised there aren't more "accidents" here. Someone set a murder mystery here.

A tiny slip, a small push.....

A rainbow over the Tuileries.

Just before our departure, the scaffolding came off the Notre Dame steeple.

~Lucy

Vanessa in Paris

....and who is Vanessa, I hear you cry? My cousin. In the completely Lucy "big tent" version of family. Vanessa is my (late) stepfather's biological first cousin Gunter's daughter. This is made a little more confusing because my stepfather Hank was adopted, and did not meet his bio family until later in life. This is even more understandable as they are in Germany, and he was born shortly after his bio mom immigrated to the U.S. 

I've previously met Vanessa, and visited her in Munich eleven years ago (!!), so I was thrilled when she was able to take the train over and spend a weekend with us. She had also never been to Paris before, so much running around to see the sights was done. 

Of our four guests, three spoke a lot more French than us, and three were vegetarian (with some flexibility). We now know a lot more about good vegetarian restaurants in Paris, and we suckered Vanessa into eating escargot, which she liked.

What a lovely time. 

Eiffel, of course.

A view from the Seine.

Bistro dining, avec escargots.

Relaxing coffee shops.

Outside the Pompidou

True words.

Reveling in the Paris-ness of it all.

~Lucy

 

Rachel in Paris

You may have noticed a third party in our snow day post. We were utterly delighted to have our friend Rachel join us for 10 days in January. She had never been to France before so we "saved up" some of the big touristy things to do together. 

We were somewhat thwarted by the Eiffel Tower closing its upper viewing deck for annual maintenance and repairs. We were limited to the lower deck, but made the most of it by booking entry for the sunset hour. We ruthlessly taught Rachel the transit system and sent her to Versailles solo as neither of us were interested in going. And we caught colds. Oh well.

First up: a boat tour on the Seine, with Notre Dame in the background

Then, the Arc de Triomph. 

Brian didn't know you could go on TOP of the Arc. But the fog thwarted our views.

  

We cleverly? Selfishly? trained Rachel to be our morning pastry caddie. 

In the Musee d'Orsay

The D'Orsay required wine. Because the Van Gogh special exhibition was overwhelming.

Rachel and La Louvre

After dark, the Eiffel Tower sparkles.

Rachel and a Paris Sunset

Mediocre champagne, fabulous views, wonderful friends.

~Lucy

Saint-Valentin

I can hear you ask: "How did you spend the day of romance in the city of romance?" Obvious answer: delicious pastries and cremant and.....the Sewer Tour! Yes, we went underneath and checked out the historical and modern bowels of the city. Because really, love is not getting cholera and typhoid. 

Desserts & The Eiffel Tower

The Sewers of Paris

The Historical Sewers

Valentines

~Lucy