Paris – Eiffel Tower and Arch de Triumph – April 25, 2016 – Monday

So today is Monday and we are off on our own again. This time our first stop is the Eiffel Tower. Cannot get lost getting there as it is across the street from the hotel. We are getting a great breakfast courtesy of Viking Cruises each morning so we load up on that and start out.

The Eiffel Tower, which as become the symbol of Paris, was erected for the World Fair in 1889. It is 320 meters high, and extremely light structure made of 15,000 pieces of metal welded together. Its weight is 7,000 tons rests on four huge piers with cement bases. It has three floors; the first at 57 meters, the second at 155, and the third at 274. There are bars and restaurants and souvenir shops on the first two levels.

I had bought tickets before we left so were able to go in at 11 AM. I am afraid of heights so we did not go to the top, but just the first two levels. And, you can take an elevator. You will understand the importance of this when I tell you about the Arch de Triumph.

These first pictures are of the tower from the ground. There is one picture of the police that are everywhere. I think you are pretty safe here. Every where you go they go through your purse and you go through a scanner.

Here are some pictures from the second and first levels. There are about three pictures that show a long green area, that is called the Champ-de-Mars. It was originally a military parade ground, but was later transformed into a garden. In modern times it has been the site of numerous World Fairs.

After seeing the Eiffel Tower we decided to walk across the street so we could get some good pictures of the tower. We went to the Palais de Chaillot. It is an example of 20^th century architecture. It was build for an exhibition held in 1937. The palace consists of two pavilions which stretch out in two wings, united by a central terrace with statues of gilt bronze.

Here are some pictures of the grounds, the Palais de Chaillot from the front and the buildings from the sides, as well as the Eiffel Tower again.

Well we made it over the river, so we decided that we could walk to the Arch de Triumph, as Steve said, it was just up this avenue. So off we went. It was a very pretty walk of quite some distance, but today it was cold, but no rain so very enjoyable. Here are some pictures we took along the way. Notice the metro entrance and the gas pumps right along the road.

Here are some pictures of the Arch de Triumph from the ground. Also some of these pictures are of the entrance to the monument. There is a big traffic circle around it with many streets, including the Champs-Elysees, so to get to it you go through a tunnel.

Well here is where things turn down hill, or should I say uphill. There was this great elevator in the Eiffel Tower, so we expected the same here. We bought our tickets and proceeded to the entrance. However, there was no elevator, but 284 winding little steps.

So up we went. And, it was beautiful up there. Here are some of the pictures.

So we are done and here is a great street sign. We walked back to the hotel, where I have been catching up on my posting. And, I am caught up. Tomorrow we have tickets for the hop on, hop off bus and a one hour ride on the Seine. The weather is suppose to sunnier, but not much warmer. Luckily the boats are enclosed as well as the bottom of the bus, but we will try to sit on the top. Cannot wait to get home and relax.