Eiffel Tower

3/23/2010

Waking up in Paris, at The Ritz Hotel, nothing like it! We ventured out into the streets of find a little cafe around the corner serving brunch. We sat down still shaken by my last french restaurant frustrating I was a little overwhelmed. The waiter came by with the menu in English! and he was surprisingly super friendly. Eggs, toast, beacon and a cappuccino and then on to explore Paris. It was a bit chilly out but the sun was forcing itself out the clouds.

J and I decided it was a good day to go visit the Eiffel Tower. We took a taxi over and he dropped us off at the foot of the tower. I couldn't but help but look up and think I knew it was big but this was huge! I mean the legs of the place was bigger then the buildings in the city of Paris. Which I later found all had to be built under a certain six stories high, there was a law of some sort. Any who we walked under the tower to find a crowded queue to go up. Not to mention the first organized queue Iv'e seen since europe. I seriously think if we have waited in that line we would've been there for at least minimal four hours. With patience as little as mine I wouldn't have lasted 15 minutes. J went up front to check out the scene. The sound of metal clinging together by merchants with Eiffel tower figures walked up and down selling shit. J returned with good news the line was only to go up on the elevators. A line on the right side with no more then dozen people was to walk up the 300+ steps to the first level. I couldn't help but notice my anxiety level grow with the flight of stairs I traveled upwards. We reached the first level which was more packed then most. I was a nice view of the ground level and the city. We decided to keep venturing our way up the the midlevel. On my way up I started shaking, my knees felt weak, legs started to wobble. The view going up in the legs of the tower is just steel, construction looks nets and the view of height. It left the mind racing of the thought of plugging to your death. Well for me. Finally getting to the midsection I was a hot mess. The view however was great. You could see the whole city. The views of the garden. The sun was shining and I just felt a scene of happiness. Its just I would have never thought last year Id be here and all of this would be happening. We took pictures and admired the view. Stopped at the gift shop and outside where the elevator to continue up to the tip top. I thought to myself I should but I didn't wanna pass out. We passed and headed back to the stairwell. I can not stress enough how I almost had a heart attack which passing out and falling down a flight of stairs in a corner! I turned the conner on the stairwell having already been frighten but the movement of the elevator passing under and a dummy of a man was hanging out the outside of the steel in mid air. I gasped loudly and had a raise in blood pressure and held on tightly to the handle to stop myself from losing my grip. It was so random, so unfairly placed to turn into. OMG! I needed a moment to pause and breath. The rest of the way down I held onto the railing hand by hand. We relaxed on the park benches nearby. What next? Shopping of course! Hello its PARIS!

After some crazy shopping into the evening we decided to head back and freshen up... (to be continued)