Touring round the Tour Eiffel

I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t know where the Eiffel Tower is. Or to go a step further, anyone who says they don’t like the Eiffel Tower. Yet, when it was first built there was much resistance from Parisians. They considered it an eyesore! Though it is a tourist attraction, with a capital T, one must fully experience it at least once in a lifetime.

That being said, after the required trip to the top, which can be rather unpleasant if in fact you don’t enjoy standing in line like cattle for hours on end, in my opinion the Eiffel Tower is best enjoyed from ground level. This way you get to see it from every angle. Scenic photo ops present themselves at every twist and turn.

There are nooks and crannies to be discovered, even in the tiny pathways that mingle in front of the tower

Can you imagine that this grand piece of architecture was not to be a permanent structure? C’est vrai! Constructed for the Worlds Fair it was to be only standing for 20 years and then taken down after that!

Just look at the ironwork, the detail, the pretty scroll pattern in the arch. It is amazing how delicate the details are up close..when from football fields away it looks like a hunk of metal. It was an engineering marvel for it’s time. Who in there right mind could tear that down?

And it is so picturesque. She is very photogenic, non? She never takes a bad picture. She is quintessential Paris.

Paris wouldn’t be Paris without it. Like Rome wouldn’t be Rome without the Vatican, or New York City wouldn’t be New York City without the Empire State Building. They all go hand in hand. Could you imagine a Paris sans La Tour Eiffel? I for one am glad I don’t have to.

This particular time, I made a new discovery. You should treasure what you find when you just take a separate path, a zig..rather than a zag, a path that is just not on the map. I discovered a beautiful secluded oasis just steps from the busy maze of traffic at the Tower. A pond with koi, hungry ducks and graceful weeping willows. The curve of the arch met the ground and reminded me of a rainbow. Yes, Paris’s very own rainbow. And this oasis was the pot of gold at the end.

Do you think the hoards of tourists would still flock to Paris year after year if there was no giant steel landmark pulling them there as if by magnetic force? Would as many people know Paris if there were no connection to the famous Tour Eiffel? And better yet..what would have happened if they did take it down all those years ago, would life be different?

Care to speculate? How would you feel if the city suddenly announced that they were taking it down?

Penny @ Lavender Hill Studio
November 14th, 2007
Beautiful photos. I love zigging instead of zagging:-)
Penny
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I know! I depends…zig or zag!!! Glad you like the pics!

janet
November 14th, 2007
I love the third picture down, cause I can imagine the sound my feet would make walking on the gravel Ahhhhh, Paris!
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A the old crunch, crunch
Robin

Geggie
November 14th, 2007
When I was there with a girl friend in May 2003 is was very cold and windy. Not too crowded, but crowded enough when we got to the top and began walking around. We got separated and shortly after I heard a woman give a loud scream. I made eye contact with my friend to confirm it wasn’t her, we met and began looking for the source of the scream. We saw a woman crying and shocked, a man on his knees proposing to her. I can only imagine that it happens every day at the Tower.
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What a nice memory to have witnessed! Maybe it will happen to you!
xoxo
Robin

sognatrice
November 15th, 2007
I’ve never seen such close-up photos, and you’re right, it’s all rather intricate. In fact, there was an art exhibit here not too long ago with many sculptures made of metal. I can see now that some of them were influenced by the Eiffel Tower, although I wouldn’t have known that before.
Gorgeous photos, and thanks for the architecture/art lesson
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My pleasure! I can only hope that one day you can see it for yourself! Hmmm….maybe a certain someone would meet you there…and show you around Uh, I meant me of course!
xoxo
Robin

somepinkflowers
November 15th, 2007
i love this tower
and
walk up
as far
as i can
every chance i get.
then i have the hot chocolate
as a reward,
there midway,
i think it is.
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I love looking straight up the center!
Robin

melinda
November 15th, 2007
While ironing ( yes I have a romantic life ) I was watching “the great race” with tony curtis on DVD and if you want to see paris without the eiffel tower watch the end part. Looks so sad without it! LOL
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Melinda-
I’ll have to check that out! Thanks for the tip
xoxo
Robin

rochambeau
November 16th, 2007
Your photos are great Robin!
Thanks for the tour!
I ADORE the Eiffel tower so much I have carried one on my key chain for 30 years.
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Constance,
That is too funny! I have a key chain…and a cell phone charm Great minds think alike I guess!
xoxo
Robin

Paris Parfait
November 16th, 2007
I’m thankful they will never take it down, as I never get tired of looking at it. xo

Susana
November 23rd, 2007
Great fotos! I have never been in Paris and I have had no interest for Tour Eiffel, but after having seen your fotos I changed my mind. Maybe, I will visit it in December.

My Melange
November 23rd, 2007
Susana ~ I am so glad my pictures have inspired a visit to the tower. The Holidays are a wonderful time to go…you will have a great time! Thanks for stopping by