We ran around Paris hitting all the 'must sees' and tours and taking pix everywhere. Me and my travel mates were in awe of everything around us and had an enjoyable and exhausting week In case you are wondering what you could do if you have FIVE days in Paris? Answer: A lot!
We arrived in Paris around 1900hrs. Took a cab to our Air BnB fantastic apartment which was around a 5minute walk away from the Eiffel Tower! Got the to apartment, got dolled up [Eiffel deserves that you get dressed up!], and power walked it to Eiffel. The pic below is my first sight up close to the magnificent Eiffel Tower - still today, she brings much, much joy to my heart and soul. We tried to get to the 81st floor for the champagne, but never found it. Le bummer.
Here's a bit of history about the tower from a great article on History.com: Gustave Eiffel’s company built Paris’ most recognizable monument for the 1889 World’s Fair. The tower was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French revolution. The tower has more than 18,000 pieces of puddle iron, a type of wrought iron used in construction, and 2.5 million rivets.
Eiffel has eight elevators. During World War I, the Eiffel Tower intercepted enemy radio communications, relayed zeppelin alerts and was used to dispatch emergency troop reinforcements. It escaped destruction a second time during World War II: Hitler initially ordered the demolition of the tower, but the command was never carried out. Also during the German occupation of Paris, French resistance fighters famously cut the Eiffel Tower’s elevator cables so that the Nazis had to climb the stairs.
The tower is repainted every seven years. And estimated 7 million people visit Eiffel per year. Some 500 employees are responsible for its daily operations, working in its restaurants, manning its elevators, ensuring its security and directing the crowds that flock the tower’s platforms.
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