France - Eiffel Tower

As we headed over to the most famous of all sites in Paris, the rain turned to sleet but onward we headed as a vacation can't wait on a little bad weather.

Sorry, but I warned you !!!

As we waited in line to buy our tickets the rain and sleet lasted about five minutes and would clear and another cloud would appear and it would rain and sleet again. It was funny watching it change from clear sky to dark clouds. The wind was blowing very hard and about 6 or 7 systems blew thru in the 2 hours we were there. At least the weather kept the line down to about 30 minute wait. The normal is about two hours to purchase tickets because the elevator runs about every 8 minutes.

I am afraid of heights but one can not go to Paris without going to the top of the Eiffel Tower. The first elevator goes to the second level and another glass elevator goes to the top glass enclosed viewing platform. Then you take the stairs to the open top upper deck. I had a little moment in the glass elevator as I looked out but it soon reached the top and when I stepped out into the glass enclosed room I was fine. The stairs to the very top was easy as you can't see out.

On the open top there are bars higher than your head and the fact that the wind was blowing so hard kept me from being afraid.

From the top you can see our next destination, The Arch of Triumph.

The modern skyscraper looks out of place

A nice view of the Seine River.

Looking the other way down the river.

This is a military academy. Very impressive. This is just the highlights of the 20 or pictures I took at the top.

All to soon our visit came to an end as we had to hit the road and find some lunch. Hmmm, would I find something I could eat?