Around the World: Part Seven

An Evening in Paris

09.05.2019: Tour Day 3, Country 2, City 1

“Shaame malang si, Raate surang si, Baaghi udaan pe hi na jaane kyun,

Ilahi mera jee aaye aaye, Ilahi mera jee aaye aaye”

Finally we decided to reach the Eiffel Tower by metro. Take this as a blessing in disguise; a metro ride in Paris. We went underground to the Duroc Metro Station. Akhilesh was about to purchase the tickets, and the coach captain called up. So again we walked upstairs to the main road. The bus halted opposite to the main road; we crossed through the zebra crossings and got into the bus. The city tour was going on toss, but we were sure enough to view the city from its top.

Eiffel Tower

It is 324meter tall iron lattice, observation tower in the city of Paris, named after Gustave Eiffel. The tower stands upon its four legs (East, South, North and West). There are lifts and stairways to ascend to the top. The stairways go up to the second floor, so enthusiastic travelers can walk till level two. The ground lifts ascend obliquely till the second floor, with a halt at the first floor. There is another lift at the second floor which ascends straight upwards to the top.

First Floor: there is 58 Tower Eiffel restaurant and souvenirs shop; spiral staircase section and a cultural path to explore the history of Eiffel Tower.

Second Floor: it greets you with a clear view of all the French monuments in the city. There is Jules Verne restaurant and gift shops for souvenirs shopping.  

Top of Paris: there are two floors. The indoor floor is closed with crisscross windows to view the city. Walk upstairs to enjoy the open-air view of the city. The green scenic beauty, within the concrete structures, can be captured on either sides of the tower. The flowing river Seine is crowned with bridges of different designs. There was a structure of the tower in red. The Bar a Champagne offers rose or white champagne to toast the sensational experience at the top of Paris.

We witnessed the first glimpse of the tower at 05:45pm and drove to it by 6pm. There were many tall guys selling the models of the tower outside the entrance gate. Our bags were checked and we went through the East entrance glass gate. It was an awestruck moment for me to watch this tower through the lens of my eyes and develop its permanent print in my mind and heart. We queued up for the lift, got our tickets at 06:30pm, passed through another security check (bags were scanned) to the lift. We did not alight at the first floor; we got down the lift at the second floor. Again we queued for the lift to the top level; here the ticket was scanned. We stepped out of the lift at 7pm and had to walk the stairs one level up for top of the tower. Then the photo, video and selfie sessions were on. The weather was in our favor and also the departing sun blinking through the clouds. The trio (me, Shilpa & Shilpa) was last to leave the tower; queue for the lift added more time for us to reach the ground. Here ladies were busy bargaining for the tower key chains and models. Finally we got into our coach and drove to our hotel Holiday Inn Paris, Noisy-le-Grand, France. We got our packed dinner and room keys. We were informed to assemble at the reception at 11pm for the Paris-by-Night Experience.

Read next: Around the World: Part Eight