Happy birthday, Eiffel Tower!

Bonjour tout le monde!
While doing some reading today, I came across the fact that the Eiffel Tower turned 125 on March 31.  The second highest construction in France (the viaduct Millau is the tallest) is the most visited paid monument in the world.  When I was 19 and just fresh to Paris, my friends and I made the Eiffel Tower one of our first places to visit. It is everything that you hear about and see in the photos, but still awesome and breath taking.  Stand in the center of the square that the feet make, then look up to see how the different levels go together.  Try to avoid all the vendors who flock to the Eiffel Tower to sell toy birds that fly, and the souvenir towers that light up, the small tower key chains, and other tacky but fun stuff.

Michael and me in 2008

  

The Eiffel Tower at night, before sparkles

Now it's easy to visit the Eiffel Tower - well, easy is a relative term - with just a little planning.  If you know when you'll be in Paris, go onto the website (www.toureiffel.fr) and purchase your tickets.  That way you avoid at least one potentially long line.  The website will also tell you how many elevators are running; that gives you an idea of how long you'll be there.  I have found that the evening is better than the daytime, but you might also want to try to be there when it opens.
Built for the Universal World Exposition of 1889 as its main attraction, the Eiffel Tower was to last only 20 years.  Thanks to the then-new radio technology, the Eiffel Tower became a radio tower also, and was saved from destruction.
Now we can't imagine Paris without its iconic tower.

(Shamless plug - there is still time to come with me in September!)   jackiwilliams-jones.grouptoursite.com

Across the river from the Tower