Rubystarrs in Paris Episode 2

We were up at the crack of sparrows having booked the first admission up the Eiffel Tower and we had to get across Paris in the rush hour.   This was indeed a simple but interesting experience.   The Metro was packed to the gills and I'm just amazed how smartly people are dressed and also how many people smoke! (not on the Metro obviously but in between).... 

It's easy to think of the Eiffel Tower as just being a lump of metal...  we're all really familiar with it - it's such an iconic landmark we just take it for granted... but looking at it across the Place de Trocadera in the  morning light was really quite special.  Everywhere we looked they were bridal couples having photographs taken and drinking champagne there were brides in white,  black,  green,  every color you could think of... and they seem to be quite a lot of different nationalities. We must have seen at least 40 couples all posing happily let's hope it doesn't end in tears too soon.... gosh that's the cynic in me.

Given our penchant for getting up the highest points (usually bars) we had booked on line to go to the very top.....Because we were the first visitors we didn't have to queue for long and in fact we were in the first lift up to the top.   It's pretty amazing.. it's quite different to going up a skyscraper because you cannot get away from the fact you're traveling up a lump of metal great big girders and rivets and enormous bolts and people were climbing it because they were just in the process of painting it.   it's all painted by hand - using brushes and painting it the same brown that Gustav Eiffel picked as it's original color.  This is the 20th time it's been painted since it was built in 1889.  

Once right at the top I can't deny that looking down made my legs feel a bit wobbly - it was a good wobbly - a bit of an adrenaline rush but 300 meters or 1000 plus feet feels like it's a long way up and everything down there looks terribly small.  The rooftops in Paris are amazing and in the distance through the haze you could see the Sacré Coeur Church sitting on top of the hill.   The Pyramid at the Louvre glinted in the sun... it was the MOST fabulous view. 

It wasnt too busy at first which was great but it didn't take long for it to feel crowded and that you were dodging selfies at every angle.  

We travelled back down exploring each floor on the way marveling at the construction and kind of weird beauty urban metal strutures have. I took about 200 photos! Why! No idea but the symentry and solidity just fascinated me. 

After the tower we walked along the river to the Modern Art Gallery... it was cool and pleasantly empty  - some interesting pictures - a number of Picassos, Braque, Utrillo

and one Chagall  - he's one of my fav painters

Unfortunately it didnt have a cafe and we were on our knees in need of sustenence ... coffee... beer... delicous french pastry... so that curtailed our visit and soon we were absorbed into continental culture, drinks and pizza sat in a pavement cafe. 

A nod as we passed, to the Arc de Triumph, we were cultured out... museum leg had set in quite badly and it took quite an effort to wend our way back to our rooftop garret through some lovely backstreets of the city. 

There is some fabulous architecture and impossibly grand houses- some the appartment blocks have 3 stories in the roof alone... but also endless traffic and noise - its very tiring being a tourist in Paris.

We are hitting a local bar tonight but tbh we are completly cream crackered being old people... shocking really but we did cover another 10 mile today... we have more adventures in episode 3 tomorrow.