/tags/climb-eiffel-tower.rss en-us Climbing the Eiffel Tower, one the great charms of Paris, is a leisure best enjoyed in the spring. If, however, circumstances conspire in such a way that you end up in Paris’ 7th arrondissement between June and August, craning your neck at the confabulation of steel lace that stretches upward to its apex in the sky, it is a pleasure not to be refused. Climbing the Eiffel Tower is a difficult task even without the cloying heat of the summer months. Despite what seem like insurmountable obstacles and annoyances of a tireless stop along the Parisian tour route, the Eiffel Tower will not only raise your range of vision, but send your senses soaring. Built in just over two years for the Paris Exposition of 1889, the Eiffel Tower pioneered the tall trend, standing over 300m high. Gustav Eiffel’s masterwork was once thought to be the most odious thing since mouldy baguettes, but it’s long since cemented its place as crown jewel in the Parisian tourist industry. As such, the queues are already forming when the gates open at about 9 in the morning, and by around midday you’ll find yourself faced with a swarming morass of tour groups and hot tempers. Waits can be upwards of three hours on a sweaty July day before reaching the ticket booths. With 1671 steps, it might make you think twice about climbing the Eiffel Tower. There are three floors in the Tower, but the only way to get to the top is via the lift, saving your legs the forty-or-so minute walk up a hard iron staircase. Climbing the Eiffel Tower by foot, however, will mean drastically shorter queues. If you do decide to go au pied, remember to bring lots of fluids and stay hydrated. It’s a long and windy way up, and even though the Tower’s designed to take the Paris gusts, it has a tendency to sway and creak in a rather ominous fashion. Sways of up to 12cm can occur in the Eiffel Tower caused by wind. If you choose to ascend by the lift, you’ll be presented with a giddily surreal view of Paris beneath your feet. Literally. The elevator’s glass bottom is not for the vertiginous, but it gives you a stark appraisal of how tall the Tower really is. At the top of the Eiffel Tower send your sight wandering over the Champs de Mars, up the Seine and around to the Arc de Triomphe which, so imposing from the ground, looks squat and dense from this height. Gaze over the horizon at the green edges of Paris, and take in the skyscrapers and jardins alike. Then, when you’re done, close your eyes and listen to the wind howl around the iron girders. That’s the sound of history in your ears. If you’re in the City of Lights on honeymoon or just want to beat the crowds, consider climbing the Eiffel Tower for a late-night view of the city. The lifts close at 11pm each night, but the sparkling cityscape under the night sky is a magical experience. Time can get away from you when in the city of love, so if for some unforeseen reason you miss going up the Eiffel Tower, the view from the bottom is also one to relish, even after hours. A simple gaze up while directly under the Tower will gently fade away the hum of the surrounding nightlife and distance the trickle of tourists. Silent awe ensues, and thoughts of endless imagination occur. With a variety of places and ways to enjoy the Eiffel Tower, one of the simplest is often the most satisfying. A blanket under a quiet tree near the Tower; paired with a ripe local wine, brie and a crusty baguette, is a deliciously relaxing way to enjoy the view. Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:38:18 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/eiffel-tower http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/eiffel-tower