La Tour (Part Deux) (Monday)

Monday we got up much earlier, driven by the fear of saturation au sommet. We arrived at the Eiffel Tower around 9:30 with no RER issues whatsoever. Sure enough, most people get going later than in the day. We whizzed through the security screening, whizzed through the ticket line and second and more intensive security screening (yup) and were on the elevator shortly thereafter.

The elevators from the ground go up on an angle in the legs of the tower. You then switch to elevators that run up the centre of the tower to the top. I have only just realized that despite going there twice we didn't actually take any pictures from under the tower where you line up for the elevators. Oops. It used to be wide open on all sides but it's now surrounded by fencing and you have to go through the first security screening to get in.

Looking south-east over the Champ de Mars.
To the right past the roundabout there is a
large playground that we went to yesterday
before heading to Musée Rodin.

First stop is the 2e étage with a two level outdoor observation area.

That's where we're heading next.

And now onwards and upwards to the sommet. There are indoor and outdoor observation areas as well as a re-creation of part of the apartment Gustav Eiffel built for himself at the top. Apparently he would use it to entertain dignitaries and VIPs. The re-creation shows him sharing a laugh with Thomas Edison while his daughter looks on.

Looking north over the Arc de Triomphe.
(You can embiggen any of the pictures by clicking them) 

Dunc, having checked out how much
higher the CN Tower is. And who knew
the Olympic Stadium was even
considered a tall structure?

Around the inside observation area there is a dotted line showing the height of the tower comparing it to other tall structures around the world. Each of the little icons is labeled and is in the direction of the actual structure.

La famille.

Once we'd had enough at the top we headed back down to the 2e. From there you get back on the leg elevator which drops you at your last stop: the 1er étage. We passed it on the way up I think, but if you take the elevator up you don't get to go there until the way down. If you take the stairs up you can pretty much do what you want I guess. Zita and I took the stairs down from the 2e to the 1er. There isn't much there unless you want a snack or meal or something from the gift shop. Since you've already been all the way up top the view from the 1er is kind of blah. There are some interesting displays about the history of the Tour. 

And there is a glass floor on the 1er.

After landing back on earth we swung by the little carousel next to the river near the base of the tower. We had told Clara the day before that we'd take a ride on it.

Sadly no picture of Clara as she chose the little airplane that was hiding around behind the round pink car thingy. I couldn't see her from my perch on the weird horse-like beast with bike pedals I sat on. Our crowd avoiding early start meant we still had half the day ahead of us at this point. So we headed over to Le Jardin du Luxembourg...ahh, but that's another story. (Anyone? Anyone get the reference there? Old TV show?)