Paris When it Sizzles...(ANY movie with Audrey Hepburn is worth seeing)

     The Eiffel Tower, the 1,000-foot-tall ornament was built for the 100^th anniversary of the French revolution (and in the spirit of the industrial revolution). Taking a little over 2 years to complete, it was the centerpiece of the World Expo designed simply to show off what people could build in 1889.

My favorite shot - brilliant!

     Gustave Eiffel won the contest to build the fair’s centerpiece.  It contains 7,300 tons of cast iron, 2,500,000 rivets, and 60 tons of paint, which has ranged from the original red color, to variations of dark yellow, several browns, and currently is called "bronze."  It gets repainted every 7 years, taking 15-18 months to complete.   

A beautiful view from the 2nd platform.  The kids aren't bad either ;-)

  We took an elevator to the 2nd platform, but you are welcome to climb the 674 steps like Ryan and I did last summer.  We knew better this time and booked our elevator tickets well in advance!

Another beautiful view courtesy of Eiffel.

Notice the pattern on Ellie's shirt - perfection!

Ellie:        “I have waited for so long to see Paris, the city of my dreams. It came as both a good and bad surprise for me. The sights and the city were beautiful… the people not so much :/ I enjoyed walking along the Seine and seeing all the art and culture along the roads. Shakespeare’s bookstore was spectacular, and I did not want to leave. The Eiffel Tower was enchanting, every bit as beautiful as I had imagined. The pastries and food were all very divine. So was the art. Simply scrumdiddlyumptious!

I have also decided that I was born into the wrong century. I should have been born in 17^th century France as a royal in Versailles. But, alas, I have been born in the 21^st century and the best I can settle for is having next years’ cotillion ball in the Hall of Mirrors.”

     John enjoying a penny-farthing (a bicycle with a large front wheel and much smaller rear wheels) with his minions at the base of the Eiffel tower. Look closely and you will see the base of the Eiffel Tower in the background.  What you do not see is me asking John, “What is a penny-farthing?”  Seriously!  Who knows that term?  Or, more appropriately, what 16-year-old knows that term?

     Enjoying crêpes (creps not crapes – it does not rhyme with grapes, at least not in France :-) and the Eiffel tower.  We are not picky, we will eat the Jambon and Fromage (ham & cheese), or Chocolat (nutella).  We have yet to meet a crêpe we do not like!

Panorama of Paris.