Top of the Tower

Last night, we went to the very top of the Eiffel Tower.  I had purchased tickets online months and months ago, picking the date and time very carefully.  According to their website, this particular Sunday night was predicted to be less crowded than other nights that week.  I even researched what time the sun would set that night in Paris and purchased the tickets for 4:30pm, which would get us to the top of the tower just as the sun was setting.  How smart is that!

But despite all my best-laid plans, our Eiffel Tower excursion was a bit of a flop. The crowds there were still enormous, and even with pre-purchased tickets, there were long waits, to get onto the Tower, then to take the elevator to the second level, and an even longer wait for the elevator to the top.

The girls felt that it was not worth waiting for the elevator to the top, since the second level is already plenty high. But I had already paid to go to the top, and Steve felt that since we were there, we should take the opportunity.  After all, who knows if we'll ever have this opportunity again?The sun was setting as we made it to the top of the Tower.

All the lights of Paris came on, and the Tower itself displayed a magical shimmering light show.

However, I have to agree that the girls were right.  Yes, the Tower is gorgeous, but you can't see it when you're actually on it.  It's actually much more enjoyable from the ground, and not so windy and cold from there either. Next time, we'll know better.