La Tour Eiffel

Tour guide Froggy was able to get us in the priority line at the Eiffel Tower and so we had a very short wait to head up the North pillar. We packed about 50 people into the elevator and road up to the second platform. Undorrunately due to the wind we are not able to go all the way to the top. Given some of us were a little leary of the heights we decided that was ok :)

We mounted as it has just gotten dark and we an incredible view from the observation deck. The weather has kept some tourists away and so we were able to actually see a good amount. We spent an hour or so upstairs taking selfies and photos. While we were up there the sparkly lights came on for their hourly show. Even being up in it the view was pretty cool!

We decided to descend by stairs to the first viewing platform. That sounded great in theory but the bright lights and dark, not to mention the many steps, made for a pretty intense experience. We made a restroom break and quick tour of that observation deck, including the clear glass area that lets you see below. 

After our descent Frogfy gave us some good info - the Seidel Tower was finished in 1889 for the Worlds fair to honor the 100 years of the French Revolution. It was not well received and was almost torn down for being an eye sore. Now it is a huge tourist site obviously!  They repay tot every 7 seven years and it takes 8 tons of paint to finish it. 

Afterward we walked back across the Seine toward Teocadero where we were just in time to see the light show for real from the bottom. The kids loved it and thought it was amazing. I took some video and once I figure out how to upload it I will try!

We are on the Metro now so I'm going to post some pics then finish up blogging the night!