Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame (Our Lady)

We started off our last day be going to the Eiffel Tower first.  We wanted to try to avoid as many crowds as possible and had heard that the line can be unbelievable.  We there about 30 minutes before it opened and maybe 100 people were in front of us.  Once they were opened we went through security, bought our tickets, and went through security again. 

Then we were on our way to the top level at 279 meters, the third level closes in high winds, and it was pretty cool to look out across Paris.  The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World Fair.  Many people in Paris don’t like it and it is often referred to as the ‘metal asparagus.’   

The tower was almost torn down in 1909 but was saved by radio technology because it was the perfect place for transmitting antennas.

The tower is made from 7,300 tones of iron held together by 2.5 million rivets.  This expands and contracts due to the temperature and so the tower height may very by 15cm.   

     

The Louvre

Arc de Triumph

Small Statue of Liberty

Looking out we could see Arc de Triumph, the small Statue of Liberty, The Louvre and much more!  It was pretty cool! 

Then we went back to ground level and took the Metro to Notre Dame.  This year is Notre Dame’s 850^th birthday so they had a large viewing platform built in the square in front of it.  They also replaced eight of the bells and got a new toner bell.  They are improving lighting inside, renovating the Great Organ and more. 

Norte Dame was built from 1163 to the mid 14^th century.  It is the most visited site in Paris with over 10 million people going inside each year.  This cathedral is famous for its stained glass rose window, gargoyles, and buttresses.