Eiffel tower

>> Sunday, December 12, 2010

Eiffel tower is one of the biggest attractions and  famous land mark in  the world. Eiffel Tower is Paris.These two are so synonoym with each other.The fact about Eiffel tower, it is the most-visited paid monument in the world. Millions of people visit it every year. Named after its  designer, Gustave Eiffel, a French engineer.  He was known for  his revolutionary bridge building techniques. The structure was completed in 1889. It was  built for the 1889 World Fair which also coincided with the centenary of the French Revolution. Out of a number of designs submitted as part of a competition, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel won, and was responsible for erecting the Eiffel Tower.

My first visit to Paris was in 1995 and second trip in 2004, 6 years ago. Unlike New York, Paris is more relaxed and not busy. you will see many people from  different culture, ethnicity  and background in Paris. France in general has a high number of immigrants. They came  from Europe and from former french colconise in  Northern Afrika and Asia such as Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Combodia. Islam is the second largest religion in France. Zinedine Zidane or Zizou, one of the best football players in the world, is the son of Algerian's immigrants.What is so obvious  and bonding its  people of many backgrounds and ethnicities  is  the French language.

One of  things I remember that  I like when I went  traveling was  a train ride, whether taking the tube in London or  subway in New York or Metro in Paris was looking at the people. Looking at their faces, observing , see how they dressed, ears dropping and listening to their conversation. You can meet the weirdest and friendliest people on a train. Most,  lost in their own thoughts and worlds, some  daydreaming and some trying to make conversation with stranger or talking to their  friend, waiting for their next stop to exit.The best movie or sitcom making stories about  people in the train ride  if i can think of is Seinfield. I forgot  the tittle. It was so hilarious.

Back to  Eiffel tower, it was once called ugly structure, an eye sore, hated and protested by Parisans and artists during its construction. After it finally opened, it became a huge hit and now it is one of the most recongnizable structures in the world and  a symbol of Paris.How time can change people, from zero to hero.  It has tree level platforms for visitors. Level 1 and 2 are restaurants and the top has a gift shops,bar and restored office of Gustave Eiffel .The top is the best to see view of Paris especially during sunset. I took a ride on the elevator to the 1st level. I still have the ticket as  memorabilia. Only one portion is teared and the other one still is intact  because I did not go to the next  levels. It was late and too many people, so my friend and I decided to get down and get back to the motel. I wish I had and took photos of city of Paris from the top. I love Eiffel tower because I see beauty  in  iron  structure. I miss Paris. Au Voir!

 
My second trip -2004
It was once called a “giraffe”, an"elephant"
  a “hulking metal beast crouched on all fours”, a giant and disgraceful skeleton.” 
A dishonour of Paris .

One striking piece of structural art 
I used Olympus automatic camera for this trip. 


  
My first trip-1995
The ticket - 1995
You can see Eiffel Tower all over Paris.This is one Interesting story about a Novelist 
Guy de Maupassant who claimed to have hated the tower.He ate lunch in the
 Tower's restaurant every day. When asked why, he said that it was the one place
 in Paris where one could not see the structure. 

       
A view upon city of Paris  taken  from the elevator







1 comments:

Thristhan July 17, 2011 at 9:01 PM  

My first and only trip there was in 1997 :)

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