Eiffel Tower

Feeling a little better today we decided to catch a taxi across town to the Eiffel Tower. A lot of people out and about today despite the fact that winter appears to have arrived and it is pretty cold.

The last time I saw Paris (another song coming on) I only saw the Eiffel Tower from a distance. At close range the whole structure is much bigger than I thought. Long queues taking passengers up to the viewing decks so we decide to give that experience a miss.

Our plan is to walk back to our appartment exploring back streets along the way. We have lunch in a crowded cafe (they are all

crowded) and look for interesting places on our map. John went into a military museum and I wandered along a vast boulevard.

We agreed to meet on the bridge at the other end. Stunning golden statues adorn the four pillars on each corner of the bridge. I waited there until John came along after his visit to the museum which he said was awesome.

We crossed the Champs-Elysees and continued toward the Tuileries (our next destination) but ominous black clouds began to fill the sky so we decide to call it a day and flag a taxi back to our apartment.

So we bagged a chatty taxi driver this time and he wanted to know where we came from. Being the day after the All Blacks record winning score against the French, I intended to keep stumm about my nationality. However, Mr Big Mouth couldn't wait to reveal that the

lucky driver had a Kiwi and an Ozzie in his cab.

Well, he became so excited to have a Kiwi fare. He was talking to me in his rear view mirror exclaiming that the All Blacks are best team in world, giving me exaggerated thumbs up and generally not watching where he was going. It got a little scary there for a few minutes.

Safely delivered back to our digs and still not feeling 100% we self-catered and had an early night.

WiFi access at this apartment is almost impossible. I get a better connection from the McDonaTower to be built.ld's across the street. However, even that is not strong enough to upload photo's into my Diary so I will have some catching up to do in the next couple of days.

As we visit these beautiful old buildings and I learn of the time it took to build them, I think what a thankless task it must have been to be the architect in times gone by. You would never see your masterpiece even partially completed. At least Mr Eiffel didn't have to wait 300 odd years for his grand scheme to be completed and he even had his own apartment at the top. He also engraved on the tower seventy-two names of French scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in recognition of their contributions.

More than 250 million people have visited the tower since its construction in 1889 and it is the most-visited paid monument in the world. An average of 25,000 people ascend the tower every day.