Visiting the Eiffel tower was one of the high points of our Paris trip: the boys were really looking forward to seeing it and they weren't disappointed. Its beauty and size overwhelmed them initially and, once recovered, they clamored for a trip to the top. We asked one of the soldiers guarding the tower if we could take a picture of the boys with them. That wasn't allowed but they went one better when one of the soldiers put his beret on Daniel's head. The weather was rainy but the view from the top was nonetheless breathtaking. I was interested to see you could already rent your own iPad for a self-guided tour.
Travel tips:
- Take the stairs to the second level instead of the elevator: You get a great view all the way up and a better feel for the tower itself. Though 43 stories sound like a lot, it's actually a pretty easy climb and you'll stop halfway anyway
- Make the most of the exhibits on the first and second floors, esp. those showing the history of the tower and how it was built. The boys enjoyed learning that it takes 2.5 million rivets to hold this monument and 40 tons of paint to cover it from tip to toe
- There are many street vendors around the Eiffel Tower, you can pick up souvenirs pretty cheaply esp. if you haggle a bit
