Paris 2015 Day 4: Eiffel Tower and Hôtel des Invalides
Starting the day south of the Eiffel Tower, the École Militaire, the Military School. Another big building complex of which you only see here part of the main building.
The Eiffel Tower in the morning which we will attempt to climb. Or at least part of it. The first level is 58 metres high, the second at 116 m. The top level is 276 m high, and the top of the tower is at 324 metres.
You can use the elevator to get to the second and to the top level. This is the queue if you want to do that.
And this is the queue to use the stairs to get to the second level. So if you don't mind climbing a few stairs, this is clearly the preferred option. Not that it particularly matters, it's also cheaper.
Up we go.
The stairs to zig-zag your way higher. As you can see, there's like a fence around them so nothing can happen. Of course, if you are strongly afraid of heights it might still be difficult experience for you. But it's really not a big deal.
The look back across the Champ de Mars, the Field of Mars, to the École Militaire from earlier this morning.
Elevator and the next set of stairs, seen from the first level platform.
There will probably be more people later in the day, but I suspect that there's always relatively much space on the first level throughout the day because people tend to mainly visit the higher platforms.
The queue on the ground.
A number of spots encourage you to kiss. That aside, you can maybe spot on the upper right side of the picture a sign that tells you that there's also a restaurant up there.
View of the Trocadero, from where we approached the Tower on the first day. The skyscrapers in the distance are in the business district La Défense, located a little outside the centre of Paris.
The tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair. Originally, the people didn't like it and there were plans to dismantle it again after the fair. Legend has it, that the tower's usefulness in transmitting the ever more popular radio transmissions at the beginning of the 20th century helped ensure its survival. Today it's France's most iconic monument that welcomes about six million visitors each year.
On the way to the second level an elevator with an operator passes by.
Step 500. The end is near.
Light at the end of the tunnel
at step 669.
The Musée du quai Branly, a newly built museum that features the indigenous art and cultures of people from around the world.
Look across the northern side of Paris. The big building on the left is the aptly named Grand Palais. To the right of it, the Pont Alexandre III with its four golden statues. Above the bridge you can spot the Obelisk at the Place de la Concorde.
Closer look at the Pont Alexandre III. And again the Obelisk.
Hidden among the sea of houses, the top of the Arc de Triomphe.
You can see the people standing on top of the arch. Admiring the Eiffel Tower. Again, the close-ups weren't taken by me.
Also from the first day, the one kilometre long Île aux Cygnes, the Isle of the Swans. Pont de Bir-Hakeim in front where we encountered the Asian newlyweds.
Statue of Liberty at the end of the Isle (picture taken from the level below).
In order to get to the top level of the tower you have to switch elevators on the second level. Which means, another queue. From up there you can see even further into the distance. But I think as you can see from the pictures, just for the view it isn't really necessary to go any higher.
Hôtel des Invalides which we will visit later in the day.
Sacre-Coeur in the distance. The platform is starting to get more crowded.
View of the top.
Proof, I've actually been there.
Time to head back down. They have to paint the tower about every seven years to prevent it from rusting.
Another look at the ground and the first level.
Statue to honour the tower's main engineer Gustave Eiffel.
If you've come to Paris to enjoy and taste its large variety of food, then a brassiere like this isn't the place for you. If you mainly eat because you are hungry, then this is an ideal place to choose among a limited number of affordable meals. Which is what we did pretty much every noon.
Have a closer look. Everything is made of chocolate.
Front side of the Hôtel des Invalides, The National Residence of the Invalids building complex.
All over place you can see cannons and other old weapons. There's even an old tank in one of the courtyards.
Built in the 1670s, originally as a home and hospital for aged and unwell soldiers. Today it contains a number of museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France. Though parts of the building complex still serve as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans.
The main building is also a burial site for some of France's war heroes. Here we have Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's elder brother.
The High altar of the Dome. Notice the glass wall behind the altar.
The centre piece of the Dome, Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb. He was entombed with great ceremony in 1840.
The Dome right above his tomb.
A model that shows the scope of the building complex with its many courts. Directly behind the dome is a cathedral.
Coffin of French Army general Lyautey who served for a long time in Northern Africa.
Statue of the man himself.
Easily overlooked because you have to open a door to get inside, the Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides. The flags above are war trophies.
Here you can see again the glass wall that separates the dome and the cathedral.
Organ of the cathedral.
The largest of the courts, the Cour d'honneur, was unfortunately again covered with tents and a stage from an event. And parts of the buildings were covered for restauration.
Still, two details from the court. Two horses.
And two sundials.
Another look at the Dome on the way out.
