The Eiffel Tower

Thursday, September 18, 2014

I spent most of the day sick in bed. Such a bummer for our last day in Paris! I insisted that Jeff go do something and not waste his last day in our cramped little hotel room with germs everywhere. So I slept for several hours while he went to the Rodin Museum and the Army Museum and booked it around Paris over 6 miles (and that was a short 1/3 of a day)! We must have walked 10-15 on the other days. I was saving all of my potential strength for the Eiffel Tower. I had splurged and made reservations before we left to have our last night’s dinner in the Eiffel Tower. It cost an arm and a leg and there were no refunds. Plus it sounded like the perfect romantic ending to our trip. I really didn’t want to miss it.

We got showered and dressed up around 5:30pm. I was lightheaded and queasy but I thought I could make it anyway. We walked the mile down to the Eiffel tower (in high heels no less). I just couldn’t stand paying 12 Euros (about $15) for a 1 mile taxi ride!! It was a beautiful restaurant and I’m sure the food was delicious, but I only had one single bite of each course. I didn’t want to get sick again. Jeff said it was delicious. (He ate mine too, but was super careful not to touch anything I had touched).J We had a beautiful view of the sun setting over Paris. It was as magical as it could be when you’ve been throwing up all morning. I was just grateful to have made it.

After dinner I was determined to make it to the top of the Eiffel tower. We had some ticket mix-ups and had to walk the stairs from the first to second floor. The view was pretty amazing. Then we waited in line after line to take the elevator to the tippy top and back down again. By that time I was totally spent and Jeff hailed a taxi to take us the 1 mile back to our hotel. This has been a wonderful trip for the two of us. We have had so much fun together exploring France and having time together. I am so grateful to my Mom and Elena for watching our kids. And so grateful to all of the others who helped along the way with the kids (carpools and soccer games, etc). I feel like the luckiest girl alive!

I can’t wait to see the kids tomorrow!!!!!

The ride up the elevator to the first floor.

Jeff's lobster bisque (which I cannot say without thinking of Studio C).

Dinner in the Eiffel Tower.

Dessert.

I wish I looked cuter when I'm silly. I look like a crazy person! It took all the strength I could muster to smile for the camera.

Walking on a glass section of the floor of the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. Those little dots are PEOPLE down below. It was a little freaky!

Mini Eiffel Towers for the kids. Now they can say they are holding something that was held by someone at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Yeah, it's a stretch. We were trying to make our cheap, trinket souvenirs seem cooler for the kids. 

Paris at twilight.

Weapons display at the Army Museum.

The "Thinker" at the Rodin Museum.

Jeff wanted to title this one "big booty." 

"The Kiss" by Rodin from a sort-of modest angle. 

The food looked really pretty, but I just couldn't eat it. Luckily the portions were pretty small so Jeff could eat both of ours!

Our mini Eiffels on their "field trip."

At the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Paris at night.

We had a downpour while we were getting ready. Luckily the rain stopped for our walk down to the tower. This is the view out our window.