Seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time

Do you remember the first time you saw the Eiffel Tower in Paris? For many people that very first sighting of the iconic metal tower is a powerful experience and for Marjory Steele-Skousen from the US it certainly lived up to all her expectations.

Marjory from Pacific Northwest in a suburb of Seattle, WA visited Paris with her daughter Katie and will always remember the first time she saw the Eiffel Tower.

On our first day in Paris we arranged to meet our friend Bob, an airline pilot under the Eiffel Tower.

We took the Metro from our hotel and got out at the Trocadero exit. It took me a while to get my bearings when Katie grabbed my arm trying to turn me around and excitedly saying, “Mom, mom, LOOK!”

As she turned me around, there it was, the Eiffel Tower. It was ‘Love at first sight’. I had had no idea how huge it was and I had never noticed from photos just how beautiful the iron work on it was.

I literally stopped in my tracks, mouth open, and then the tears started swelling up in my eyes. I couldn’t believe I was in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower!

I asked my daughter Katie “didn’t you cry when you saw it”, she said no because she was so taken by my reaction to seeing it for the first time.

Your whole life you see pictures, watch movies of this site, but I wasn’t expecting the actual size of it. Seeing the surrounding area with the long water fountains, green grassed park areas, I was frozen and struck with awe. I couldn’t believe I was standing here in person, me! Both Katie and I just stood there trying to take in the moment “Maybe you should pinch me, because I still can’t believe I’m here,” I said.

We had a little extra time before Bob showed up so we walked over to the grassy park area, and found a tree to sit down by and lean against. We sat and just stared up at the tower, watching the people doing about their business around us. There were people having their picnics with a baguette, cheese and wine. It really was an amazing sight.

We spent the day with Bob, walking the East bank of the Seine, going to the Notre Dame, seeing the Lovers’ Bridge with all the locks on it, having dinner at Bob’s favourite restaurant and then having dessert at a crêpe stand. Then we walked back to the Eiffel Tower after dark so we could see it all lit up and get to watch when it sparkled.

This time of evening we saw a lot of couples sitting there on the grass with a picnic, but we noticed instead of wine it was Champagne. I asked Bob, “Because you travel all around the world as a pilot, and get to come here often, do you appreciate these moments?” And you know what he said? “Yes, I do, every time I come here and see it.”

A few days later Katie and I went back again, wanting to go to the top of the tower when it was still light outside, but then see the lights come on while we were at the top. Our wish came true, and all in perfect timing.

Like in life itself you always want the last moment of something or the last bite to be savoured. So on our last day in Paris we decided to end it at the Eiffel Tower. We sat by the fountains, listened to Edith Piaf’s music and humming along to La Vie en Rose. We watched as the sun set and the lights came on… ooh la la.

Majory blogs at: http://marjorysteeleskousen.blogspot.fr/

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