The Mona Lisa is a LOT more hassle for a lot less reward. Battle ridiculous crowds, so you can eventually get a glimpse from 50 feet away, behind bulletproof glass, of a picture you and everyone else in the crowd has already seen a million times!
FACT. I fell in love with the tower when I first visited Paris. I wasn't expecting the city to strike me as much as it did. Paris is such a vibe. I come from Italy so I am familiar with history and a certain level of architectural coherence, aesthetically speaking. Plus, we've all seen towers before, a tower is a tower, big woop. But Eiffel's tower is a masterpiece! It's curvy and it has that colour and the sparkles and it's true that it follows you in your Parisian touring! I didn't climb it because when you're on top of it you can't see it on the skyline. That would be such a pity. And it's also accurate that while it looks close-by, it will take you more time than expected to reach it.
I've heard it said before that people get to the top and realise it's not quite the view they want, since it doesn't have the Eiffel Tower in! The Montparnasse Tower is the one for that.
We will always have Eiffel Tower... Indeed, I always try to do a non-touristic itinerary, but some places you must visit even if it is your fourth or fifth time. What has changed in the neighborhood since your last visit? What forgotten memories will you remember when reach the spot? To understand the cities you need to understand its landmarks.
hahahaha it's impossible no to do that, Holly. It's like the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. I have been in Rio plenty of times and every single time I look at him "oh my god it's the Christ" as it was the first time...
Late to the party here. I find the Eiffel Tower and its history very interesting, but one of the things that’s always out me off going up it is that it I’m terrified of heights! Im fine in planes, and going up the tall touristy buildings in NYC never bothered me because you’re not really aware how high up you are when getting in all the lifts etc (though I hated every minute of queuing for the Empire State). Eiffel Tower strikes me as somewhere where you’d be painfully away of how high up you are. But maybe I’m wrong?
Also, with you on not understanding the snobbery around going to tourist attractions. I can understand if you went to the same city multiple times and only went to the touristy bits, but otherwise they’re popular for a reason. Setting aside any damage tourists might inflict of course.
I'm also terrified of heights! I've actually had this fear worsen with age, and so although I went up it when I was about 19 and remember thinking wow this is high, I'm fairly certain my entire body would feel it now!
What I like about the Eiffel Tower is what I like about such structures everywhere: the way they suddenly appear out of nowhere into your line of sight. When in Paris, I usually don't visit it, but it's great to look up and see it looming in the distance.
Looking at the comments I'm the miserable outlier who doesn't care about the Eiffel Tower! Went up it on a school trip when I was 11 and haven't felt the need to visit it again. Though perhaps my opinion was coloured by the fact that the hotel we stayed at had rats in the bathrooms, ants in the wardrobes, and while the teachers drank wine and enjoyed nice food, we were given water and a weird slop with cabbage and a greyish meat that turned out to be horse meat, which made several pony-owning girls go into hysterics.
Thinking about it now, I've never been back to any of the places we went to on that school trip. Obviously the scars run deep! 🤣
Every time we see it—which will never be enough—we are both staggered again by how tall it is. I get acrophobia climbing the stairs to our bedroom, but still can’t stay away.
Lovely, Tom. haven’t yet been to Paris, but I don’t think it will be too long before that’s remedied. and I will go to the Eiffel Tower straight away. 🇫🇷♥️
Eiffel Tower is always a must for me, whenever I go to Paris. Before I used to go for tourism. Then for work twice a year, and now as a tourist again, and always, I never missed it! 🥰😄
Of course, Barcelona is a beautiful city and has fabulous architecture and landmarks, like the mystic Sagrada Familia cathedral or the lovely modernist Gaudi park, but Eiffel is Eiffel ! O la lá, C’est Magnifique! 🥰
I live in NYC so we have our fair share of big landmark buildings, but none of them get me like the Eiffel Tower do :,)
Same here Tori! I'm a Londoner but nothing compares to it here.
The Mona Lisa is a LOT more hassle for a lot less reward. Battle ridiculous crowds, so you can eventually get a glimpse from 50 feet away, behind bulletproof glass, of a picture you and everyone else in the crowd has already seen a million times!
Completely agree with this, that was one iconic thing I didn't really think was quite as worth it!
There is just something about it, particularly when it sparkles ✨
Hugely agree Gillian, whoever's idea the sparkles were is a genius
Agree, I tear up every time I’m lucky enough to see it…
FACT. I fell in love with the tower when I first visited Paris. I wasn't expecting the city to strike me as much as it did. Paris is such a vibe. I come from Italy so I am familiar with history and a certain level of architectural coherence, aesthetically speaking. Plus, we've all seen towers before, a tower is a tower, big woop. But Eiffel's tower is a masterpiece! It's curvy and it has that colour and the sparkles and it's true that it follows you in your Parisian touring! I didn't climb it because when you're on top of it you can't see it on the skyline. That would be such a pity. And it's also accurate that while it looks close-by, it will take you more time than expected to reach it.
I've heard it said before that people get to the top and realise it's not quite the view they want, since it doesn't have the Eiffel Tower in! The Montparnasse Tower is the one for that.
We will always have Eiffel Tower... Indeed, I always try to do a non-touristic itinerary, but some places you must visit even if it is your fourth or fifth time. What has changed in the neighborhood since your last visit? What forgotten memories will you remember when reach the spot? To understand the cities you need to understand its landmarks.
Completely agree Mateus! There are some areas in places that I just always go back to.
I love seeing that you too, non-tourist, extraordinaire, pay homage to the Eiffel Tower, Mateus. 😉
hahahaha it's impossible no to do that, Holly. It's like the Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. I have been in Rio plenty of times and every single time I look at him "oh my god it's the Christ" as it was the first time...
Oh, good to know that you can't stand under the big girl and look up anymore. I'll focus on the distant sightings then... it's more romantic anyway.
Completely agree Martine!
Late to the party here. I find the Eiffel Tower and its history very interesting, but one of the things that’s always out me off going up it is that it I’m terrified of heights! Im fine in planes, and going up the tall touristy buildings in NYC never bothered me because you’re not really aware how high up you are when getting in all the lifts etc (though I hated every minute of queuing for the Empire State). Eiffel Tower strikes me as somewhere where you’d be painfully away of how high up you are. But maybe I’m wrong?
Also, with you on not understanding the snobbery around going to tourist attractions. I can understand if you went to the same city multiple times and only went to the touristy bits, but otherwise they’re popular for a reason. Setting aside any damage tourists might inflict of course.
I'm also terrified of heights! I've actually had this fear worsen with age, and so although I went up it when I was about 19 and remember thinking wow this is high, I'm fairly certain my entire body would feel it now!
Love this take on the classic ol' Eiffel Tower. Also the: putting in your ten minutes with the boring uncle analogy. Brilliant.
Thanks so much Michael!
What I like about the Eiffel Tower is what I like about such structures everywhere: the way they suddenly appear out of nowhere into your line of sight. When in Paris, I usually don't visit it, but it's great to look up and see it looming in the distance.
That's my favourite thing about it too - that suddenly it's just there in front of you or in the distance.
Looking at the comments I'm the miserable outlier who doesn't care about the Eiffel Tower! Went up it on a school trip when I was 11 and haven't felt the need to visit it again. Though perhaps my opinion was coloured by the fact that the hotel we stayed at had rats in the bathrooms, ants in the wardrobes, and while the teachers drank wine and enjoyed nice food, we were given water and a weird slop with cabbage and a greyish meat that turned out to be horse meat, which made several pony-owning girls go into hysterics.
Thinking about it now, I've never been back to any of the places we went to on that school trip. Obviously the scars run deep! 🤣
Oh Sian this sounds terrible! Classic school trip fodder. Maybe it's time to revisit Paris and heal those scars!!
Every time we see it—which will never be enough—we are both staggered again by how tall it is. I get acrophobia climbing the stairs to our bedroom, but still can’t stay away.
Yeah it's a must do for me - and I agree it's always much taller than I remember!
Hopefully you kiss L there each and every time she drags you back… ❤️🩹
Won't be too long until the next time!
Lovely, Tom. haven’t yet been to Paris, but I don’t think it will be too long before that’s remedied. and I will go to the Eiffel Tower straight away. 🇫🇷♥️
It's a must Holly! I'm basically Paris's brand ambassador at this point.
We will never not see the Eiffel Tower when in Paris. These are the rules. LOVED THIS! #EiffelUrge
#We'veGotTheUrge
Eiffel Tower is always a must for me, whenever I go to Paris. Before I used to go for tourism. Then for work twice a year, and now as a tourist again, and always, I never missed it! 🥰😄
Of course, Barcelona is a beautiful city and has fabulous architecture and landmarks, like the mystic Sagrada Familia cathedral or the lovely modernist Gaudi park, but Eiffel is Eiffel ! O la lá, C’est Magnifique! 🥰
Same here! Sagrada Familia is actually one of the only places that from afar can have the same effect in my opinion
And inside the Sagrada Familia..is divine!
Better yet it’s always changing as the architect’s dream is gradually realised.
Apropos:
https://marcoandsabrina.substack.com/p/california-dreamin-on-such-a-winters