Category: Postaday2011

Is a Tour Bus Right for You?

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

A tour bus gives visitors the option to disembark and re-embark at designated

Is a tour bus right for you?
London tour bus

points, makes it easy to cover a lot of territory while on vacation.  With knowledgeable guides and pre-recorded information available in several different languages, taking a tour bus also offers a quick overview of points of interest along the way.

But is a tour bus tour right for you? It depends.

If walking around a new city makes you nervous or uncomfortable, if a semi-structured tour is more your speed or if you don’t have much time, then a tour bus tour is your best option.

If you’re like me, however, and you like to be on your own schedule, wander around, stop, take photos, talk to people, don’t mind getting lost, etc., then a tour bus tour might not be your cup of tea.

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve taken a tour bus tour. When I’m in a new place, I want to explore, preferably on foot. So a tour bus, for me, is like an expensive cab ride.

But after walking for what seemed like hours in both London and Paris, I decided to hop on a bus so I could cover a bit more territory. In London, the tour bus tour I selected was led by a pleasant and knowledgeable guide who had us laughing at his sometimes corny anecdotes. However, not even that kept me on longer than the first leg. The same thing happened in Paris.

What I learned from my brief tour bus experiences

  1. Get on the bus early. Typically, tickets for tour buses are valid for 48 hours from time of purchase – they are time-stamped. The earlier you start, the more you’ll get to see. (It’d be interesting to find out how many people do take advantage of the full 48 hours.)
  2. Plan your route carefully. You don’t want to have to loop back.
  3. Pick a seat on the top deck. Weather permitting and if you don’t mind heights, select a bus with an upper level. It’s a whole different experience seeing a city from one story up.
  4. If you want photos (and who doesn’t?), choose a seat at the front of the upper level or take a tour bus with few people on top. That way, you’ll (hopefully) avoid other people’s heads when you go for that all important shot. Unfortunately, if you’re sitting in any other seat and you’re not quick, by the time you get into position and line up the shot, the bus has moved on or someone or something else is in your way.
  5. If you decide to leave the tour bus early, pick a spot that has a lot of different attractions or is well-populated.
  6. Know when and where the last tour for the bus you’re on finishes and avoid being stuck too far away from anyplace you’re familiar with.
  7. Consider taking a tour bus to get a general orientation of a place, then explore on foot the following day.

A tour bus is a great way to get the lay of the land. But walking allows you more freedom to see the sights, interact with people and adds new layers to the memories you’re creating.

A few of my missed tour bus shots.

[nggallery id=3]

 

Soulful Sundays: Adele

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

Every summer, a song captures my imagination and becomes my personal anthem. Adele’s Rolling in the Deep did it for me this year.

The song is catchy and soulful.

Singer songwriter Adele, was born Adele Laurie Blue Adkins in England in 1988. Like several singers today, she was discovered after XL Records found her songs on MySpace. Since then, she’s won several awards including Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Take a listen to Rolling in the Deep.

[youtube]rYEDA3JcQqw[/youtube]

 

Songwriters: EPWORTH, PAUL / ADKINS, ADELE

Rolling in the Deep

There’s a fire starting in my heart,

Reaching a fever pitch and it’s bringing me out the dark.

Finally, I can see you crystal clear,

Go ahead and sell me out and I’ll lay your ship bare,

See how I’ll leave with every piece of you,

Don’t underestimate the things that I will do.

 

There’s a fire starting in my heart,

Reaching a fever pitch and it’s bring me out the dark.

 

The scars of your love remind me of us,

They keep me thinking that we almost had it all.

The scars of your love, they leave me breathless,

I can’t help feeling,

 

We could have had it all,

Rolling in the deep,

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

You had my heart inside of your hand,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

And you played it to the beat.

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

 

Baby, I have no story to be told,

But I’ve heard one on you and I’m gonna make your head burn,

Think of me in the depths of your despair,

Making a home down there as mine sure won’t be shared,

 

The scars of your love remind me of us,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

They keep me thinking that we almost had it all.

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

The scars of your love, they leave me breathless,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

I can’t help feeling,

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

 

We could have had it all,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

Rolling in the deep.

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

You had my heart inside of your hand,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

And you played it to the beat.

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

 

Could have had it all,

Rolling in the deep,

You had my heart inside of your hand,

But you played it with a beating.

Throw your soul through every open door,

Count your blessings to find what you look for.

Turn my sorrow into treasured gold,

You’ll pay me back in kind and reap just what you’ve sown.

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

We could have had it all,

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

We could have had it all.

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me),

It all, it all, it all.

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

We could have had it all,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

Rolling in the deep.

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep

You had my heart inside of your hand,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

And you played it to the beat.

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

Could have had it all,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me)

Rolling in the deep.

(Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

You had my heart inside of your hand,

(You’re gonna wish you never had met me

But you played it,

You played it,

You played it to the beat.

Rolling In The Deep lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group

Courtesy of www.lyricsmode.com

 

Writing to me is…

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

Writing to me is like using playdoh. When I write, I play with words, string them together, like a necklace to make beautiful sentences.

Writing to me is like using the color wheel. Nouns are blue, verbs are red, adjectives are indigo, adverbs are orange, prepositions are violet, articles are brown, conjunctions are green, and interjections are yellow.

Writing to me is music. When done right, the words flow together and create harmony.

Writing to me is fun when the words tumble out in exactly the order in which I imagine them.

Writing to me is like drawing pictures with words.

Writing to me is a way to slow down and rationalize my thoughts. Sometimes, jumbled thoughts become untangled; fleeting ideas become anchored to the page.

Writing to me is something I do all day, everyday.

Writing to me is easy. Most times.

Writing to me is like reading out loud, relishing the sounds the words make.

Writing to me is rewriting. Often.

Writing to me is poetry.

Writing to me is, preferably, pen on paper. But it’s never just black and white.

Writing to me like breathing. I don’t know how I’d be if I couldn’t write.

Writing it down - Maynefoto

What does writing mean to you?

Share your thoughts and take a minute to check out what writing means to my other Blog-A-Licious buddies:

1. Paula – http://hardlineselfhelp.com/

2. Stuart – http://bornstoryteller.wordpress.com/

3. Karen – http://karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/

4. DK Levick – http://dklevick.wordpress.com/

5. Shannon – http://reflectionandreview.com/

6. Corinne – http://www.everydaygyaan.com/

7. Sonia – http://soniarumzi.com/

8. Sulekha – http://sulekkha.blogspot.com/

9. Dora – http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/

10. Sarah – http://sarahbutland.com/blog/

12. Roy – http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/

13. Janki – http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/

14. Tina – http://tinahoggatt.wordpress.com/

15. Thelma – http://widowsphere.blogspot.com/

16. Dora – http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

I Didn’t Even Get a Croissant! Ten Things I Wish I’d Done in Paris

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

Okay, so eating a croissant wasn’t really on my list of things to do in Paris. But I had envisioned a much different trip than the one I actually had.

In the trip I imagined, I’d spend a week in Paris, visit a few friends and all the must-see spots, the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, etc., then make my way to Bordeaux, the wine region, and Saint-Émilion in search of the Château Grand Mayne. (About 10 years ago, I discovered a Bordeaux with my name on it. I was so excited, I bought a case! Visiting a place that had my name was high on my list.)

At some point, I’d travel to Lons le Saunier, to visit ma petite soeur, Murielle, and her family. I was looking forward so much to seeing the French countryside that I’d sit at my desk when I was supposed to be working and daydream about it.

But life (aka work) intervened. Instead of spending two weeks in France and two in London, I had two weeks between London and Paris. I could manage only three days in Paris. It wouldn’t be enough — I like to spend my time, slowly peeling back layers and discovering a new place — but it’d have to do.

Lines outside the Musée d'Orsay

Don’t get me wrong, I loved every minute of my three days but it went by so fast, if I didn’t have photos, I’d think it had been a dream.

I’ve been reflecting on the dream and all the things I didn’t get a chance to see or do in Paris, and I made a list:

  1. Sunset Cruise on the Seine – Bateaux Parisiens offers dinner, nighttime and private cruises on the Seine that leave from the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame.
  2. La Sainte-Chapelle – I don’t consider myself a very religious person but looking at cathedrals always humbles me. Located at Île de la Cité, this Gothic Cathedral was consecrated in 1248. It has been a national historic monument since 1862.
  3. Église Saint-Suplice – The second largest church in Paris.
  4. Moulin Rouge – Home of the can-can, the Moulin Rouge has been around since the late 1800s. Artists from Edith Piaf to Josephine Baker have performed there.
  5. Montmartre – The bohemian place that played host to artists like Picasso, Dali, Modgiliani, Monet and others.
  6. La Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre – The Basilica is located in Montmartre, the highest point of the city.
  7. Musée d’Orsay – I wanted to visit this elegant former train station turned gallery for Western art but after standing in line at the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, I couldn’t muster up the energy for another line.
  8. Montparnasse – I have created my own (highly romanticized) narrative about what living in Montparnasse must have been like for artists such as Jean Rhys, Madox Ford, Henry Miller, Salvador Dali, Jean Miró, Diego Rivera and many others who made it their home. I wanted to walk in their footsteps.
  9. Château de Versailles – One of the largest palaces in the world, it is the location where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919.
  10. Luxembourg Palace and Luxembourg Gardens – Built between 1615 and 1627 for Marie de Medici, the widow of Henry IV, the Luxembourg Palace is home of the French Senate. Wonder how difficult it must be to have to work there? I’ll never know!

The trip I took was an appetizer. I’m ready now for a more leisurely and elaborate feast with ten (or more) reasons to return to Paris.

Tasty Thursdays: Tapas

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

I love tapas and go to tapas bars every so often, especially in the summer.

What are tapas? Tapas are canapes or appetizers or small snacks that originated in Spain. They can be served hot or cold. There are tapas bars all over Spain and now all over the U.S.

I found a tapas restaurant near the London Eye and was surprised to see oxtail tapas. Of course, I had to try it. I was not disappointed.

Oxtail tapas

Whenever I have friends over, I usually make several different tapas. Two of my favorites are Prawns and Bacon and Ceviche. Tapas pretty simple to make and always go very quickly. Here are the recipe for both, courtesy of spain-recipes.com:

Prawns and Bacon Tapas

Ingredients

  • 5 oz jamon or thinly sliced bacon
  • 24 medium to large uncooked, headless prawns, peeled
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 lemons, quartered

Preparation

Cut the bacon (or jamon, if using it) into pieces, which you will wrap generously round the prawns. Place the wrapped prawns down flat on a board and skewer them through the fattest part of the tail, making sure the jamón is firmly fixed. Season generously and drizzle with the oil.

On a high heat, griddle, grill or barbecue the prawn and bacon brochettes for 2-3 minutes on each side, so the jamón crisps up. Alternatively, roast in a hot oven (425ºF) on an oiled baking tray for 8-10 minutes. Squeeze the juice of the lemon and garnish with lemon wedges. Serve immediately.

 

Ceviche Tapas

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb halibut, turbot, sea bass or salmon fillets, skinned
  • Juice of 3 limes
  • 1-2 fresh red chillies, seeded and very finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt

For the garnish

  • 4 large firm tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
  • 1 ripe advocado, peeled and diced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon fresh coriander leaves

Preparation

Cut the fish into strips measuring about 2 x 1/2 inch. Lay these in a shallow dish and pour over the lime juice, turning the fish strips to coat them all over in the juice. Cover with a clear film (plastic wrap) and leave for 1 hour.

Mix all the garnish ingredients, except the coriander, together. Set aside.

Season the fish with salt and scatter over the chillies. Drizzle with the oil, Toss the fish in the mixture, then replace the cover. Leave to marinate in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes more.

To serve, divide the garnish among six plates. Spoon the ceviche, sprinkle with coriander, and serve.

 

Enjoy!

I’ve Been Nominated for a Fistful of Blog Awards!

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

My blog buddy, Elizabeth at Mirth and Motivation nominated me for not just one but three blog awards. I’m stoked!

Elizabeth is a blogger I admire and respect. Each of her posts are thoughtful and thought provoking. For her to nominate me for a blog award is an honor.

So which blog awards did Elizabeth nominate me for?

Well, I received the Versatile Blogger Award, the Stylish Blogger Award and the Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award.

Each award comes with a few responsibilities.

  1. Send a thank you and link back to the blogger who nominated you.
  2. Share 7 things about yourself.
  3. Pass the award on to 10 Versatile/Irresistibly Sweet/Stylish bloggers.
  4. Contact each blogger that you’ve nominated and tell them about the blog award

Thank you, Elizabeth. You’ve made my day!

Seven things about me?

  1. I’d love to get a role (or be an extra) in the next Bond flick. I’ve seen every Bond movie, many times over but they never get stale. Sean Connery is my favorite Bond; Daniel Craig my second favorite and a worthy successor. All the others – Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan – were just placeholders for Craig, a man who can deliver a punch as effectively as he can receive one.
  2. I daydream of leaving my job and traveling around the world. An around-the-world trek would satisfy the nomad in me. But not just that, it’d allow me to meet people from all over, see and experience different cultures, try different foods.
  3. The only time I’ve bartended was at a wedding. I’d never bartended before but it was fun. The guests were very understanding when I told them it was my first time. (I made sure the drinks were nice and strong.)
  4. My favorite color is red. It’s the color I reach for most often but especially on dreary days. It makes me feel bold, daring, wild.
  5. Being near water soothes me. Whether it’s a lake or a pool or an ocean, there’s something about water that just soothes me.
  6. I used to be a teacher. I’ve taught Spanish to eleven- and twelve-year olds, Math and Reading to at-risk children, and principles of business to adults.
  7. I hate chocolate. It doesn’t matter if it’s white or black, I can smell it a mile away

In no particular order, the Versatile/Stylish/Irresistible Blog Awards go to…..

Drumroll, please!

  • Colorful Footsteps – Sherry’s planning a solo trip around the world which will hopefully take her to all seven continents.
  • Totsy – Totsy Mae’s a writer, reader, visual artist, graphic designer and a mom.
  • The Black Twig – Dahlia’s a bookworm, aspiring writer/traveler, sociology and international relations graduate and blogger
  • Imported Chocolate – Check out Jennifer’s travel vlog for helpful tips.
  • A View to a Thrill – Renee shows how to sample the world at a fraction of the cost.
  • WhosWorld – Roxanne’s a New Yorker who’s now teaching in China.
  • Bacon is Magic – Ayngelina left her job, boyfriend, apartment and friends to find inspiration in Latin America.
  • GypsyRoseLee – The Bond girl who never signed on.
  • To Write is to Write – Kathy is a former teacher, former librarian, former paralegal, and former pianist. Now, she’s an author and blogger.
  • Cultivated Style – William blogs about culture, style, music and has his sights set on working in the music industry

Thanks to all these bloggers who inspire me everyday, and again, to Elizabeth for nominating me for a blog award.

 

 

What Do You Do With Your Leftover Coins?

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

What do you do with your leftover coins?

Whenever I’m go on vacation, I keep some leftover coins for my collection and spend the rest at the airport duty free shops. But no matter how hard I try, I usually find a few more when I unpack.

Since currency exchanges and banks don’t buy back leftover coins, I usually add them to my collection. But that’s becoming quite sizable and very heavy.

Some of my leftover money

On my last trip, I was pleased to hear Virgin Airlines’ appeal for leftover coins — but I didn’t have any, or so I thought. (I found a few Euros when I got home.)

Later, I did some research and discovered UNICEF’s Change for Good® program.

Change for Good is a partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry. It was established in 1987 to help UNICEF’s mission to reduce the number of preventable childhood deaths.

Change for Good allows passengers on nine participating airlines to donate their leftover U.S. and foreign currencies to flight attendants on board and at Admirals Clubs and Flagship Lounges worldwide.

The airlines participating are Aer Lingus, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways (ANA), American Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines (JAL) and QANTAS.

Virgin Airlines and British Airways have their own programs.

If you find yourself with leftover coins when you get home, don’t panic — you can still donate. Send them to:

U.S. Fund for UNICEF

Attn: Change for Good

125 Maiden Lane

According to UNICEF’s website, because donations of leftover foreign coins are processed in bulk by a third party vendor, the acknowledgement you’ll receive for your donation will, unfortunately, not specify the amount of your gift. But you shouldn’t let that dissuade you from donating.

The global Change for Good program has generated over 90 million dollars for UNICEF. That’s no small change!

I can’t think of a better way to get rid of leftover coins.

What Some Bloggers are Saying About Paris

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

 

I could write about Paris everyday and not run out of things to say.  But I woke up this morning thinking about my blog buddy, Heather Munro, whose posts on Paris really got me stoked. Heather’s photographs capture the romance and the beauty of Paris like no other blogger I had seen in a while.

The Seine

So I went looking for what other bloggers are saying about Paris. Hope you like my selection:

  • Jordan (http://ohhappyday.com), an American who recently moved to Paris, is giving away a 7-day trip for two to Paris. Unfortunately, the giveaway closes at 11:59 tonight. So head over to her blog and enter.
  • My Little Paris (http://www.mylittle.fr/mylittleparis/en/) is a bilingual blog on all things French.
  • Nicole, an American, lived in Paris for a while. Her blog (http://littlebrownpen.blogspot.com) chronicles her Paris Color Project, a series of photographs on color in the city of light.
  • Prêt á Voyager (http://pretavoyager.blogspot.com) is the blog of self-confessed Paris-loving graphic designer Anne Ditmeyer. Anne’s posts cover living in and visiting Paris.
  • Erica Berman’s post on French Restaurant Etiquette: Dining in France Like a Local caught my eye. Erica, an American who’s been living in Paris for several years, owns a vacation rental company and blogs about everything hip in Paris. (http://hipparis.com).
  • Cynthia is a French student who’s studying in England. Her blog (http://goodtipsinparis.wordpress.com) offers tips on Paris.
  • Kathy, my blog buddy over at To Write is to Write, did a sweet little post on her trip to Paris. Read it here.
  • Heather lives in the U.S. but it’s safe to say she’d rather be in Paris. I loved her post on the Eiffel Tower and Chartres but check out all her posts under the Paris category. You’re in for a rare treat.

Enjoy these images of Paris:

[nggallery id=2 w=width h=height]

 

Soulful Sundays: The Temptations’ and my Fathers’ Day Tribute

Posted on by Marcia Mayne
Dad and me, 1994 - Maynefoto

I thought for today’s Soulful Sundays, I’d pick a song that celebrated fathers.  The Temptations’ Papa Was a Rolling Stone was the first one that came to mind though it’s a celebration of one type of father.

June’s a difficult month, not only because of Fathers’ Day but because the 6th is the day my father was born.

When I was growing up, my father and I had a sometime stormy relationship but either I mellowed as I got older or he began to see my point of view. Either way, we became very good friends. I could talk to him about anything. Whenever I went home, the first thing he’d do is fix us drinks and we’d sit on the verandah and talk for hours. There’d be much laughter as well.

My dad loved cricket and politics and would read the newspaper from cover to cover everyday. His next big love was his lodge. I used to try every trick I could think of to get him to tell me about the lodge but he’d never say a word.

The Sunday Dad was taken to the hospital, my sister called. I felt certain he’d recover. After all, he’d assured me several months earlier when he’d had a mild stroke that he wasn’t “going anywhere.” I believed him. A few days later, he couldn’t see. And I knew.

I rushed home and went to the hospital. I still felt he’d make it. But he passed away with us at his bedside. Everyone said he had waited for me. I’d like to think he did.

Here’s The Temptations’ Papa Was a Rolling Stone

Happy Fathers’ Day!

 

Paris, Day 2: The Eiffel Tower Climb

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

After walking around Paris for most of the day taking in one must-see attraction after another, I was excited to see the Eiffel Tower straight ahead, looking as if it had sprouted from the ground.

The images I had in my head from movies and television and photographs dwarfed in comparison to the real thing. It was impressive!

View from under the Eiffel Tower - Maynefoto

Up close, the Eiffel Tower, with its intricate lattice work, is a marvel of modern engineering.

At 1,063 feet, it is among the tallest structures in the world. Its base measures approximately 330 feet. Completed in 1889, the Tower was named after Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who designed it.

Up close - Maynefoto

Throngs of people milled around the base, hundreds more waited on one of two lines – one to climb the stairs to the first and second floors, the other, the elevator to the second floor and the top.

I sat for a while, debating whether I’d go up. Once I decided, there was no question: I’d take the stairs — not the elevator with the longer line. It would be a good 45 minutes to an hour before I reached the ticket counter.

I’d say the first 100 steps were a breeze compared to the next 200. I had to stop several times to catch my breath. But it also gave me a chance to take some photos.

Informational signs - Maynefoto
View of the line from the First Floor of the Eiffel Tower - Maynefoto

When I made it to the first floor 347 steps later, I felt very proud. I headed straight for the first table to rest.

More views from the First Floor, Eiffel Tower - Maynefoto
View of the Seine from the Eiffel Tower - Maynefoto

When I reached the first floor, I couldn’t imagine going to the next level. But after getting a bottle of water from the concession stand and feeling my heart had returned to beating normally, I realized it was time to go. Of course, seeing other people doing it, didn’t help either.

500th Step at the Eiffel Tower - Maynefoto

Reaching the 500th step of the 674 steps to the second floor. I knew when I returned home there’d be some who wouldn’t believe I’d done it, so I brought proof.

The second floor was crawling with people – those who had taken the elevator up, those returning from the top and others, like me, who climbed up. The second floor is also the location of a second ticket window where those who wanted to, could buy tickets to the elevator to the top and the souvenir shop. It’s also where the second, more expensive, restaurant is to be found.

View of the top from the 2nd level - Maynefoto

Looking towards the top from the second floor.

I was still undecided whether to go up. The lines were long and I needed to join the line again to get another ticket. I mulled it over as I took more photos of the beautiful scenery below. (I just noticed the shadow of the Eiffel in this one.)

The Eiffel, towering over Paris - Maynefoto

I’m not sure how long I hung around snapping photo after photo before I joined the ticket line.

Sunset from the Eiffel Tower - Maynefoto

It was another 30-45 minutes before I got up to the window, maybe 20 more minutes to get on the elevator and a few minutes to get to the top.

As we began our ascent, I looked down — we weren’t going very fast — and my stomach lurched. It settled after a few seconds, and I watched as people and things on the ground became increasingly smaller.

Exiting the elevator, I was surprised and delighted to see this little flag of Jamaica on the Eiffel Tower!!

7 734 km to Jamaica - Maynefoto

The view at the top is breathtaking. Unfortunately, since it’s enclosed, I had to take photos from the windows. They all picked up the film of dirt on the window.

It was after 8 p.m. and I wanted to be on the ground to see the lights that begin at 9 p.m. It started as I was descending and ended before I got to the ground. I wanted to wait for the next one at 10 p.m. but I was hungry and tired and still had a 30 minute metro ride back to the hotel.

I had spent more than 5 hours there but it was well worth it. I said my goodbye to the Eiffel Tower around 9:30 p.m.

Night - Maynefoto

Climbing the steps to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower then taking the elevator to the top was the highlight of my three days in Paris.

Visiting the Eiffel Tower

Hours: The Eiffel Tower is open everyday from 9:30 – midnight but check the website for exact times in the summer months.

Tickets: Stairs to the 2nd Floor: €4,70 – If you want to climb the stairs to the second floor, like I did, you’ll have to purchase your ticket when you get there.

Elevator to the 2nd Floor: €8, 20

Elevator to top: €13,40

As with any attraction, vendors selling souvenir keychains, water, etc., are everywhere. There’s also a souvenir shop on the second level.

Restaurants are on the first and second levels.

Enjoy!