There was a bit of administration to be done today... all play and no work makes Jack and Jill crazy! We printed documents at the local internet shop and went to pick up my press dossier from the Tourism Office at Gare de Lyon. While at the station, we booked our train to Marseilles, from there we will drive to our next exchange in Provence in a few weeks time. We also booked our train from Provence to Rome for 18th September. It is hard to believe that our time in France will end in 5 weeks time, but Italy - here we come!
We picked up our passes to the Eiffel Tower as arranged, and happily skipped the oh so long and daunting queues. Instead of being packed like sardines, we travelled up each stage of the tower in comfort, sharing the lift with only two others, what a way to go. The best part of tonight was for JR and I to be here with AJ. He loved it up here with our heads in the clouds. We ascended the 300 or so metres of the tower stage by stage, stopping at each one to take in the view and spot all of Paris's famous monuments. The day was spectacular, the sky a perfect blue and we could see to eternity.
As the light began to fade, we secured a spot on the very top level of the tower, at the west pillar, to watch the 'coucher du soleil', known to us as sunset. The sun took its time to fall, softly, softly to the edge of the world. A cool breeze came and AJ layered up and snuggled into my side, he quietly said to me, 'You're a great Mum', he looked at me and held my gaze. This is one of life's unforgettable moments, one I will never forget. The horizon began to twinkle with lights, and the city became illuminated bit by bit until it shimmered softly underneath us on a canvas of violet and blue.
We descended a level and took in one last view before coming back down to earth, this time with only one other in our lift and no long queue to negaotiate. What a ride. We had to return our passes, and as it was after hours, we were told how to access the office. We had to press a buzzer on the wall once inside. A drawer popped out from the wall in which we put our passes, the drawer disappeared to the other side of the wall without explanation. We all looked at each other and began to laugh, it was so bizarre, not a word was spoken, no instructions, just the offering of this silent drawer. We waited patiently, laughing, thinking we were on candid camera or something. Whoosh, the drawer appeared again, this time with our passports inside. 'Merci boucoup', I said to the drawer before it left on its journey to the other side of the wall again - it did not answer back.
We descended a level and took in one last view before coming back down to earth, this time with only one other in our lift and no long queue to negaotiate. What a ride. We had to return our passes, and as it was after hours, we were told how to access the office. We had to press a buzzer on the wall once inside. A drawer popped out from the wall in which we put our passes, the drawer disappeared to the other side of the wall without explanation. We all looked at each other and began to laugh, it was so bizarre, not a word was spoken, no instructions, just the offering of this silent drawer. We waited patiently, laughing, thinking we were on candid camera or something. Whoosh, the drawer appeared again, this time with our passports inside. 'Merci boucoup', I said to the drawer before it left on its journey to the other side of the wall again - it did not answer back.
The three of us walked down the Champ de Mars to get a few full length photos of the Eiffel Tower at night, she absolutely stops me in my tracks no matter how many times I see her. The guys wandering around selling souveniers had lowered their price of Eiffel Tower key rings to five for €1, I caught JR considering a purchase, gosh he loves a bargain no matter how useless the product. The tower looked beautiful from all angles, we hung around at the central point underneath, gazing up at the enormity of it all.
Time to head for the subway via the fountains at Trocadero, but not before befriending a gaggle of nuns, of course we posed for a photo, you know us, seize the moment and all. We stopped to watch street entertainers in front of Palais de Chaillot, who were fire twirling (Trace, one of them looked like you and I turned to JR and said, 'Trace would just love this'), the backdrop to their wonderful act was the Eiffel Tower, for me it was surreal and moving to be somewhere so beautiful, making memories with those I love.
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