Next morning in Paris, I’m up, showered, shaved, breakfasted and coffee-d by 8:45. Off I go on the subway to the closest subway station to the Eiffel Tower. Had to start with this map of Paris they gave me at St. Christopher’s Inn, just to find places I wanted to go. There’s two stations nearby the tower and they’re both quite the walk. Here’s the subway map I carried with me. Same map that was on every station wall of the system: Paris Subway.
I had to travel from the Gare du Nord station to the Champ de Mars station. Which required changing trains. Seemed like a potential mistake filled day but off I went.
And a short 20 minutes later, without mistakes in the subway travel portion, I see the tower in the distance and hoof it over there. Takes 12 leisurely minutes from the Metro station to this spot to take the picture. Mostly over parkland and crossing a couple streets. But there she is, the Eiffel Tower. They tore it down just after my visit in my honor so to bad for youse guys.
Those things hanging down from under her skirt are scaffolds for the remodeling. They’re making it easier to get up to the top.
It was 9:40 when I got to this point. I wish I’d taken a picture of the ground level under the tower. There was a long line of people queuing up at the ticket window. I knew one trick was to buy your ‘climb the stairs up to the first level’ ticket, then buy an elevator ticket up there where the lines would be shorter. So, after being in line for 20 minutes, I wait in line again to climb the stairs, then I’m climbing. Damn, wish I’d taken some pictures of all that to show you. Guess you’ll have to imagine it. Several ques below the tower that filled with people as the day wore on made me happy for arriving early. You can buy tickets for the elevator early somehow but I’ve forgotten how now. Maybe online but on a French only site. The ticket agent told me about it after I came down and saw a very short line for one (of the four available) elevators and went and asked the ticket agent. I did investigate later but choose not to avail myself of that sightseeing pleasure. It took you all the way to the last platform. I climbed all the way up to the 2nd to last platform. Where there’s a couple trinket stores, fast food joints, bars, etc. In fact, I bought a shot glass for my friend in Rosamond up there. In the shot below, I’m on the first level. There’s the park that I crossed to get here.
Hey, look over there, a mountain!
And the Seine. I’d do a boat ride from there I figured. Maybe tomorrow. Seemed like as good a place as any to start a little river jaunt. And only 20 minutes away from the hostel. AND, since I was heading for my new B&B tomorrow, I’d combine the trip to my new digs and the boat trip. I could easily hang onto my luggage while on a boat tour. So, that was my plan now. I’d spend all day here at the tower, then come back the next day and take the boat tour, then afterwards take the subway to my new B&B.
On this first level was much of the machinery originally installed to run the elevators. Still working. Some of it retired of course.
I guess I goofed off on this level too long, because the line for the elevator was still way too long. And the contractors were pouring this horrible, nasty smelling goo on the floor and spreading it out. Right next to elevator’s line of people I was waiting in. Many of us had to get away from the overpoweringly powerful stench. Strong, acrid, chemical smell that filled the tiny room we ended up inside. After a rest and heavy breathing away from that noxious stuff, I start trudging up the stairs to the next level. I have no idea why I did not take pictures of the stuff I’m telling you about. Not even a simple shot of the stairs. Damn sad story telling skills I guess.
Soon up on the 2nd level. Pretty neat.
A little more stair climbing after a long rest, and on the 3rd level where all the goodies are…stores, cafes, etc. There’s one more level you can go to but no stairs. Have to take the elevator. When I got to this level, I found that the elevator only ran once an hour, and you were not allowed to queue up in the roped off line. Well, hell, I’ll just forego that trip. Maybe come back earlier another day and not dawdle on the lower levels like I did today. Maybe buy that secret elevator ticket. Next time not dawdle. 
Pretty neat views, huh? Weather was just perfect.
After hanging around way up there on the 2nd from highest level, and after enjoying a nice cappuccino, I get into the ‘going down’ elevator line and after 20 or so minutes in the queue, finally get my ride down to ground level. There are several little hot dog stands down here under the tower and I found myself some ice cream. Yumm. Then near one of the legs of the tower was this little park…fenced off. Right in the middle of this picture there is an ibis preening. And it was here that a cute gurl tried to get me to sign a petition to save the cute cuddly seals or something. So I signed a fake name, knowing this was the intro to a scam because our guide told us about it yesterday during our walking tour. Then she asked for money because I’d signed the sheet. HAH! So I spent a minute or so berating her about scams and such. She slowly moved away. 
Goodbye, tower! See you tomorrow!
I get back to the hostel, settle in for dinner and beers, and the gurls come and join me again. Cool. They spent most of the time on their phones arranging for their trip home the next day. Meanwhile, I’m perusing my tablet looking for adventures to be had in Paris. Then the gurls finish up what they’re doing and suggest we all walk over to some famous church on a hill where they tell me you get the best night time view of all of Paris. OK, sure, I’m in. By then, the German guy that had needed my help with the subway yesterday, and a guy the gurls knew from around the hostel had joined us. 
First we take a short ride on the subway somewhere. Then we’re walking, and the plan is to stop at some corner market and buy wine and cheese. I’m all for that! I volunteered, but the gurls paid for the wine and cheese. Of course that meant they got the choice of what wine and type of cheese…I think that was their plan all along because they got all excited when they found one type of cheese (I have no idea what type it is) that they can’t get in Holland regularly. We walked right by the famous Moulin Rouge and the gurls are warning me that this is a fairly seedy part of town and they’re worried I might get ‘incensed’ by something. HAH! Not damned likely. I tell them they would probably get more incensed than I ever would. Also the new guy said there were lots of pickpockets and it wasn’t uncommon for there to be muggings of tourists in this part of town. Since I carry my wallet in my hidden, inside my pants wallet, no worries for me. They had much more to worry about then I did what with their purses hanging out, and their wallets bulging out their pants pockets. After a 10 minute walk, we arrive at The Basilica of Sacre Coeur just about dusk and claim a spot on the stairs. This hill is actually the highest spot in Paris. The gurls are admiring the view, jumping up and down with glee, pointing out sights they recognize, then notice I am taking a picture and get all ‘posey’ like. Cute.
Wasn’t long before the crowd grew. Look at all those people. Showed up in minutes. If it hadn’t been for the gurls telling me, I would have had no idea about this place and never would have visited a church on my own unless it was much more unique than this one. But here the reason for visiting is the night time view of Paris from the highest hill in the city. Not the church. It’s just barely 100 years old. To modern for me. Not totally unattractive though.
Here’s our little crew enjoying some wine and cheese. The new guy in the back is Swiss. The German guy is in front. Everyone spoke English and when I mentioned that the two guys started speaking in German, with the gurls jumping in occasionally. They all knew 3 languages. They also told me that the ‘universal’ language in Europe had become English. We all tossed around some ideas of why that was…and why it wasn’t French, Swiss, Dutch, or German but didn’t reach any conclusions on the matter.
I wandered up to the church to get a better view of the city. It was open, but they were having a mass of some sort so I didn’t go in. Most of the people there for the view were drinking. Many had spread out blankets and had food baskets along with bottles of wine. I was thinking that it could probably get pretty rowdy around here sometimes.
Did try to take one shot of the view. Much more interesting in person of course. There’s a little ‘authorized’ trinket seller down there. I didn’t see anything other than religious icons so no shot glasses were to be found.
Then on the walk back to the subway station we went down this street where there must have been 20 or so street artists. All realists. All very good based on their sample portraits. This couple allowed me to take their picture. 
And 20 minutes later, around 9pm, we’re back at the hostel. Everyone had to get up early the next morning since they were all heading home. I didn’t so I hung out at the bar for another hour or two enjoying myself. Ahh. Vacation in Paris. Gotta love it.