Almost beyond doubt, the Eiffel Tower is one of the world's most recognizable symbols; even masked in greenery, the small portion seen above is instantly recognizable. And yet, one glance is not enough to take in all there is about the marvelous machine that dominates much of Paris's skyline.
And it is a machine. Not just a giant tower of iron, but a hive of restaurants, lifts, exhibits and history. And it's not only in view from many parts of the city, it is, of course, one of the best places from which to see Paris.
On our most recent visit, last September, I looked for new views of, on and from the tower. One of them, the Champagne Bar, in cropped form, was our One-Clue Mystery, quickly solved by Professor Abe, George G and PortMoresby.
That includes some of the mechanism of the tower itself, including the elevator control room, above, and the tilted baseblocks of the tower's legs, and the seemingly-random star-marks on the base.
At the base, on the Champ de Mars, some of the view is presently cluttered with a temporary security fence; construction is underway on a new, and presumably less ugly, all-glass wall. We'll see, next time!
Somehow, we had previously missed the installed-in-2010 Bar à Champagne on the highest level, dispensing bubbly in plastic flutes to add a little gaiety to the already giddy height. À votre santé!
It's almost possible to mistake this for the deck of a ferry or a cruise ship!
In case you needed a reminder...
And, of course, the views from are spectacular, often revealing patterns not seen from the ground, including the Palais de Chaillot and the avenues radiating behind it. Below that, the Musée du Quai Branly and the dome of Invalides.
New to the scene since our previous visits, the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Center and Holy Trinity Cathedral, opened in 2016 and owned by the Russian government. Also new: On the day of our visit, Paris was awarded the 2024 Olympic Games, and a crowd was out to celebrate with rings.
Paris has a penchant these days for huge ads, often on construction and reconstruction sites, but this one on the Tour Montparnasse may have one of the most spectacular—if annoying—sites. Below it, a view of Sacre Coeur that compresses the distance and emphasizes the verticality of the building as well as its place above the city.
The tower also offers the opportunity of a little innocent peeping at Paris patio life and rooftop gardens.
Back on the ground for a perspective-distorted look at the tower with some of its neighbors. You could almost be fooled into thinking the tower was built directly at the bridge, or on the riverbank, or that the carousel was next door.
As with so many things familiar and known, there's always something new to be seen. And that's part of my excuse to keep on traveling!
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