We decided to walk to the Eiffel Tower, which, judging by the distance we walked, is located in Albemarle County Virginia and was designed by Tom Jefferson. Then we decided to walk up it. Luckily our stupidity was stifled by the Eiffel, which only has stairs to the 2ieme etage. (Consult earlier blog for converting French Etages to US floors.). From there, you have to take an elevator to the top.
I was dithering about spending the extra to go all the way, when a little man with a chair strapped to his back offered to take us on the overland route. We were set on a price of 4Euros, then he told me it would be double to take us both at the same time. I allowed as how he'd be making the climb anyway, so a second chair wouldn't be that much more. We argued and I said forget it. He hustled off to pester a mother and her 6 kids and we got our tickets.
The view - well, you can imagine. It was all splendid and well worth the cost, the line and the crowd. My vertigo did kick in on the elevator ride up, just enough to be uncomfortable, but not incapacitating. Still, when I saw the little man up there with his chair, I tried to hire him for the return, but he said he was booked, then he clambered over the rail with a family of 7 strapped to his back.
We also spent some time on one of the bridges covered with locks. You're probably thinking this is some pun about locks and boats. But no, this is like real padlocks that people put little remembrances on (like "Michal & Enid"), attach to the fence under the railing, and Todd the key into the Seine. It's a kind of spontaneous art because of the kinds and spacing of the locks, and the light shining through them.
We did have crepes that evening, just not at the Breton joint.
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