Eiffel Tower... Take 2.

Redemption!

Yesterday's post left you at the top of the Arc de Triomphe... but didn't leave you hanging ;-)

We met up with Daddy and Miss C almost exactly on time on the steps of Napoleon's Tomb.

He went into the military museum with a local friend and the older three kids while Miss C chased pigeons for a solid hour.

When they came out, Q-Man force-fed me chocolate... or maybe tried to steal my chocolate... in any event, here is a much-requested picture of me :)

The local friend took this great picture of all of us... I think it is the only one so far of the whole family on this trip.

Then he drove us to the Eiffel Tower. It was AWESOME to get a ride right up to as close as you can get in a car! We crammed into his cute little Nissan and made it work. He was such a kind and generous and accommodating guy... he gets un grand 'merci' :)

 Then it was time to queue up for the tickets...

here's the view up from the line...

We finally had our tickets and needed to then wait for the first elevator...

and watch out for the pickpockets!

 We made it up to the second floor and took in the sights...

 Big G was pretty excited!

 Then we had to wait another 45 minutes to get on the elevator to go to the top!

Everyone went a little stir-crazy ;-)

The elevator was JAMMED!

You can barely see Q-Man's head between all the elbows and shoulders.

After goofing around on the super crowded top level for a while and watching the city lights come on below us... which was really lovely... we headed back down to the bottom. The crowds going down were much smaller, thankfully and understandably.

 And then it was time for ice cream!

We then walked 20+ minutes to the Métro and finally got home at about 11 p.m. Everyone was happy and exhausted. No separations, no vomiting, no picking of pockets. It was a success.