I still remember the first time I really saw the Eiffel Tower. We were a couple of hours into our twenty-mile trek through Paris, the taste of baguettes and brie still lingering in our mouths from our bakery breakfast, when suddenly there it was, its upper segment towering above an antique building. I was certainly excited, and even more so when we reached its base a quarter of an hour later. However, my final views of the Eiffel Tower were significantly more memorable.
It was late in the evening of the same day. After hours of walking and sampling the best cuisine of the city, we finally returned to our cramped accommodations in preparation for our train to London the following day. With so much to see and so little time remaining, I gratefully accepted my father’s offer to take us to see the Eiffel Tower one final time, in all the glory of its sparkling lights.
He had heard there was a spectacular view of the tower from the Arc de Triomphe, but when we finally reached that impressive landmark, we realized there had been some details missing in that report. Doubtless the view was incredible from the top of the arc, but from where we stood at the bottom, we could only make out the uppermost portion of Eiffel’s famous wrought-iron edifice.
Given how far we had already come, there seemed no point in returning to our Airbnb without getting a better view, so we pushed on and finally reached the base of the tower at about a quarter past midnight.
What we did not realize, unfortunately, is the lights on the Eiffel Tower only shine until midnight, at which point it and the surrounding area are once more plunged into darkness. We were only minutes away from a spectacular, picture-perfect view of one of Earth’s most treasured structures. Although I was quite disappointed at the time, I can honestly say now that by losing that classic, traditional encounter, we gained a good story and an experience I am unlikely to forget.
