Eiffel Tower – Paris, France
There are certain landmarks across the world that have become instantly recognizable. Once you see them, you know exactly what they are and often where they stand. That is certainly true for the Eiffel Tower.
The first time we visited Paris, of course we did what first-time visitors do: we took the ride up the tower. Standing high above the city and looking out across the rooftops is a remarkable experience. Every other time we returned to Paris, we told ourselves we didn’t need to go up again. Yet somehow it remains one of those places that quietly demands a visit. Even if you only walk beneath it, to admire it, the tower seems to draw you back.
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the world’s fair celebrating the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, the structure was meant to demonstrate France’s industrial progress.
When it was completed in 1889, the tower stood 984 feet tall, making it the tallest man-made structure in the world at the time. Its delicate lattice design allowed the massive structure to withstand strong winds while appearing light and graceful.
The tower was intended to be temporary. Many Parisians disliked it and some called it an industrial eyesore that spoiled the beauty of the city. But the tower proved too useful to remove. Its height made it ideal for radio transmission and the structure found a new purpose. So it remained and gradually it became the very symbol of Paris.
Read More From Nancy
Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp – Berlin Germany
For me, exploring history means looking at the good, the bad, and the ugly. Traveling to Germany was a challenging choice for Marty. Our first German city was Berlin, a beautiful and vibrant place that embraces music, the arts, and an extraordinary culinary scene. Yet it was also here that we visited our first concentration camp: […]
Shoes on the Danube – Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is a beautiful city known for its architecture, grand bridges. thermal bathhouses and a vibrant culinary scene. Among these pleasures, one of the most poignant moments of our visit came along the banks of the Danube. There, along the river’s edge, is a memorial known as “Shoes on the Danube Bank.” There are dozens […]
Sacre-Coeur Cathedral – Paris, France
Rising above the rooftops of Paris from the summit of Montmartre, the domes of Sacre-Coeur dominate the skyline. From almost anywhere in the city, the basilica’s white stone catches the light by day and glows softly at night, anchoring the northern horizon. The church was conceived in the emotional aftermath of France’s defeat in the […]
