|
|
Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon's Tomb, Eiffel TowerThe hike up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe is merely 284 steps up a long spiral staircase. The arc is also the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which commemorates the dead of World Wars I and II.
Napoleon is buried at the Hôtel National des Invalides. His casket consists of several layers, like a Russian Troika (nesting doll), including two layers of lead. Flash photography of the tomb is prohibited, so the lighting is kind of funny.
There is also a military museum here. A number of items were on loan from a museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. After visiting Invalides, we made the long hike to the Eiffel Tower. Getting to the top is two rides. One car takes you sort of slant-wise to the first level (where there is an overlook as well as the Jules Verne restaurant). Next is an elevator which takes you to the top. The "lower" level is enclosed in Plexiglas, and along the walls is an indexed, panoramic picture of the city, to help you spot landmarks. The "upper" level is truly outside, affording you relatively unobstructed views of the city. See if you can locate the replica of the Statue of Liberty.
We tried to get into the restaurant for dinner, but they were already booked. We knew it was a long shot anyway! |
