It is my opinion that the best place in the world to drink a beer (or several) is under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I spent an afternoon this past September doing just that.
Having arrived by train, my wife, our kids, and I began meandering the streets of Paris. We strolled along the Seine. We walked to Notre Dame and gazed at its ornate architecture. All the while, aware of the great pinnacle. The most recognizable feature of this world class city.
Eiffel's tower is truly a wonder to behold. Photographs can never do it justice and its mere presence embodies the pride of a nation. But the best part of the tower is its magnetism. People from all walks of life, and from every nation, gather at the tower as if on a pilgrimage.
We decided to take a water taxi from Notre Dame to the tower. This in itself was worth the visit to Paris. Sailing the Seine should be on everyone's to do list if for no other reason than to "see" the sites of Paris. We eventually made our way to the tower and she did not disappoint.
If you have ever waited in line to ride a roller coaster then you know what we soon realized. Getting to the top of the tower would take hours. There are three elevators but only two run at any given time. Fortunately there are stairs but they only go as far as the second level. Well at this point the two year old had fallen asleep so I volunteered to stay behind with him while my wife and daughter began climbing stairs.
As I watched them begin to slowly climb the 700+ stairs, I decided to buy a beer. If you have never been to Europe I am glad to inform you that beer can be purchased, and consumed, everywhere! For me, beer is a magical drink that allows the extrovert in me to come screaming out. I soon began to introduce myself to anyone and everyone. I felt like a new ambassador to the UN. I met people from Australia, Germany, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Spain, Zimbabwe, Kenya, oh, and France. And this was in the first twenty minutes. After a few more beers, I began to delve into politics and economics, in broken French (and slurred English), with anybody willing to listen. It was my fondest memory of Paris because I was able to relax beneath this world wonder and meet people from places I had only dreamed of.
Well, eventually my wife and daughter completed their trek and we were off to explore the other splendors of Paris. Should you decide to have a beer beneath the tower think of my experience and cherish your own. For more information visit http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/ .
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