Chapter 7: Walker, Parisian Ranger pt. 2

We took a path through a rich part of Paris that filled my camera up with lots of nice nighttime pictures. They have public toilets in France that are essentially porta-potties. Weird I know. I never used them and that is why I am typing this today. We got to this large square that was centered around a tall stone rod erected by Napoleon after he conquered Germany. My, how that sentence was worded haha... I found it eerie: the stone had a bleeding texture to it and the eagles on the corners looked more like gargoyles. At the base was a creepy pair of double doors and an equally creepy gate surrounded it. Pretty cool at night.

After viewing Napoleons rod we headed back the way we came and hopped on the metro. At least I think we did - my memory is fading and like I said before: random thoughts as organized as possible. When we got off the metro and cleared the building at our side there she was burning in the distance: the Eiffel Tower. Between it and I was a promenade (a great lookout spot) and two staircases about 15' wide leading down to a park. In the park's center there was a fountain which flowed from one pool to the next in steps as the ground descended. I heard the sound of acoustic guitar and singing from some kids and others were sitting on blankets. Beyond the park there was a bridge that led over a river filled with ferryboats and trees at its border. At the end of this stood the Eiffel Tower. I'll never get over the epic movie-like scope of it all.

We went down through the park and across the bridge. I can't explain how awe-struck I was standing at the base of the Eiffel Tower. THE EIFFEL TOWER. What?! Trust me: there are some things you MUST do once in your life and this is one of them. I stood there reveling in how man could have constructed something so massive and so beautiful. I loved the way the beams bent, how every curve was complementary esthetically and structurally, the rivets, the accents of the latticework and how it had a certain path to its overall shape as it climbed up into the night sky. It really was perfect in every way.

I couldn't pull myself to leave easily but I knew that my gracious host had to be getting home soon so we started walking alongside the river where we passed a street crepe vendor. We each got one. Mine was strawberry and delicious. Walking and eating is a Paris pastime I hope to relive someday soon. I don't remember if we walked home or not, but I do know that I walked for around 12 hours that day and when I got home I was grateful to sit down. Sure enough: blisters on the bottoms of both feet. Worth every step I promise you. I sat there that night with another feeling I can't begin to describe.