We started the last day of 2013 on a mission – to get to the top of the Eiffel Tower without waiting 4 hours in a queue. Arriving at the Tower at 8:30 (an hour before opening) at least cut the queue down to an hour! It also gave a lovely opportunity to see the tower at sunrise.
Heights are definitely not my thing, and I can still remember the terror of going up the Tower in 1996. This time, I put any pre-Tower shakes down to the cold, stood in the middle of the lift and closed my eyes on the hope that if I got to the viewing platforms I’d feel like I was on relatively solid ground. Pleased to say, this tactic worked, and while I wasn’t hanging over the edge looking down, I certainly wasn’t hugging the walls like last time. A much more enjoyable experience for everyone!
Of course, the views from the top are magnificent. Again, we were lucky to have clear skies, and get some great photos across Paris.
We spent the afternoon at Musee d’Orsay. The museum is in a stunning old railway terminal, so once again the architecture and environment was as fascinating as the artwork within. We all enjoyed looking at the works of Monet, Renoir and Cezanne, and it probably earned the title of our favourite musem. Unfortunately, no photos allowed inside the building, but we highly recommend it!
Of course, the day ended with New Year celebrations. After a rainy evening, the skies cleared and we headed out to the Tower. We managed a great vantage point, but Paris doesn’t actually have New Year fireworks (very fiscally responsible!). Instead, we watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle at midnight, and enjoyed a few fireworks from private events. Crowds were well behaved, and we got home quickly.
So that’s 2013 done and dusted. From Ho Chi Minh City to Paris, we’ve celebrated a couple of milestone birthdays, survived our first year of high school, and enjoyed plenty of adventures along the way. It’s been busy, happy and healthy and we’re looking forward to more of the same for 2014.
Wishing everyone a fabulous 2014!
CHEERS!!!
Love M & theBunch xxxx
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