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Published: February 23rd 2009
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My third day in London was booked with PREMIUM TOURS for a day trip to Paris.
Highlights:
-Pickup from the nearest central point
-Reserved seats on the Eurostar
-Fast entry access and extended time on the Eiffel Tower
-Cruise on the River Seine
-Panoramic tour of Paris
-Guided tour of the Louvre and see the Mona Lisa
-Due to Eurostar requirements the age restrictions for children is 4-11 years
We joined the representative at St Pancras International station in London, who escorted us onboard Eurostar and throughout the day in Paris. Travelling at speeds up to 186mph we were in Paris in just 2 hours 15 minutes. Upon arrival we enjoyed a panoramic tour of the city taking in all the major sites including Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, the River Seine and the Arc de Triomphe before arriving at the Eiffel Tower where we enjoy fast entry group access.
The Eiffel Tower -
I was never so fascinated by the Eiffel Tower, until I saw it. Its hard-core steel scraping the skies. Our package allowed us entry till the IInd floor. I couldnt afford the top floor and left at that ...(it was an extra of 25 Euros).
Had some chicken sandwich and coffee for lunch on the 1st Floor...also picked up a metal - Souvenir. Its a great feeling experiencing this Romantic icon of Love. The courtyard is crowded 24 hours all 365 days of the year and millions of tourists around. A lot of tiny carts selling souvenirs. Do Bargain.
Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris. More than 200,000,000 people have visited the tower since its construction in 1889,including 6,719,200 in 2006, making it the most visited paid monument in the world.Including the 24 m (79 ft) antenna, the structure is 324 m (1,063 ft) high (since 2000), which is equivalent to about 81 levels in a conventional building.
The metal structure of the Eiffel Tower weighs 7,300 tonnes while the entire structure including non-metal components is approximately 10,000 tonnes.The first and second levels are accessible by stairways and lifts. A ticket booth at the south tower base sells tickets to access the stairs which begin at that location. At the first platform the stairs continue up from the east tower and the third level summit is only accessible by lift. From the first or
second platform the stairs are open for anyone to ascend or descend regardless of whether they have purchased a lift ticket or stair ticket. The actual count of stairs includes 9 steps to the ticket booth at the base, 328 steps to the first level, 340 steps to the second level and 18 steps to the lift platform on the second level. When exiting the lift at the third level there are 15 more steps to ascend to the upper observation platform. The step count is printed periodically on the side of the stairs to give an indication of progress of ascent. The majority of the ascent allows for an unhindered view of the area directly beneath and around the tower although some short stretches of the stairway are enclosed.
(Check their official website for timings and entrance fees)
The Louvre Museum -
Nearly 35,000 objects from the 6th millennium BC to the 19th century AD are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet).
The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which began as a fortress built in the 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are still
visible. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1674, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces.
(Check their official website for timings and entrance fees)
In the afternoon we went to Bateaux Parisiens for a scenic cruise on the River Seine complete with lively commentary and soothing romantic french songs. The cruise boasts fabulous views of some of the finest monuments from across the river. After the cruise our guide will escorted us to the Louvre and with a fast entry ticket for a guided tour of the Louvre and see the world famous Mona Lisa.
In the early evening we headed back to the Gare du Nord Station for our return journey to London where were met and escorted back to central London.
Some important points to mention:
-Please note, once the tours are booked there are no refunds.
-Do carry some dry snacks and water.
-A Schengen Visa is a must for
entry into Paris.
-One has to pass through all airport-like security checks/immigrations etc to board the train for Paris.
-Take care of your belongings at the stations.
Njoy the pics !...
😊
bye
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