Parijs

A new day a new discovery. But first a hearty breakfast. The restaurant at the second floor serves continental breakfast. Eggs any style vith bacon or sausages, toast and wide range of bread selection, pastries, selection of cheeses, chocalade and juices, Enough to fill your empty stomach and give you the needed power.

The Parisian breakfast: Selection of cheeses, croisant, special bread, ham, choco-spread and Coffee! Could it be more French?!


More of an American breakfast: Bacon, egg, sausages, croisant & pastries, Choco-spread, jam and yogurt, not to forget the orange juice

It's time to visit the Tour D'eiffel, the Eiffel Tower. Again the best way to get there is the Paris Subway, and we still have our 3-day passes...

HISTORY OF THE PARIS METRO

Fulgence Bienvenüe, Chief Engineer for bridges and roadways, accepted the network project in July 1897, and work began on 4th October 1898. The first line (Porte de Vincennes - Porte Maillot) was opened to the public on 19 July 1900 in order to serve the events of the 1900 summer Olympic Games at the Bois de Vincennes. The putting in place of the metro was agreed upon by the state and the city of Paris to remedy the problem of increasingly insufficient surface transport. They were thinking ahead, in particular, to the upcoming World Fair of 1900. The original project comprised a circular line running Étoile-Nation-Étoile and two transversal lines, one running north-south (Porte de Clignancourt-Porte d'Orléans) and the other east-west (Avenue Gambetta - Porte Maillot). Two management companies then came into being: CMP (Compagnie du métro parisien) and the Nord-Sud company, each using different decorations for their stations.

By 1913, the metro network had already grown to comprise ten lines: 8 were the property of CMP and the remaining two belonged to Nord-Sud (the current lines 12 and 13). From 55 million in 1901, the number of passengers had increased to 467 million by 1913. The network continued to grow during the First World War. Between the two wars, lines 9, 10 and 11 were opened and the two management companies merged into one.

It was all the way to 15th October 1998 before another new line was opened: the 14, initially running from Madeleine and to the National Library, then extended to cover gare Saint-Lazare. The 14 is a modern automated line, considerably reducing waiting time. It is also the line that serves as a demonstration model for RATP and the manufacturer, Alstom.

Walking up to the Eiffel Tower from Parc du Champ de Mars. At the time of out visit, the base of the tower had some renovation works on-going. Of course the tower demands to be cimbed, at least with an elevator. We decided to go up to the second floor. It gives you a birds view of Metropol Paris. Instead of using the elevator going to the first floor, let's take the stairs down. It took longer than expected going down with the many twists or the staircase.

The Eiffel Tower at a glance

An object of discord, desire and fascination, the Eiffel Tower never fails to impress. Enriched by a history full of new developments.

The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which was to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the French Revolution.

Its construction in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days was a veritable technical and architectural achievement. "Utopia achieved", a symbol of technological prowess, at the end of the 19th Century it was a demonstration of French engineering personified by Gustave Eiffel, and a defining moment of the industrial era. It was met immediately with tremendous success.

Only intended to last 20 years, it was saved by the scientific experiments that Eiffel encouraged, and in particular by the first radio transmissions, followed by telecommunications. For example, the radio signals from the Pantheon Tower in 1898; it served as a military radio post in 1903; it transmitted the first public radio programme in 1925, and then broadcast television up to TNT more recently.

Climbing the Eiffel Tower makes you hungry. Adjacent to the Parc du Champs de Mars (Field of Mars, not the one Elon Musk had his eye on) eateries line the park. Jas ordered some Mexican food.

Get a few souveniers

A few more souveniers

Take the subway back to the hotel

Later in the evening, relaxing again at the East side Cafe with a cool drink and hearthy dinner.

Margerita

Boozy evening

American style dinner