I know that it is unusual for someone my age to have a “bucket list”. But there are so many things to see out there in the world that I felt I should write these goals down early on to give myself incentive to seek and discover my passions.
As a youngster, we always built things from odd items around the house. Paper towers were my specialty. So when I heard about the Eiffel Tower, I was very intrigued. I wondered why someone would build something so big, but so non functional. I wondered who paid for it. And how could it be strong enough to hold up to the elements?
I still have not visited the Eiffel Tower, but I have done my research and prepared myself for the inevitable visit. I will probably stay at a low budget hostel; close enough to jump on the Metro. I will travel to the Trocadero stop and walk along the Seine River to get the best long view of the Tower. The lines are always long, so I will watch a film in the museum, maybe catch some tea in the café, and then make my way level by level to the top. At the end of the day, I will rent some skates to enjoy the indoor rink inside the Tower. Perfection.
Just as the Statue of Liberty is linked to New York City, so too are the Eiffel Tower and Paris. And although Paris is a bucket list item in itself, the idea for the French President to hire Eiffel to create something dramatic for the countries 100th birthday, has resulted in one of the 12 wonders of the world.
The Tower was completed in 1889 in only 2 ½ years time. 7000 tons, nearly 1100 feet tall, making it the tallest building in the world until 1930. 12,000 custom iron pieces, 7 million rivets, millions of man-hours. All to create a work of art. Amazing.
Over the years, the Eiffel Tower has been called “The Notre Dame of the Left Bank”, “The Queen of Paris”, and “The Shepherdess of the Clouds”. And rightfully so.
It is my plan to visit Paris and the Eiffel Tower after I graduate. I will look at the curved elements and wonder how they designed such perfection without computers. And at the end of the day, I will take my bucket list from my pocket and cross out item #1.
References
Dupre, J. (1996). Eiffel Tower (Rev.) SkyScrapers. Pgs. 18-19. Black Dog Publishers. New York, NY.
Porter, D. & Prince, D. (2011). Frommer’s Paris 2011. Hoboken, NJ. Wiley Publishing.
Thames and Hudson, (EDS). (2002). Wonders of World Architecture. Ch. 39 (Pgs. 174-178). The Eiffel Tower. London, England. Thames and Hudson Inc.
