Save Time (?) at the Eiffel Tower and other Paris, France Warning Or Danger Tips

The ONLY way to save time when visiting the Eiffel Tower is to get there before it opens at 9AM daily, year round. At 9AM in season there are only about 100 people in line (about 3 elevator cars full ). Be sure you get in the line that fulfills your desire: walk-up, lower level. upper (they are separate). Off season at 10AM the line is about 300 (1/2 hr wait). This is only the first delay if you are going to the top. The second car from the 1st level will have a growing line and there will be the two waits going down. At best if you are to take in the views, figure on 2 hours and add 2 hour for each hour later than 9 for arrival. Our comments for alternate Paris Views isin our Eiffel Tour Tips of 11/19/06.

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Paris is a city of vistas, but its weather is most unpredictable. Nice weather is very seasonal in frequency. Paris in the Spring is a song, more often in Spring it is singing in the rain. As tourists we cannot choose but sometimes we can prepare alternate interchangable activities. Heavy rain and mist make outdoor walks uncomfortable, be prepared and also practice singing. Get up early on a clear day and do your most important viewing. Unfortunately if you are on a tour or only have 2 days, you may have no choice. Plan ahead.

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If you are not reading Paris newspapers or watching French television, it may sneak up on you! For the tourist, strikes in Paris seem to occur suddenly, like weather changes and may compromise your vacation. On our many trips we have been in several "situations" and describe them herewith (perhaps they will help). On our first European trip 30 yrs ago, we went to the Gare du Nord on an early October morning to take a train to Amsterdam for our flight home 3 days later (this was before TGV and we only had unreserved Eurail tickets). Arriving at the station we found thousands of people milling around, all obviously local. With difficulty we learned that the strike which had begun would not affect international trains, but which trains would go was uncertain. 2 hours later a platform was announced and lots of people massed up. They announced that only international travellers could get on and proceded to check each person before the gate. Due to my wife's good looks (and our un-French attire and luggage) we were pulled out of the line and given assigned seats in the dining car, where we ate and drank all the way to Brussels and beyond. The next strike we experienced occurred when we arrived at Orly and were told our connection to Bordeaux was cancelled (intra-France)! We took a cab to Gare d'Austerlitz and a new TGV got us there faster (and cheaper) than the plane. The last time was when we were scheduled to visit the Louvre for a special lecture with an Elderhostel group. A substitute venue was arranged at the hotel, but we DID have our farewell evening dinner at the Restaurant du Grand Louvre (See Things to Do Tip) because the restaurant was not in sympathy with the strikers. However, we were let in by the guards, who were in sympathy but could not strike! (Note the subject of the strike; obviously restroom tips in a fancy restaurant are bigger. I heard the strikers won?)

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Wherever there is open space and benches a small gray-haired woman dressed in black will appear and begin feeding pigeons. This will happen most often in parks, but here she is below Sacre Couer on Montmartre. (I am sure it is not the same woman following me around). Although it looks quaint, keep your distance so that you do not dampen your clothes or day of touring. St. Mark's square in Venice is not the only place. I have been hit in small hill towns.

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