My wife Mindy, my mother Arlene, and I finally made our way to the Eiffel Tower! We didn’t climb it. One of my few climb regrets. However, the experience takes a good chunk of time and a lot of people suggested you really wanted the view of the city “with” the tower in it like the one we took from the Arc de Triumph. (picture below) This being our first international trip as a trio we had big plans.
We dined at a restaurant close to the tower. The reservation was made for us by the amazing staff at the Hotel de Buci where we chose to stay. Amazing location, great pricing, close to attractions, restaurants, grocery, and metro stops. We had this sock monkey too that we planned to take pictures with at every destination… at least he got to see the Eiffel Tower! 🙂
On the way to catch the metro train back to the hotel that evening, we enjoyed taking some creative photos with the Eiffel Tower and just enjoying the moment. Realizing that the train would be coming soon I suggested we hurry along to the station. One thing that slowed us down was a native wildlife encounter! Pretty sure it was only a rat, but it was a Parisian rat! My bad. The pictures were all blurry too sadly.
The next challenge, this station was raised so we had to go UP the stairs. (See image of Bir-Hakeim station below) Mother likes to take them one at a time. We made it just in time!
There was a group of college students just down the platform. They sounded like they had been out having a fun evening. Mother mentioned she was hoping they stayed further down the train. You can also see pictured below that you can enter and exit through several doors but the inside of the cars is open and interconnected.
Tricky little latch! (See image above) The train pulls up and the door in front of us does not open. I watch the group of students turn the latch on their door to make the doors open. This was the first time I had been the first person into a metro car door. I turn the latch as they had and viola! The door opens! I enter the car with Mindy behind me, and I notice the college students navigating our direction inside the car.
I turn to check on mother who was entering behind us only to see her get caught in the doors of the car as they closed on her!
In my moment of shock (and slight amusement) the college students rush to her aid and get her into the car, free from the doors! The fact they beat me to her rescue continues to come up in conversation.
These students sat and laughed with us the entire ride. They made sure we made it to our stop without missing it. They asked Mindy if everyone in Texas had a gun! lol – We had the best time with them. Things happen for a reason sometimes. 🙂
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