Date: 10 December 2009
Occassion: Last Excursion with my program - "Farewell Excursion & Dinner" + AKAversary Celebration = fun times & great memories.
The last excursion for my program, before heading back to the states, was to the Eiffel Tower.
1 of my favorite pictures...
I can clearly remember back to the summer day sometime in August when my boyfriend and I went to watch "G.I. Joe" at the movie theatre. Apart of the storyline was an objective to release deadly metal-eating organisms onto the Eiffel Tower - as to wipe out some of the human race. I remember while I was watching it, I was pointing and smiling to my boyfriend reminding him that that is where I would be in a matter of weeks...
Another favorite, cool picture..
moving right along...
The Eiffel Tower was built in 1899.
The mastermind behind it: Gustave Eiffel.
The tower is huge. The 1st floor is 57.63m, the 2nd floor is 115.75m high, and the 3rd & last floor is 276.13m high - totaling a tall 324m above ground.
More
Fun Facts brought to you by the Eiffel Tower's official website:
Q: Can we go up to the top by the stairs?
A: No. The stairs will take you up to the second floor, but not the top. There are elevators available on the second floor to access the top floor.
Q: How many stairs to get to the top?
A: 1665 from the ground to the top via the east pillar. However, the steps from the second floor to the top are closed to the public.
Q: How many visitors each year?
A: In 1999: 6,368,534 - In 2000: 6,315,324 - In 2001: 6,103,987 - In 2002: 6,157,042 - In 2003: 5,864,969 - In 2004: 6,230,050 - In 2005: 6,428,441 - In 2006: 6,719,200
Q: How many visitors since the Tower was built?
A: At the end of the year 2006 = 229,623,812. In 2002, the Tower has welcomed its 200 millionth visitor.
Q: How much did it cost to build the Eiffel Tower?
A: 7,800,000 gold francs (in 1889).
Q: Does the wind cause the Eiffel Tower to sway?
A: The maximum movement was measured at 9 centimeters in 1999. And that was more caused by the heat that expands the metal.
Q: Is it possible to get married on the Eiffel Tower?
A: Only commercial oriented banquets can be organized on the Tower (with the exception of family receptions). A meal for groups can be reserved in one of the two restaurants on the monument.
Q: Is the Eiffel Tower the highest building in the world?
A: When it was built, it was the highest but that is no longer true.
--------------------
We took a backstage tour of the tower and went up to the 1st floor (ran out of time before being able to get to the 2nd floor). It was so cool. We even went inside the Bunker -- (a basement-like shelter in case of a disaster) and saw some pretty cool historical things...
------------------
As of December 10th of 2009, I have been a proud woman of
Alpha Kappa AlphaSorority Incorporated for 2 years & December 10th will always be known as my
AKAversary ♡
To sum it up, I happily celebrated my
AKAversary in Paris, France at the Eiffel Tower and had dinner on the Seine River on a boat with friends. So, memorable it was indeed :)
Paris will always hold a special place in my ♥ for so many reasons and for so many decades to come...
Je t'aime Paris!!!
Seine River Dinner
Gaby & Steph goofing off before we board the boat...
Aboard the boat...
Dessert...hmmm!
The views from the boat...
Off the boat...on way home...but not before we take a few more pics
Now...we can be on our way home
But not before I pause to take a picture of an ad inside the metro station. I've had my eye on this particular ad for a minute but I was never in the position to whip out my camera and capture it...so I HAD to stop and take it....
Gorgeous, right?
...now that's what you call "sexual chocolate" haha ;)
At home...decided to keep the mood going...
What can I say...it was a FABULOUS day!!!!!!! ♥
♥♥♥♥
