“That Time I Freaked Out at the Top of the Eiffel Tower”

Hi readers and welcome to Travel Tuesday! I’m Christine and I blog over at A Keane Sense of Adventure.ย You can also find me on Twitter and Instagram! I was born and raised in Texas and I blog about
photography, travel and some lifestyle mixed in.

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Today, I’m going to share with y’all (I had to throw one in) the time I freaked out at the top of the Eiffel
Anyone that knows me can tell you that I’m deathly afraid of heights. Maybe it’s because I’m only 5’1″ and
have been close to the ground all my life? Whatever it is, it’s no fun. So let’s back up for a bit, the first time
my parents took me to Paris, I was around 12 years old. We were there for almost a week and pretty
much did it all including going up the Eiffel Tower… not all the way to the very top though, just to the 2nd
floor. While it was still terrifying, I survived. Fast forward to the last time I was in Paris, it was my
husband’s first time in the City of Lights so he wanted to pack as much in as possible. I told him that we
could go up the Eiffel Tower thinking it’s no biggie, I’ve done it before and without hesitation, he said
“Let’s do it… all the way to the top!”

We woke up super early one morning to head over to the Eiffel Tower. I wanted to buy our tickets online
but of course, all of the lifts were down except for one so they ceased online sales. It wasn’t too bad; we
were staying in the 7th arrondissement so it was a quick walk over. We got there before opening time and
there was a line around starting to wrap around… I guess everyone was in the same boat. As we waited, I
looked up to the top and thought maybe there’s still time for me to back out. Jimmy wasn’t having it
though and before you know it, he had two tickets to the top in hand.

We got into the lift and up we went… packed in like sardines going up over 900 feet. I can’t believe I
agreed to this, that was the thought going through my mind. Once we got to the very top, everyone made
their way off the lift. I started walking around and there it was, I swear (to this day) I felt the tower move. I
immediately grabbed the nearest thing to me which unfortunately for me was a random lady’s arm. Yup
that’s right, a total stranger. She did not look happy and tried to pull herself away from me but at that
moment in time, I didn’t care… the Eiffel Tower was moving!

Jimmy looked at me like I was psycho. I told him there’s no way I can walk around and just sat down on
one of the benches. He didn’t argue and took the camera to take some pictures since all I had a view of
was a metal wall. After he had his fun, we made our way down to the 2nd Floor, the floor I know I can
survive. I walked around and took pictures of some killer Paris views.

While I guess I’m glad I can say I’ve been to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I will probably never do that
again. We want to take our son to Paris one day, and while Aiden totally looks like me, he has his dad’s
personality which means “Have fun boys, I’ll be at the bottom drinking champagne!”

 

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  • http://www.alkeksabroad.com/ Courtney {Alkeks Abroad}

    Eek that is definitely not a place to be if you are afraid of heights.

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Tell me about it! And my husband is all about going up to high places and I wind up going (against my will lol) because I don’t want to be a party pooper. I have to say though, I’m kinda glad he is like that because it makes me step out of my comfort zone.

  • http://www.clemandmarcella.wordpress.com/ Marcella ~ WhatAWonderfulWorld

    Oh no, that must have been scary when you felt it “move”, but you survived – yay! At least you can say you’ve done it ๐Ÿ˜‰ Great view photos too!

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Oh it moved lol! Exactly, I can say I’ve been up there and honestly, I’m glad my husband makes me step out of my comfort zone! :)

  • http://summerisntover.com Camilla | Summer Isn’t Over

    I went up the Eiffel Tower during the huge heatwave about 10 years ago and people were fainting all over the place… not fun! I prefer the view OF the Eiffel Tower rather than the view FROM it, anyway!

    http://summerisntover.com

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Oh wow, that’s not fun at all! I’m totally with you though, I love the view of the Eiffel Tower as well! :)

  • http://www.thesunnysideofthis.com/ Isabel

    I think I will take that approach. Not because I hate heights but I’m guessing I’ll end up very tired and grumpy hehe. Funny story to remember though!

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      That same trip, I was so excited to go Laduree that I didn’t see the steps down into the shop and I fell right in front of everybody. After the Eiffel Tower incident and then Laduree, I swear Jimmy wanted to leave me in Paris lol.

      • http://www.thesunnysideofthis.com/ Isabel

        Hahaha, oh no Christine! I’m literally laughing out loud now! I guess it is real love then!! haha what would be of vacations without all these stuff happening though?

        • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

          Exactly! Ripped dresses ;), falling down… it’s all part of vacation fun!

  • http://anestingnomad.com/ Rachel

    Yeah… That’s quite a long way up, isn’t it?! I’m not generally afraid of heights but I think even that would give me pause for thought. Plus the fact the Eiffel Tower was only ever supposed to be a temporary structure and your mind could run away with you a bit! Glad you enjoyed the parts of the tower at a slightly lower elevation, anyway!

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Okay I did not know it was only a temporary structure… and I’m glad I didn’t know that at the time! ha For every tall building or structure I wind up going up, my husband’s go-to saying to me is “A million people have been up here and nothing has happened.” It totally doesn’t make me feel any better but he tries lol.

  • Travel with Intent

    I don’t like heights either but I can cope with the Eiffel Tower – I can’t cope when it is open space and high. Last time I was there the top was closed due to rain and high winds. Did you go try out the glass floor on the first floor? I think that’s more scary than the top!

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      I don’t do glass floor anything ha! We went up the Sears Tower in Chicago to the Skydeck and they have those glass floor ledges and my husband was all about it and I just sat back and took pictures. I can’t even do high bridges where you can see through the cracks (ie. the bridge at Neuschwanstein Castle). No thanks lol

  • http://www.simplysaratravel.com/ Sara

    Wow, congrats to you for being afraid of heights yet volunteering to accompany your hubby up the Eiffel Tower! I don’t have that fear, but I have to say, that little elevator to the very top is a bit scary – I remember my sister-in-law freaking out in there (she is a little afraid of heights and of course me and my husband doing the loving thing persuaded her to go all the way to the top). I say you deserve that champagne while you wait next time lol!

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      The things I do for that man lol! I have to say though, I’m glad he makes me step out of my comfort zone. But I think the next time I’m in Paris, I’m going to enjoy my view from the bottom! Your sister-in-law can join me lol

  • http://www.thriftygypsytravels.com Katrina Elisabet

    I’ll stay at the bottom and drink champagne with you! We visited Paris for the first time last month. I did make it to the top…. barely. I peeked outside for about 5 minutes then sat inside until my heights-be-damned husband had his fill and was ready to go back down with me. ๐Ÿ˜›

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Sounded like we had the same experience! Here’s to sipping champagne while our husbands do their thing! lol

  • http://thecynicalsailor.blogspot.co.nz/ Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor

    I’m not a big fan of heights either. I like the idea of sending the hubby off to take photos which I can look at later from the safety of the ground floor.

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Lol, sounds like a great idea! Every time I stay back, I always hand my husband the camera and tell him “Take good pictures please” ๐Ÿ˜›

  • http://aspectsofstyle.com/ Anna

    I’ve been up to the top once…years ago! I usually don’t have issue with heights though! That reminds me of mum though, who isn’t fan of wheels (think London Eye) and when we were in Vienna she didn’t want to come up the Prater wheel. My dad, brother and I went up and I have a picture looking down where you can see my mum (and I’ve circled her in the printed photo!!)

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Haha that’s great! At least she was on the wheel with you in spirit lol. I didn’t really have an issue with the London Eye but you won’t find me near a carnival Ferris wheel. Too much rocking back and forth above ground for me!!

  • Ashley

    I’ve only ever been up to the lower level and I think that’s about it for me! I’m not particularly scared of heights, but it just doesn’t sound so fun, haha! I’m pretty sure I would have done the same if I’d felt it move! But those views really are spectacular aren’t they?! I especially love that shot looking straight down!

    http://www.ashbam.com

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      I love a good view but 99% of the time, to get those views you have to go up high which I’m not a huge fan of lol. Oh the struggle! Honestly I think the views from the lower levels are better than the ones from the very top ๐Ÿ˜‰ ha

  • http://snowintromso.com/ Van @ Snow in Tromso

    I usually don’t have a problem with standing on a tower or being in a high building and looking down. But taking a shaky lift all the way up – or worse, taking the stairs and seeing the ground beneath your feet – that totally freaks me out!! But at least, you have gorgeous pictures and a funny story to tell now :)

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Oh stairs that you can see down are the worst! I hate them in houses, let alone tall structures lol. Have you been to Troll’s Tongue while in Norway?

      • http://snowintromso.com/ Van @ Snow in Tromso

        No I haven’t…. in fact, Oslo is the only place I have visited in Southern Norway so far…. but I definitely want to see Troll’s Tongue one time even if I will totally die up there ๐Ÿ˜€

  • http://themovetoamerica.wordpress.com/ Molly @ The Move to America

    I am usually ok, but I have been known to get a serious case of wobbly leg in similar circumstances!

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      That’s totally me! It’s like I forget to walk when I’m someplace high! lol

  • http://www.fullofbeansandsausages.com/ Holly Hollyson

    I loved that y’all! I understand your freak out (I am a fellow short person too), when I went up the tower was swaying and it just felt bad!! I am not too great with heights!

    • http://www.akeanesenseofadventure.com/ Christine | A Keane Sense

      Yay for short girls ๐Ÿ˜‰ I don’t know what it is but heights just gets to me! I swear when I’m someplace high, it’s like I forget to walk or something lol.