38. Eiffel Tower

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Today I am going to climb the Eiffel Tower

Thought I would get there early in the hour.

Much to my surprise, the lines were waiting

For the ticket office to open, but they were debating.

The rain from the night had made the steps wet,

The fog was still overcast & you couldn't see yet.

They did open but only to the second deck,

I am here, I'll do it, what the heck!

Into a steel cable car, about twenty jammed

We quickly rise to the platform and the view spanned.

The fog was rising, but the view was still great

Walked around, took photos and then breakfast ate.

I have eaten in the Versailles Palace, the Louvre and now the Tower,

Guess what I always get, quiche lorraine for energy and power.

If you are lacto-intolerant, vegetarian or need gluten free,

This is not the place for that kind of dining.

Everything on the menu is heavy and full of carbohydrates

Like pastries, pasta, crepes, quiches, my tummy hurts, I need sodium bicarbonate!

Walk to the Trocadero Square and took photos of the lovely fountains 

Decide to go to both museums on each side of them.

Enter into the History of Marine Technology and Ships,

Some are models and other lifesize equipped

One of the most odd spectacles that I saw 

Was the underwater diving suite, complete with iron and all.

How could you walk in this Jules Vern suit,

I couldn't even lift that boot.

The next building was the History of Architecture

It contained history and design on four floors.

The medieval times were shown on display,

Churches, arches and designs of  modern days.

Throughout my travels, the art is displaying
Knights or angels are dragons slaying.

Since paintings & sculptures were the way of communication,

I cannot help but wonder that this was not imagination.

I have been getting braver with my city transportation,

Tried the bus and now moving to metro stations.

It is dirty in the subways, not unlike any other city,

Graffiti, garbage, musicians and beggars, what a pity.

All throughout Paris, there are signs saying "Beware of pick pockets."

I was stopped so many times with the same dropped ring or locket.

I watched six times, the gypsies do their trick

To passing tourists, it really made me sick.

They have a gold ring in their hand, drop it and call out to you,

"You must have dropped this madam!"

Then they move in for the kill,

To see what ever they can steal.

I saw on TV a show about pickpockets and their moves,

I actually saw it done by 4 men as the push and shove.

They stole a wallet from a backpack,

Then passed it on to three other people in a sack.

This was done at the Arch d' Triump

After I climbed the tower, I spotted them by the metro step.

I wanted to find Chocolate Museum and where they give cooking classes,

I traveled by Metro and came out on Saint Denis.

I wandered the streets looking for the place,

Though I have got to leave, this place is crowded, no space.

I felt like I was in a carnival,

People in all types of costumes and apparel,

This is definately not a pretty part of town,

This is a circus - full of crazy looking clowns.

I thought wasn't worth it, took the Metro back fast.

Came out by my hotel and could rest at last!