Day 5 out of London and into (make sure to roll the r's and turn the -is into -ee) Paris!

Ok, last morning in London and I realized there were some things I forgot to mention along the way.
1) When you are on the Underground, the platforms are various heights, why I'm not sure, but at stations where the platform is not level with the train either creating a crevasse  or a step, the speaker system methodically reminds you to "Mind the gap" repeatedly.  Like 6 times.
2) I'm pretty sure it's for the tourists who visit London, but at crosswalks, often there are signs that depict which direction the cars are coming, and where that means you have to look.  Sometimes it was written on the curb "Look left" or "Look right" with an arrow.

I'm pretty happy to be out of the bed that I had in London, the springs were starting to become a nuisance   I was up at 3am and tossed and turned till 4 when I decided I would ready and then get ready at a leisurely pace.  I was to meet up with the tour group at 6:45.

We got all loaded, and off we went.  Bec, the tour guide, and Fierro the driver, navigated with some history to the Cliffs of Dover then we hopped a ferry to France.  There we drove through the countryside and straight into the heart of the city.  I was actually surprised at how few times we actually saw the Eiffel Tower.  I had read that there was a height limit on buildings so that the structure could be seen from the whole city, but that didn't guarantee a view of it like I had assumed.  For instance, I don't have a view of it from my hotel.

We went on a night tour of Paris, and got oriented with the city for our free day out and about tomorrow!

Tonight.  Tonight we rose high (high!) above the city into the Eiffel tower.  Holy cow. The first elevator takes you on a diagonal to the first and second levels.  Then another will take you straight up from there (I mean up up to the tippy top.  Ok not the absolute top, but there was not much between me and the top of that building!)

And here, is what you are dying to see!  It is so much more massive than my photos are showing.  And being at the tippy top with the wind blowing made her sway, just enough to make you feel uneasy.  The views are 100% worth whatever trepidation I had.

And lastly, the twinkle of the Iron Lady.  In contrast to the woman in the video, this doesn't happen every 15 minutes, but on the hour, every hour, in good weather.  It had been raining most of the evening so we were very lucky for such an amazing visit!

P.S. for those who I know personally, I want to update you that I know have a place to live when I come back home, thanks to Kabri!!  Thanks so much darling for all the hard work you had to put into this!  <3