On 15 March, 1889 the last rivet was installed on what has become the grandest lady in all of Paris. Built for the 1889 World's Fair honoring the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille the iron lady was only meant to stay up for twenty years. As the crowning entrance to the exhibition, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world and was a site to behold, just as it is today.. Standing in the center and looking up much like in this picture that I took the first time I stood below the amazing delicate and strong structure it would be almost impossible to imagine the thoughts one would have had 128 years ago. It took less than two years to complete the structure with most of the pieces being made and assembled at an offsite factory and brought into Paris by horse drawn carts. An amazing 2.7 trillion rivets hold this work of art together that Gustave Eiffel championed to create against all of the criticism from Parisians at the time.
Today she is the crowning icon of Paris and the most visited paid monument in the world. Of my giant list of things to see in Paris on my first trip she was at the very top of it. From the first time to the tenth time that I have stood there looking at her, if it's in the bright fall sun, the dark of night as she sparkles or standing underneath looking up with a Frenchie, it takes my breath away EVERY SINGLE TIME. I don't think that will ever change.
Joyeux anniversaire grand dame, may you forever inspire so many near and far and I shall see you soon. XO