So when we left our intrepid explorers they had found the rooftop balcony and were mellowing. 
After a good night’s sleep, they were ready to tackle Paris. They had a tour lined up for 9am for the Eiffel Tower. They got up early and decided to take the bus. They got on the bus and after 2 hours weren’t getting close to the Eiffel Tower. What to do? They took a taxi to the Eiffel Tower. Way quicker and they had time to spare. The tour got together and went right up to the 2nd. floor. There were long line ups for peeps to get in at the North, South, West and East gates, on the ground but we bypassed them with our tour. 
The view from underneath the tower leaves a lot to be desired, as you can see.
The Eiffel Tower took 2 years two months to build starting in 1887 and was inaugurated in 1889 and the Parisienne folk didn’t like it. It didn’t blend into the landscape and many found it ugly. The cost in 1889 for the Eiffel Tower was 7,799,401.31 French gold francs. Gustave Eiffel decided to open the gates to people and charge a small fee for the pleasure, to recoup the millions of francs it cost. He recouped his money in 6 months! The Eiffel Tower is 1,063 feet (324 meters) tall, including the antenna at the top. 
Dad is showing off his camera. Nice isn’t it? Well, on his way back to the hotel from the Metro (subway), a woman stopped him and informed him there was a known pick pocket following him. He never showed off his camera again. He wore a windbreaker to cover the camera when they were on the move.
The Tower’s Protection
Constructed using puddle iron, the Tower is protected from oxidation by several coats of paint to ensure that it lives forever.
In 1900 in his book ” The 300-Meter Tower “, Gustave Eiffel wrote, “We will most likely never realize the full importance of painting the Tower, that it is the essential element in the conservation of metal works and the more meticulous the paint job, the longer the Tower shall endure.”
The Tower has been re-painted 18 times since its initial construction, an average of once every seven years. It has changed colour several times, passing from red-brown to yellow-ochre, then to chestnut and finally to the bronze of today, slightly shaded off towards the top to ensure that the colour is perceived to be the same all the way up as it stands against the Paris sky. Sixty tons of paint are necessary to cover the Tower’s surface, as well as 50 kilometers of security cords, 5 acres of protection netting, 1500 brushes, 5000 sanding disks, 1500 sets of work clothes…and more than a year for a team of 25 painters to paint the Tower from top to bottom.
Excerpts taken from, “Visiting the Eiffel Tower.” http://www.toureiffel.paris/en/everything-about-the-tower/themed-files/97.html.
The view of Paris from the 2nd. floor of the Eiffel Tower were breathtaking. 
Paris and the river Seine were at our feet. 
Isn’t this romantic?
Mol…MOL Mom blowing a kiss to dad….she looks like she’s drunk as a skunk. That’s my mom!
After the remaking of, *Kiss me you Fool*, they were headed down and out of the Eiffel Tower. Aw, now to tackle the bus. Dad had his cell phone with all the pertinent locations, buses, and Metro stops. How could they go wrong? 
Off they went on the bus. Mom was enjoying the architecture and dad told her to get off the bus…off they went and found out that they got off too soon. They got on another bus and tried again. They went a little way and dad hollered, “I made a mistake we should have taken another bus.” Mom was getting a bit ticked off by this point. Dad conceded he didn’t get the bus system and there was something wrong with the directions on the cell phone. So they tried the Metro. The Metro had no escalator down nor up and the stairs were a grind after a while. It was the same on the Metro…get off/get on…MOL…Hop On/ Hop Off…till mom had enough and asked a very nice lady who gave her directions as they were nowhere near the hotel.
They returned to the hotel at 5pm and were rather spacy by this time. They grabbed supper and retired for the evening.
The next day they were up and out early once again. They had tickets for the Hop On/ Hop Off bus for two days. Hop On/Hop Off buses are great cause if you see an area you would like to go investigate, you can get off the bus and go visit the area and then hop on the bus again later…no extra charge. The bus had 4 routes or concentric circles it travelled. Mom and dad made it through the yellow and green….got off at Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The most expensive stores are located on this street. 
Mom and dad went into the restaurant above for snacks and a coke. Mom went to the washroom which was upstairs and she saw the biggest cockroach she’s ever seen. She said it was at least two inches long. She left her camera at the table with dad so couldn’t take a picture. Bummer I would have liked to see it. 
Well, they couldn’t afford anything other than snacks so jumped on the Hop On/Hop Off bus and admired the scenery.
They came to the Arc de Triomphe and were overcome with the traffic from the 12 avenues connected to the circle.
The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile letwal] Triumphal Arch of the Star is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l’Étoile — the étoile or “star” of the juncture formed by its twelve radiating avenues.
The Arc de Triomphe should not be confused with a smaller arch, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which stands west of the Louvre. The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
Excerpts taken from “Wikipedia”…https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe
Our travelers headed back to their room in the hotel.
Next installment mom and dad get a close up of the river Seine. 
what fab adventures… imagine you had my dad with you, then you probably would still hop on an off that buses furever&ever… or till you see a taxi driver LOL…. the thieves of pawris are a plague… it seems all offsprings of robin hood moved to pawris :o))))
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Your dad would have fit right in with the pawents zipping around Paris looking for a familiar sight. It was dads fault too but they were having such a good time they never thought about a pick pocket.. That changed after the warning from this nice lady.
Shoko
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Loving every minute of your adventures – the Eiffel tower looks amazing and the facts were interesting too. The cockroach sounds pretty horrible though…bleh…great last picture, the Mona Lisa looks a real masterpiece with her new feline friend..! 🙂 xxx
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Mom and dad enjoyed the Eiffel Tower. There were lots and lots of individual people selling little replicas of the Eiffel Tower. Not the best characters in the world….they looked sneaky to mom. One of these sellers of Eiffel Towers was seen running down the sidewalk with a policeman running after him. Mom was right…..sneaky guy.
Shoko
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Oh my that certainly is an EyeFull Tower!!!!
And of course Mona Lisa owned a Kitty and of course it would be siamese!!!!
Loves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
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Eyefull….ROFMOL! I love it. Of course, the Mona Lisa has class…she’d have a Siamese…
Loves,
Shoko
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So interesting to read of that Eiffel and Paris. It is a big city, they got lost, but always in the evening they were at the hotel, so no problems.
Kosmo
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Also the Eiffel Tower is painted often. They couldn’t let it rust or it would rot and people would die. They seem to always make it to the hotel for a good snooze that night.
Shokolino
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Wow! The folks look like they are having fun! Hugs.
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They sure looked that way…they do seem to like adventures. They have a long winter back at home so they let loose in Paris.
Shoko
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Love your posting sweet friends. It’s like almost being there with you. It seems so ‘busy’ there. Does it ever sleep? Snorts! Mom would love to visit the Eiffel Tower though – it looked really neat… and TALL. XOXO – Bacon
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I’m glad…that’s how I want everyone to feel, just like they’re along for the ride. Paris is always busy….at night the traffic slows but never calms down completely. It’s a very busy city.
Shoko
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My Mom says she is dying to go to Paris one day! She needs to keep dreaming
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Mom said it was well worth observing the various cultures, architecture and partaking of very different experiences.
Travel can only broaden one’s mind to the other ways of life adopted by the different countries.
Shoko….but I don’t want to broaden my wee furry mind. MOL
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Enjoyed your trip to Paris. Your mommy and daddy travel a lot! Will they ever come to California? Much to see here. Paris is lovely and daddy takes great pictures.
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Mom and dad have been to California many times. It is beautiful there. They had their travel trailer and followed the Coast Highway down to LA and generally saw most of California. Mom said the looks they got when they drove up to NBC studios with their one ton flat deck truck were priceless. A couple of loonies from the boonies! MOL
Shoko
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Paris is such a pawsome city!
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So very different than our Canadian cities.
Shoko
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Oh what fun (well except for the endless buses and Metro and pickpocket and exhaustion and…well….other stuff). Your parents certainly saw a lot of Pawris and my Mom and Dad said they were warned about the pickpocket thing by everyone so were well prepared to keep things out of sight. Can’t wait to hear more exciting adventures !!!!!
Hugs, Teddy
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What an amazing time in good old Paris. Dad says he would have been lost in a flash as he likes to hobble off and see things off the beaten path. So nice that people helped out
Cant wait for more adventure Purrs
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Mom and dad were off the beaten path several times mom said but it wasn’t their idea. It just takes one bus to nowhere and one is totally lost. hehe This is how you see places that aren’t on the tourist maps.
Shoo
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We’re glad your pawrents had great time in Paris ! It’s an amazing but exhausting city (says Claire) ! Purrs
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Oh mom says it was fun too but very tiring…peeps everywhere.
Shoko
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kali N shoko with wavez two cow kitty !! thanx for sharin thiz post N itz prettee awesum de ladee let yur dad noe bout de pix a pockit…one can never bee two sure…..de towerz awesum..ya could see for milez it seemed N whoa…talk bout a traffix jam ther at de arch; is that de onlee way ta get thru on de street !! ??
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A completely different culture and surroundings than they were used to but they laughed and relaxed….a good vacation in a foreign land.
Shoko
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What an adventure your Mum and Dad had in Paris! What a great thing that hop on/off bus!
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The hop on and off bus was fantastical…they saw a lot that way…maybe they didn’t mean to see all the areas they did but it seems like it would interesting.
Shoko
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hehehe that is the fun of the adventure!
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You are so very right Marty. MOL
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I am enjoying learning about their trip. That is a lot of paint that goes on The Eiffel Tower. That is cool that on the tour they can bypass the crowds. How kind of someone to warn your Dad about a pickpocket. Ick about the cockroach and surprising for such a pricey area.
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Mom had the same feeling about the cockroach but then again the buildings are very old and all are slowly decaying. Still, it was not what mom expected in the bathroom. MOL
Shoko
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Very cool! Now the mom wants to go to Paris.
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MOL…Let the mom go, she will be very happy to return to you kitties.
Loves,
Shoko
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So happy your parents were having such a great time in Paris! I admire their stamina! I think I would have worn out way before they did. That is terrible that your Dad had to hide his camera. Seems a bit big for a pick pocket! Great pictures in this post!
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They can move when they want. I guess this pick pocket could just cut the strap of dad’s camera and run with it. It was so nice of the lady to say something to dad. He must have a kind face.
Shoko
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I can’t imagine… I felt with something that big somebody was going to get hurt. I am glad the nice lady said something and your Dad is okay. I read Phenny’s Mom’s comment and had no idea that kind of thing went on in Paris. I guess I am just naive. We haven’t traveled out of the US but once. Could happen here just as easy, it just kind of shocked me I guess. All is good and you had a wonderful trip… um, your Mom and Dad had a wonderful trip… 🙂
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The camera was very big and it is a very good camera. Mine is a point and shoot…easier to catch kitties in weird positions. I had never thought of the camera as being a lure for pick pockets but I sure smartened up when this lady told us. Apparently Paris is notorious for thefts from tourists. Live and learn. You’re right it could happen here too. Luckily nothing happened and we carried on.
Jean
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Shoko, now we know what Mona Lisa was smiling about! Lost in Paris…how romantic. ❤
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Of course…Miss Lisa had a meezer stuffed away and was ready for a cuddle. Not very romantic as they were too busy jumping on and off buses. They sure slept though…9pm and they were sound asleep.MOL
Shoko
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Mee-you cuss-inn Shoko wee are happy that yur Pawentss had such a good time inn Paris.
Mee luvss thee paintin of you an Mona Lisa best tho’!!!
~~head rubsss~~ Dhartha Henry~~
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Isn’t that painting wonderful. This is why MIss Lisa had that kooky smile on her face. MOL
Shoko
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MOL..that must have been a fun hopping around time in France, Kali and Shoko. It brings back memories to Granny, when she was once in Pawris one day and she saw the whole City from the underground…hopping from one metro into the other and never reached the Champs Elyssee…MOL… Pawkisses for a Happy Thursday☺❤
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MOL Mom says they saw way more of the Metro than they wanted but they did see the Paris transportation systems in detail. They never saw some sights they would’ve liked but they saw French graffiti throughout the metro. MOL
Loves,
Shoko
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OMC All dat on and off’in woulda made our heads spin Shoko. But it does sound like lots of fun. ‘Specially da gettin’ snacks and a coke. MOL Big hugs
Luv ya’
Dezi and Raena
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It was a pain at times mom said but the scenery even when taking the wrong bus was so interesting.
Shoko
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Wowee! What an exciting adventure so far. Love that pic of your mom. And I’m glad your dad safely stowed his camera away.
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MOL…mom can be a doofus but she is different.
Shoko
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