Paris Day 6

On our last full day in Paris we finally went to the Eiffel Tower properly having been aware of its presence all week as it looms over the city from just about any viewpoint. It was a late start after a late night and lots of walking yesterday and Maria took her time over breakfast. We took the batobus along the Seine and realised just how hot it was going to be with the temperature over 30 degrees which made queueing for the tower a big ask without shade.
There were big crowds when we arrived and decided to just take the climb up to the first floor which nevertheless meant a wait of over an hour and a half as halfwits waited in line and got to the ticket office before getting out money despite the information posted all over the place and on an electronic display board. If they weren't doing that, they decided to have a chat and keep everyone else waiting because they are idiots. I was a touch frustrated at having to queue for so long.
It was worth it though and we, Alison, Georgina and myself, took the stairs upwards while Bridie looked after Maria. The views were incredible although nothing compared to the higher parts I'm sure.
In the evening we returned to Les Halles to stop in a couple of brasseries and sort out the dehydration. Whilst the others shopped for souvenirs, I had a couple of small beers (a pint was 7 euros!) before Alison collected Maria. As she walked to the crossing a scooter ran into a car and threw the rider and bike into the crowd as some speed. The rider hit some people waiting at the lights while the scooter hit a lamppost and began leaking fuel all within a few yards of where I was sat and even closer to Alison and Maria. It could have been awful but the rider appeared ok when the ambulance arrived quickly and pulled his trousers down round his ankles. It wasn't the only thing they did obviously but it brought to mind the old adage your mother used to say about wearing clean underpants. The poor lad was in a neck brace and lying flat with his trousers round his feet as he was lifted into the ambulance. I'd have thought that was more traumatic than anything else.