August 31, 1889. To mark the celebration of the Universal Exhibition in the City of Light, opens a huge metal tower, designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, who caused a major social rejection in Parisian society of the late nineteenth century. So great was the commotion that “mass of iron” which in 1900 was about to be dismantled. However, its height and location appropriate time to place that facilitated communication antennas, at that time, the work of the French Navy. The original height of 312 meters, reached the 324 with the installation of these electronic devices on top, thanks to this height, the Eiffel Tower became the tallest building in the world until in 1931 the Empire State Building will took the job.

Interestingly, the Eiffel Tower is 15 cm. higher in the days of strong heat, due to metal expansion. On windy days you notice a small oscillation, although it does not move more than 12 cm. And the Eiffel Tower weight is 10,100 tons and 40 tons of paint that is renewed every four years and two and a half million rivets.

The Eiffel Tower has always been famous for being the source of inspiration not only to painters and writers, but also numerous acrobats who have tried the strangest incidents, from which attempted to lower the bike, which use it to parachuting from the top. But the most celebrated case was that of a tailor in Paris, Reisfeldt, with a wing suit was launched into space from the point trying to plan. The autopsy determined that he died before reaching the ground by a heart infarction.

First level

Three levels have visited the tower. At the first level, far from land in 57 feet, is reachable by elevator or climb 360 steps. It is a small historical museum in which projections can be seen from the visits to the tower of Charles Chaplin to Hitler during the Second World War. There is also here the Altitude 95 restaurant where we enjoy a wonderful and romantic dinner with spectacular views of the Seine and the Trocadero.

Second level

“Only” one has to climb 700 steps from the previous level, or take the elevator. A 115 m. soil, there is the Restaurant Jules Verne, one of the best in Paris.

Third level

In the dome, to 274 m. soil. Cleared in days you can get to see up to 72 km. away. Up to this point now costs 11.50 euros. 1652 steps in total, although the climb up the stairs from the second to the third level is prohibited.

But if from the top we can enjoy a superb view of all Paris, from his feet, we can also enjoy a romantic walk that will take us from the Trocadero and its sources, to the very Champs Elysees and the Arc Triumph, or, at his back, Champs de Mars, where the young Parisian rests while sunbathing in summer hot days. In our way, quiet, you will find dozens of couples posing in instant love this sculpture stolen from iron, stately and gallant. A famous figure in the night wears their finest when hundreds of light bulbs, especially when the first ten minutes of each hour, flashing, blinking proud.

The beauty of Lyon is partly determined by its geography. In the town the rivers Rhone and Saone, Lyon is crowned by two hills Furvière la Croix Rouge. The rivers divide the city into three zones, the peripheral (primarily residential and industrial), the Presqu-île (in Castilian means almost island) where the famous Place Bellecour and the shopping area and the old town which most monuments are: Furvière Church, the Roman Theater, the Gallo-Roman museum, the intricate streets of Vieux Lyon, with its bistros and craft shops where you can pick up unique toys puppet (art that was born in Lyon like a movie but the Lumière brothers and his museum talk in another post).

Those who visit Lyon can not stop a walk around the neighborhood of Croix Rousse (hill work) on the hill of the same name. It is an ancient settlement created by the traders of the Silk Road that if they came to the city after it closed its doors to spend the night sheltered. Still retains impressive buildings of the era.

Legend has it that the city of Lyon was born from the union of the two rivers that meet at it: the Rhone and the Saone. The Rhone is a river, strong and rectíneo, but instead the Saone is much thinner and sinuous. Both exemplify the man and woman and their union was born the fertile population of Lyon.

One of my favorite places in this city is the wonderful Parc de la Tête d’Or (golden head park). With extension is enjoyed walking through the trails, forests and gardens. Within the park is also the city’s zoo and botanical garden. Admission is free. Lyon are many who go there on weekends to enjoy nature and family. In the different paths is very common to see families by bike or on skates, people running, playing soccer groups in the grass. It is a place which breathes very quietly. Within the enclosure can also find a sizable lake where boats can be rented for a ride, there are also enabled a play area for children with carousel and crepes shop included.

French cities in general do not have a great variety for nightlife. Lyon is quite exceptional in this regard. The city has three public universities plus a few other private schools. Therefore, young people in Lyon is quite remarkable and it shows in the amount and variety of bars and nightclubs. The pubs are concentrated mostly in the old and rarely open more than 2 in the morning. Then there are some clubs and outside on the river Saone which there are moored boats have been converted into nightclubs. In my opinion are the best out in Lyon.

If what you want is a little calmer, Lyon is an ideal city. Restaurants are numerous and some of them are quite affordable. They say that Lyon is the cradle of French gastronomy. After dinner you can always enjoy the great cultural offerings of the city for example in the Opera de Lyon.

The origin of this curious and spectacular festival dates back to 1852. On September 8 this year was expected to be presented an image of the Virgin Mary in the Church of Fourvière, but a river flood made it impossible to hold Saona was postponed until 8 December. But come this day, the weather did not oblige and it was feared another flood, but then the sky suddenly cleared and the faithful lit candles as a sign of appreciation and joy. Since then, all the 8 December, when night falls, the Lyon lit candles and placed in the windows and balconies of their houses, and giving the city a warm and mysterious.

Since 1999 the City of Lyon, with the dual aim of prestige objects and monuments to make known their traditions, decided to create the Fête des Lumières, linking tradition of December 8 with the latest technological developments related to the light .

Since then the most prestigious designers and conceptual artists, national and international, devised and presented on major buildings and public spaces of the city works with the only requirement that they must have light and color as protagonists. This is an exceptional opportunity to visit the main monuments of the city for free and under a special prism.

It’s hard to explain what this party, so you better watch.