Our bags were packed and our late checkout was secured, so we jumped on the metro to complete the whirlwind tour or Paris at the top of the Eiffel Tower. At the metro stop we followed the steady stream of people and passed into the center of the plaza and joined the line. We knew we were in for a wait and intentionally got there 30 minutes before the tower opened. Paris was getting hotter and even at 8:30 in the morning we were starting to bake. The line grew behind us and started to meander across the plaza. The doors opened and we started to move. First through security and then through the ticket booth and then on line for elevator 1 to take us to the second stage and another to the top. Total elapsed time from initial arrival to standing at the top - 1:55.

Paris stretches out to the horizon in all directions. There was a haze over the city - a combination of vehicles and heat. We took our pictures (fighting to the rail because there were a lot of people) and moved down to the second stage. More people here but also more room. The pictures were a little better because the haze was further off. Instead of waiting in the queue for the elevator, we walked down to the first stage. Walking is the only way to appreciate the precise web of steel held in place with enormous rivets that is the core structure of the tower. You also get a good feel for what it must have been like to work exposed to the air and elements, to build this magnificent monument to engineering and radio broadcasting.

From the first floor you can look down on the plaza and trace the queue to go up. It snaked all over the plaza and clearly needed some good organizational assistance. Maybe they should hire Disney to rebuild the queues!

We were happy to get back to our air-conditioned hotel room and clean up before heading out of town. We've had enough of the Paris crowds in the summer and were anxious to cool off in Scotland.

Neither the Metro nor the RER have air-conditioning and we were both soaked by the time we mae it to the airport. We were still a little early to check-in so we made ourselves comfortable and killed some time. Time passes oddly at airports. One minute can feel like an hour and then it can also feel like a second - it just depends if you occupy your mind and keep it off the clock.

We flew trough Heathrow (Terminal 5) and discovered our savior - Wagamama! A quick, hearty meal in our bellies, we boarded our flight to Edinburgh. 45 minutes CDG - LHR and only 55 minutes from LHR to EDI. And our luggage wasn't lost! We collapsed at our hotel and started to dream about tomorrow.

Hotel: Hilton Edinburgh Airport
Restaurant(s): Pomme de Pain (cafe), Wagamama (Asian)
Attractions: Eiffel Tower