Pop The Cork. Champagne And iPads At The Eiffel Tower!

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Is that a cork or the top of the Eiffel Tower?
Whether the sky is cloudy or bright at the Eiffel Tower, let it rain champagne!

Yes, on the southern side of the summit level, tucked away in the former architect’s office, is the Bar à Champagne (really a counter).

Mostly the curious stopped by while I was there. Julien, the barman, said that the champagne bar seems to be more active in the evenings. “The bar is a favorite of honeymooners,” he said. “You can tell when they are newlyweds, they eagerly show off their rings.”

The hourly sparkles of the Eiffel Tower probably matches the sparkles in the champagne. When poured into one of two types of flutes, the bubbly lights up. The cost of champagne ranges from 10 euros to 20 euros, depending on type and if you want the illuminated flute.

Alain Ducasse’s Chief sommelier, Gérard Margeon, chooses a the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for this special  white champagne, which Lanson produces exclusively for Mr. Ducasse. The rosé champagne changes every three to four months.

The elevators are free if you have reservations at either the Jules Verne or 58Tour Eiffel restaurants. To get the summit, you pay the full price. A ticket office is located on the second level if you decide to head to the summit.

iPads for Rent
An experiment is underway using the iPad as a guide. Tap on a flag for basic information of the surrounding landscape; tap on the yellow tag for historical information. The iPad covers about 80 monuments and gives you a 360 degree view of Paris. The whole tour takes on average one and a half hours, but some renters have done it in 40 minutes.

When you look for the rental area, look on the second level where the line forms to descend the Tower. The iPad is available in English and French for seven euros an hour. A credit card imprint works as your deposit. It has to be returned to the second floor rental stand. With all of the families and small children, I could imagine a fun version for children.

The Summer Terrace
The first level of the Eiffel Tower always has a novelty, the most novel being ice skating. This summer you can lounge in wood deck chairs, cuddle on the artificial turf, take a load off on the metal bistro chairs and enjoy a beverage from the outdoor bar. The terrace resembles a park with blooming flowers, trees and bushes and water bouncing between large white flower pots.

Keep up with what is new, click on “News” at the Eiffel Tower Web site.

© 2010 Colleensparis.com
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© 2012 Colleensparis.com
Your HOTEL and APARTMENT RESERVATION is a contribution to maintenance costs of my Web site. Using GOOGLE helps, too. THANKS!