Jaunted

Tags: Eiffel Tower / Tourist Traps / Iconic Monuments / → All Tags

The Eiffel Tower Still Standing Right Side Up

Joyeux Anniversaire La Tour Eiffel! The Eiffel Tower celebrated its 120th birthday today by releasing more than a thousand balloons into the sky, giving joy to all the tourists who happened upon the iconic monument today. But when Gustave Eiffel's creation was first inaugurated in 1889, not everyone was in love with it. A few famous Parisians called it a "dishonor" to the city. Writer Guy de Maupassant said he liked to eat lunch at the tower because it was the one place where he didn't have to look at it.

What a change a 120 years makes. Today, nearly seven million tourists fork over the 13 Euro fee to visit the tower and one woman even married the structure. Let's hope she has a real special birthday present for tonight.

Related Stories:
· Eiffel Tower turns 120 [Associated Press]