Thursday, July 31, 2008

Facing Your Fears

By the time we hit Paris, Daniel thought it was time that I faced my fears: Fear of Heights, that is.

First we visited L'Arc de Triomphe. It is very large in stature. Much bigger than any other Arc around and there are quite a few in Paris. It was only 270 steps up and I was really nervous going up and down the stairwell but I didn't tell anyone. Once on top, it was quite fun. There were large metal spikes that prevented people from getting to close to the edge. I found the spikes quite functional and yet comforting.


On our way to the Eiffel Tower, I spent the time thinking of ways to get out of going to the top. Here was my pathetic list of possible excuses:
  1. Not feeling so good.
  2. Don't think we have time.
  3. My stomach is turning.
  4. My ankle hurts.
  5. My personal Favorite: But the tower looks so nice from here (meaning the ground). The best pictures are from here, right?
As we came closer to the Tower and I realized how tall it was, my list grew more desperate and frantic.
  1. I'm feeling nauseous
  2. I think I left my passport on the subway.
  3. I'm gonna throw up!
  4. I'm pregnant. (Not True and therefore not used)
The worst part about my list is that I never used it. I tried. However I couldn't stop staring at the monstrosity of a structure that stood before me. Needless to say, the Carlson Family brought me to the top of the Eiffel Tower.


The most exciting part was coming down. We took the stairs from the second level. For you information, there are 704 stairs from the second level. This is when we hit the 700th-stair mark.
So you ask if I conquered my fears...no probably not. But I went to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

5 comments:

bunkkiness said...

yay Katey! I didn't know you had a fear of heights. I am so proud of you! It was good to see you today too!

Kristina said...

Way to go Katey! What an awesome experience :)

Kara said...

I've been to both of these monuments, but not to the top of them! Guess I have to go back to Paris :)

McDonald's Funny Farm said...

What a wonderful adventure! I know that you would have been disappointed if you hadn’t “gone to the top!” I love the pictures –and love you lots, too!

Mom

Natalia said...

I'm so proud of you! I too fear heights, but for me it is much more debilitating (remember when Amber came back and you guys were on the roof at Lanai and I couldn't come up because I was too scared?)