Eiffel tower question

[andi]

Hubby dearest (who promises me faithfully) is in a slight panic about going up the tower (1st level). He has read on one or two sites that say, because of the angle the lift goes up the leg, the see-through glass windows and the slim iron work it makes people with height phobias more prone to virtigo/panic attacks. Now I know that alot of you have done this ride, can any of you verify or deny these reports for me, I so want to do it this time and I need him there with me, it's not quite the same on my own

[suzanne]

We did it once several years ago. As I recall the elevator was so crowded I could not see anything.

[Sandy M]

I took the ride last May - it was a grey, rainy day so there won't too many people in line to buy tickets but the elevator filled up quickly. I would suggest trying to stand on the outer edge of the elevator cab so that you won't feel so squished. I don't have height phobias nor panic attacks, however, I am a little claustrophobic but it didn't bother me. The ride goes rather quickly and you're there before you know it. We did take the second elevator all the way to the top and when we were going to come back down, there was a very long line. It was so windy and cold up there that we decided to "walk" down to the 1st level - never again! I have a bad knee and all those stairs just about did my knee in and I think we would have been better off waiting at the top in the cold rather than feel that cold and wind all the way down those stairs!

[willow]

I am somewhat afraid of heights, and I will say that the ride from the 2nd level to the top is scary. The see through glass really had me worried and I wasn't sure how the doors would open up and where I would be. I told myself that if I saw any gaps in the floor when the elevator opened I would not get off. Fortunately the elevator opens on the inside in an enclosed area. I walked around there for a bit before getting brave and going outside. I recommend once you get in the elevator, shut your eyes, and face away from the glass. I was slightly paniced but only for the duration of the ride.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

I really hate glass elevators, etc., although I usually can handle being up on top once I get there. My trick is to face inward and just don't look (especially when the ground is rushing up or away!), and then just look "out" (not "down") when I get where I'm going.

[mez]

I walked up on my last trip, so never got to ride the elevators on an angle, but the one heading up to the top made my heart drop into my stomach - I ended looking up and also closed my eyes.

This is much better than my other trip (years and years ago) when I was so petrified that once I reached each level i had to circle on the inside before I worked up the courage to move to the outer edge and take a good look at Paris.

Mez

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Andi - there are many places to have a wonderful view over Paris that would be a lot less distressing for Gaz - try the top of the Arc (great view over to the ET), or Sacre Coeur, or the top of the Pantheon, or the Notre Dame towers.

[Truffaut]

The ride to the first level isn't too bad, but the ride from there to the top is a bit worrisome. If someone's agitated, however, I'd recommend standing facing the interior of the tower instead of the exterior, and basically trying not to look out the windows during the ride.