I’ve always hated heights. Ever since I was little, there was something that scared me about looking down from high places at the ground below, even if I was standing in a perfectly safe spot. I’d like to assume part of that fear comes from falling in between the open slots of a spiral staircase (not from very high up, of course) and the other part of that fear is because my dad has a fear of heights, so like father like daughter. Today, I faced that fear and went to the highest point possible at the Eiffel Tower.
Before going up, a few people asked me why I was going to force myself to go to the very top if I hated heights so much. I did it for 2 reasons: 1) the pictures (gotta love a camera with a killer zoom) and 2) because I knew I would regret it if I didn’t at least try. At first, even looking down as we were ascending the tower in the not an elevator, but sort of an elevator made me sick to my stomach. But once we made it to the second highest level, I slowly began to get used to being up so high. I could look down without my stomach turning into giant knots or feeling my heart race a million miles an hour. It got to the point that I was actually starting to really enjoy being up that high and being able to see the city of Paris from a birds eye view.
I think that being able to enjoy the views made me better appreciate the engineering and talent behind the creation of the Eiffel Tower. For a structure that was only meant to last 20 years, it sure has withstood the destructiveness of time. It makes me wonder if Gustav Eiffel knew in the back of his mind that his creation was going to last way longer than 20 years and that it was meant to become more than just a symbol of engineering and science. Once back on the ground, I was able to look up at the Eiffel Tower with a new appreciation and admiration. In my opinion, it’s more than just some tourist attraction where you go to the top and buy champagne and kiss your significant other. It’s a remarkable feat of engineering, design, and science that withstood the tests of time and officially ended my fear of heights.
Way to go Shannon, so proud of you!!
Congratulations on overcoming your fear of heights! I was a little uncomfortable going up the tower too – that first elevator was so jumpy and fidgety!
What’s next on your plate as far as tall things go?
I definitely would like to head to the Grand Canyon at some point, but maybe I should start a little closer to home and do the Empire State Building or the Washington Monument!