Sleeping Under Giants (The Eiffel Tower)

Is it possible to camp under the Eiffel Tower? Almost.

According to hitch wiki, the Eiffel Tower is a good place to camp for free in Paris. Having never been to the Eiffel Tower, I wasn’t quite so sure. My first and only experience of Paris was spent between a bookshop, a scenic view, and a street selling flowers. I wasn’t in the mindset for visiting much else.

There was a mirror in the bookshop, upon which one could leave messages for others. Or for no-one.

I left a message for someone.

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic man-made structures in the world, but I had little desire to see it. Only when seeing it in the flesh (metal), can you really appreciate the size of it. It is immense. Superlatives aside, it was worth visiting.

Under the tower is concrete. It is not good for camping.

In front of the tower is a huge garden. I sat in this garden reading my book and soon started talking with another foreigner. Around three in the morning, I decided to set up my tent in the garden and hopefully sleep a few hours. With a little wandering, I found a nice spot between a hedge and a bush where I set-up my tent.

Bring on the largest European thunderstorm I have ever experienced.

My tent became a disco with bright flashes and a rumbling soundtrack. GCSE science come back to me I ask as the rain lashed upon my tent which is about three centimetres shorter than I am. Everything I own was in that tent. Clothes, electronics, tooth brush, and flip-flops.

Should I be near a tree, away from a tree, in a bush, in a tent… next to one of the largest lightening conductors that man could possibly perceive… would it take the charge or electrocute me?

If it wasn’t raining quite so hard, I might have moved. I was scared. But I sat it out. And I woke up to park cleaners moving around under a pretty morning with wet grass. And one hell of a view of the Eiffel Tower.

I met the foreigner from the night before for breakfast and we decided to hitch hike together. Right now I am sitting in Santa Margherita, soon to head to Portofino. Look them up if you care. I swam in the sea before watching England play football in front of a cool drink and right now, I shall head to the beach to cook dinner on it.

At school, I was scared of getting into trouble for disobeying the rules. I am overcoming my fears.

Life is good.

I slept ‘under’ the Eiffel Tower. That is something I can always say and most probably, will never do again.

By | 2014-02-26T03:32:16+00:00 June 19th, 2012|Euro Hitch 2012|3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Brian Larsen 04/10/2017 at 15:44 - Reply

    Real camping under the Eiffel tower 🙂
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvpUMwwMZD4

  2. Antoine 23/06/2012 at 10:09 - Reply

    Ahah, I just found out about your blog, great job!
    I do not think you would have got electrocuted but great story! The big garden aka champs de mars is a good spot to pre game in Paris, glad you enjoyed it!

  3. Steve Moore 21/06/2012 at 01:07 - Reply

    Great stuff Jamie, keep it up. I look forward to the next post. Cheers.

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