Phil in Paris
12-13-2004, 11:03 PM
By Rhiannon Harries in Paris
14 December 2004
Visitors to Paris can skate in the sky this Christmas with the opening of a temporary ice rink on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, the city's most famous tourist attractions.
The 200sq metre rink, a little larger than a tennis court, allows up to 80 people at a time to take to the ice more and it is located more than 50 metres above the ground.
"You see the whole city differently," said Finnish visitor Hanna Patila, "It's like you are skating on air."
The festive atmosphere is enhanced by hundreds of lights, music, a Christmas café and even the vanilla scent of the ice itself.
Admission to the rink, which remains in place until the 23 January, and skate hire are included in the basic entrance fee to the tower.
Judging by the diverse crowds queuing in near-freezing temperatures for the chance to skate, the concept seems to be a success. "It's great - a little novelty on the most traditional symbol of Paris. It sums up the city perfectly," said Roland, a Parisian lawyer who took to the ice in his worksuit and tie. Katie, an American tourist, was equally impressed. "This is just magical", she said.
Paris was one of the first European cities to renew the trend for seasonal skating with the opening of a temporary Hôtel de Ville rink in 1996.
But Paris' latest attraction will have to be expanded three-fold to match that other famed rink at New York's Rockefeller Center.
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=592899
14 December 2004
Visitors to Paris can skate in the sky this Christmas with the opening of a temporary ice rink on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, the city's most famous tourist attractions.
The 200sq metre rink, a little larger than a tennis court, allows up to 80 people at a time to take to the ice more and it is located more than 50 metres above the ground.
"You see the whole city differently," said Finnish visitor Hanna Patila, "It's like you are skating on air."
The festive atmosphere is enhanced by hundreds of lights, music, a Christmas café and even the vanilla scent of the ice itself.
Admission to the rink, which remains in place until the 23 January, and skate hire are included in the basic entrance fee to the tower.
Judging by the diverse crowds queuing in near-freezing temperatures for the chance to skate, the concept seems to be a success. "It's great - a little novelty on the most traditional symbol of Paris. It sums up the city perfectly," said Roland, a Parisian lawyer who took to the ice in his worksuit and tie. Katie, an American tourist, was equally impressed. "This is just magical", she said.
Paris was one of the first European cities to renew the trend for seasonal skating with the opening of a temporary Hôtel de Ville rink in 1996.
But Paris' latest attraction will have to be expanded three-fold to match that other famed rink at New York's Rockefeller Center.
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=592899