Ah, Paris. She's beautiful, isn't she? You've got the Louvre filled with some of the world's most famous works of art, the bustling Champs Elysees and of course, the Eiffel Tower, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world.
But as with most beautiful things in our world, social media has now ruined the Eiffel Tower, too. In honor of the Eiffel Tower's 125th anniversary this year, the French landmark got a little makeover. This included a revamped store, restaurant and interactive exhibits on the structure. Moatti Riviére Architects also designed a new glass floor for the tower that allows views from 187 feet above Paris. You know what it also gives people? Another excuse to take selfies.
People are literally getting on their hands and knees and even lying down just to snap the perfect selfie. Is this what Gustav Eiffel always envisioned for his famous design?
"Visitors take photos as they lie down on the new glass floor at the #Eiffel #Tower in #Paris" pic.twitter.com/09AO3lR7mC
— Joseph Jett (@josephjett) October 8, 2014
Dare to look down? Eiffel Tower opens new glass floor: https://t.co/cJdWwlibr4 pic.twitter.com/BCevwsr9Ck — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 7, 2014
Uh-oh! Look what's happened at the Eiffel Tower: https://t.co/GS47cvOxls pic.twitter.com/9se1djOul5
— CNN International (@cnni) October 7, 2014
It seems that the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo is even encouraging visitors to indulge in the photo-taking ritual. And I would have thought the French would be above taking selfies.
The Eiffel Tower gets a brand new 1st floor today... Enjoy this breathtakingly high experience! #TourEiffel pic.twitter.com/985Os8Rg84 — Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) October 6, 2014
The Eiffel Tower isn't the first notable structure to freak out visitors with a fear of heights. The Grand Canyon, Chicago's Willis Tower Skydeck and Toronto's CN Tower all introduced glass floors in recent years.
Skywalk bridge at the west side of the #GrandCanyon #Nevada pic.twitter.com/MZl6LWkn3G
— Perla R. Domingo ✈ (@TravelingPerly) July 1, 2014
#TheLongDark v.103 came out yesterday!! As soon as I get done here on Willis Tower's #SkyDeck I'll be playing again! pic.twitter.com/8I46cEYoNn — Accurize2 (@Accurize2) September 7, 2014
Glass floor selfie at the CN Tower with the Skills Team! pic.twitter.com/UlvExADmPT
— SkillsCanadaAlberta (@skillsalberta) June 4, 2014
With that awe-inspiring and death-defying view atop one of the world's most iconic structures, it would be kind of naive to expect our selfie-crazed society not to take these kinds of shots at the Eiffel Tower. However, it seems like you're not going to be able to get the greatest selfie lying across the floor of the Eiffel Tower. Won't you just capture the little ants of people walking underneath the structure and miss out on having the amazing city of Paris as your backdrop? But I guess that's really a non-issue as far as selfies are concerned. It's not really about what's behind your smiling or duck-lipped face, now is it?
[H/T Lightly Buzzed]
