So, to answer the original question: the Eiffel Tower has 1,665 steps in total, but you can only climb 1,020 of them to the second floor. That’s still a lot of steps, but it’s also a lot of memories waiting to be made.
And here’s the uplifting part: whether you climb one step or all thousand, you’re doing something brave. You’re choosing the journey over the shortcut. You’re saying, “Yes, I want to earn this view.” And let me tell you, the view from the second floor—with the wind in your hair and a semi-permanent smile on your face—is just as beautiful as the summit. The top is the top, sure, but the middle is where the heart is.
So go on. Lace up your sneakers, pack a tiny bottle of water (and maybe a snack), and start climbing. Count the steps if you must, but don’t forget to count the moments, too. Each step brings you closer to the sky, and closer to a story you’ll tell for years. And when you reach the second floor, look out at the city of love, take a deep breath, and say, “I did that.”
Because you did. You really, really did. Now go eat that crêpe—you earned it.
