No iluminations! Copyright Tour Eiffel-Illuminations

No iluminations! Copyright Tour Eiffel-Illuminations

So, not many people have ever had the occasion to see the Eifel tower completely dark. This picture is taken starting an hour and a half after New Year 2007 and, of course, has no pretentions to be any quality one. Just to tell you the story.
New year's night 2006/7. My room on the 18th floor of Concorde Lafayette had a clear view to the tower. At 12 flat I was there hoping to shut amazing fireworks show over Paris. But...Paris remained the only european, and probably world, capital without holiday fireworks this night. Due to mayors order by safety considerations the fireworks were prohinited. After I was disapointed by the lack of any fireworks, I got to the tower to join the big Paris citizens' celebrity under it. Actually, there was not exactly holiday spirit I found. Drunk and agressive people, whole the square covered by broken bottles glass and all the ambulances available taking injured people away, even some blood on the ground....Sad. And, in addition to it, suddenly there came the blackout. Whole quarter arrownd fall into complete dark, except the green reverced christmass tree under the tower. I suspect city authorities in making it for purpose to make tha crowd to go home faster, I don't know,but the tower remained dark till 19 o'clock, when it was lit again. Happy New 2007!