When we lived in Paris the Eiffel Tower was our symbol of home. Not in the way that it is the symbol for Paris, as you see it in key chains, postcards and even the logo of the biggest football club. For us, catching the first glimpse of the iconic tower, or its sweeping search light, meant we were home.
We did travel a bit when we lived there, both for leisure as for business. In each case, whether we arrived by air, road or track, we would be looking out for the first sight of this magnificent structure. It even became a bit of a game: who would see it first.
I even wrote a poem about it, titled “Our Rentrée”:
And then, just before we reach
the summit of our low climb,
the sweeping searchlight of
the Eiffel Tower signals our
return in the bright night sky.
We’re home.
Holiday’s over.
Back to work.
Even after visiting Paris many times, and living there for two beautiful years, I still haven’t climbed the Eiffel Tower, by the way…
Which symbol is for you the ultimate sign of returning back home from travel?