MESMERISING EUROPE

MESMERISING EUROPE
Europe enthralls as the conventional and the modern coalesce with each other harmoniously. The rich cultural heritage preserved immaculately is outstanding and unparalleled , unsurpassed and unique .It is paradise for art and nature lovers. The exotic and unbelievably stunning landscape enchants and casts a spell filling one with a serenity and tranquillity the great bards must have experienced which made them pour out their hearts
“ in profuse strains of unpremeditated art.” .(Shelley, To A Skylark)
Nature and poetry are synoymous and complement each other.
The lofty mountains , the towering Alps with its snow-clad hills and peaks, the snow-covered plateaus , the rivers flowing through the hamlets, the enchanting lakes, the lush greenery of the pastures and meadows , the delightful valleys dotted with cottages , the colourful flowers brimming from the windows of the cottages , the healthy cattle grazing ...the spotted cows with their dangling bells , the sturdy horses, the sheep, the fairytale-like castles and fortresses- all form part of the magnificent countryside of Europe. Urban Europe is no less splendid for it enshrines the rich heritage and culture of the past. Historical monuments , world-famous museums ,grand palaces, the magnificent cathedrals and churches, the grand architecture , the awe-inspiring ubiquitous sculptures, the extraordinary paintings and frescoes, the tunnels ,the almost uniform houses preserve its pristine purity and antiquity . However , Europe is equally advanced and developed and is well –equipped with modern facilities to cater to contemporary needs. One needs to first devour ,digest and savour what the eyes ,ears, mind, heart and soul have been treated to...for they can in future always provide a sensitive person with the same joy that he had felt while being in their presence... Wordsworth's strong faith in poetry which has the power of"emotion recollected in tranquility":
“For oft when on my couch I lie, in vacant or in pensive mood
They flash upon the inward eye which is the bliss of solitude
And then my heart with pleasure fills.........”
(Wordsworth, The Daffodils)
Our trip to Europe was undoubtedly an unforgettable and marvellous episode in our lives. It was our children(Shivanu and Shilpa)who are based in Singapore and who thought of sending us on this visit and researched, planned and booked us on a 13day Thomas Cook Tour which was to commence from 17th May 2011. Both of us i.e my husband and myself and my daughter-in-law’s parents(Shilpa) were going together from Mumbai. The excitement had been brewing ever since the trip had been planned with long discussions of what and how much luggage was to be taken ,checking the temperatures of the various countries to be visited,what precautions were necessary in some countries etc and this excitement reached a crescendo when the time came for its execution. The appointed day came when we left for Mumbai which was 15th May ...we had planned to stay there at Vishnu’s (our nephew)place for a night . The stay was very comfortable and finally on 16th night at 1 a cab was booked for us to take us to the airport as our flight was at 5.00 in the morning of the 17th. Just as the the cab –booking had been done we received a call from Shilpa’s friend in Mumbai ,Jeni who had incidentally taken the Krishnans home after they had arrived in Mumbai, asking us when we proposed to reach the airport and then advising us to go about an hour later as it would be too early to check in. Though a little surprised we rescheduled the cab-booking and reached the airport aroud 2.20 ,checked in ,met the Thomas Cook personnel who was there with a list of the names of passengers leaving that day and soon met the Krishnans . After all the preliminaries we all sat down at a coffee shop and ordered coffee as there was some time for boarding. Little did we know what was in store for us. As we were sipping our coffees I happened to see someone like Shilpa walking towards me and I thought” oh , she resembles Shilpa”, and then the –look alike became the real Shilpa with a matter-of-fact smile as she came closer and then I saw Shivanu walking behind her ,smiling cheek to cheek. In the meantime I had got up from my seat , my heart was beating unusually quicker and my mind was in a maze asI started muttering”what is happening” which became a shout when it dawned upon me that it was really them. My eyes were literally out of their sockets and I was then speechless and numb with astonishment.The others by that time had also turned back to see as to what was really happening and then we all started squealing and screaming with delight much to the astonishment of the other passengers. In those few seconds what was going on in my mind was that may be these two are on an official visit to India ...but this misgiving was pleasantly brushed away when Shilpa said “ we are travelling with you...how could we leave you all alone’......and of course then unable to control myself I with all my 67 kgs of weight started jumping with joy and my husband and the Krishnans were stuttering and shrieking with delight. They told us that they had planned to go with us 6 months back but wanted it to be a surprise. Well, This was indeed a surprise of a lifetime...never-ever-to-be-forgotten. They had guarded the secret so well for 6 months without breathing a word to anyone of their friends or even to Dumdum,our elder son who is also in Singapore.So they told us that they had reached Mumbai by 11 in the night , waited all night at the airport almost in hiding, took an early check-in ,looking back in fear lest they be discovered by us before they had pl;anned to reveal their secret and then went and sat on the other end of the airport so as not to be spotted by us! Now we could put two and two together as to why Jeni, who was the only one they had to take into confidence to uphold their secret ,insisted that we leave for the airport not at 1 but at least not before 2 in the night...for that would give them time to go through all the necessary check-in rigours so much so that they requested the Thomas Cook personnel at the airport not to show the list to us or we could have spotted their names there.Thomas Cook was hand-in-glove with the whole event as all the agents whether they were based in Cochin or Gurgaon were strictly counselled not to disclose this and Thomas Cook , I must say did cooperate very well in keeping it a closely-guarded secret. From then on our trip was MADE.....though we still could not get over the fact that they were really here with us....Mr. Krishnan really pinched himself to feel that this was true!
We were all in an euphoric state ,holding and hugging the children as we proceeded to board the aircraft. We were flying Qatar airways and had a short stop-over at Doha before we finally landed at Gatswick international airport, London where again a Thomas cook agent was there to receive us and lead us to the bus which would take us to our hotel. However , everything does not go as planned...there was an inordinate delay in the arrival of the bus.As we came out of the airport a strong chilling wind greeted us and we started scrambling in our hand luggage for our mufflers, jackets and caps.We experienced the cloudy and cold weather of London for the first time. After almost a 3 hour delay in which frantic calls were being made to Thomas Cook,Cochin,Mumbai,Bangalore by us and our co-travellers the bus did arrive, In the interim amidst all the complaining and grumbling we were informed by the T.C personnel that one Mr. Akshay Sharma was our tour manager, and instantaneously without even meeting him all the complaints were hurled at him. Later on when the tour was almost at its last phase , Akshay ,who happened to be a very pleasant and friendly guy told us that he was warned that he could be hit by us and was told” sambhal lena...!”
It was almost an hour’s run from the airport to the hotel but I am sure everyone got enraptured by the delightful country side and forgot their woes. Wembley Plaza on Wembley street was a plush 4star hotel with comfortable accommodation and was to be our first home for one night and one day.The itinerary for the day if we had not got so delayed was a visit to Madame Tussauds . This information was given to us by Akshay whom we had met on our arrival at the hotel and who allotted us our rooms. Akshay did not get actuualy hit but had to face harsh criticisms which he brushed away adroitly pacifying us that whatever we had missed that day would be done the following day. However, we, my husband and me did not let the evening pass uneventful for after a hot cup of tea (in the comfortable hotel room) we went out to stroll on the streets nearby the hotel as there was still time for dinner. It was twilight and the weather was just perfect as we were looking forward and now enjoying the pleasant cold of the city. We went into the fascinating lane which had traditional brick houses on each side of the road ...they looked so pretty. We also ventured out a little more on the streets lined with shops though except the eating joints all others were closed. Next on the agenda was dinner which was arranged at a restaurant just opposite the hotel and the hot Indian dinner coupled with the exhaustion of a sleepless night made everyone forget how much time had been lost in London. During dinner Akshay went around every table informing us that for the next day the wake-up call would be 6, breakfast at 7 and departure at 8....this was to be a daily routine which everyone got used only the timings would vary on some days...so when Akshay would say” SO TOMORROW ITS 6.30,7.30,8.30” Wee all knew what they stood for.
18.5.2011 London
London was again intermittently cloudy with the sun making its presence felt at times . After having a lavish continental breakfast we set out in our bus on a guided city tour...the British guide enumerated the important landmarks of London that we were passing through humorously elaborating and enacting the Queen’s mechanical and puppet-like style of waving to the crowds from her stately balcony and her frozen artificial smile .However, the other attractions of the city were captivating...the fascinating Westminster Abbey, the tower bridge, river Thames , Hyde Park,the legendary London bridge , the Gothic structures especially the churches with pointed steeples that we traversed quite a few times , the regal Buckingham Palace where we alighted and witnessed the change of guards, the famed Trafalgar Square where we got down and took several pictures...only the Square did not have the pigeons any more as they were supposed to be cause of indisposition to humans , the Parliament House ,the Picadiily Circus. Post lunch the promised visit to Madame Tussauds was fulfilled. It was delightful to see celebrities from such close quarters even though they were wax statues...we posed with quite a few of them. Some of the Indian Bollywood stars were disappointing as they hardly looked like their real selves..and the same was Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s wax figure and Bapu looked more healthy. However recent additions like Hritik looked the stud that he is and Tendulkar was very mush his real smiling self .What was remarkable was that my husband who incidentally harbours a strong animosity against ShahRukh Khan got a wonderful opportunity to vent his ire and posed in all vengeance pointing a closed fist at him...as he would never ever get that chance in reality. The British royal family had a separate closet ... I think soon there would be added a wax statuette of Kate Middleton .The chamber of Horrors which I discreetly avoided happened to be kind of a ghost lane wherein all of a sudden heads appeared from the sides or the top in the dark chamber....sounded eerie. After that there was a wonderful ride on two-seater tram cars amidst figures and paintings which gave us a feel of British history and the Victorian life style . And yes there was also a 4D show of all the supermen fighting with their villains which appeared to be very real as we could feel their missiles and weapons dashing almost touching our ears and sides, the splash of water ,flapping of bats and the huge figures on the screen were almost crowding over us .It proved to be an adventurous treat for us...we were actually amidst all the super heroes. Ofcourse one gets that feeling only if one is involved and engrossed in what is being shown. We were almost ducking our heads most of the times and closing our eyes to evade their onslaughts.
Having done with the wax museum we were given some free time to shop and go around Oxford Street. Walking on the streets of London was interesting. Luckily the first thing spotted by the children was Starbucks where we rushed to have Chailatte. Some window shopping followed...we went inside Selfridges which is the largest shopping arcade of London, Marks and Spencer which now no longer fascinates as we have it in the metros of our country too and we also got a glimpse of Harrods which had big posters of Diana and her paramour Dody al Fayad .In London fruits are really delicious ...the grapes, strawberries and cherries that we bought were delectable. Soon the famous London drizzle began (how could we miss that ) and all of us had to take shelter on the covered pavements before our bus could make its way through the crowded lanes .We had already checked out of the hotel and went ahead to board the over-night cruise which was to take us to Amsterdam. A lavish buffet dinner awaited us on the cruise and as the next day’s schedule was 5.30,6.30, 7.30 we soon retired to our rooms which had bunk beds . We had taken a change of clothes for the next day as our luggage was in the bus which had also moved into the cruise with other buses !
19.5.2011 – Amsterdam, Holland.
Next morning after finishing breakfast we went out on the deck and took pictures and soon we were in Amsterdam. Immigration was crowded but having done that we again boarded the bus and headed towards the much –awaited visit to the Kuekonhof gardens which is the famous tulip garden of Amsterdam and which we were lucky to visit as it was supposed to close down from the next day.On the way it was interesting to see several windmills for which Amsterdam is famous. The tulips,daffodils,and the other flowers of different hues and shades from light to bright colours ...colours which mortals cannot create, were exceptionally beautiful. The blossoms in bright shades of yellow ,orange, pink, red with the forested green pathway was tranquilising for the eyes and the mind. After gratifying the senses ,our attention was attracted to the souvenir shop selling wooden shoes of all sizes and in vibrant shades...again Amsterdam is known for its wooden shoes . Besides that there were toy windmills, posters,cards etc and most of us ended up buying some souvenir as a remembrance of Netherlands.
A common feature of Europe is the profuse use of cycles. Amsterdam has 1500 sq kms. of cycling track and even the prime minister does not hesitate in riding on a cycle and that too unescorted...unbelievable. We spotted several cyclists there though one of the older ladies of our group of 43 met with a minor accident as not crossing the road through the zebra crossing, she was hit by a speeding cycle and fell down with a thud. For sometime we were all disturbed but luckily by the grace of God she was unhurt . I gave her a brufen to evade any aches and pains that could follow . We later learnt that she had fractured her ankle seriously some time back and had a steel rod and 6 nails inserted in her ankle. That day Providence came to her rescue. Amsterdam gets its name from the river Amstrel and has various modes of transport like cycles ,buses,cars, trams and also boats. After another Indian vegetarian lunch we were taken on a canal cruise which was fun as we got to see the several bridges ...the skinny bridge was a highlight as it is a historic wooden footbridge over the Amstrel river. The lovely weather made the cruise thoroughly enjoyable . Another interesting feature in Amsterdam were the hooks that we noticed on each house which had 2-3 levels...we were told that they were used to pull up baggage and furniture in the houses through the windows as the staircases and doors were smaller than the windows .
Brussels, Belgium
A 2 hour drive brought us to Brussels, capital city of Belgium. We viewed the famous monument called the Atomium which was built in 1958 and stands 335ft tall and has nine steel spheres connected so that the whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times...phew...was just amazing! After this breath-taking view our next stop was at Grand Place , the most important tourist destination and landmark of Brussels. It has been voted the most beautiful square in Europe.It is surrounded by guildhalls, the city’s town hall and the Breadhouse. The antiquity of the place was striking and so were the sculptures.Tha gold-plated edges and projections of the buildings and the floor tiled with black stones enhanced its beauty and antiquity. A few hundred metres from the Grand Place was the famous statue called the Mannekin Pis which literally is “Little man Pee”. There are several legends attached to the quaint figure of this naked boy in the act of urinating.... and it is a popular tourist attraction ! Belgium is known for its glass, diamonds , chocolates and waffles. We definitely did not miss out on the waffles ...there were several shops selling hot waffles with various toppings and we chose the banana and the chocolate toppings...and it was just mouth-watering. Godiva is a prominent chocolate store ...and contrary to popular belief that it is Switzerland which is the chocolate King, Belgium is equally a haven for chocolate –lovers. A walk through the covered plush market area with translucent sheets fixed on the decorated grill and branded shops on both sides, completed our tour for the day and we then checked into a hotel called Thon . The rooms were luxurious with two separate queen-sized beds ,provisions for tea and coffee and a plush washroom . It was a pity we spent only one night here as Akshay told us that next day it being a 6 hr drive to Paris we had to leave early. Enroute to Paris there was a short stop for the washrooms( and such stops were common for every journey) which was called the most visited monument by our tour manager at a gas station, we also managed to have hot chocolate there. The panoramic view of the green fields and meadows was a treat for the eyes.

20.5.11 to 21.5.11
Paris, France
The city of fashion ,art and culture as it is famed to be , Paris was exotic. Our first halt at Paris was “Bhojan” , an Indian restaurant , for( as the name indicated) a traditional Indian lunch. Expecting some more excitement in the glamorous city we were taken through the triumphal way, Champs Elysees around The Arc de Triompe which was almost a replica of our own India Gate . It is the grave of an unknown soldier killed during the war....the noticeable feature was that there are 12 roads from all around which branch out in this square. Then came the Concorde square which has the tall tower-like monument with a yellow oblisque at the top known to have been presented by the Emperor of Egypt ! The Louvre museum ,we were told was just behind the Concorde. Opposite the Concorde is the stately building of” Invalids”, a major dome of Paris hosting Napoleon’s ashes which was later turned into a majestic hospital for aged and wounded soldiers by Louis XIV. Beneath the dome lies two churches , one for the soldiers and the other intended as a vault for the king which now contains the mortal remains of Napoleon . This has now become an army museum.
We the took the Seine river cruise which gave us a glimpse of all the important monuments of Paris ...the Effel Tower. the Concorde, the grand Notre Dame cathedral and the stirkingly beautiful Alexander bridge. After the wonderful cruise we were again on Champs Elysees, Paris’s most fashionable and happening street which has all the high-end brands ,brightly-lit shopping arcades, car showrooms, the famous Lido theatre , the presidential Elysees palace etc . The deafening sound of the racing sports cars and the other latest vehicles lends thrill and enhances the exhilaration of being on the street. Next came the visit to the Eiffel Tower .... viewing the imposing metallic structure of 300 metres and supposedly the tallest monument in Europe till some time back which we had till now only heard and read was historic. It was built in commemoration of the centenary of the French Revolution and completed in 1889. Gustave Eiffel , an engineer was selected through a competition to design the monument. Parisians , it is said were not happy with it. Legend also says that the famous writer Guy de Maupassant left Paris to avoid looking at this harsh structure! Little did he know that it was to become one of the wonders of the world and would be celebrated by posterity. After checking into Mercure hotel and a 30 minute break we again started for THE Eiffel tower to get a view of it by night. Here I would like to mention that in spring and summer Europe has extra long days with the sun setting not before 8 in the night ...and evening begins from around 8 to 9.30 and then its twilight ! So we reached the tower again at around 11 to see its radiance and glory. And behold...what a sight it was.... the harsh metallic structure appeared to be a tower of gold for it was glittering with yellow lights. We went upto the second level to the observation deck and Paris was indeed a City of Lights .I shall retain vivid memories of Paris and that particular night.It was just splendid. After all the photo shoots we rushed down through the crowded lifts as everyone wanted to see the special lighting that is there for just 3 minutes every hour the clock strikes ie 10,11 and 12. As the clock struck 12 the brilliance and gleam of the tower was suddenly augmented as it was flooded by twinkling star-like illuminations which was an astonishing and marvellous sight. After sufficiently taking in all the glitter and sparkle of the shimmering Eiffel tower we were back in the posh hotel for the rest of the night.
21.5.11
The agenda for the next day was exhilarating as it included a visit to the Louvre, Palace of Versailles and then the Lido show at night. Our first stop was the magnificent mammoth Louvre museum, the pride of Paris for it houses among other remarkable paintings , Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece , MonaLisa. Originally a royal palace and created in several phases from 12th century ,it became a public museum by the end of the 18th century.It has 35000 objects on display ranging from paintings, sculptures, drawings, ceramics, archeological articles , even clocks, furniture, tapestries ,china -ware As we were ushered inside by Akshay we were told that the DENON wing had the renowned painting and it was there that we headed to. It was not at all difficult to spot as there was a large crowd in front of it and everyone was vying with each other to take pictures with MonaLisa as the backdrop. We were reminded of Indian pilgrimages and how crowds gather just for” darshan “ of the deity....here the deity was monlisa! After successfully managing the” MonaLisa darshan” we moved on to view the other breath-taking paintings and sculptures. That humans can create such intricate structures and experiment so beautifully with colours and paints is incredible...one has to see to believe. The sculptures depicted even the separate folds of the dresses worn, each sinew of the body was so pronounced and even shadows creating silhouettes were visible. The life-like paintings were no less aesthetically treated and seemed real. The colour schemes, the merging of shades manifested the perfection of the artists. Biblical, historical , political events had been captured so intrinsically by the artists that they were definitely saluted mentally by all vieweres.....it was a surreal experience and a visual treat. Louvre is a museum of aesthetic and divine excellence. The artists were undoubtedly infused with heavenly powers to make such ethereal creations.
However, there was something more that grappled our attention and that was the Richelieu wing in which there was a separate section which comprised of Napoleon's luxurious apartments .The large drawing room with opulent interiors reflected the taste of the period. Similar was the enormous dining room with an imposing table and sideboard in black-stained wood with gilt bronze decoration. The painted ceiling was a luminous sky with exotic birds.The ornate glass dressing table and the regal chairs were other attractions of his chambers. Louvre has rightly been termed as the richest museum in the world. Though we were utterly exhausted taking in so much and climbing several flights of steps yet that did not deter us from doing some souvenir shopping inside the majestic Louvre. Finally it was time to leave the colossal and invaluable treasure trove of antiques.
The Palace of Versailles , Louis XIV’s home and the centre of the signing of one of the most important treaties, the treaty of which ended the forst World War had many tales to tell about French people, kings, queens, society ladies and their lives. Built as a modest hunting lodge in 1624 by the then king, Louis XIII, it was enlarged and enrobed to become one of the largest and grandest museums of the world by Louis XIV. It was the principal residence of French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI. Well, here we had a guide who took us around Louis XIV luxurious chambers elucidating their life style and habits. The palace gardens are sprawling with exquisite staues .Marie Antoinette, queen of France and the charming wife of Louis XVI, was supposedly a fashionable lady given to excesses who by the ugly turn of events , finally met with a tragic end as she was guillotined together with her husband at a young age of 37. Apart from the historical references what was interesting tolearn from our guide and the paintings was the socal life of 18th century ladies. It was familiar to me, having read about the Victorian mannerisms and style statements of the elite and high class gentry.What was almost painful and baffling to learn was how the ladies had to squeeze in their waists to look elegant and graceful in their beautiful gowns trimmed with frills and ribblons.They wore expensive diamonds ,pearls , rubies and also sported parasols, hats ,pretty shoes , branded bags, fans and yes even lapdogs . The paintings showed their gigantic hair styles, a typical feature of the times which were fixed with animal fat and to make them more stylish diamonds and gems were stuck on them. The ladies looked grotesque with their bizarre headdresses. I was instantly reminded of Joseph Addison's subtle humour and derision in his wonderful essays which were like a mirror of the outlandish, almost eccentric 18th century fashion in vogue and the coquetry and artificiality of the Victorian age.

' There is not so variable a thing in nature as a lady's headdress: within my own memory I have known it rise and fall above thirty degrees...", he writes in his essay entitled 'Ladies Headdress' calling the ladies 'female architects' who were adept at constructing such Gothic structures on their fair heads, with pointed steeples from where were attached crepe hangings from the top which fell on their backs like streamers so much so that the men folk appeared as pigmies infront of them !'

To ward off the smell of animal fat they used vinegar and that is how French perfume was discovered...sure enough necessity IS the mother of invention. After an extensive and edifying visit of the Palace of Versailles the French guide bid us adieu at the sortee( exit in French) of the Palace where we met our tour manager ,Akshay. There was still time for the LIDO show and we went back to Mercure to straighten ourselves and get some rest. Shivanu, Shilpa , however ,still going strong even after the hectic day did not feel it was wise to go back to the hotel but decided to hang around Champs Elysees and get a feel of French people and their ways.
We were soon ready for the famous Lido show which was to begin at 11.30...and after a long bus ride, our hotel being some kms away from the main city ,reached the celebrated street…Champs Elysees where we met our children and after the ticketing etc we finally entered the massive theatre . French cabaret is said to be the earliest of its genre and the Lido show was an extravaganza of the beautifully orchestrated cabaret . The spectacular outfits of the plethora of performers, the foot-tapping rhythmical music, the variety of dances ,the attractive graceful , feather-like dancers, the hilarious comic show by just one talented artist who captivated the audience and amused them thoroughly, the swift changing of scenes in seconds literally with the blinking of the eyes, the packed galleries , the complimentary drink – champagne and soft drinks and the scintillating performances, all made it a memorable event for us indeed.By the time the show got over it was almost 2 in the night... well,it sure had been 'an evening in Paris' for us , the night was still young and as famed Paris never sleeps ! Once back in the hotel we tried to grab some sleep for Akshay's call for the next day was 5,6,7 as our drive to the next destination was approximately 7 hours .So after a quick though sumptuous breakfast( all our meals were sumptuous!) , we again boarded Massimo's luxury coach and set off for Germany, the next country to be visited. How exciting it was ...!!
22.5.11 Luxembourg and Germany
Luxembourg,which is one of the smallest countries of the world with a stable high- income economy and following parliamentary democracy headed by a constitutional monarch, was our stop for lunch. Beautiful and green as ever coupled with the pleasant weather formed an idyllic setting for a picnic lunch and that is exactly what we enjoyed.The packed theplas with pickle, chhole ,curd and green apples tasted really good amidst that relaxing environment.The gas station in the vicinity was ideal as we got good coffee there.After a four and a half hour drive this was a welcome halt.But Germany was waiting for us...and so we headed towards it.
Germany is landlocked ,surrounded by 9 countries- Austria, Holland, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain and Czech republic.As we were speeding across the highways Akshay enlightened us that the autobahns (highways) of Germany had been designed by Hitler and that they were used as runways for aircrafts during the war and to provide mobility for the military forces. The rest of the bus ride was fantastic as the country side with the healthy spotted cows grazing, the green mountains and the adorable valleys interspersed with the endearing cottages we found everywhere, Germany turned to be unexpectedly beautiful for me. I had not imagined it would be so appealing.Taken aback at the attractive sights that were unfolding before us , we soon came to our first stop , a hill station of Germany called St. Goar where we had the Rhine cruise.The Rhine is the longest river of Germany and a major waterway of the country.The waters of the river were fairly turbulent due to the breeze and we could feel the splash of the water on our faces. It was the best cruise so far as I was enchanted to see the several castles ,churches and fortresses which aappeared to be straight out of fairy tales I had read. It was as if we had been transported to a fairy land and any moment Rapunzel would peep out of one of the windows of the castle and let her hair down...I had never in my wildest dream envisaged myself literally in the presence of these magical, medieval castles which reminded me of Keats and his reference of the
"charm'd magic casements,opening on the foam
of perilous seas,in faery lands forlorn."(Ode to a Nightingale)
It was windy but we all stood on the deck braving the strong gale to get the clearest view possible of the delightful sights . Soon it started drizzling and so we went and sat in the swank ground level of the liner from where we could still enjoy the view.An order of wine with chips (that we were carrying)made the cruise even more enjoyable.A noticeable feature was the houseboats parked on the rhine river which were owned and occupied by the rich and the influential, and that they were well -kept was evident from the pretty curtains that were visible, the flowers decorating the windows and some reclining chairs and furniture that were there on the covered outer portions of the boats.This practice of having permanent residences in houseboats is also prevelant in Paris as we saw several such houseboats which were in possession of those select few who belonged to the higher echelons of the social and economic starta.After disembarking from the cruise we just strolled on the streets of that small,romantic city...
The Rhine Falls

The Rhine Falls in Northern Switzerland and actually between Germany and Switzerland is the largest water ways of Europe.The first view of the Falls was enough to startle and astound us . We went down the slope to reach nearer the snow white waters and then hurried to the observation deck to get a closer look and feel of the waters gushing forth which is estimated to be 175,000 gallons per second. The panoramic view of the Falls was breath-taking. Not satisfied with that Shilpa did not waste any time in buying tickets for the tourist boat ride which, as we saw was going near the cascading waters almost touching the mighty Falls. Once aboard the daredevil boat we started taking pictures and then we reached that thrilling point where we were almost surrounded by the gush of the waters . We touched and felt the cold water and the splash of the waters with its sprinkling was just awesome. After that heady adventure the masala tea at the small stall was very refreshing. Incidentally the shop as also selling vada pav and pav bhaji ….. veritable proof that Indians definitely formed the major chunk of tourists/visitors of the Rhine Falls ! Soon we were driven to Mannheim, Germany where we checked into Victoria Hotel for that night , the next day’s itinerary being the drive through the Black Forest enroute to Switzerland.
By now all of us ie our group of 43 had got accustomed to the nomadic life - style but despite the hectic schedule no one complained . We were a motley crowd of infants, children, youngsters/teenagers, young couples and adults ranging from three-year olds to seventy year plus elderly tourists. Some of them were also not very fit ,faced difficulty in walking and one of the ladies had 6nails and a rod dug in her right ankle after she suffered a fracture !Yet, they were always in high spirits , ever smiling and thoroughly enjoying everything , even grabbing time to shop at the gas stations which used to be the washroom stop. That Akshay had nick-named as the most visited monument ! They were indeed exemplary and inspirational for the others in the group.
23.5.11 Finally Switzerland
Amidst the hustle and bustle of checking out, bringing the luggage down ,loading it onto the bus hold and having a quick breakfast , I sensed an inexplicable exhilaration at the thought of finally embark ing on the journey to the dream country, Switzerland.
A few kms of drive and the forest area began and we were going through the Black forest region. The dense forest with the clusters of tall dark green trees which did not allow access even to the sun clarified the designation of the forest A. Undoubtedly they were striking . We enjoyed a picnic lunch which was in Swiss tents this time in be seeing a live demonstration of the making of a cuckoo clock. The entire area with a cute hotel with colourfuthe middle of the Black Forest, Germany. It was a beautiful place with a cuckoo clock shop where we would l flowers overflowing from the windows of the rooms ( a feature common all over Europe specially in Germany and Switzerland),the cuckoo clock shop and the greenery of the forests proved to be a tranquil place, though that day it was far from tranquil as there were hordes of tourists there…it being the tourist season. The cuckoo clock shop was really cute as we saw several types of cuckoo clocks …the clocks were all set in a backdrop of pretty cottages with different figures depicting either a lover climbing up a ladder to meet his beloved or a lady in the act of hitting a lazy husband etc! The speciality of these clocks are that they produce the cuckoo sound at every hour which explains the name. A live demonstration of how the cuckoo clocks are made and rather were made in olden times was given . Earlier they had a device comprising of a wooden flute-like object in which by some displacement of air the cuckoo sound was made which was calibrated with levers in the clock. Now ofcourse there is a chip fixed inside the clocks for emitting the sound at the right intervals.
Once this visit was over we boarded our bus to proceed towards Switzerland. Now was to begin our tryst with the natural world. As the Black Forest region receded the mountains became visible . The countryside was a delight with not just the now-familiar sights for us of the valleys and the attractive cottages with every window adorned with flowers , the verdant meadows and grassy fields, the bright -coloured flowers blossoming everywhere, the cattle grazing etc but now we saw the hills , the waterfalls emerging from the mountains and cascading down the cliffs,large streches of vineyards, terrace farming on the slopes of the mountains, the rivers merrily coursing over the pebbled beds …all this was a visual treat. Soon we were passing through Zurich, a large and important city of Switzerland. Once back to the countryside region what was awaiting us was the dream everyone cherishes in the hope that it will perhaps someday materialize. That day our dreams did for we could now view the world-famous Alps from the window of our bus…the lofty luxuriant mountains , the snow-clad ranges and peaks that elicited a universal squeal of delight from all present in the bus. The excitement was at its height. We were told that we were heading to Hasliberg which was a hill station of Switzerland where we would be staying for the next three days. To be in Switzerland and that too in a hill station was too good to be true. Completely rapt and engrossed in the scenic landscape which was not to be missed even for a second we reached Viktoria Hotel, Hasliberg. The usual routine of unloading and checking- in seemed to be an ordeal that day for all we wanted was to just go on gazing and admiring the heavenly place. Our rooms were in the basement and we were apprehensive whether there would be visible any of the wondrous sights we saw outside the hotel. Shilpa was the first one to reach and before we could enter our room she quickly went inside and opened the curtains of the window so that when we did enter it was to see before us the magnificent snow capped mountains ! Nothing could have been more perfect. There was a veranda outside the room and we all went there for a better view. Greedy to get more of the mountains we scurried out of our rooms and went outside on to the terrace and that is where the enormity and the sheer magnitude of the Alps struck us. It was ethereal virgin beauty all around . We were encircled by the Alps . It was enchanting and suddenly Shivanu and I were reminded of Wordsworth ‘s philosophising in ‘Tintern Abbey’ for that is exactly what we felt. I must mention in this context that our son, Shivanu though having done his engineering in electricals , an industrial analyst and Associate Director of a reputed American firm by profession has a pronounced literary taste and a penchant for poetry ...reading poetry happens to be his favourite pasttime !In the midst of the blissful surroundings we seemed to understand Wordsworth's love for nature and his pantheistic belief in the oneness of nature and God.
"And I have felt
A presence that disturbs me with the joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime
Of something far more deeply interfused,
Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns,
And the round ocean and the living air,
And the blue sky, and in the mind of man;
A motion and a spirit, that impels
All thinking things, all objects of all thought,
And rolls through all things. Therefore am I still
A lover of the meadows and the woods,
And mountains; and of all that we behold
From this green earth; of all the mighty world
Of eye, and ear, --"
Such hypnotic splendour does induce and inspire poetic and philosophic musings. Poetry and nature are inextricably linked . This was the majesty of The Lord that was in front of my eyes and to be able to see the manifestation of His glory made me feel nearer to Him ! To behold this untainted grandeur was a divine experience in itself. Words are inept in delineating such magnificence.
Riveted in admiration and awe of the serene environment we suddenly found a tall gentleman standing near us . He appeared calm and had a gentle smile on his peaceful countenance. Seeing us rapt in appreciation he quipped, “ Isn’t it beautiful? It’s the majesty of the Lord..” to which we all acquiesced whole heartedly . Then he posited a very relevant question ,” How can people say that there is no God ?” which was actually an affirmation of the presence of the Almighty rather than an interrogative statement. During our conversation with him we learnt that he was a Dutch pastor who was on a short trip to Hasliberg , which he found to be an ideal place for preaching and discourses for his congregation. He was also very happy to know that we had visited his country , Netherlands.
It was 8 in the night and dinner time for us though the sun had not yet set ! Post dinner, our ophthalmic senses still not satiated, we loitered around a n d then reluctantly retired to our rooms for the night .

24.5.11 ….on top of Europe

Jungfraujoch at 11782 ft. is considered to be the top of Europe and that is where the day’s sojourn was. The temperature we were told would be in minus degrees and so Akshay advised us to be well –covered and also carry gloves, warm caps, mufflers ,sunglasses etc …. And all that sounded so exciting ! However, we were forewarned that the high altitude could also cause breathlessness and that we should be specially careful at the Ice Palace there… so the elderly, heart patients , asthmatic patients should take care. Also Shilpa had already told us to apply plenty of sunblock as the sun is very bright at that height. Having followed all instructions we reached Lauterbrunnen at a place called, Grindelwald by bus. Grindelwald had a railway station from where we were to board a narrow guage train for the mountain line which climbs through Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg. Grindelwald as all other places of Switzerland was a lovely small city . As there was some time left for our train to arrive we decided to have coffee/ hot chocolate at the cute café in front of the station. No time was wasted in posing for pictures and group photographs. Soon the train ride began…it was an uphill ascent so the speed limit was calibrated accordingly and there several tunnels which were crossed. So far we had been travelling by road but now the train travel was equally enjoyable more so because we could see the snow capped ranges from close quarters. The excitement and exhilaration was ever-increasing as we were going nearer to them . Arriving at Kleine Scheidegg we had to detrain and board the cogwheel train for the final climb to Jungfraujoch from the other direction. The cogwheel train is specially designed for the steep ascent to the snow-clad mountains . And now all around e were surrounded by the snow-covered ranges for we were actually travelling through them. The sight was too thrilling to be described. It was becoming increasingly chilling and now all of us were fully clad with our mufflers, caps, gloves , jackets . Most of the ride was through tunnels but the cogwheel train had 2-3 photo stops where passengers could get down and take pictures with the backdrop of the thick snow visible from the outlets/windows there. It was as if you could touch the snow from the windows.The easy accessibility, the excellent transportation facilities, the amenities and entertainment provided at 11,782 ft. where there is only snow was incredible! Finally we reached our destination and headed straight for lunch at Bollywood restaurant…yes that was the name and it was at the top most level . Everyone was eager to go out and play at the plateau , the snow-covered area outside. There was the The Sphinx observation hall and terrace, the glistening Ice Palace, a walk on the eternal snows of Jungfrau plateau. Amazing all year round attractions on the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe. We decided to visit the Ice Palace first. I was a bit sceptical and apprehensive whether I should venture into that slippery area having suffered fractures in both my ankles. My husband and my children allayed and dismissed all my fears and mustering all my courage I did take a round of The Ice Palace. There were bars to hold on to avoid slipping . Never for once releasing my hold on them and with my husband and my son walking ahead and behind me I successfully went through the Palace which had exquisitely beautiful carvings of birds, fish ,animals …all in ice !Instead of opting for just getting a view of the snow from the Sphinx observation Hall we headed straight for the snow plateau… it was a sight which shall forever be etched in my memory …. We went beserk seeing that vast expanse of snow on which we were literally standing now….all around there were only mountains of snow…nothing else but snow was within visibility range. However, good weather is essential – if there’s a hint of cloud you’d be wasting your time heading up. Fortunately it was a bright sunny afternoon and after taking pictures we started playing with the snow. It was like enacting familiar Bollywood movie scenes …making snowballs and throwing them at each other ……no one can refrain from indulging in such play once there. The biting cold, it was minus 2 degrees , did not hamper the merry-making which continued till we could withstand the chill no longer. Despite the gloves many had chil-blains and then someone was rubbing vicks vaporub onto the hands to warm them which is exactly what we did . Before I could take out the vicks I was carrying ,the lady who had it ,generously offered it to us.
There was a general feeling of fulfilment after all that enjoyment. Posters , the telecast on the TV sets were announcing that 2012 would be the centenary year of Junfraujoch. We were astounded to realise that so much of infrastructure and accessibility had been there for the last one hundred years ! Inconceivable ! and all we could do was to applaud and appreciate it.
It was time to retreat from the crown of Europe and we took the two consecutive trains and were back at Grindelwald. Next on the agenda was a visit to one of the most delightful cities of that country and that was Interlaken. The drive to Interlaken was an unusually pleasant one as the landscape was so enchanting and I again fell into a reverie reminiscing about my favourite , the five times Academy award winning film , The Sound of Music. The beautiful hills that I beheld evoked memories of the sprightly Julie Andrews running across the hills and singing with gay abandon ….
The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears
It is indeed true that in the midst of nature one feels a jubilation and light-headedness that takes away all cares and it is then that nature seems to be suffused with music. One can literally hear the music and enjoy it !
Interlaken as the name denotes lies between two lakes in the heart of the Swiss Alps as it is situated at the foot of the peaks of Jungfrau and other mountains.It is a popular holiday resort and a vacation destination of stunning Switzerland offering a range of adventure sports and activities.Sure enough we saw several paragliders hovering in the sky as we got down at the main shopping area of Interlaken. The city has become a Mecca for paragliders, sky divers, glacier trekkers ...biking, rafting are other sports one can indulge in.We chose to take a stroll along the chocolate and souvenir shops and the roadside restaurants.We were desperately looking for one that wouold have cheese fondue , the Swiss speciality ,though when we did locate one it was time to leave. There were better compensations in store for us as Shivanu and Shilpa took us to the Falkan Hotal where they had stayed during their honeymoon and to the lovely lake with the elegant swans where we took lots of photographs.The stately snow-clad Junfrau flanked by other mountains was an alluring sight. The small, quiet city with tree- lined roads was not so quiet that day due to the influx of tourists. There were more Indians than the local people. The Swiss are a friendly lot. We experienced this when my husband tried to pose for a camera shot with the huge dogs of a passer-by on the sly so as not to disturb the master or his pets.... sensing the desire, the gentleman immediately stopped and readily agreed for the coveted photograph. After a hectic day which had been eventful and rewarding it was now time to go back to the tranquil precincts of Hasliberg and after another wholesome dinner we were soon settled in the cosy warmth of our rooms.

25.6.11 Mt. Titlis
Another memorable trip to the Alps ... Mt. Titlis, a spectacular glacier 3238m in height ,approximately 10,000ft and famous for having the world’s first revolving cable car ! Our first stop was Engelberg from where the cable car system connects to the summit of Titlis with two stops , that of Trubsee and Stand where cable cars have to be changed to finally board the Rotair which goes to the peak of Titlis. The very thought of cable cars was thrilling but it was when we boarded them that the awesome 360 degrees panoramic view of the snow covered valleys, glaciers , forests, lakes, unravelled before our wide open eyes. The picturesque landscape casts a spell . The vertiginous heights of the glacier which was slowing approaching, the steep climb , the ranges of snow were all exhilarating . In the first part of our cable car ride we were actually going through the dense forests and next to the top of the tall trees , they were so near that the branches and leaves could almost be touched.The slow ascent of the cable cars to the dizzy heights of the snowclad glacier and then the final Rotair ride taking us almost above the peak from where the entire glacier was visible was fascinating. It is paradise just not for nature lovers but also for skiers and snow-boarders in winter and summer. The weather was cold but as we were well-clad it did not affect us adversely. The summit of Mt. Titlis is located above the snowline and has permanent snow cover with freezing temperatures all round the year. We headed straight to the snow-covered plateau region ...the Iceflyer chair lift and the Fun lift and the other daring recreational activities going around us were good to witness... the thought of experiencing them was scary and we did not desire to be so adventurous! That day Shivanu and Shilpa stayed back at the hotel to relax as they had already visited this part of Switzerland. The four of us were a bit disappointed but thought it prudent to let the young couple enjoy some privacy ! We had a great time frolicking in the snow and watching the heroic skiers going down the steep icy cliffs in rapt admiration. We even got ourselves clicked with one of the skiers. The immensity of snow all around till where visibility was possible was astounding. After having our fill at the snow plateau , the tea at the cafe was very welcome.There were souvenir shops but what attracted people the most was the photo studio where Swiss dresses were available for photo shoots.
Lunch was at Luzern where we reached a bit later than the scheduled time as one family was delayed at the studio. Nevertheless lunch turned out to be a scrumptious affair and elevated everyone’s spirits. Lucerne, the gateway to central Switzerland, sited on Lake Lucerne, is embedded within an impressive mountainous panorama. The attractions of this city are its souvenir and watch shops, the beautiful lakeside setting and the excursion of mountains . So after a walk around the shops and some window shopping I found Sudha restless ....she did not seem to enjoy even the roadside juggler’s fire- show which Mohanji was thoroughly enjoying. Sensing her desperation we told her to go ahead with her plans . Both of us went and relaxed at the square from where we soon had to take the Lake Lucerne cruise. Once in the cruise I learnt that Sudha had done some serious shopping....she showed me a swaroski necklace that she had bought in that short span of time.... that is what she had wanted to buy as Switzerland is known for Swaroski crystals. We were glad that she had fulfilled her heart’s desire and she was elated too . Lake lucerne is considered to be the most beautiful lake in Switzerland. It's certainly among the most spectacular, with mountains on all sides and forests coming down to the shore in many places. The cruise was wonderful with the stunning Alpine scenery...alongside the lake were the important buildings, offices, banks and the ancient church and of course we were in the lap of the mountains , encased by the ranges. We reached our hotel by evening and we soon gathered that Shilpa and Shivanu had enjoyed the day . They had gone hitch-hiking , then taken the local bus, had lunch and snacks at the food joints and relished the magnificence of the hill resort.
Paarenting by children
However, the inputs by Shilpa revealed that throughout the day Shivanu had been fretting about us....whether we were managing well now that they were not with us , what if our camera fell, whether we were going and enjoying the sites etc etc. Since morning that day when they decided to stay back, Shivanu had been concerned ,repeatedly asking us if we would be able to manage on our own without them which we brushed off by saying that we could take care of ourselves .But all this attention,thoughtfulness, pampering and parenting was extremely enjoyable and also very touching !I consider myself fortunate to have experienced this kind of parenting from my sons and my daughters-in-law since the time they got married. Whenever we are together we as if become their responsibility , as if we are their children now ! How to plan outings of our choice , showing interest in all that we buy when we are in Singapore and encouraging us to go ahead with what we feel like buying and in this my elder son Shantanu has a major role for he accompanies us to the malls taking keen interest in our purchases ,Shivanu's repeated reminders compelling us to travel by cabs and not take public transport(which is incidentally excellent in Singapore) , coaxing me to have a hair cut ....my elder daughter-in-law, Nishtha pestered me to go for a flashy hair cut, fixed an appointment with the hair stylist (supposed to be the best in that particular salon)and accompanied me for the great event! And then when I came back home that is Shivanu's place (which is home for us in Singapore)Shilpa's pampering ...she took several pictures in different poses and hearing her squealing with delight , I sent a silent prayer of gratitude to God to have blessed us with such adorable children ! The amount of pampering, concern and that eagerness to make us comfortable and happy is worth experiencing !I remember Shilpa asking me often "what were the things I wanted to do in life and could not do" assuring me that at least some of them could still be fulfilled...the several trips that are organised for us including this bumper trip of course all goes to show their enthusiasm to make us enjoy what we may not have enjoyed earlier.Such genuine solicitousness elicits good wishes and blessings which they shall undoubtedly continue receiving always !Exulting and basking in their largesse and affection I fervently wish and earnestly pray for them to fufil all their aspirations by procuring the graciousness of the Lord.
The chit-chat and the dinner was wonderful and soon we retired to our rooms for the last night in Switzerland. However, next morning we had some time before departure which my husband and I utilised well by taking a walk down the hill enjoying the silence and peaceful ambience of the early morning. We met a Swiss lady who greeted us cheerily. But the best part was when we suddenly heard bells clanging and thought them to be church bells but on enquiring from a passer-by we learnt that the sound was coming from the cows going to graze in the Alps . It was a tradition that they went up in the morning clanging their bells and the same lovely reverberation could be heard in the evening on their return from the Alps. Time never waits and soon we had to bid adieu to the cynosure of the worlds‘ eyes and it was with a heavy heart that we all parted from Switzerland.

26.5.11 Italia / Italy

Retreating from the magical brilliance of ‘ God’s own country‘ to flat terrain and a warmer climate was not something we were looking forward to eagerly. Nevertheless, the rich cultural heritage of Italy soon captivated us.During the 6-7 hr drive we crossed several tunnels ,but what is worth mentioning here is that we also went through Europe’s second longest tunnel which was 17kms in length ! Akshay now made it clear that since Italy was known for its World Heritage sites vehicles were not allowed within their vicinity for security reasons. The crux of it was that henceforth we would have to walk alot to reach the sight-seeing sites! Our first stop of our last destination was the city of Pisa located in the Tuscany region which obviously houses Italy’s landmark, the unmitakably recognisable Leaning Tower. As expected from the bus parking to the site was quite a walk before The Square of Miracles which has the three most significant monuments , the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Leaning Tower was visible.The remarkable feature about the place is that the leaning tower is not the only monument that is leaning , even The Duomo and the Baptistery are not standing straight either! There are other leaning buildings besides these in Pisa . It is believed that this is due to unsteady ground rich in water. The Duomo or the Cathedral is the first monument in the wide, walled area of the Square of Miracles recognised as one of the main centres for medieval art in the world.Partly grassed and partly paved the Square is dominated by religious edifices. The cathedral and the Baptistry are in Italian marble, in which Italy abounds and thus marble is abundantly used in Italian architecture. Both the cathedral and the baptistery are in Romanesque style ,it is said with rounded arches though the upper part of the Baptistery shows the Gothic style with pointed arches. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the piazza's(Square’s) crowning glory. Although only a third as high as the Washington Monument, it was a miracle of medieval engineering, probably the tallest bell towers in Europe. With 207 columns ranged around eight stories, Tower of Pisa looks like a massive wedding cake knocked precariously askew by a clumsy giant guest. Made of white marble it has 297 step spiral staircase leading to the top of the tower.The leaning Tower of Pisa is famous because it leans. Although it was designed to be perfectly vertical, it started to lean during construction. However, even without this famous characteristic, this building would still be one of the most remarkable architectural structures from medieval Europe. It stands at 60 metres and until 1990 was leaning at about a 10 degree angle. Up in the belfry, the weight of the bells caused the structure to tilt even further. By the late 20th century the tower was leaning more than 17 feet toward the south, and a rescue operation was begun. Engineers removed soil from under the north side of the tower to even out the differences in the foundation. During the restoration, visitors were not allowed to enter the tower and climb the spiral staircase to the top. The lean was reduced by more than 15 inches. Hard to believe? What else would you expect for a tower standing on what Pisans call the Campo dei Miracoli -- the Field of Miracles.

After an extensive round of photography in various poses ,the favourite one being the leaning pose wherein each one of us were in a tilted stance with arms outstretched as if holding onto the tower to stop it from falling , we were soon settled in our bus and off to Florence. Now Florence being one of the most beautiful cities in the world is also one of the most visited cities of the world .The city lies on the River Arno; it is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture and, more generally, for its cultural heritage. A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time,[3] Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance; it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.[4] A turbulent political history included periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, religious and republican revolution. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the recently established kingdom of Italy.] The impact of its artistic historic and cultural heritage in the world remains to this day. The city has a major impact in music, architecture, education, cuisine, fashion, philosophy, science and religion. The historic centre of Florence contains numerous historical squares, Renaissance palaces, academies, parks, gardens, churches, monasteries, museums and art galleries . It was from the 14th to 16th centuries that Florence became one of the most important cities in Europe when it was ruled by the Medici family. Lorenzo de' Medici was probably the greatest patron of the city. He transformed Florence into the cradle of the Renaissance by attracting excellent contemporary artists, architects and writers such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli to whom he commissioned various works. Marco, our savvy guide made us experience the beauty of this World Heritage centre. Among Florence landmarks the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) with Brunelleschi's magnificient cupola stands out the most. Next to the cathedral stands Giotto's Bell Tower which offers a fine view of the city from its top. In front of both the cathedral and belltower sits the Baptistery of St. John with its beautiful bronze doors including the gold Gates of Heaven by Ghiberti, the original ones are preserved inside the Opera del Duomo Museum located to the back of the cathedral. The facade and the doors of the church were fringed with exquisite carvings ..in fact the whole city was strewn with intricate sculptures and statues. The PONTE VECCHIO, the old bridge is another important landmark that we saw . It connects the centre to the Oltarno district and is the most Florentine part of the city. There stands the Pitti Palace, the Medici's last residence, which hosts many interesting museums such as the Palatine Gallery, the Modern Art Gallery and the Silver Museum and which overlooks the splendid Boboli Gardens. Near Pitti is Santo Spirito Church with its yellow facade and the wooden crucifix by Michelangelo. In the Oltrarno you'll also find the Brancacci Chapel inside the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine frescoed by Masaccio in the early Renaissance. Marco had interesting tales to share and his humorous ,unassuming manner of narration was really enjoyable.
It was now time to check in at Hotel Planet which turned out to be the most luxurious and plush hotel of the entire tour . A sound sleep and a lavish breakfast geared us up for the next day’s sight-seeing.

27.5.11 Rome and Vatican City
Rome is an epic ... custodian of a centuries-old civilisation , a bustling metropolis , harbouring lost empires! Italy’s capital , the seat of the Papacy with a history spanning two and a half thousand years . Legend has it that Rome or Roma was founded by Romulus in 753 B.C. Formally established as the Roman Empire in 27 B,C. by Emperor Augustus , it is the land of Julius Ceasar, Octavius Ceasar, Mark Antony, Virgil, Homer, Horace , Michael Angelo , Leonardo da Vinci to name a few. Modern and old , past and present go side by side in Rome. Greek mythology and The Bible as if come alive. Rome wasn’t built in a day and shouldn’t be visited in a day either as it is a huge city. With wonderful palaces, millenium-old churches and basilicas, grand romantic ruins , opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. Unfortunately paucity of time compelled us to maximise our one-day visit .Once in Rome we obviously had to do what the Romans do ! and that was to spend time ogling and admiring the exotic statues and sculptures around. We got a view of The Victor Emmanuel monument in white marble which was built as a tribute to the first king of united Italy . We stopped at a beautiful square for photographs and then set forth to visit the land of Pope , Vatican city , the smallest country of the world renowned for St. Peter’s Church / Basilica , the world’s largest church. On reaching the massive St. Peter’s Square we saw the stately St. Peter’s Basilica,regarded as one of the holiest Ca tholic sites , a pilgrimage for all devout Christians and revered by all. It has the largest interiors of any Church in the world which is definitely extraordinarily striking. The splendour of the interiors is beyond comprehension. The sculptures, statues, frescoes, paintings which adorn even the high ceilings are amazing. One can spend hours inside for one feels like going on gazing at them and taking in their beauty. The entire interior is lavishly decorated with marble pillars, statues and architectural sculptures. It has tombs of several Popes and the tomb of St. Peter is in the centre visible for tourists. We were awestruck . The Basilica is truly transcendental and elevating !
Ralph Waldo Emerson , the American philosopher rightly described it as “ an ornament of the earth….the sublime of the beautiful .”
Completed around 349 A.D.at the orders of Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, the restoration of the Basilica was taken up by Michael Angelo in 1547.He designed the imposing dome and made some alterations in the original plan. Construction of the present Basilica over the old Cinstantine one started on April 18TH, 1506 and was completed on 18TH Nov, 1626 .Inside there is a closeted area cordoned off for prayer . We went inside to pray and despite the thousands of visitors inside the Basilica, there was a hushed silence and tranquil serenity about the place which automatically initiates one into prayer, and praise of the Almighty.
Though still wanting to stay on exploring and eulogising the place, the uplifting experience had to come to an end. We then went back to Rome where the Flavian Ampitheatre or the Colloseum was our next halt which is probably the most famous landmark in Rome.The Flavian amphitheatre was named after the family name of the emperors who had it built. The amphitheatre was used for gladiatorial combats, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The inaugural festival of the Flavian Amphitheatre, which was the largest amphitheatre in the world, lasted 100 days, during which over 5,000 wild beasts were killed in the arena.It was damaged by fire and earthquakes several times but was restored continually till the end of the 5th century.
Charles Dickens wrote in 1846 :
“It is the most impressive, the most stately, the most solemn, grand, majestic, mournful sight, conceivable. Never in its bloodiest prime can the sight of the gigantic Colosseum, full and running over with the lustiest life, have moved one heart, as it must move all who look upon it now, a ruin. God be thanked: a ruin! “
Now in ruins the Colloseum still attracts large number of tourists . Feeling exhausted after the extensive visit at the Basilica , we felt satisfied viewing the exteriors though Shivanu, Shilpa and Mohanji –Sudha went in to explore the interiors.
The Trevi Fountain is unarguably the lost beautiful fountain of Rome.The statue of Neptune, the sea God riding a chariot pulled by two sea horses is the central figure of the fountain. Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain. However, we could not visit it as it was pretty late and our expert driver , Massimo had specific hours of driving. The trackometer is strictly followed in Europe with the permissible limit of driving being 12hrs. We were all a bit disheartened but Akshay promised to compensate our loss the next day. So we returned to our hotel excited about our next day’s itinerary which was Venice!

28.5.11 Venezia /Venice

Enthusiastic and eager to reach the city on water as it is famed to be , we went aboard a steamer which was to take us to Venice. That we were sailing across the mighty Adriatic Sea was in itself thrilling. Massive ships were visible on the sea. As soon as we landed in Venice we were shown the important landmarks...The bridge of Sigh, the Prison and the church.We strolled around the periphery of the city on terrafirma.
A source of inspiration for native authors , poets and playwrights , Venice has also stimulated and kindled the imagination of writers from abroad. The literary colossus , Shakespeare chose Venice as the milieu for two of his popular plays...Merchant of Venice and Othello.
Venice is an archipelago with 117 islands and 177 canals. Transport within the interiors of the city are gondolas, water buses etc. which ply on the Grand Canal. The cute gondolas with the boatmen are a marvellous and romantic sight .There are residences along the water side and residents commute with the help of the available water transport .
The city is famous for its ornate glass-work known as Venetian glass. It is world-renowned for being colourful, elaborate and skilfully crafted. Some of the most important brands of glass even today are still produced in the historical glass factories of Venice. Our group was taken for a demo of glass-making at one of the Murano glass factory. There were several souvenir shops displaying exquisite glass ware and we indulged in some shopping there.
And yes there were many shops selling colourful masks which was very intriguing indeed.Venetian masks are a centuries-old tradition of Venice, Italy. The masks are typically worn during the Carnival of Venice, but have been used on many other occasions in the past, usually as a device for hiding the wearer's identity and social status. The mask would permit the wearer to act more freely in cases where he or she wanted to interact with other members of the society outside the bounds of identity and everyday convention. It was thus useful for a variety of purposes, some of them illicit or criminal, others just personal, such as romantic encounters. Venetian masks are characterised by their flamboyant design, featuring bright colours such as gold or silver and the use of complex decorations . So it was interesting to take a closer look at the full-face masks ,half masks and eye masks .

The Bell tower Square had a huge clock with two figures on either side of it and every hour the clock chimed the two sculpted figures were seen hammering the clock from both sides ...it was kind of a mammoth sized cuckoo clock. The imposing church was another highlight of the square . It was there that we all had to get together at an appointed hour to get back to the steamer .
It was obvious that every family in the group had done extensive shopping by the number of loaded bags they were carrying. One middle aged couple bought hordes of bags ,souvenirs etc. They were a very pleasant, friendly couple with a contented expression on their faces. When I happened to talk to the lady I learnt that they were a family of 55 people , all living together under one roof ! Kudos to the big fat Indian joint family which is still thriving....this definitely could be one of the reasons behind their composed attitude, I felt. Living in a joint family has its own advantages ... eliminating stress and fostering camarderie.But ofcourse thats another debatable issue . I gathered also that it was only recently that their immediate family consisting of 11 members had moved out in the vicinity due to space constraints .
Once back in the hotel we splurged on the delectable dinner and exchanged notes and pleasantries with our co-passengers .It being the last night of our tour no one wanted to go to bed and we kept loitering around the lobby for some time before retiring for the night.

29.5.11 Milan

We had to leave early the next day to reach Milan on time to catch our respective flights. But before leaving everyone was unanimous on getting a group photo with our tour manager and our expert driver. And so cameras began clicking and after every family had managed one such picture we boarded the bus for the last 5/6 hr. drive to Milan. Once in the bus Akshay was going to every one giving them his number and email id for future correspondence as everyone seemed keen to be in touch with him. This was evidence enough of the fact that all had thoroughly enjoyed the Thomas Cook tour and were quite happy and satisfied with Akshay’s fine management and indefatigable services.
It will be unfair not to mention Akshay’s efforts in making the trip so enjoyable and entertaining for all of us. As he himself said in his last address to us on the bus , catering to 43 egos was not a cake-walk... but I must say he did his job marvellously without offending anyone at any point of time. His amiable attitude , cool and unruffled temperament ,considerate and cordial behaviour and his ease and charm won over everyone . His leadership qualities and his personal charisma made him an endearing tour manager . Our motley group was equally cooperative as everyone generally seemed to be possessing genial temperaments on account of which there was bonhomie within. All abided by the time zones uncomplainingly and readily supported the tour manager .Thus the final parting at Milan airport was painful as all partings are. It was with slightly heavy hearts that we all went ahead to check-in for our various flights as the long –awaited, dream-come-true trip was over. We all felt that The Thomas Cook excursions are definitely value for money . The accommodation provided was excellent , the food was good , all the ticketing required for various places was taken care of, the itinerary was well-chalked out ,all of which made it a comfortable voyage and royal experience for us.
The diverse other-worldly experiences that I shall cherish for a life-time is inexplicable.“Language is the dress of thought”, felt Samuel Johnson . Similarly Wordsworth defined poetry or writing to be a “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings”yet there are times when words seem inadequate in mirroring emotions .
Witnessing nature in all its brilliance, and the magical feat of mortals as reflected in the superb art forms is like truly comprehending and experiencing divinity in its entirety . It is also proof of man’s insatiable quest for creating, discovering, inventing and pursuing even the impossible unvanquished, since times immemorial. One feels like saluting the Lord and His creation and reiterating Shakespeare’s oft-quoted lines:
“What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how
infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and
admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god! the beauty of the world, the paragon of animals......” (Hamlet)
The enriching sensitivity of experiencing the bounty and ethereal grandeur of The Almighty’s mystical and natural creations cleanses one of sensory debris like arrogance, avarice, anger, antagonism, angst . These impurities clog our mental faculties retarding our evolvement into higher beings as we are supposed to be. But once liberated from these vices what emerges is pure innocence and Godliness .This happens when one encounters unalloyed and perfect beauty which has the additional privilege of providing everlasting joy. Keats’ opening line of his epic , Endymion reverberates the sentiment:
“ A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its lovliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; ....”
It is in the presence of such celestial beauty that the ephemerality and futility of worldliness and materialism dawns and Wordsworth's lines from one of his popular sonnets comes to mind:
“ The world is too much with us, late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers ;
Little we see in nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!”(The World is Too Much With Us)
It is with these notions that we soon found ourselves back in our home town and to our haven...our home. We i.e my husband and me now try to enumerate and share our invaluable memories of the trip with others so as to motivate them to follow suit and benefit from such an exonerating and ennobling experience. I earnestly desire that Europe’s wealth of natural and man-made wonders and its preserved antiquity be available and accessible for posterity !