Rome, Italy
“We have a problem..."
Not quite the first sentence you’d hope to hear when you reach the very first destination of a meticulously planned, long trip abroad. Fortunately, it was just the AC in our room that had given up. The 81 degree sweltering afternoon heat in the city of Rome was too much for it to handle. Not for us though. We were happy to escape the 90 degree dry weather in CA, albeit just for a month.
R and I have always dreamt of visiting EU together. With 10 days in hand and 3 countries to cover, we’re on a tight schedule. Come, join us in the journey….
Day 1 - Rome 101
1pm: After dropping off our bags and taking a quick shower, we were eager to step on the streets of Rome. We planned to roam around Rome just like the Romans do — using the Metro and Buses. So, we had booked a hotel that was stone’s throw distance from Roma Termini. After 10 long hours of just sitting in the flight — “Lets just walk to the attractions nearby”, I said. She concurred almost immediately. After 3 years of marriage, I can tell you .. that’s rare! :)
Yelp! I searched for the highest rated Indian restaurant within a 1 mi radius. I do that every time I am extremely hungry or tired. There’s a certain level of comfort with Indian food. Nothing else can take its place.
Our first lunch in Rome will be at an Indian place called “Indian Affairs” — a relatively small, dimly lit restaurant with plush interior and satin table napkins. Would you like some papadum?
....Burpp! The food was great and we’re energized. It’s time to start walking again.
3pm: We experienced the grandeur of the Pantheon, the simplicity of the Spanish steps, and the elegance of the Trevi fountain. Our first impression of Rome was that it’s relatively safe and full of warm people eager to help, but unwilling to speak English unless you request them to do so. “Englisé?” — we uttered every time we needed to ask for directions thereafter. I don't know if that was right, but it worked every single time :)
It’s almost 6pm, and the jet lag has kicked in. “McD's just 300 m from here!” declared the hoarding on the sidewalk. McD is omnipresent in Rome. So much that you’d start believing that it is an essential part of the day to day life. Trust me, it is not! Unlike the US, McD stores are of premium quality. The interior is inviting, and they serve a vegetarian burger (!!).
Day 2 - Colosseum
The sight of Colosseum just as we exit the train station was awe inspiring.
After wading through all the tour guides yelling “Skip the lines; Sign up for a group tour”, we finally stood in the queue that almost stretched the length of a football stadium. The lines moved quickly, and we were inside the Colosseum in no time. The Colosseum was named after a statue named Colossus of Rhodes nearby.
The Colosseum was conceived as a place to offer gifts to the common man by the emperor. It was frequently used as a place to demonstrate the wealth and reach of the kingdom, usually by planning audacious events such as gladiator contests, and hunting of wild and extremely rare species of animals. More than 2000 years old, the Colosseum has done a relatively great job at standing the test of time. A part of it was completely destroyed in an earthquake, and some other parts (travertine, marble and bricks) were salvaged by reusing them to build other prominent structures in Rome.
Listening to the A/V guide helped us unravel some of the mysteries of this gigantic structure — That it was not only a place where the gladiators displayed bravery and fortitude, but also a place for mercy and forgiveness. That it was not only a place for celebration, but also a place where the remains of thousands of animals were found; They lost their life in the games held here merely for entertainment.
2pm: “We must try some authentic Italian food for lunch” said R.
3pm: We’re back to visit the Palatine hill and the Roman forum.Off we go to a family owned place called Taverna Barberini. The food is excellent and the vegetarian soup has been served in a jar similar to the one we use to store Indian pickle at home :-)
It’s 95 degree, and all the security checkpoints that force you to throw away the drinking water aren’t helping at all. We find a bench beneath a large tree and take a nice nap. It’s time for some Antakshari.
Although the letter isn’t A, I insist on singing the song “Abhee na jao chhod kar, ye dil abhi bhara nahi..”. It’s an all time favorite.
7pm: “I want to eat Indian food today”, I said. R hesitated, but finally agreed. We’ve been walking the entire day today, so all the calorie meters she uses to plan our diet were in my favor :).
The owner of the Indian restaurant reminded me of Kirron Kher, the Indian actress known for her role as a strong woman and mother. We later saw her suggesting items on the menu to almost all the people. She insisted that people opt for a particular combination of items on the menu to get the pairings right. Some might think that’s an overbearing behavior, but I dismissed it as “Kirron Kher” ordering her son in Rang De Basanti to have Roti before he went out with his friends for an all-nighter.
The owner of the Indian restaurant reminded me of Kirron Kher, the Indian actress known for her role as a strong woman and mother. We later saw her suggesting items on the menu to almost all the people. She insisted that people opt for a particular combination of items on the menu to get the pairings right. Some might think that’s an overbearing behavior, but I dismissed it as “Kirron Kher” ordering her son in Rang De Basanti to have Roti before he went out with his friends for an all-nighter.
Day 3 - Vatican City, Vatican Museums, Trevi fountain
Our guide at the Vatican museum was an Indian lady from Kerala. She was passionate, enthusiastic and one could easily tell that she had some form of a formal education in European arts and history. “Do you see the thousands of people here? This is the first time I’m seeing this. It’s all due to one person — Pope Francis”, she said.
I have seen news about Pope Francis’ work and St. Peter’s square in the news several times. Observing the impact of his work and inclusiveness was quite an experience. We could barely walk in the Sistine Chapel. “I was lucky enough to get married here. I have never ever thought about looking for another job. Until now!”, said our guide. I wouldn’t blame her; Doing the tour twice every single day in such a crowded place riddled with security checkpoints can be quite a task!
Venice, Italy
Day 4: Gondola ride in Venice
A Gondola ride in the back canals of Venice was on the top of our agenda in Venice. And we did that in style!
The ride was very romantic, but then the Gondola was steered in one of the quiet back canals adjacent to the Grand Canal. We could see people’s clothes (read undergarments) hanging off ropes tied to their windows. You've been warned, that sight might kill the romance out of your ride.
To our utter disbelief, the Gondolier snipped the last 10 minutes of the 30 minute ride. R and I looked at each other, but before we could complain … “It’s all about the experience Madam”, said the Gondolier.
He was right. It did not matter. We were glad we did not pay more for a longer 45 minute ride. IMO, just 5 minutes in the Gondola, holding hands and gazing in each other’s eyes is enough. Not trying to sound philosophical, but it’s all in the heart after all.
Unfortunately, Venice has been transformed into a touristy and money minting town. The biggest problem IMO is the incessant public smoking throughout the island(s). The public transport is priced exorbitantly, and there are too many tourists throughout the year. Our hotel (Hotel Canal), on the other hand, was excellent! They had thought about everything under the sun while designing the rooms. I doubt I’d pay to visit Venice again, but if I do, I’d stay at Hotel Canal.
Interlaken, Switzerland
Day 5: Wilderswil, Interlaken, Canton of Bern
We are pumped to go to Switzerland! After landing at the Basel airport, we took a Bus to the train station. When I heard the ticket agent say 120 Euro for 2 tickets to Interlaken, I couldn’t believe my ears.
2:30pm: Would you like some Falafal Burger? It is so good to find some vegetarian food at the train station!
We had our DDLJ moment while catching the train to Interlaken.
Luckily, both R and I managed to board the train just seconds before the doors were closed.
5pm: Our AirBnB host welcomed us at the Interlaken railway station. The BnB was a multi-million dollar mansion with views of the Alps. The house had an acre of land in the backyard along with a private spring water pond. The kitchen was well stocked, and had state of the art induction cooktop.
Inhaling all the second-hand tobacco smoke in Venice the previous day made me sick; I got some cough and cold. R was very excited to be in Switzerland, so I was trying hard not to be a killjoy. I hit the bed early with the hope of recovering soon.
Day 6: Jungfraujoch
Me: (sipping hot water and honey) "I wonder if I should skip the trip to Top of Europe (marked in the photo above) to take some rest, and ask R to go alone?"
The cough and cold had taken its toll on my sleep last night, and I felt weak.
I decided to go with R anyway. Our BnB hosts offered us some much needed winter jackets and gloves.
11:30am: After changing 3 trains, we were at Top of Europe. The 3454m altitude and the 6 degree temperature worsened by nasal congestion, and we had to take frequent stops to help me catch my breath.
I think the Top of Europe is an engineering marvel. Carving tunnels from the base to the top more than 100 years ago, and that too with very few casualties during the construction phase is a man-made miracle. It is a symbol of hard-work and perseverance.
1pm: We had a lot of fun on the glacier! A kind gentleman from New Jersey offered to click our photos and even lent us his wide angle lens to capture some better photos (we had a zoom lens, and it sucked at photos that needed a wider angle). To return the favor, I clicked some pictures for him and his girlfriend using his camera. We exchanged cards and promised to keep in touch. It’s always nice to make some new friends in strange places.
6pm: 3 trains and 2 hours later, we were back to Wilderswil. A quick dinner at an Asian place in Interlaken Ost, and we decided to call it a day.
Paris, France
Day 7: Winderswil -> Basel -> Paris, France
Most of the day was spent in the journey to Paris. As a teenager, I always thought of Paris as the place where couples spend a romantic evening; An evening in Paris symbolized the crème de la crème of romance.
We took the train from CDG to our Hotel. CDG is probably the biggest airport I've ever seen; It is a city in its own right. Our Hotel was in the heart of a city called Cambronne. We had selected the hotel due to its proximity to the Eiffel Tower.
7:30pm: We decided to take a stroll to a nearby park. Back in CA, R & I go for a walk almost every evening. It was nice to continue doing that in a different city.
We saw couples, families with kids, toddlers running around, babies taking a nap, and a few men chatting after work -- puffing out cigarette smoke like a chimney. Some others, however, were alone and were enjoying the cool breeze and serenity of the park. I can imagine how nice it would be to escape Paris' hustle and bustle and enjoy some calm and peace, albeit just for a few minutes.
Paris is just like any other city during the day. In fact, we wondered whether an antenna we saw behind buildings adjacent to the park was on top of a regular telephone tower.
3 minutes to 9pm: "Is that the Eiffel Tower?!", R exclaimed. And then, the lights were turned on. It was indeed the Eiffel Tower!
We couldn't believe our eyes. Needless to say, we looked forward to going there tomorrow.
We couldn't believe our eyes. Needless to say, we looked forward to going there tomorrow.
Day 8, 9: Paris
The Eiffel tower is majestic! Our behind the scenes tour entitled us to a visit to the tower's basement, which contains the generators that power all the elevators on the Tower. We visited the first two levels of the tower, but decided to skip the third one as there was a 2 hour long wait. I think the best view is from a point at the end of the road linking the Palais de Chaillot, called the Trocadéro.
We also visited the Palace of Versailles, but I don't think I have much to write about it. I had already seen the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina; I wasn't going to be blown away by all the grandeur yet again. Guessing by the number of photos in her cell phone, I think R definitely found it more interesting than me.
The highlight of our last day in Paris was a visit to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, followed by a pleasant sightseeing cruise on the Seine River.
Day 10: EU -> Asia
It is 10:45am, and we have already boarded the flight to Mumbai. I will be meeting the family after almost 2.5 years!R & I have been living abroad for quite some time now, but we still call India our home. It is our home country. To be honest, we were looking forward to this part of our journey more than any other destination in Europe.
R quickly snapped a selfie, and is now sending it to our family. The caption reads... "Yayyyyy! Bhetuch ata (we'll meet soon) !"Au Revoir, France!
