Nuances

I am writing this blog at the risk of forgetting some very good moments that I had in the Netherlands; or can I? After two hectic but very satisfying trips to Rome and Paris, we were least prepared for the trip to the Netherlands. A busy day at work and a rushed train journey to London culminating in me sprinting to Stanstead set the tone but the next 48 hours could not have been more different. My better half had succeeded in getting us premier tickets on the Eurostar to Amsterdam. It was indeed a treat! There was a delicious and nutritious meal offered on board which made us repent our decision to grab a quick bite before hopping on the train. The coach was lightly occupied and therefore we were offered a complete cubicle for ourselves with retractable tables and spacious seats. We spent most of the time admiring the views outside and playing cards. We reached Amsterdam at half past 10 in the night and were immediately greeted by scores of people riding bicycles outside the sta...

Our visit to Rome is still fresh in my mind. The backpacks were still partially unpacked, and photos were still being viewed. This did not stop us from exploring another jewel of Europe – Paris. The journey to Paris was made by train. We took the Eurostar from London to Paris and zipped into the Gare du Nord station in under two and a half hours. Apart from the fact that we had to go through passport and security checks, it was like any other local train journey. People were busy on their laptops, headphones, books or simply dozing. I did not realize when the landscape from England merged into that of France. The same green meadows, distant houses, rows of trees and fog – nothing to differentiate the two land masses. The Gare du Nord train station has an impressive façade and opens its doors to let you abruptly into the hustle and bustle of urban Paris. We were welcomed by a Burger King, a Chinese restaurant and a Mc Donald’s outlet. Nestled in between all these big shops was a tin...

“Travelling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta I am surprised it has taken me 7 years to set foot on mainland Europe since moving to the UK. For somebody who enjoys travelling and visiting new places, this seems crazy; but hey ho! Better late than never! I finally managed to hop across the ocean and landed in Rome over the Easter weekend. Leaving behind Junior felt odd but there is no way I would have troubled him on such a journey. He will find his way there some day in not a distant future. Rome - is it a city or a never ending live museum? It certainly is a confluence of opposites. On one hand you have the grandeur of the past being painstakingly taken care of and on the other you have the more recent habitation which certainly could benefit from a touch of TLC. There is evidence of a well intended city structure which is crying for maintenance. Taking a cue from seasoned travellers, we travelled light which helped us sail thr...