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| Sunset from Piazza Michelangelo, Florence |
I can’t help but feel immediately
at home when I am in Europe. The cool breeze feels welcoming, the architecture
familiar, the food awakens my senses and street music fills my soul. I just
returned from a three week long break in Italy and Greece and am still basking in
its afterglow (Quite literally with a nice Mediterranean tan!).
I landed in Milan during the
world renowned Milan fashion week and the weekend engagement party of the
daughter of one of India’s biggest business tycoons. Passing the placards for
the guests of the said party, I made my way to the second busiest train station
in Italy - Milano Centrale. And then it began. A trip of a lifetime.
Experiences I would treasure forever. The
sun shone bright during most of the trip. On other days, massive grey clouds
added a beautiful dimension to the otherwise blue skies.
Over the next few weeks, we
witnessed beautiful landscapes, rich culture, not to mention stunning art and
architecture. We watched in awe as the Tuscan sun set into the countryside;
only after enveloping Florence and the surrounding villages in its amber glow. In
Pisa, the setting sun draped us in its warm embrace while we leaned sideways on
the famous tower for pictures.
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| Sunset at the Leaning Tower of Pisa |
The colourful
towns of Cinque Terre stood out against a cobalt blue sea on a hot, clear day.
Atop one of the 13 towers in San Gimignano, rain lashed down shortly after we
had marveled at the beautiful scenery. Rolling hills, castles, houses,
vineyards and olive groves bathed in the October rain as we got dry with a hot
cup of cappuccino. The lemon capital of Italy, Sorrento offered panoramic views
of the Napoli coast on a very windy day. Cruising down the extraordinary Amalfi
coast was an experience that I will never forget. Salty sea water splashed us
as we gazed at the rugged coastline with sheer cliffs, colourful villages,
terraced vineyards and cliffside lemon groves. Santorini left me completely mesmerized
with its caldera views and whitewashed buildings against the deep blue seas.
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| Sunset at Oia, Santorini |
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| Views from Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre |
Tunes flowed in from a string
quartet band as we enjoyed evening lake views in the charming town of Bellagio,
Lake Como. In fact, music was a constant throughout the trip. One night in
Florence, I came across a solo violinist, a string trio and a guitarist in a
span of 30 minutes. An accordion player kept crowds entertained on a packed
train to Pompei. At the Acropolis museum in Athens, I enjoyed my lunch
listening to the melodic tunes of a harpist. As we made our way back from watching
the famous sunset in Oia, a harmonica player kept the crowds entertained.
It is rare that you come across picture
postcard scenery on a daily basis. So much so, it seems like a dream. Over the
next few weeks, I will be covering some of the highlights from my trip.
Stay tuned.
