 |
| Vacation 2007 - Switzerlan |
Day 1 (9/24/07):
After a really painful flight with me in the middle seat, I reach Geneva frazzled and a little annoyed. NorthWest, in the usual kanjoos fashion of all domestic American airlines offered us a granola bar for breakfast (no tea, coffee, nothing). How generous. Imagine a plane full of hungry, tired passengers, who are not allowed to bring their own water on board, nor are they provided any in flight (or at least not enough to sustain the 7 hour journey). Anyhoo, rants aside, I reached Geneva quite tired. Not to mention that I had been getting by on 4 hours of sleep a night for all of the prior week. The first thing I spot as I get of the plane is a chocolatarie, and that certainly brightened my day.
Reached Tarun's postage stamp size apartment, which is totally adorable and in the heart of the city with fantastic views of the mountains. Some of them even have snow-covered peaks. Yay, this is Switzerland. Tarun brought up the most awesome apple pie from the corner boulangerie. Well, if there's one thing the French know, it's their bread and pastries - it literally melts in your mouth. I could live on hot bread and tomme.
Day 2 (9/25/07):
I slept in late without guilt. Yes, one of the other pains of growing older is that I have tremendous guilt if I sleep in later than 7:30 am. But hey, I'm on vacation, and hence, guilt free - hmmmm ..... not quite guilt free because Commodore Theogaraj walks in, looks at his watch, and says "10:30 am, Gaelyn??". But nothing could suck the joy out of my extended sleep, and the fact that I could just lounge around the rest of the day doing nothing.
That evening, we all headed off to sit around on the shores of Lac Leman. The thing that makes it so extraordinarilty beautiful is that not only is there a lake, but it's a lake surrounded by mountains, and also lush, lush, green grass of the brightest green, with quaint little houses dotting the hillsides. And to add to it all, there's a profusion of swans. My entire trip was just a feast for the eyes.
Day 3 (9/26/07):
Nothing much happened on day 3. Continued to laze around, and was quite content to do so. Until the American in me kicked in, and I thought "hey, I'm in Switzerland, I can't be sitting around doing nothing". So I spent the rest of the day doing some frantic google searches on "things to do in and around geneva". You'd think Tarun would have had a list, but then, he's not American :) Having made my list, I went on to prioritize it - just in case I couldn't get to everything - AND create a time-table.
I look in the mirror and laugh at the person I've become :D So I abandon the list and get back to trying to be spontaneous. Not succeeding, I end up taking a nap.
In the afternoon, Tarun and I walked around the jardin on the shores of Lac Leman. It was nice to just goof off, take silly photos, giggle. The "El Bandito" and "Sombody gonna get hurt" photos were taken on this little jaunt.
We also took it upon ourselves to name every passer by, trying to guess their nationalities. We saw a couple of Giovannis (Italian), one Colin and his wife Hazel (British), a Bob and Sarah (yeah, American) and a surprising number of Ganesh's with their wives whom we named Suddha.
That evening the family and I walked around old Geneva, took photos, went to the top of St. Peter's cathedral, and stopped at an outdoor cafe for a beer.
Day 4 (9/27/07):
Three days and I'm starting to get restless. We spent the day visiting the UN. Dancing Danny (not his real name), was the tour guide. It was a most excellent morning and I don't remember a thing he said. We had shwarma for lunch. WARNING: DO NOT HAVE SCHWARMA IN SWITZERLAND. You think we'd know better.
We boarded the train to Florence at about 9:00 that night. It was a wonderfully comfortable sleeper car - blankets included.
Day 5 (9/28/07):
Arrived in Florence, and was reminded of childhood trips to Baroda to see my grandmother. The scene looked remarkably and disappointingly familiar - slightly beat-up houses by the railroad tracks. Getting out of the station (Santa Maria Nouvella), we boarded the D bus to take us to our hotel. From that point on, everything was magically, quaint - I was transported into my own dream world, imagining I was a Renaissance princess living in the times of the Medicis, and DaVinci and Michelangelo.
For starters, the streets are no more than about 10-15 feet wide. The busses are small, and can hold about 10 people. They teeter along the cobblestones, honking at passers by. We arrived at the hotel, which looks nothing like it's online pictures. I walk in warily, hoping that I dont' have to stay in a roach motel for the next two nights. But we were pleasantly surprised - La Scaletta is one of the most charming little hotels I have seen. Converted from an old palazzo, the rooms have 15 ft high ceilings, there's a lovely terrace with a panoramic view of teh city and the Boboli gardens. I have my first cup of Italian capuccino, and all is well with the world.
Later that morning, we went to the Acadamia museum, before which Mona and I scouted the leather shops. And I finally see Michelangelo's David - it's what I've romaticized about for years now. Going to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, walking down the same little streets as the artists did. David is truly awe inspiring. At about 15' tall, he is still lithe and graceful. He frowns, which I found rather intriguing, given that he is about to slay the giant - in fact, his expression is almost MonaLisa-esque, in that you can't quite fathom what it is. It's also interesting to see the other sculptures around to understand why this was such a break-through. The seem like little play-dough toys in comarison.
I have to admit that I was a little disappointed that the marble wasn't polished and transluscent like the Pieta, and wonder why it was left that way. Nonetheless, it is still magnificent.
In the afternoon, we had a rather nasty lunch at one of the touristy restauraunts near the Ponte Vecchio. Another word of caution to the unwary traveler: Only eat at places that have referrals. I found Frommers to be a good source.
I went to the Duomo, which, although quite impressive, did not leave me breathless in the way the Gothic cathedrals do.
We had a little picnic dinner at the Piti Palace, followed by drinks on the terrazo, which really sealed the deal on making it a really spectacular day. As I stared out at the serene Florentine sky with the Duomo lit up, and all the little lights on in the hills, all my stress ebbed away - now I know why people go on vacation.
I also started reading the 7th Harry Potter (more on that)
Day 6 (9/29/07):
My second day in Florence. We had breakfast on the terrazo - I have to say that I am really liking this terrazo business. I wish I had an outdoor space in my little Cambridge apartment. Then headed off to the Uffizi. Walked through several halls of really fabulous paintings - DaVinci, Botticelli, Caravegio - oh, it was fantastic.
And believe it or not, we had lunch at McDonald's. Yes, it was tasty, and familiar, and I am embarassed to admit, I actually enjoyed it.
We then took the bus out to Fiesole, a little town up in the hills hear Florence. We drove by olive orchards. The view from up in the hills is really nice, and I strongly recommend making this little side trip.
We had dinner at Mama Ginas, which was fantastic, and highly recommended. After a spate of disappointing meals, I was so thankful to have one fantastic Italian dinner.
Day 7 & 8 (9/30 - 10/01/07)::
I am excited to be off to Venice - another dream journey that I have always wanted to make. After an uneventful train ride, we arrive at Santa Lucia train station.
I step out, and am so unprepared for the wonder that is Venice. The way the sun glints off the water as the gondolas sail by and the architecture along the grand canal is unquestionably magical despite the throngs of tourists and the vaporetti that ply along. Venice - it's very existence is a wonder in itself, and the more you hear about its history, the better it gets. Venetians first started off as salt makers and traders, and then as the city went on to become an important port, it obviously made ship building and other maritime activities paramount. I can well imagine Shylock and Antonio bargaining for his pound of flesh on the Rialto.
Every little piece of Venice thrills and delights me - sailing down the Grand Canal, the Piazza San Marco, the little canals, the gondolas. I spent the next two days enthralled.
We went to Murano, saw the glass blowers, and could not get enough of walking through the little shops, picking up little trinkets and show pieces.
One evening, Tarun and I tried to find take-out pizza. Would you believe that it is really hard to find take-out pizza in Venice? We finally had to get it from a Chinese-run tratoria, which I found absolutely hilarious. In fact, the whole concept of take-out food appears to be rather alien. I suppose in Italy, one either eats in the restaraunt, or cooks at home.
I knew I should have written everything as soon as I got back. It's been more than a month, and I've forgotten the details .... but anyway, here goes nothing ..
Day 9 (9/02/07):
Paris, why aren't I as enamored as I should be? Perhaps it's all the luggage I'm lugging around. Wasn't the Eifel tower one of the first structures to have an elevator? Why then, do the subways in Paris not have them? Anyhoo, I finally get on the train to Reims. Once there, I discover that holidaying by one's self is not so much fun. I really miss the family. As I walk along, I have so many things to say, but no one to say them to. So I capture as much as I can on film, to share with everyone when I get back home.
I set out to see the Mummms winery, which at any given point in time houses around 25 million bottles of champagne. A half hour later, and a little wiser about the whole champagne making process, I get to taste some of the good stuff. I now know that chardonnay gives it effervescence. Later that day I go over to the Notre Dame cathedral. Oh, my God!!! - it is so outstandingly beautiful. Words cannot even begin to express how amazing it is. I stare dumbfounded, and dazzled by the intricacy of the carvings, contrasted by the bold architecture. It brings tears to my eyes. Gothic has always been one of my favorite periods, and this epitomizes everything that it was - from the stained glass windows to the flying buttresses, everything is painstakingly rendered.
Just this little episode makes the whole trip worth while - that and the pate de fois gras I had for dinner :) Back at my hotel, I turn on the TV and am amused to see Desperate Housewives dubbed in French. It actually loses some of its trashiness when spoken in French, which in itself is rather interesting. It was followed by Sex in the City. Carrrrrrriie the way the French say it sounds weird. Carrie without SJP's voice is weird too.
The next day I went to the Veuve Cliquot champagne house and left with a bottle 1999 Vintage demi-sec. Can't wait for the special occasion when i can drink it.
9/3/07:
Back in Paris.
OK, so far the best part of my stay in Paris is the food. I suppose what they say about Paris being for lovers is true. It's just not as much fun when you're by yourself. And everyone is so damn blatantly romantic, it's actually quite sweet. People turn and spontaneously kiss, or walk around hand in hand, or make out under a blanket on the banks of the Seine ...
Paris on Friday night is really hopping. The Latin quarter is bustling with life, and the chocolate mousse is ooh-la-la.
Interestingly, I being and end this blog with chocolate ...
9/4/07:
Back in Boston
2 comments:
pop is a failed joy-sucker?? man, is he ever going to love that!
Couldn't agree more about how vacationing alone soon wears on you!
Post a Comment