Roma

You've Never Lived Until You've Loved in Rome!

Three coins in the fountain,
Through the ripples how they shine,
Just one wish will be granted,
One heart will wear a valentine.

Which one will the fountain bless?
Which one will the fountain bless?
- From the movie “Three Coins In The Fountain” [1954]


In Rome, the past is the key to the present and the present to the past. Each stone has a history of ages and like all the historical monuments all over the world from the Ajanta & Ellora, The Pyramids of Egypt to the ruins of Rome, it’s always the story behind it. It’s always the story behind everything that’s more impressive than the deceptive appearances.
The Vatican was, of course, the holiest place in the trip. They got everything there, from ceilings painted by Michelangelo, extreme social respect, political power, influence of the Church, that richness and the Swiss security. What else needs to complete the list?!
To get to Pisa and Florence, we just had to travel too much to arrive at one foci of architectural beauty! Wonderful!

The miscounted days plus 1

Then, we drove to Swarovski, Wattens, Austria where the wonder- making Daniel Swarovski’s patented electric cutting machine had begun to change the beauty of crystal glass, itself! First, Chambers of wonder display followed by emptying of the dazzled disoriented visitors like all the other European industries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That night at Innsbruck, no song was unsung and no wine left untasted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entry into the land of Italy didn’t mesmerize me as I expected. Maybe, the last days or the much more fashionable display in the movies, I didn’t know. I jus’ missed something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all, as you stand at the Piazza San Marco aka Saint Mark's Square licking your Italian Gelato letting the salty breeze of the Adriatic Sea add flavor to those cold lips and still let you wondering about this floating city with its canals and bridges, those rotting colorful bricks, the richness and history, the Murano glass, the brides and the bells, the famous lover Casanova, the masks, the billion ‘Euro’ project to save this sinking islands and those Gondolas; you are standing on the most romantic place on this planet. That, you’ll know.

Day 10- Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein, with it’s capital Vaduz, the only alpine country to lie entirely within the Alps inhabited by approximately 35,000 freaking rich German speaking people. It’s one of few countries in the world that maintains no military and with more registered companies than citizens!

Not very surprisingly, they almost had the whole area shut down for a marathon where (many sobbing, all cute) children ran through the streets with their anxious mums running behind them.

Though it was mentioned in the itinerary, I couldn’t imagine we were just stopping for lunch, getting our passports stamped [optional for a few Euros], using the free toilets (a rare thing to cherish in Europe; generally a visit can cost you around 0.3-1.3 Euros equivalent to 20- 80 INR!) and continuing with our journey. Later, we were explained that there wasn’t much to see either. Very clever!

Vaduz Castle, home to the Prince of Liechtenstein stands majestic on the hill just above the stop, right below which was the museum. The prince woke up each morning, brushed his teeth and discarded the toothbrush, which flies right out of the window landing in the Royal gallery of the museum.  Take it easy. I just made that up!

Somewhere in the middle of Europe

No sooner the trip began, I lost the count of the days and nights. Then, one fine day after crossing five countries border to border, I pull out my hand from the warm pocket to count my fingers as I heard my neighbors on the bus discussing plans of return. I only thing that reminded me of the passing time was my faithful growing beard.


Each passing day got me more tired. Tired of giant price tags. Tired of meticulous marvels, surprises and cheap bargains with the blacks. Tired of low battery indicator beeping at the end of each tiring day and me running to fetch a travel adaptor only to lose more of the little permitted sleep. I blinked less too, I suppose, maybe I subconsciously couldn’t afford to miss any passing beauties. I never understood the reason we get tired after traveling for long hours though we do nothing. I wrote less and instead made many new friends.


So, at this saturation point, when the memory was low and surprises were not surprises anymore and your head is bursting with information like at the end of a 3-hour straight study session, I scribbled-

With so lil’ time in each place, you wish you didn’t know they existed rather than now knowing that you traveled a 5 thousand miles to miss something at some place you’ve been and probably will never be again!