Happiest Vacation Ever!!!!!



I feel like it’s been ages since I have opened my Blog. It’s been long for sure. I was on vacation and now back to Pune. With so much happening around I dint really feel like switching on my computer. I did have a lot in mind which I wanted to write, but dint have the time to spare for my blogging. I have to say this was my happiest vacation ever and has put a never ending smile on my face.:-D

My vacation started off with my very long weekend in Bangalore. Being in Bangalore never left better and meeting friends as always was the best. I really really am the happiest when I’m around with my besties. Its like”want to jump and scream” kind of happiness. This time was no different compared to our usual college days, we were cribbing, teasing each other, gossips, blah blah blah and we had “NEWS” as well. Rachna announces her engagement in the middle of the crowded shopping street. And for a few minutes we acted like there was no one else around us, hugging each other, talking at the top of our voice, shooting questions at her( And yeah!,..The very obvious answer we got from her was “I don’t know”), me making a fuss over her engagement dates (how silly!!) and all of us genuinely feeling happy for her:-D…Congratulations on your Engagement rach, we are sooper happy for you.

Since the wedding day is just a few months away I finish off my trousseau shopping in Kanchipuram. I was super excited ,but Trust me buying sarees in a lot is so not easy.  

I finally arrive at coorg for the most awaited part of my vacation, my engagement. Days fly, 8 years did, so did the next few daysJJ…It felt like just another day, there was no different feeing until I had the ring in my finger. Looking at it, Put up a everlasting smile on my face...I’m engaged to the love of my life. I was happy then and I’m happy now. A glance at my ring puts a smile on my face even now (maybe sounds a little silly, but that’s how it is!!! ) .

Europe: Epinal to Paris (Last three days)

It was Friday. I had already made plans for the evening at Paris. After a pretty good day at work I leave to Paris from Epinal. As I reach the Hotel in Paris I see Annabella waiting for me at the receptionJ…

I quickly dump my luggage and off we go for our evening plan. We were going to have a picnic at the Eiffel with a few friends of AnnaJ… Anna says it’s the favorite Picnic spot for the Parisians in summer. It definitely looked like their favorite spot. It was crowded. I loved to see the crowd.

It was a nice Picnic. A lot of chatting with a lot of French food and some French wine. It was a perfect evening for the picnic and the crowd there proved how much Parisians loved a picnic at the Eiffel. What I loved was the sparkling Eiffel. As the Clock strikes 10 P.M Eiffel is lit with Sparkling lights and it’s beautiful. It continues to sparkle after every one hour. It’s amazing. I wouldn’t have witnessed this if it was not for the Picnic plans. Anna Thanks for this. I wanted to go up to the Eiffel and Anna offers to join me. Since the elevator was down we had to climb up the stairs. Yes!! I was climbing the Eiffel only to reach the second floor at mid night. Paris looks its best from the top. Lit up Bright and colorful. I was on top of the Eiffel and very excited. JJ A Dream come true for me JJJ…

I was alone the next day. It was a bright sunny day. Weather was at its best. Had a lot of site seeing to do. Was hoping I could do some Shopping too. I Start off early with my maps; pick up some yummy pastries from the street and I was going to the Eiffel again. I reach the other end of the Eiffel, did a lot of Photography take a boat ride along the river from the Eiffel and then ride in the metro to a few places, walked along the streets and did quite a lot of shopping too. My day just flew. Thankfully I could see all the places I had in my list.

 Paris does mesmerize you. The Crowded streets, the beautiful souvenir shops, Paintings on the street, the monuments, the food, the best of pastries, the people around felt so new .And all the amazing memories and experience Paris gave me was what I had never expected.

Paris has its own charm, but it reminds you a lot of places back home. It made me feel India is beautiful too; Like ParisJJJ

All I could think when told about Paris was the Eiffel. But now with all the memories it’s not just the Eiffel that I know. I’m glad I know so much more of ParisJJJ

It was the end of my euro trip. I was happy. When you know you are going to be with your own people in a few hours time, you feel even better.

the picnic

Europe: Vienna to Epinal (Day 11 and 12)

It was my last few days in Europe. I was going to France. My excitement was all about going to Paris. I leave to the airport at about 5A.M from my hotel in Vienna. This was my worst travel plan. I was on the plane or travelling by train the whole day. Running around with my luggage Changing airports in Paris and then train stations in Strasbourg and Nancy. All I wanted to make sure I don’t miss my flight or the train. I couldn’t afford to wait more…I was exhausted.

I finally manage to reach Epinal at 7 in the evening only to find empty streets. All I knew was my Hotel was a 5 minutes’ walk from the train station. Not knowing which direction I walk and with just a few people around I go to almost every person asking for directions only to realize none of them are from Epinal and a few just nodding their heads to whatever I asked. It was irritating, my back ached and I longed for some food and a bed. And more over I wanted to see people, I wanted to see a crowded street. I just start walking not even having the strength to drag my luggage, I found a lady who told me the direction and in the next 5 minutes I was in the hotel. What a relief!!!...French food never tasted better and crawling into bed never felt so good.

The next day I was going to Clerval and Santhose for work. These are two small twin villages in France between the mountains. The people here are so warm and welcoming. I haven’t seen more polite people all my life. The landscape looks like in the posters. Mountains, Crystal clear River flowing down, a bridge full of flowers on its railings connecting the village. As the cool breeze hit my face, every person walking on the street greets me even after knowing I’m a total stranger. This place is a total different world. Totally disconnected from the rest of the world. It’s a happy world there. You see happy faces everywhere. Nothing looked fake, nothing looked strange, and nothing looked bad.  I wanted to stand and stare at all of this and I was happy here. The restaurant looked like your dining room at home with your people sitting around and talking to you. I haven’t seen a happier world. I was left wondering why we don’t live like this. I was left with a smile on my face and I was laughing at their stupid jokes. They took every effort to make me feel happy. I haven’t felt happier being with strangers who dint feel like strangers.

Driving back home I still had smile on my face. A happy day at Work. I was Feeling different. I was happy.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Europe: Strakonice,Czech Republic (Day 9 and day 10)

It was my second week in Europe. Time just flies. I was ready early in the morning waiting for my colleague Gabor at the hotel in Vienna. We were going to Strakonice in Czech Republic. It was a long drive on the country side roads between the fields ready to be harvested. The landscape was beautiful reminding me of the fields back in India. We reach Czech by noon, spend a little time at a super market buying some food, eat in the car and then go to work.

It was a short day at work too. We were at the hotel early and plan up to tour the city. Strakonice is quite a small industrial city of Czech Republic, on the banks of the river Otava. It’s also famous for its locally brewed beer which the people there love. It is so scarcely populated. You see a lot of Chinese living there too and of course quite a lot of Chinese restaurants in every corner of the street. We explore the city by walking around.

The down town looked lovely with the pink pitonia flowers all over. We hardly see people in the street; the market place is also a very small area. We spotted a castle on the other side of the river. The river bank has a small park and that seemed like the favorite spot of the people there. It was a perfect place to spend an evening. They were people getting a sun bath, men swimming in the river, kids cycling around, moms walking around with their babies, ladies catching up for a chat and me enjoying all of it JJ…You know it always feels good to see happy people around you, For a moment I stood staring all of it. All you could hear was happy cheerful people, the fresh breeze and the river flowing smoothly .I had my colleague with me, I still felt lonely ,but my thoughts still went back home, I would love to sit in a place like that and spend an evening with loved ones. That place looked all happyJ.

Crossed the river and went into the castle. It’s a beautiful place too. This place has too many pubs around. We were counting pubs there. And I heard people of Czech love drinking beer. The local cuisine is delicious.

The next day was a total work day for me. We drove back to Vienna that evening since I had a flight to France the next day.

Though my stay in Czech was short, Strakonice gave me the nicest feel good memories.

Landscape on the country side roads

pitonia

the river side

Inside the Castle

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