Finding my muse at Keats-Shelly Memorial House
Very early in school, my first English teacher, Mrs Beatrice Hawkins introduced me to John Keats, as she taught me cursive writing, by making me repeatedly write “A thing of beauty is joy forever” in my four-lined…
The Gondoliers of Venice
“Will you sing for me?”, I asked as I gingerly tiptoed into the gondola. “Of course, my lady!”, said Cristiano, our gondolier. Cristiano is one of the 400 gondoliers who has a license to operate gondola rides for tourists.…
The Curse of the Upper Berth
I glare at the computer screen. My entire mood of making that train trip vanishes in an instant. Not again. B4. 54. UB. The Indian Railways has this peculiar penchant of allotting me the upper berth whenever I travel.…
Venice: Queen of the Adriatic
Venice is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by 177 canals in a shallow lagoon, connected by 409 bridges. Before this trip I talked to people who had been there and I received diametrically different opinions.…
My Museo Leonardo da Vinci experience
After a long exhausting day at the Vatican, after hearing the Pope and visiting the Vatican museums, we were headed back to our hotel, when just after St Peter’s square, on the right side of the boulevard…
The colourful houses of Burano
We were lucky to visit one of the most colourful places in the world- Burano. This tiny island is as picturesque as a real life canvas. You just cannot take your eyes off the brightly painted houses.…
Capri: Tour of the blue island and Blue Grotto
Capri is an island located in the Tyrrhenian sea in the Bay of Naples. Famous for its amazing natural rock formations and its designer hotels and shopping, the island is inundated with tourists during summers. If you…
The Path of the Gods: A trek to remember
Last Saturday, Subodh and I embarked on a hike in Southern Italy called ‘Sentiero degli dei’ or more popularly known as the ‘Path of the Gods’. The trek takes you along the Amalfi coast in the Sorrentine…
The legend of Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is one of the largest fountains in the world. Designed in 1570 in Baroque style by Nicola Salvi, it is made of travertine stone. The theme is water. At its centre is Oceanus, the…
Seeing the Pope at St Peter’s Square
Three weeks ago, as I planned my vacation, I toyed whether to visit the Vatican on a Monday or a Wednesday. And then I chose Wednesday, because that’s the day that the Pope gives an audience. I…
