Nashik, Thursday, 25th May 2017
Another trip completed - to Europe ! That makes it a hat-trick. 2014, 2016 and 2017. Next ? Soon, we hope. More than merely visiting Europe, we would love to live there. A long trip this time - from 7th May to 24th May, ie. 18 days. Covered 5 countries, including the non-European Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi is a modern city, full of skyscrapers. There is no beauty here. We visited at the wrong time of the year-May! However, this was just a stopover for two days and a half. In hindsight, we should have skipped it and allotted an extra day each to Bratislava and Salzburg.
Bratislava is sweet - the family culture seems to be firmly in place here. It is smaller than Prague, hence more peaceful. Hotel Apollo was cosy - modern amenities available in an old world charm. People are very friendly - the locals smile spontaneously. the kids are sweet; they take pleasure in outdoor sports. The school we visited was small but nice. A gentle city.
Train rides in Europe are always a pleasure - clean, comfortable and uncrowded coaches , stylish co-passengers, adherence to time and views of the magnificent countryside! What more can one ask for? An extremely fast and convenient way of travelling between neighbouring countries.
Budapest did not create a good first impression owing to its uncleanliness in the Keleti railway station area. Besides, we saw beggars - people sleeping on the sidewalks, for the first time ever, in Europe! Of course, the number of such people was extremely small. The areas away from the main train station are simply awesome - the River Danube and its cruises, Gellert hill with its statue of liberty, the splendid and magnificent parliament building, the Buda castle, the fisherman's bastion, Chain Bridge, other bridges, Heroes' Square; and many, many other edifices! In fact, it had not taken long for our first impression of Budapest to change.
Negotiating the city is easy. One utca (street) intersects another, like a grid. Food and drink are available everywhere and in plenty. The people we came across were of both types - the friendly and the snobbish. Perhaps a few are vary of foreigners, after the influx of migrants and refugees from Asia into Europe, over the last three to four years. Overall, a magnificent city. I would love to visit Budapest again and stay at a good hotel near the city centre - the hotel where we had stayed at was a let down. Dogs seem to be the favourite pets here - we saw plenty of them, on the roads, in buses; but always on a leash - no strays! Cats were conspicuous by their absence. The city is steeped in History.
Salzburg - synonymous with the 'Sound of Music'! What do I say about this extremely charming and serene city, the recipient of nature's bounty in plenty? The beauty of this place is beyond words! Every spot simply takes one's breath away! It was on a different planet altogether. I can compare it to Interlaken (Switzerland) and if I have to award a score out of 10 to each, Salzburg would get 9 and Interlaken 10. Interlaken scores over Salzburg in one great aspect - 360 degree views of snow-clad peaks! However, the Sound of Music tour was fabulous and recreated the 1965 movie. This is another city that I would love to re-visit, for a stay of five nights. Would again stay at the warm and cosy Hotel Ganslhof.
Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic is an all-time favourite and did not disappoint at all. In fact, the stay at Ubytovani Jelinkova enhanced the experience. This was another surreal feel - a different era, a different world, a different planet altogether! The cobbled streets, the charming dwellings, the compact town-square, the abundant greenery, 'Terry Kane's" castle, the snaking Vltava and the lovely bridges! Truly unbelievable! We did justice by staying here for three nights. And of course, we would love to return here too!
The CK shuttle service is excellent. I have never used a more professional service - vehicle in excellent condition, punctual, polite and friendly drivers. Travelling by such vehicles on the excellently maintained roads through the nature-blessed countryside is an experience unmatched!
We were truly blessed on this trip - the weather was excellent throughout. The only rain that we encountered was on the last day, approaching Vienna; and in Vienna. However, it did not matter at all because Vienna was just a port of embarkation for our return journey; not a destination. However, this time we were presented with the not-so-good face of Vienna - parts away from the city centre, new constructions coming up, warehouses, etc. It marred the image of the grand city that we had visited in the year 2014.
Our hostess at Cesky Krumlov - Vera Jelinkova was wonderful. Made us feel completely at home. Her bungalow was magnificent and as I have mentioned in my separate notes on Cesky Krumlov, enhanced our experience.
Europe is a blessed continent and again as mentioned earlier, we want to be its residents, not visitors. After we had returned home, I messaged my students that I was back. One of my favourites - Sanskriti Shinde - texted back saying, "Must be missing the climate." I replied, " Yes. However, I am missing much more than the climate; I am missing a civilised world."
Who would not like to live in a continent where a bicyclist gives priority to a pedestrian at a zebra crossing?
