Day 11: Arcos

(Some vivid and some rather hazy memories, writing this in Tirupati on day n+2)

Saturday night ended disappointingly early because of my shoulder trouble. I usually wake up after 6 hours of sleep, but when I woke up I realised almost 9 hours had passed since I fell asleep. It was just what my body needed at that time, I'm sure. I had been on a perpetual high since my trip started, had had a lot of walking, less sleep and generally a very high level of awareness. The shoulder pain could also have been linked to the fatigue, that was suggested by the unusually long sleep that night.

So Sunday had to be REST DAY. Luckily Esther had also exactly the same plan. The trip to SEville had to be postponed to the next day (Monday), coz Esther's cousin wasn't in town - so we'd have to go and stay in Seville for just one day, and in a hotel.

It was a leisurely morning. Among other things, we got on the internet to figure out where we'd be staying in Seville, my flight to Barcelona and staying options there. For breakfast, we had something like chocolate and bread - or maybe that was the next day, but yeah, twas neither fantastically memorable or forgettable and hence rememberable)

The plan, as I said, was to relax. The venue, couldnt have been better. Esther's home, her relaxed family, the relaxed swimming pool, the relaxed sunshine..... aaahhhh...

Once we got there, I got into a very animated conversation with Esther's dad about football. He went about in Spanish, waving around his arms and widening his eyes from time to time. And of course I went about in English. I'd have done Hindi and it wouldn't have made a difference :) But it was so cool, coz we were actually understanding each other, talking about Barcelona, Real Madrid, and watching the highlights of a friendly Real played. Then Esther's grandma joined in the fun. The channel on the TV had changed by this time to a series about Bullfighting and the legendary Torros of Spain. Esther's grandma was the one doing all the talking now, and she really seemed to like my occasional head nods, even if I didn't understand much. It elicited the most beautiful, sweetest toothless smile from her, which I had so fallen in love with! As my sister put it, she was just a very huggable person.. you look at her, and you want a hug!

After the Spanish conversations, it was time for lunch and this time, being a Sunday, the menu was more elaborate! Churros con chocolate, beans stew, pisto (veg mash), berenjenas y pimiento frito (aubergines and pepper) and OF COURSE, TINTO!!! Its amazing how quickly people disappear for Siestas once lunch is done! We headed to the pool instead and today, I was going to go in for a dip. By now, I'd worked up a VERY dark tan, and it was just going to get darker... (My dad was shocked to see me when I returned, he said - "You went to Europe, its cold there, and people become white.. what have you been upto!?!" :D Then I had to go on to explaining how South of Spain could go all the way upto 40 degrees in Summer, and how I was out in the Sun swimming!)

Anyways, it was a most relaxed afternoon and evening, swimming, frolicking in the water and playing silly games with the kids (Esther's cousins). We headed out around 10pm after a short trip to Esther's grandma's house where we were staying, for dinner and some drinks. It seemed like a Spanish McDonald's we went to and I ordered a patata rellena which is basically stuffed potatoes. It was with some Mexican sauce and had a nice slurpy spicy twinge to it. We got the food packed and sat at Sonia's bar and had our dinner along with some light drinks. I had white wine, served complimentary from the ever-sweet Sonia, and we chatted into the night.

I remember not thinking too much about the next day. We were going to Sevilla and I'd not heard anything about the place. I was going to go, as usual, with an open mind :)

Day 10: Cadiz

(Written partly in Marseille & partly after returning to India)

After yet another long night, the impending trip to the magnificent port city of Cadiz served to wake us up early (9am) for the bus-ride. We had thought of catching a direct bus which leaves at 11 (I think). But that bus was scheduled only for weekdays and it was a Saturday! So we had to take a bus to Jerez and then a train from there to Cadiz. We were standing at the bus station waiting for the bus. An empty bus was standing with a clueless looking bus driver in it. He told us, and other waiting passengers, that he "wasn't sure if the bus would go to Jerez"! Everyone was wondering which bus would go then, coz there was none other around. People started to get desperate trying to figure out if there would be a bus at all. Then, when it was just about the scheduled departure time, he came out (of the empty bus standing on the station) and announced proudly - "THIS bus will go to Jerez!" Some passengers laughed and got in sportingly, cheering the bus driver's attempt to make his own life a little bit more interesting. But there were others who were like "you could've told us before, why were we rotting here outside in the heat!"

A half-hour-or-so bus ride later we were at Jerez. The train to Cadiz was going to be another half hour ride. (The train station is right next to the bus station, neat!). So off we went to Cadiz. Of course, at every possible moment of free time, we promptly fell asleep, trying in vain to catch up for all the sleep lost the previous night.

But we were awoken by the stunning sight of crystal clear blue water and sun-kissed sands as the train rolled into Cadiz. Forgetting all our sleepiness, we stepped into this beautiful little city. With several 'squares' or 'meeting points', Cadiz was buzzing with activity. The sun and the beaches had combined to attract scores of picknickers and tourists from near and far. It was a party atmosphere with music playing on the streets, with the swish of the waves in the background!

We were joined by Ignacio, Esther's friend, who lived in Cadiz. He walked us through some pretty roads and led us to a rather non-descript and quiet one, to a restaurant for lunch. It was to be another typical Spanish lunch, but this time, seafood, seafood, and more seafood was on the menu for me - Merluza (Grilled hake with Cadiz Sauce!), chick peas with prawns, patatas bravas, paella, and of course, Tinto!

After a scrumptuous lunch, it was time to hit the beach. There are several beaches in Cadiz, and I'm not quite sure which one we went to (but it wasn't the nude beach that Esther spoke about :P) The beach was full of sunbathing people, all eager to get a tan! There were only a few people in the water, most of them were in the sand baking under the sun! The water was cool, and inviting, in the hot sun. After the initial hiccups of the relatively lower temperature, I adjusted quite well to the water temperature and had a fantastic time playing in the waves. Its the first time in my life that I can remember I enjoyed so much in the sea. I've never been more than knee deep! I've always had a feeling of disgust at the water in Bombay's beaches, and have always been inhibited in going for a bath in them. This was different though, the water was clean and cool, and felt just amazing exactly at the moment of the first dip and then on it was just pure fun!

We must have thrashed around in the water for 2 hours I think. I even came ashore for a beer and some chips... ahh it was just heavenly I say!!

Then it was time to head home... for a shower, and a party!! Esther's friend, Sonia, was celebrating her birthday, and we were invited :) So we headed back to Arcos by around 7, siesta till 9, getting ready, and then we were off!

It was a barbeque party and the Spanish have only red meat in Barbeques apparently. Esther only realized once we got there and was in a hurry to prepare something vegetarian for my sister and me. She got all the stuff ready - rice, broccoli, onions and a few other veggies. Then she handed over the baton to our cook for the evening - her beautiful friend, Laura. She made us a most fantastic quick-dinner and we enjoyed it with tortillas and beer!! The drinks were flowing and the boys at the party started playing football. I desperately wanted to join, but a shooting pain in my shoulder absolutely out of nowhere ensured that I wouldn't be able to participate. Some of Sonia's friends were professional musicians, Flamenco, rock & the like, so we were treated to some superb music. Sonia herself sang in her melancholic deep voice bringing tears to my sister's eyes! It was just about 2am and the night was young. We were just about settled in with the party when, sadly, my shoulder pain became unbearable and I had to drag Esther & Mridula back home. I had apparently twisted a muscle or something along those lines. I went for a hot shower, and the pain immediately subsided and I could thankfully get a comfortable night's sleep.

And THAT was Cadiz's & Sonia's (b)day! Another wow-inciting day in Spain, and I couldn't wait for the sun to rise again the next morning!

Day 8,9: Arcos (South of Spain)

(Written in Marseille)

Now started the part of the trip that I knew absolutely nothing about! My sister was visiting her friend, Esther, in the South of Spain, and I was just tagging along. All I knew was that we were going to land in Jerez, which is in the South-west corner of Spain. I'd only heard of the place because of the racing events held there. Till a coupla years back, there was an F1 race as well there, but now its not in the calendar, I think.

On Thursday evening, we landed to brilliant sunshine and vast countryside. Jerez airport is strikingly similar to Indore airport, with just three luggage belts and hardly anyone around. Only the shady looking fellows coming and asking if I want a taxi were missing - the taxis were just standing in an orderly line outside the airport.

We were headed to Arcos, Esther's hometown, about a 35 minute drive from Jerez airport. It was well past 9 pm and yet bright sunshine filled the sky. I don't think I've ever seen the sky bluer than what I saw that evening in Jerez. It was simply brilliant! Esther's uncle, Paco, and Esther herself had driven down to pick us up from the airport.

As the car rolled into Arcos, I got more than a glimpse of the hilly, white town. White because, most of the buildings in Arcos are white in color and from far, the landscape shining in the sun looks magnificent.

We headed for Esther's sister's (empty) house, where we were to spend the night. Alex, Esther's boyfriend was also there and we all had a nice & relaxed dinner together. On the menu, beer, tortillas, banderillas, aceitunas, queso manchego and anchoas.

If I'd thought that that was going to be the end of the day, I was wrong. After about 11pm, we headed out for drinks! This was when the night started in most of Spain apparently! I stuck to my beer as people around me had rum and gin and whisky.. We met some of Esther's friends and time passed quite quickly. My dark-skinned sister and me were quite the object of curious glances and questions. The fact that I looked very much like a famous Flamenco singer was also mentioned with rather startling regularity! The "Ola"s and "Adios"es kept running thick and fast through the night as we hopped through bars in Arcos. By the time we were back home to sleep, it was close to 4am!! Reminded me of the party days back in college where the timelines were similar, only we had class at 8 am the next day! ;)

Sleeping at 4am meant the next morning wasn't going to be a particularly early one. We woke up at 11ish, had fruits & bread for breakfast and headed to Esther's house for lunch. We were greeted by her wonderful family who despite the language (they knew only Spanish!), made us feel completely at home! At lunch time, I got a taste of what would become two of my favorite Spanish foods/drinks. The first one was the astounding Tinto de Verano - a red-coloured drink of wine mixed with lemonade! I loved the taste so much that I had it in almost each of my meals thereafter!

The second one was Paella - a rice dish cooked with turmeric powder (VERY Indian!), and with something like fish or egg or meat to go with it. There was also a pepper salad called Pimiento Salad, which completed my first fully-Spanish lunch.

We relaxed and siesta-d by the pool post lunch and I got a first-hand feel of Spanish life in the countryside. Siestas are the norm in all of Spain apparently, and people take at least 1/2 hour naps in the afternoon!

In the evening, we headed out for a walk, and dinner, looking for the best tapas in town. Tapas is a family of dishes really, and can be cooked with meat or seafood. I guess its the way they cook it that is similar. But since by the time we got out it was nearly 10pm, all the well-known Tapas places were full. So we had to 'settle' for a regular restaurant. I had some outstanding boquerones (fried fish), acedias, gambas (prawns) and revuelto de gambas (veggies with prawns and fried egg). It was a good meal, and as my sister could not finish her dish, I was happy to help her out by finishing her patatas al alioli (a potato based dish) as well!!

Then just like last night, we headed from bar to bar (different ones this time of course!), with me downing a few glasses of beer & Tinto! The curious glances continued as we danced into the night!

Day 6,7,8 - London

Written on the bus from Barcelona to Marseille) (and posted from Dubai airport on the way back to Bombay)

As the train labored into St. Pancras station in London, I could feel the immediate change from Paris. It was cooler and the air, expectedly, smelled different. I've always remembered the smells of different cities, and now I'd added London to that list. Waiting at the station was my beautiful (cousin) sister Mridula. As it happened, I called her to try and figure out where she was and we were standing right next to each other!! (Damn roaming rates, 100 rupees gone in a flash :P ). One welcome change was the cars driving on the left side of the road! I had at least a coupla times been caught off guard in Paris looking right and bolting across the street only to find a car coming from the left side!

It was 9pm by the time we got home, and since I'd already had something to eat on the train, I could only have a nice Maggi when I reached home - ah, it brings a smile to my face even as I write it! Soon, it was time to head to bed as London was more of an early-sleeping-early-waking city than Paris at least.

I woke up quite leisurely the following morning. My sister had already left for work, and I had a nice time preparing an English breakfast of bread & eggs. I spent some time online trying to see what I could do during the day.

By the time I left the house, it was 11am. First stop, Oxford Street. London is a fantastically cosmopolitan city. Oxford street just drives that fact home. As I walk along, I see Indians (LOTS of us), French, Americans, Italians and a few English thrown in. Its a stark contrast to Paris, where there were very few Indians and people from other nationalities were clearly tourists. In London, they were shopkeepers, businessmen, office-goers & the like.

The weather was cool with a slight nip in the air, but there was no sun nor rain. Oxford Street is full of all the big brands you can imagine. I had thought I'll do some shopping, but the prices were a bit too much for my shallow pockets. Overall, it was a typical big market with a Phoenix Mills kinda feel to it, multiplied by like 100 times for size.

Next stop, St. Paul's Cathedral. This imposing structure stands surrounded by beautiful little gardens. As I walked around it, the sun decided to make a guest appearance, and the white Cathedral gleaned in delight. I'd have gone inside, but there was no service on, and at other times there's a fee, so I decided to give it a skip. The Thames runs by, actually meanders by, close to the Cathedral, and I took a diversion from my original plan to walk along it for a bit. From the Millenium bridge, right up to the Castle was a good 20 minute walk. It was past 2 pm and there were several joggers along the path - very strange I might add. I assume the weather in London is only so good so often for jogging!

The King's Castle at the end of the path is strikingly large (what did I expect!? Its a castle for godssake!). Again, no point going inside I thought, some 20 pounds. Instead, I watched the free video at the welcome desk and it was pretty nice, I might add.

After walking around randomly for another half hour or so, I headed for my last 'touristy' stop of the day - Camden Market. This is a very Indian style market, a bit like Chor Bazaar in Bombay, with lots of little shops selling everything from beads to keychains and sunglasses. It was packed with tourists, most of them trying to drive a hard bargain. A comparison with prices in India made me laugh, coz if these tourists were really looking for bargains, they should have been in Bombay or Delhi not London ;)

As evening arrived, I headed out towards the country-side, to spend the night and the next day with my other (cousin) sister, Anu. She had a nice place in a green town called Highwycombe, about 30 miles from Central London. By the time I got there, it was 8.30 pm, bang on time for dinner! After a long time, I had a typical Indian dinner (I couldn't count the one I had in Paris as Indian as it was inordinately spicy and gave me a forgettable yet memorable next morning ;))

A nice relaxed evening (with my very shy nephew, Ary - short for Aryaman - who looks remarkably like me) later, I was ready to hit the sack. The next day was going to be one of full relaxation. I wanted to enjoy the countryside and have a quiet time at home and walking around in nearby parks. Highwycombe is a beautiful little town, and my brother-in-law, Arnab, was very kind to drive me around to see the local cricket ground, football pitch and park. Its the quintessential quiet life. Ary, after the initial shyness really seemed to take a liking to me and started talking a lot. He'd address me as 'Mamu' - a way of saying Mama (uncle)!! So he'd go "Mamu, lets go to the park" or "Mamu, lets watch Nemo", or, "Mamu, what car do you have? I have a thunderbird!"...!! With all that & blazing sunshine (an extreme rarity in England), I had what I wanted, a relaxed day spent with family and not to mention, great food.

In the evening, I headed back to London, to rejoin my sister and help get things sorted out before we flew to Spain the next day (Thursday). I cooked a simple dinner of rice, sambhar (ready-made) and salad which we enjoyed as we caught up on the latest from each others' lives.

London was a short stay. Its not a very touristy city, but there are still quite some places to see if one plans a longer trip. Highwycombe was the highlight of my trip there - the quiet life, on vacation - twas as welcome as the Londoners welcome a bout of sunshine.

Goodbye Paris, Hello London!

(typed out on the train from Paris to London... posted on Tuesday night, midnight London time)

Sunday:
The Sunday phenomenon had its victim in me as well. I woke up much later than usual, at 8am! It was a nice and slow morning. I made myself some eggs and had em with bread and butter, wrote my blog (which was the last-to-last post!) and generally did a check on my finances, how much I'd spent, how much I had remaining etc. etc.

By the time I left the house, it was past 2pm, I think!! I had a kind of a sinking feeling, coz I knew it was my last real day in Paris, as I had planned to leave for London the next day, and most of that time would go off in packing & just leaving. But I was looking forward to a nice walk around the Jewish area of town with Alice & Jeanne, and also meeting Amy, who had just come back from a holiday in her hometown, Nice. We started off by sitting in a centrally located garden, (I forget the name, as usual), where we just relaxed, had chocolate cake (thanks to Jeanne) and generally caught up on each others' lives... The Jewish area is dotted with expensive eateries and other outlets. Falafels are the most famous dish around, and although I didn't have one, I was told they are highly recommended.

After that I headed to Jeanne's place for a nice home-cooked dinner. This was my first true French dinner after I'd arrived and I enjoyed it thoroughly. A cucumber chutney-like sauce, veggie-stuffed pasta and some olive paste (I think), combined with a glass of sweet-tasting wine made for a scrumptious meal.

I got my tickets to London booked, thanks to Jeanne, and it was time for the rather difficult goodbyes.

It had been a long, and yet, short day. I would have liked it to last longer... Paris had successfully woven its spell around me. Its very much a city like Bombay. You just like it, you can't really say why; it just feels like home. One might argue that it was the company of great friends, or the Bombay-trains-like metro, and I wont be able to say much against either, but at the end of the day, Paris is a happy memory.


Day 5:

Monday. It was a morning I had earmarked for shopping. I headed over to the Grands Magazins (close to Haussmann Saint-Lazare). Sadly, I didn't find anything uniquely Parisien. There were the usual Eiffel Tower keyrings and plates and mirrors, but I just cringed at their overtly-touristy sight!
Then I had a nice lunch with Amy, pizza & sandwiches, by the Eiffel Tower.
It got over quicker than either of us would've liked, but it was a working day for her, and there was only so much lunch-time.

Only after I got back home and packed all my stuff did it hit me that I was actually leaving. With a heavy heart, but also the excitement of the impending meeting with my cousins in London & further trip to Spain, I reached the Gare-du-Nord for my train to Saint Pancras (London).

To my utter delight, I had booked myself in business class (150 euros for a 2h15min journey!), but it was totally worth it. I felt like a king, being pampered by champagne and rich food. The train itself sounded like a vacuum cleaner in full-flow, but not very loud.. :P

As I write this offline on my laptop, I'm about to arrive in about 1/2 an hour. London beckons!!

Saturday in Paris!!

Notes from Saturday :

After a late night on Friday, one'd have thought that Saturday was bound to be short. NOT!!! As had been the case in the previous two days, I woke up after just 4 1/2 hours of sleep at 7.30am. All the adrenalin pumping through me ensured that there would be absolutely no hint of tiredness!!

The plan for the day was to meet my aunt's friend, who'd come to India about 10 years back!! She was an American but had been in Paris for over 20 years. I'd briefed her on what all I'd done till then and she'd planned out a nice walking route through a few other places. We started with the Luxembourg Gardens and the beautiful Senate building. The garden is as beautiful as any other. Tons of summer revellers occupy each and every sunny spot on the grass. We wade through photo exhibitions, art exhibits and intricately carved sculptures. With my knowledgeable guide-friend for company, I get the complete history on each and every thing that I see. So in case you travel to Paris, you'd be well advised to take someone along in case you're interested in the stories behind the sights!

Two days prior, I didn't have the chance to go into the Church of Notre Dame. This day as well, the line was of anacondaic proportions. But once we stood in it, it moved quickly so we were in in like 10 minutes! And the Church is absolutely magnificent. At the time we entered, they just began a service and the music being played (using an organ I think), was almost intoxicating! I felt very moved by the energy of the place, and the music just added to the atmosphere! The scupltures and stained glass paintings outside and inside the Church tell their own stories. With my guide friend being an expert in these matters as well, I got some quick excerpts from the Bible on what some of them meant. Its surprising, the Church is not symmetrical when one looks from the front, and I would not have noticed it had I not been told, I'm too un-artsy for that!!

After the long and satisfying walk, it was time for the Bateaux Mouches (literally translated as Housefly Boat - I have no clue why!). It runs along the Seine and is supposed to be quite expensive. But the company where my aunt's friend works gave her a discount, and I was able to go on one for like 5 euros! The ride is quite Disneylandish, with running commentary on what we're seeing. People, drunk and sane alike, keep waving from the shore, and for me that was more of a highlight as compared to their explanations of all the monuments, which I had already seen on close quarters on foot! There are some Bateaux Mouches which are closed on the top (I went on an open one), and have tables on them for dinner and the like. These, I thought, would make for a perfect romantic night out for dinner - and if its raining, that'd just be dreamland!

By the time the Bateaux Mouches was done, it was 8.30pm. But still bright and sunny :)

Next stop, the Indian part of Paris (close to the Metro Station 'Louis Blanc'), to have an Indian meal with my almost-Indian friends, Jeanne & Marjolaine. I forget the name of the restaurant, but after the meal, I didn't really want to remember it either :P It was spicier than the spiciest Andhra food I have ever had!! (The proof of that is 6 trips to the loo the subsequent morning :P).. OF course, my almost-Indian friends were oblivious to it, coz they had Dosa and Paratha with plain coconut chutney! It was I who ordered a full meal, and bore the brunt of the spices. Nevertheless, it was a thouroughly enjoyable evening and I was happy to be treated to an Indian meal in Paris by Jeanne.

By the time we were done, it was past 11pm, and night had just descended upon the city (I know, finally!)... It was a beautiful sight, lights sparkling everywhere, a buzz in the air, being Saturday night, music playing in street corners... ahh I was loving each moment! As a took a walk back to the house, close to Place d'Italie, I felt a hint of tiredness creeping in. It had been a long last few days. Sunday was to be a relaxed day though, as I had covered pretty much all the major 'things to see'. Paris is a small city, concentrated quite heavily in the centre. The train stations are very close to each other and in all my walks, I found myself easily walking past 5-6 of them in one walk!

What did I do on Sunday...?? Comin up in the next post (which I've already typed out, but have to get the pics in order)!!

Day 3: Montemartre, Eiffel, Champs Élysées, Friday Night French Party!

Being a Friday, a long day (and night!) was in the offing when I woke up early... After a quick but heavy breakfast, I was off to my first stop for the day - The stunning - Montemartre. A hill with a view of the city of Paris, and a serene Church (two actually) on top, is a MUST-GO for anyone coming to Paris.

Why?
1. Absolutely fantastic view of the city
2. Beautiful Church, try to go at the time of a service, good music
3. Loads of tourist attractions, people playing musical instruments, singing, dancing, robot-mimicking, statue-mimicking, etc etc.
4. A walk around the village by the left side of the main church, beautiful little buildings adorned with colourful flowers and decorations

And that's why its a MUST-GO in Paris.

I spent a good two hours exploring the site, with about 45 minutes just sitting inside the Church and soaking in the atmosphere - breathtaking!

Then it was time to head to the 'most beautiful avenue in the world' - The Champs-Élyées.

Taking a walk along it gives an India Gate kinda feeling (with the Arc d'Triomphe). Only, you have restaurants and several chic stores for company, not to mention the well-maintained trees. It was a bit of a longish walk but got over quicker then how long it seemed it would take. At Place de la Concorde, The Obelisk at the other end - a monument that our ol' friend, Mr. Napolean stole from Egypt and brought back to France - stands tall & pretty in the middle of what felt to me like the biggest traffic junction, in terms of size.

After the long walk, with food interspersed somewhere in between, I headed to that place, um, I forgot the name... tower something.. Eye-fill..

And fill your eyes it does... I had of course seen it on the previous day on the walk along the Seine, but only once I got there and stood under it did its sheer size strike me. The top half of the Tower seems stunted though, somehow I had always pictured its proportions differently in my mind.

The gardens right in front of it seemed like a nice place to relax and spend a summer afternoon, especially if you're coming along with your family.

With sunset nowhere in sight even at 7.30 pm, I headed to a friend's place for a typical French party with Wine, Champagne, Cheese, Salad & French music!

The occasion - she'd passed her driving test - after spending about 3000 euros for the driving lessons et al...!

What a waste of money I say... I got mine for 700 rupees (that's 10 euros), and have been learning how to drive since :-P Just kidding... (About the pic, yes, if I remember correctly - hah fat chance :-P - that's Carla Bruni, she was also invited to our party!) Smoked salmon with Tzaziki sauce is the most awesome snack to go with wine, if you've not tried it, you're not yet ready to die, coz its one of the things to do on the list of 'Awesome foods to taste before you die' !!

Sleep came at around 4 am, I think... But it was good and set me up for Super-Saturday!

Day 2: 8am Paris time, The Parisian Life - Metro, Walking & Cafés

My first night (the previous night ie) in Paris was a short one. After arriving at around midnight, unpacking, freshening up and blogging till 2am, sleep only arrived around 3. And with sunlight streaming through at 6am, it really wasn't possible for me to sleep any further. After jostling around in bed till 8.30 am, I finally got up! Bread, cheese, eggs & a delicious apple for breakfast later, I was ready to hit the road!

First stop, a France Telecom store, to get myself a connection. The roaming rates are of course ridiculously expensive, so I was glad to welcome a 15 euro card with 10 mins of free talktime (and not to mention, free incoming).

I didn't really have a plan for the day apart from taking a stroll along the river & utilizing my day pass for the metro (5.90 for zone 1,2 - zone 3 is not really required - The metro is divided into zones and most of Paris' well-known tourist attractions lie in zone 1 or 2 - That I went off into zone 3 coz I got onto a fast train that skips stations, is another story :) ).

Walking through Paris, especially along the river, is an absolute pleasure! Starting in Pont Marie, all the way up to the Jardin des Tuileries, one finds the route dotted with 'stunning' & 'wow' at each step and turn.

Being summer, tourists from around the globe can be found lining up at each possible entry to any place... Apparently, all the Parisians go away from Paris on vacation during this time! If I were one, I'd probably go away during the winter, and stay back in summer!

A round of ice-creams and hot-chocolate at the end of the evening tops off a nice and relaxed day...

On the menu today - La Tour Eiffel & Montmartre!

Pics soon (Hopefully I can get my laptop to detect that memory card!)

Day 1: 2am Paris time, too excited to sleep!

Landed at CDG (Charles De Gaulle Airport) and took a train into the city... FANTASTIC weather here, continuing from where I left off in Bombay! Bright sunshine at 8.30 pm when I landed, felt quite weird...

As the train moved from CDG into the city (a good 30 minute, 8.5 euro ride), huge industrial estates breeze past me... and I can't help but get a deja vu feeling - VERY similar to the harbor route in Bombay when it goes past Dockyard Road and such...

I walk the streets around the house at night, and the area I'm in (close to Place d'Italie) seems to me like a mix of South Bombay and Brisbane! Bombay for the feel of the place and Brisbane for the way the roads are and the (usually corner) cafes are... very peculiar

Its 2am Paris time, 5.30am India time, and there's no sign of sleep.. its been 3 hrs of sleep in the last 60 hours or so.. The bloodshot eyes tell the story, but the excitement is just not allowing sleep a whiff of a chance!

Will TRY to sleep now.. Got a 1 day train pass for tomorrow (zone 1 & 2 only), any suggestions anyone on what I could/should/must abs see? Don't say 'Eiffel Tower' :-P

xx

PS - Schumy's back...!!!! I SOOOO Wish I couldve caught the European GP..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 0: 2am IST - Butterflies & duty-free dreams

A few butterflies in my stomach, relating to what I'd tell the French customs authorities about where I'm going to be put up.. As long as I have money & a return ticket, they wont really care, I'd presume. But still that nagging thought at the corner of the mind persists - WHAT IF...

Anyways, too excited to sleep.. I'm sure flying Emirates is going to be a pleasurable experience. Hoping that I have good company on both flights! Fingers crossed!

Flight in 7.5 hours.

Dubai. Duty free shopping. What do I (Du)buy?

PS - On a trip across Europe, starting today!! Wuhhhhooooo!!!

Destiny?

They might call it destiny... This is the part where they wrote their own destiny. What a game!

Champions of Spain, Champions of Europe!

Guardiola & co. TAKE A BOW!!

Waiting for tonight...

Is this a dream? Is what is going to happen realllly happen? I can't sleep. It entices me. It excites me. I'm thinking about it all the time. It consumes me. THIS, is it.

xx

With the greatest football match of my football watching career just a coupla hours away, dinner done and dusted and no other stuff to worry about, there's no doubt I want to preserve some of my incredible excitement SOMEWHERE!

After what 9-10 months of matches, two of my favourite teams - Barcelona & Manchester United - are in the finals. These are teams that I've been following ever since they started showing football on TV and there's no way I can choose one from the other. They're both at the top of their beautiful games right now and this is a once in a lifetime (hope I'm proved wrong!) opportunity to see them pitted against each other in the finals... Ever since the quarter-final draws came out, I was just hoping and praying for these two teams to clash. Being in Tirupati, someone up there was listening to them prayers I suppose ;-)

As for the match itself, I'm hoping and praying - again - that Barca get an early goal, or maybe even two... maybe a mistake from one of the United back four, or a flash of genius from Messi or Iniesta. That should open up the game, as I think, and is widely believed and disscussed, that United will be out to smother the Barca attacking five (Henry, Eto, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta).

On paper, a suspect defence without Alves & Abidal for Barca, United look the better team, and I think tonight they will win. I just hope its as pretty as it promises to be and we're treated to a magnificent display of aggressive, flowing, attacking football - THE way football should be played!

Amen.

xx