The coastal village of Mahalide, Ireland!

The first weekend after I landed at Dublin in the midst of jetlag and excitement to explore, Mahalide was one of the first places I visited with my cousin in Ireland. We hoped into the train that runs to all the coastal towns such as Howth, dun laoghaire, Mahalide and Bray. It took us less than an hour to reach Mahalide which was 18 km east from Dublin. The weather was crisp, sunny and bright. It seemed like a perfect fall day.  It was also moderately cold and breezy.

As soon as we got out of the train stop, the castle surrounded by the huge park was at a walking distance. We entered into the park and slowly made our way into the castle walking along the park trails. There were lots of tourists visiting the castle that day since it was the weekend. The castle was intricately designed and stood beautifully under the blue skies. We wandered more around after clicking lovely pictures by the castle. The gates into the castle seemed very old fashioned and preserved. The ivy leaves changing colors creeped into the walls around and made it even more beautiful. As we spend more and more time there, more visitors came by. The castle itself dates back to the 12^th century and has immense amount of preserved culture and history to it.

As we made our way out, we spent time walking through the streets of the village of Mahalide. We stopped by the picturesque church in the main road which was full of devotees and it was difficult for us to get in so we stayed out and appreciated its beauty from outside. We then made our way into dun laoghaire which was another town by the ocean side where we enjoyed our thai lunch, ocean side walk and long chatter as we sat down by the ocean in the pathway. As we watched the sunset relaxing by the ocean, it was getting close to dawn. We relished the beautiful day and one of my first lovely days in Ireland!

Have you recently spent time with your family that has been special! Please share , I would love to read!

Sorrento, The coastal town of Italy!

Right from the day I have got back from Italy, I can’t wait to write about Sorrento. My ordeal is now over and I finally get to jot down my experience and thoughts about this wonderful coastal town. We hired a taxi from Naples train station to reach Sorrento. Our drive to Sorrento was along the beautiful Amalfi coast and we were lucky to see the amber colored sky in the midst of sunset by the Mediterranean Sea. Our driver was very kind to make a stop and help us get some beautiful pictures of the sun setting along the coastline.

Drive view

Sunset

As soon as we entered into the town, I could spot the beautiful street sides full of orange and lemon trees. The most amazing and unique part of this town was that there were orange and lemon trees everywhere including street sides, restaurants and hotel backyards. It was such a delightful experience to have the lemons just fall of the trees while you are sitting and eating under lunch/dinner them. We enjoyed picking lemons from our hotel backyard and enjoyed freshly squeezed lemon juice every day. Our hotel management was so very sweet to offer us orange juice freshly squeezed out from the oranges from their pool garden everyday during breakfast. We stayed at the Carlton International hotel and I would definitely recommend this hotel because of the location which was so central, the garden by the pool and more so because of their warm behavior and great service.

Eating under the lemon trees

Oranges in the hotel garden

The best part about Sorrento is that it is very well connected to beautiful islands and other coastal villages. The nearest beautiful places that we traveled from Sorrento are Capri, Positano and Amalfi. There are ferries that run throughout the day to Capri and Sita bus that runs to Positano and Amalfi from Sorrento train station.  During our visit, we made our day trips to all these beautiful places and returned back to Sorrento later in the day. Our third day there, we actually got a chance to explore Sorrento. The central square of Sorrento is the Piazza Tasso around which there are neighborhoods where there are lots of stores for shopping. The Marina piccolo is the main port area of Sorrento and at a walking distance from the square.

Piazza Taso

In all out trip to the town of Sorrento was fulfilling in every way and was one of the highlight of our Italy trip. Definitely add it to your bucket list if you haven’t yet 🙂

Five things to do in Island of Capri!

For all those who are planning a trip to south Italy, Capri is a destination that just cannot be missed. It is a picturesque island on the Gulf of Naples located south of Italy. Capri is accessible from the Marina piccolo port of Sorrento via ferry which takes about 30 minutes. It is beautiful island surrounded by blue green emerald water bordering the rugged surfaces. One can spend a perfect day relaxing, swimming and exploring the island in and out. Here are few things you could do in Capri!

• Beach- Beach- Beach –

The crystal clear beach of Capri right by the Marina Grande bay covered with pebbles is probably the first thing to spot as you walk through the island after hopping off from the ferry. Simply relax by the beach or take a dip!

 

• Funicular up to the Piazzetta

Piazetta is the heart of Capri and provides an panoramic view of the spectacular island. There is a cable car that takes you from the bay area up to the Piazetta which takes about five minutes. The lines are long but they move fast. Once you are in the top, the wide view of Capri is just spectacular with water surrounding the island from all sides. The sight of the blue bell flowers and lemon trees all over the hills is just outstanding.

 

• Swim the Green Grotto –

The best way to explore the island of Capri is by boat. There are different sight seeing tours offered by tour companies that do both group and private tours in the water. We rented a private traditional gozzo boat for three hours to go around the island. Our sailor took us to all the prominent sights of the island including the blue grotto, green grotto, natural arch and Faraglioni.

We also stopped by the green grotto to take a quick dip in the turquoise green water. The waves of sea being pretty strong didn’t let us swim for a long time, but we still enjoyed our short swim.

 

• Boat ride to the Blue Grotto –

The Capri Island is known for the Blue grotto. The blue grotto is an illuminated cavern in the Mediterranean Sea which reflects azure blue light when the sun shines on the surface of the water. It is just indescribable and a must experience during the visit to Capri. The tickets are 13 euros per person and the Italian serenade music in the background sung by local gondola boat riders makes it all the more beautiful. Usually the wait time is long since it’s a very touristy thing to see, but we got lucky since it wasn’t very busy in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon 🙂

 

• Faraglioni – 

The spectacular rock formations eroded by the ocean over time stand by the island of Capri. Our boat went under this rugged formations and it was a splendid view to watch those huge standing rocks in the middle of the ocean . We also spotted red pastel corals in the coral island and enjoyed the sight of natural rock formations that resembled faces and bodies of different animals.

Are there any islands that are close to your heart and you would recommend for travel? Please share, I would love to read!

The city amidst Tuscan hills, Florence!

Florence is one city that is a perfect blend of architecture, history and music surpassed by natural Tuscan landscapes. The city is basically divided in two parts by river Arno. One side encompasses the rolling countryside region where the Florentine locals live amidst fresh air and the other side is the red roofed old architectural city swarmed with tourists all year round. We were in Florence for two days and our bed and breakfast was located along a hill in the middle of dense lush trees and winding pathways. As soon as we reached there we were lucky to find an excellent India restaurant within walking distance from our bed and breakfast.

We explored Florence just like a local and not as a tourist. Instead of taking any tour buses or guides to help us explore, we hopped on local buses for transport which was both cheap and efficient. The historical center of the city is the main area around which the churches, galleries, and shopping area are all at a walk-able distance. Piazza del Signoria was right around the corner when we reached the historical center of the city. It is the political hub of the city with various sculptures among which the most prominent ones are The Fountain of Neptune, David’s statue and the huge gold turtle. Next to the piazza square , stood The Uffizi gallery which is one of the most famous art museum in the world. After walking for a few minutes from the gallery, we stumbled into The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore which is the most noticeable church in Italy with a huge red duo-mo designed with Gothic style marbles. After strolling for a bit around the main center we headed back for lunch and a little afternoon nap after all the walking.

Uffizi gallery

Uffizi gallery

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore

Piazza del Signoria

Piazza del Signoria

Me and my mom, as adventurous as we are, we walked back to the city to enjoy the beautiful evening after our power nap. We walked along the bridges over Arno river. The street musicians played soft music which was just perfect to listen to while the sun set. We went back to the Duo-mo to watch it while the sun set and we got a glimpse of the most amazing sight on our way back. We got to spot the Strawberry moon, which is a rare phenomenon when a full moon and a summer solstice coincide, the moon appears to be a large amber colored one. We were lucky to see it along the bank of the river Arno while all the tourists tried to capture the moon in their lenses. We were in the taxi and weren’t lucky enough to capture it but nevertheless we at-least got to see it.

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio

After spending the first day at the tourist hub of the city, we wanted to explore the serene Tuscan hills the following day. We boarded a local bus to the Piazzale Micheangelo which is one of the highest points along the hills and the best spot to get a extensive view of the city. The river Arno flowing right in the middle of the city with the backdrop of the humongous Duo-mo surrounded by red roof topped old architectural buildings was a beautiful sight to enjoy. I clearly remember that day was international yoga day and I tried to get some clicks in different yoga poses while the tourists watched me go crazy.

Piazzale Micheangelo

David’s Statue

After enjoying the sunshine along the hills, we headed towards the Ponte Vecchio bridge which is a medieval time arch bridge. It is very famous among the tourists for jewelry and art shops. We then munched on some delicious Chinese noodles at a Chinese restaurant by the bridge for lunch. After our lunch we were all set to grab our luggage and get ready for our train to Naples. All in all, we spent great time in the beautiful historical city and I would recommend it to the travelers who would love to explore an artistic city with rich history and background.

You also must be surprised to read that we ate Indian and Chinese food while we were in Italy but to be honest we were tired of Italian pizzas and pastas and wanted our taste buds to taste something different. Has this ever happened to you ? Do share , I would love to read!

Positano, a Cliff-side Village along the Amalfi Coast!

Having been brought up in a small town of India surrounded by so many villages, I have always had desire to visit villages of other countries. I have been endlessly curious to know and see how villages of other lands look like. That is how Positano, the coast side village of Italy was a part of our itinerary during my family trip to Italy. The Cliff-side village of Positano along the Amalfi coast is more like a beach town surrounded by little houses puzzled up together built upon high cliffs. The breathtaking bird’s eye view, ample greenery topped with ornamental flower vines on the hillside during summer makes it look all the more beautiful.

The village of Positano is about 45 minutes drive from Sorrento. The cheapest means of transport from Sorrento is via Sita Bus which leaves the train terminal at Sorrento every half hour. The tickets are just 8 euros person and the bus provides transfer to Positano and Amalfi, the coastal villages along the Amalfi coast. We hopped into the bus at around noon. Our drive was very scenic overlooking the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The drive was uphill cutting sharply through the mountains making way downhill and finally landing into the magical land of Positano.

Bird eye view of Positano

pink Bougainvillea flowers

On our way down the stairs

The bus dropped us at quite far in the hills away from the beach and we stepped down about 1ooo steps to reach to the main shopping area. The walk down the stairs was very unusual, it was through the houses that were built along the hills. It looked like private stairways going down right by their houses. We enjoyed walking down the stairs looking and appreciating the vegetable gardens in the backyards of private houses, just like any other village. I even noticed green figs hanging on the trees yet to ripe on our way down. After a few minutes of walking down the stairs , we overlooked the panoramic view of the city which was just like something that I had never seen before for real. The blue sea surrounded by the cliffs and hills packed with little colorful houses covered with beautiful pink Bougainvillea flowers looked just magnificent. Living in one of these houses must be such a wonderful experience.

Boutique shops

Main market area

Pathway to the beach

Lemons and more lemons

We then finally reached further down to the main shopping district of Positano. Little boutique shops on both sides, lemon scented soaps and perfumes, ceramic handmade art and craft were few of the things that caught my attention while walking through the shops. As we walked further down, the streets got narrower and narrower and they were covered with purple pink bushes all over the walkway. The beauty of the this place can be experienced only by visiting it for real and I was really awestruck looking at the natural creativity and happy at the same time that I got to visit such a lovely place.

More vines

More flowers

At last we reached the beach “Spiaggia Dell Fornillo” which was a sight absolutely worth those stairs and walkways. The colorful beach chairs all around the beach, tourists basking in the sun and the hustle bustle of the little restaurants nearby was a perfect spot to relax. We spent some time sipping on green detox smoothies in one of the restaurants facing the beach. After lazing around for quite some time and soaking in the view of the city, we made our mind to head back to the shopping area to buy some souvenirs. We really loved the lemon scented perfumes and I personally loved the soaps too, their lemon like fragrance was just to die for. We then made our way to the local bus which dropped us back to the Sita bus stop to hop on the bus back to Sorrento.

Beach by the cliff

Overall we had a lovely day, although we were bit tired by the time we reached Sorrento at the end of the day, it was all worth it. I had never seen such a serene and scenic village. It is a perfect getaway to spend time away from the city and enjoy mother nature. Is there any other villages you would recommend for visit? Do share. I would love to hear!

The City of Canals, Venice!

Venice is the most unique city I have ever visited in my life so far. My recent visit to this city has left me amazed and the time I spent there with my family is very memorable. We visited Venice just for two days and explored every nook and corner of the city on foot. We stayed at The Westin Europa and Regina which was an absolute delight with magnificent views of the Grand Canal.

As soon as we landed into Venice we rented a water taxi to our hotel. The water taxis are expensive in comparison to the water bus, however we had a lot of luggage and ended up taking the taxi. There is no way to get to Venice by car since there are no cars or roads in Venice, isn’t that amazing. Venice is full of narrow streets and walking ways just like a maze. There are canals and boats all over the city instead of roads and cars. Our boat ride to the hotel was very exciting, it was a speed boat with a covered seating area and right there our trip started with a bang.

Grand Canal

Water Taxi to Venice

View from the Hotel Deck

After reaching the hotel and relaxing for a bit, we made our way to the Piazza San Marco which was just a five minute walk from our hotel. The square was full of tourists surrounded symmetrically on all four sides with magnificent architectures on each side. The sight of the tourists feeding the pigeons with the backdrop of the beautiful St Mark’s Basilica is still vivid in my memory. We sat by the Basilica and enjoyed eating delicious Pizza topped with red pepper and cheese from one of the many Italian restaurants at the square. After enjoying lunch by the square we started exploring the little shops along the narrow streets making our way to the Rialto Bridge which was full of touristy shops along both sides. It is also called the Rialto market and it is the bridge that connects the two sides of Venice that is separated by the Grand Canal. I really liked browsing through the Murano glass work and leather bag shops which were very prominent throughout the city.

Saint Mark Basilica

San Marco Square

Pigeons at San Marco

After reaching the other side, we relaxed for a bit by the canal taking pictures and enjoying the beautiful view of restaurants by canal lit with lamps and decorated with flowers on both sides. I loved walking by them and took the opportunity to capture them as well. We spent the rest of the evening at our hotel enjoying beautiful view of the Santa Maria Church reflecting over the calm well lit water of the grand canal.

Canal view

Restaurants by the canal

Our second day in Venice started with the delicious breakfast at the hotel deck which overlooked the Grand Canal. The fresh smoothies, juices and fruits was an awesome kick start to our day and we were ready to explore the rest of the city. We started our day with a charming gondola ride along the beautiful canals and bridges. Although it was a bit overpriced, we enjoyed riding under the bridges, passing by little restaurants by the canals and appreciated the elegant view from the water. We learned a little bit about the history of Venice and the lagoon that was created after diverting the water from the Adriatic Sea. We were then dropped on the opposite side from our hotel at the Santa Maria Church.

Santa Maria Church

Canals with Gondolas

Gondola Boat Ride

After strolling by the stairs of the church, we crossed the narrow bridges to walk towards the market and made our way to the Academy Bridge. The bridge showcases brilliant views of the city with Grand Canal in the back drop and is such a perfect spot for photography. We then returned to our hotel to pick our luggage to get to the train station. In the mean time we had hot cup of tea with some snacks at the hotel bar at the deck facing the canal view. It was a perfect end to our absolutely splendid trip.

Acadamy Bridge

Church of San Giorgio Maggiore

Canals with Gondolas

Venice has undoubtedly been one of the best destinations that I have ever visited and it is definitely worth an experience. It is truly a romantic city with unique setting. Which is your favorite city so far? Do share. I would love to hear!

The city of music, Vienna!

The Austrian capital Vienna also known as the city of music is one of the few places where ancient and modern architecture blend together. This city is home to some of the world’s most distinct and impressive cathedrals, palaces and monuments which is worth visiting at least once in life time. My trip to this historical city was just for a day and I was absolutely lured by its history to extend my stay. Fortunately the weather was warm and sunny which made the trip even more enjoyable.

Our journey in the city started with the visit to the State Opera House which is famous for its performances of theater, opera, and music. It is a very lively neighborhood to stroll by with innumerable eateries and souvenir shops. Later, we headed towards the Museum Quartier which is one of the largest cultural center of the city. We walked through the Hofburg palace, Austrian Parliament, Museum of Natural History capturing memories and admiring the beautiful architecture of all these monuments with rich cultural and historical significance.

Our last stop was the royal Schonbrunn Palace which is one of the remarkable cultural monuments in Vienna where the historical rulers resided during the summer. The garden and the ornate decor of the palace is such a quaint view. The handmade honey candles, fresh flower bath oils and hanging decor shops lit up the palace and it was so amazing to walk past the artists and watch them hand carve their traditional handicrafts. It was a very enjoyable atmosphere while the other curious tourists just like me gathered by the artists with intriguing questions.

Vienna is a huge city with just so much to explore. I wish I had a few more days to explore and enjoy the other cities of Austria such as Innsbruck and Salzburg. I hope I am lucky to go back and visit these places too.

Museum of Natural History

Hofburg Palace

Museum Quartier

Outside Schonbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn Palace

Handmade decor

Artists carving handicrafts

Colorful handicrafts

Hanging decor

Amsterdam, My first city in Europe as a traveler!

My first European city as a traveler, Amsterdam will always be a remarkable venture for me. Both intimidated and excited at the same time, I landed in the city to begin my incredible journey. To my surprise, it was just so easy to embrace the culture and uniqueness of the city. I was overwhelmed with the warmth of the friendly and fun-loving people in Amsterdam. The canal, cruises, bicycles and coffee shops, there is just so much that sets this extra ordinary city class apart from the others.

The most popular means of commute in Amsterdam is biking. Myriads of people can be seen biking through the city in the bike lane. Renting a bike to explore the city and experience the culture at the same time is definitely a great idea. Since all the landmarks in the city such as the Rijksmuseum, Dam Square, Central Station are so close to each other, it is not even tiring to bike around the city. Personally I love to walk and explore, that way I don’t have to care about the bike’s safety, but biking is fun too.

Holland is famous for its bulb flowers, particularly the tulips. One of things that was always in my bucket list was to visit the tulip garden fields in Holland. I finally got to see the Keukenhof garden which is the second largest tulip garden in the world. The striking colors of the tulips, orchids and lilies planted and arranged creatively in different patterns was really a breathtaking view. The garden is open for three months from March to May and I was lucky to be in Holland during the spring season.

Lilies

Orchids

Flower Show

Fresh Flowers

Tulips

Outdoor Garden

Amsterdam is known for its elite night life across the world. Leidseplein is the neighborhood in the city known for live entertainment, music, bars, restaurants and casinos. We really enjoyed the delicious street food there. Every evening, we would wander in different streets to experiment new smoky appetizing cuisines. One that I enjoyed the most was Turkish cuisine Donor Kebabs which is halal chicken stuffed in pita wraps which was inexpensive yet so delicious.

In short, Amsterdam is a spectacular and friendly city with delicious food, rich history and great night life. What’s your first European city as a traveler?

I am sterdam

Canals and bikes

I am Amsterdam

Dam Square

Biking

Welcome to Prague!

I will always cherish the fond memories of my days spent in the colorful and vibrant city of Prague in Czech Republic. The city has its own unique charisma and is as rich in culture and history as it is in beauty. The vivid architectural buildings, tapering streets and little bohemian handicraft shops made me want to stay there forever. The highlights of the city are the Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and the Prague Castle.

Old Town Square is the historical center of Prague and here is where we spent the best time of our trip. The church of Our Lady before tyn, Astronomical clock and the Jan Hus statue are the dominant landmarks of the Old Town Square. We enjoyed strolling through the colorful Easter art shops and galleries. We just couldn’t get enough of it so we returned to catch a last sight of the Old Town Square at night and enjoyed dinner while the hustle and bustle of the tourists had mellowed down.

The church of Our Lady before tyn

Bohemian art shops

Easter Decoration

Astronomical Clock

Old Town Square

Charles Bridge resides in the center of the city runs over the Vlatava River and connects the two ends of Prague. Locals believe the statues of the bridge have supernatural powers to grant a secret wish to one who touches the statue and desires for a wish. The bridge has 16 arches and is full of street artists, musicians and statues. It provides an extensive view of the city with the Prague Castle in the backdrop. Prague castle is a colossal home to the St. Vitus Cathedral, royal palaces and beautiful gardens. We visited church in the Castle during our sight seeing tour in Prague and found the mosaics in the church very captivating.

My visit to Prague was such an unforgettable adventure. I highly recommend this city to people of all ages who enjoy a lively city with rich history and scenic outlook.

Cobbled Streets

Entrance to Charles Bridge

Handmade Bohemian art

Statues in the Charles Bridge

St. Vitus Cathedral

Sight seeing tours to Prague Castle

View from Charles Bridge

A beautiful day in Budapest, Hungary!

I was thrilled to visit the extraordinary city of Budapest which has a very interesting landscape of BUDA (hills) and PEST (flat land) separated by river Danube. River Danube flows in the heart of the city and the three outstanding bridges that connect the BUDA and PEST are Elizabeth, Freedom and Chain Bridge.

My visit to Budapest was short yet very sweet. Being unfamiliar with the city, we decided to take the hop on, hop off bus which took us around the prominent landmarks in the city. Our first stop was the Buda’s Castle District where I was amazed to see the phenomenal Matthias church, Fisherman’s Bastion and architectural Buda’s Castle on the hill. One thing I enjoyed the most was walking down the emerald green hills by the castle all the way to the Chain bridge to board on to the river cruise. We had complimentary river cruise ride with our bus tour tickets which offered us the best panoramic view of the city at night. The city of Budapest is at its best during night when the Hungarian Parliament, Buda’s Castle and the bridges look very lustrous and reflect onto calm water of the river Danube to make it even more delightful.

One thing I missed during my visit to Budapest was to experience the grand Turkish bath in the Széchenyi thermal bath by the Hero’s square which is the largest thermal bath in Europe. It is still in my wish list and I hope to accomplish it in my next visit to the beautiful city.

Matthias Church

Hungarian Parliament

Freedom Bridge

Fisherman’s Bastion

Chain Bridge

Fisherman’s Bastion

Chain Bridge

Chain Bridge