Europe family tour

PARIS in FRANCE

31st May 2023 (Wednesday): Visited Paris after arriving by rail from Zurich.

Reached the apartment Airbnb at 43 in the second floor...taken lunch at chicken burger and naan rolls.

We went on underground Paris metro from Curie station to B Betristat about 12 stations away ...

Started on the banks of Seine river.

Notre Dam a chapel partially burnt in 2019. There is an underground museum of the chapel and details of the restoration work in progress.

Expected to be completed by 2024.

We went from there to Place de Pantheon and the university of Paris...where in Lewis Pasteur, Mitterand and many more studied.

Walked through to Luxumbourg Park that housed the palace...sat there for sometime and returned back to the flat.

1st June 2023 (Thursday): Went to Arc de Triumph a victory memorial after the Ist world war and remembered the French Heros of great valor. 

Then went to Eiffel Tower. We went by lift to the Summit to a hieght of 278 meters; enjoyed to view of Paris city from the sky. After coming down; took some photos from the bridge over Seine river and the garden with fountain at the Natioal school of dance.

 Paris Catacombs an under the city tunnels converted to bury the skeletons at about a depth of 170 feet. They are actually the mining sites. During the French Revolution, there were lot of deaths due to starvation and lack of food; the cemetaries are full. There is a great demand for place and the king decided to covert the mining caves and converted to keep the skeletons; Cemeteries are dug and the bones are kept in stacks as supporting walls in between the pillars.

2nd June 2023 (Friday): Picked up the Bullet train from Central Station.

AMSTERDAM in NETHERLANDS

2nd June 2023 (Friday): Stayed at Ramada near the Airport.

My Birthday spent on the beautiful streets of Amsterdam. Went on Amsterdam Boat Tour for an hour. It is very good with detailed explanation of the Dutch history and the Canal system including the Dutch port and some of the remarkable Landmark buildings along the canals. Seen the Cat Museum with some rare collection of art pieces. We went to Madras Diaries, a popular restaurant and tasted Masala Dosa, Uttapam, Gulab Jamun etc., and came out fully satisfied.

3rd June 2023 (Saturday): Went to Anne Frank House and Museum.  Anne Frank a Jewish child who spent 2 years in an Isolated house during the 2nd world war. Her diary has become world famous and was translated into 70 languages including Bengali and Hindi. Her father Otto Frank survived the Nazi.

Reached Amsterdam Airport and flew to Venice.

VENICE in ITALY

3rd June 2023 (Saturday): Reached by evening. Stayed at Airbnb in Mestre near old city of Venice, about 10 minutes from the Morco Polo Airport.

4th June 2023 (Sunday): Started to Venice main area by bus and reached Bus station. Started by walk along the Venician streets and bridges across the canals. Reached St. Mark's Basilica and St. Mark square. Went upto the tower and enjoyed the aerial view of the city and surrounding islands.

5th June 2023 (Monday): Started with slight drizzle and rain. Went to Morano and Burano islands...by boat. The Morano has an excellent glass factories and collection of works. Later went to Burano, which has beautiful landscape and colorful houses and lattice work. Nature is at its best. Returned back by 6 pm.

ROME in ITALY

6th June 2023 (Tuesday): Reached Rome by Train.

Visited Pantheon Roma where Mother Mary temple and other Martyrs are remembered. There are paintings and sculptures of some of the Christian gods.

Trevi Fountain is also very gigantic and show Roman river gods. 

7th June 2023 (Wednesday): Started and went by Metro Roma (underground) to reach an Indian restaurant. 

Visited Vatican Museum and Sistina Chapel with excellent collection of works by Michelangelo. The Cartographic works, sculptures of Italy are also excellent. The Egyptian section is very informative including the mummies and some inscriptions.

8th June 2023 (Thursday): St. Peters Basilica, the headquarters of Roman Catholic church, Collosium of Rome, a massive amphithetre in ruins with surrounding Roman monuments. The grandeure is unimaginable, the Roman civilization is one of the ancient one and complicated to understand.

9th June 2023 (Friday): Started to Milan in the morning by train.

MILAN in ITALY

9th June 2023 (Friday): Reached by afternoon. 

Visited Duomo di Milano the most visited cathedral in Milan, the second most populous city in Italy. The cathedral has a unique design and looks beautiful. One of the nails of Jesus Christ is preserved here. and the Nativity of Mother Mary. It has the archbishop of Milan. We have also seen the Museum of Duomo Milan preserved the remnants of the cathedral is very good.

The remarkable fashion street is very good with world renowned fashion brands there. Shopping for Hemanth, Parthu and Sushant done here in H and M shop. Prada has a unique collection and very expensive.

10th June 2023 (Saturday): Priya started her return journey to India. We have started by train to Zurich.

ZURICH in SWITZERLAND

10th June 2023 (Saturday): Priya's flight got delayed and missed the connecting flight in Sharjah. They have arranged flight to Mumbai and did not wait for the next day. We did not sleep till she reached Mumbai...at 5 am.

11th June 2023 (Sunday): Went to Felsenegg hill-station by Train and cable car to an attitude of 2600 ft. The view and nature is excellent. We had a trekking along the grasslands.

12th June 2023 (Monday): We went to Uetliberg on our own and went to Uto Kulm and enjoyed the nature. Went to China Garden by Tram along the lakeside. Returned back and visited Teddy Souvenir shop. purchased Mechanical Cuckoo clock set for 8 days...works without batteries...costed about 400 franks.

13th June (Tuesday): Morning went to National Museum of Switzerland; Landesmuseum just behind Zurich central station.  There are sections on Switzerland history, Swiss Press Photo 2023 with some excellent quality photos. Went to Google office and after lunch went to purchase some more souvenirs; returned home.