Shakti's Musings & Travelogue

When my daughter hit the dazzling age of 12, I thought, “Why not whisk her away on a mother-daughter trip to Europe?” I wanted her to dive headfirst into culture, history, and, let’s face it, get a taste of life outside our lovely India. So, we decided to book a guided tour with SOTC because, honestly, who wants to navigate the chaos of logistics when we could be busy taking selfies and pretending to be totally chill? Our grand adventure kicked off in London, where we spotted Big Ben (that clock trying way too hard to be the star of the show), wove through Piccadilly Circus (just as confusing as it sounds), ambled across Tower Bridge (which, spoiler alert, doesn’t really tower over anything), crammed ourselves into photos at Trafalgar Square, took a leisurely spin on the London Eye (the world’s slowest roller coaster, no less), and finally, paid a visit to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum – because nothing screams family bonding quite like posing next to waxy celebrities who won’t say a word!

After a breakfast that could make any croissant jealous (sarcasm), we hopped in the bus and zoomed towards Brussels like a bunch of excited Belgians on a chocolate high! First up was the adorably mischievous Manneken Pis statue, that cheeky little fountain boy who seemed to have a permanent grin; we then ambled over to the stunning Town Hall and the Municipal Museum, where art whispered sweet nothings in our ears. The Royal Palace had us feeling royal (until we remembered we weren’t invited), and St. Michael’s Cathedral had us questioning our own life choices about churches. Finally, we stood awestruck before the mammoth Palace of Justice, which could probably fit a small village inside! Last but not least, we made a pit stop to gawk at the Atomium, a mind-boggling structure that makes you feel tiny, representing an iron molecule that was cranked up to 165 billion times.

Our adventure then took us to Eindhoven, where we fueled up with breakfast before hopping into our trusty chariot—aka the tour bus—headed for the Keukenhof Gardens. Now, if you’re not familiar, this place is like the Instagram paradise of tulips, sprawling over 80 acres of jaw-droppingly gorgeous landscapes and thematic gardens. Think of it as Mother Nature’s bright and cheery art exhibition!

After we indulged in some lunch (and probably too many tulip-themed snacks), we revved the engines and cruised down to The Hague, the political capital of the Netherlands—where they probably argue about the weather more than anything else. While there, we visited a quirky little shoe factory, where they craft those famous wooden shoes! You haven’t truly lived until you’ve tried on a pair of clogs and felt like you could paddle a canoe with your feet.

Our grand finale for the day? Amsterdam! The best way to soak in this charming city is from the water, so we hopped on a canal cruise. Because let’s be real, there’s nothing quite like drifting along the canals, waving at strangers while secretly judging their houseboats—because we all know boat envy is a real thing!

Hopped over to Austria, where the Alps give you a view that could make a postcard blush! We zoomed straight to Wattens, home of the dazzling Swarovski Crystal Museum, and let me tell you, I left with a sparkly piece of bling—earrings and a chain that could probably outshine the sun! After indulging in a bit of crystal therapy, we cruised down to Innsbruck, the glamorous capital of Tyrol province. There, you can gawk at the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), an ornate Gothic balcony that’s basically the Beyoncé of balconies, along with a 17th-century fountain boasting an equestrian statue of King Leopold V, who apparently loved the idea of being immortalized on a horse. We also checked out St. Anne’s Column, the triumphal arch of Innsbruck that’s seen both celebrations and an existential crisis, and the Heiblinghaus, which looks so much like a wedding cake.

Next, we waddled our way to Venice, that fabulous archipelago of 118 islands and 400 bridges—perfect for getting thoroughly lost! We cruised over to Mussolini’s Bridge of Liberty, which sounds grand until you realize it just leads to more confusion. Then, we took a boat ride over the Giudecca Canal to St. Mark’s Square, the heartbeat of Venice, where we spotted the historic Ducal Palace, the infamous prison (great place for a selfie), and the Bridge of Sighs—because who doesn’t love a dramatic backdrop? We also admired the clock tower and the baroque bling of St. Mark’s Basilica like it was the latest fashion trend. Oh, and we popped into the Murano Glass factory where a master craftsman dazzled us with his glass-blowing skills; it was like watching magic. And let’s not forget the quintessential Gondola ride on the Grand Canal—it’s a must, even if the water smells like a fish market on a hot day!

After we’re done marveling at all those stunning churches and chapels, it’s time to roll into Rome! First stop: Piazza Venezia, where you can bask in the glory of the Colossal Victor Emmanuel II Monument. This giant structure was built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Italian reunification, or as I like to call it, “Let’s have a huge marble structure to remind everyone we’re a big deal!”

Next up is the magnificent Colosseum, the granddaddy of all arenas. You haven’t truly experienced Rome until you’ve stood next to this iconic structure, which, let’s be honest, is essentially the world’s biggest ancient sports stadium. Legend has it that when the Colosseum falls, Rome will fall, and then the world will follow. So basically, we’re all banking on this colossal hunk of stone sticking around a while longer! Just imagine the chaos: one minute you’re enjoying your gelato, the next, the Colosseum takes a tumble and everyone is running in circles like it’s a bad action movie. But hey, at least the selfies will be epic!

On Day 12, we sashayed our way into Florence, the dazzling diva of the Renaissance! Be sure to gaze up at the impressive Duomo – it’s like the city saying, “Look at me, I’m fabulous!” Then strut over to Signoria Square to contemplate the wisdom of the imposing Palazzo Vecchio Tower, while secretly hoping it doesn’t topple over. And don’t forget the Ponte Vecchio, where you might just lose track of time (and money) shopping! After soaking in the Florentine glamour, we pranced over to Pisa to admire the Baptistery and snap a selfie with the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa – because what’s a trip without a tilted monument? And seriously, don’t you dare leave without indulging in some mouthwatering Pizza and Pasta for lunch; it’s basically mandatory!

We then drove to the debonair Queen of the French Riviera—Nice, where the Mediterranean waters are so blue they make sapphires jealous, and the romantic atmosphere makes you consider a career in poetry. Nestled in the Bay of Angels, it’s a must to visit Eze Village, Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Cannes—because you can’t leave France without attempting to pronounce “Eze” correctly. At the Fragonard Perfumery in Eze, we discovered how perfumes are made—spoiler alert: a lot of sniffing! In Monaco, we checked out Prince Rainer’s Royal Palace and the Cathedral, where every royal family member felt a bit cozy. Monte Carlo had us driving on the glamorous Grand Prix circuit, pretending we were part of the race—who knew our car could go that fast? Finally, we rolled into Cannes, the kind of place that practically sparkles back at you, with the famous international festival of Cinema where you can watch stars walk the red carpet and leave feeling very underdressed.

Day 15, we rolled into Milan, Italy’s second biggest city and the place where design and fashion strut around like they own the place. They say if Rome is the heart of Italy, then Milan is like the over-caffeinated brain running the show. We checked out the famous Milan Cathedral, which is Italy’s largest Gothic structure—basically the “biggest, oldest building” contest winner. Then there was Piazza del Duomo, the Victor Emmanuel II gallery, and of course, the prestigious Opera House. We couldn’t forget the statue of Leonardo da Vinci right next to it, probably giving us the side-eye for our fashion choices!

Finally, what better way to cap off a trip than by frolicking in Switzerland. Enroute to Swiss alps, we got to visit Lake Como, one of the deepest lakes in Europe. It’s also basically the red carpet for Hollywood stars—I half expected to bump into a celebrity while trying to figure out how to pronounce “Bellagio” correctly. Meanwhile, Switzerland is like Mother Nature’s own Instagram filter; every corner you turn offers a perfect shot for your feed. We cruised over to Lauterbrunnen, hopped on a train that somehow defies gravity to Jungfraujoch—the highest railway station in Europe at 11,333 ft., where you can actually feel your eardrums protesting. Standing before the breathtaking Jungfrau peak and the Aletsch Glacier is like being in a postcard, or maybe an ice cream commercial, but definitely not like being in the real world!

And just when I thought I couldn’t squeeze any more joy out of this trip, I realized I’d managed to capture some epic shots! I felt like a photography wizard summoning memories from the digital realm. Those photos are my little treasures—ready to remind me of the fabulous adventures and maybe stir up some serious wanderlust. Who needs a time machine when you’ve got a camera, am I right?