Around the World in 20 years (Part II: Europe)

After four years or so, I was prepared for the return trip to India, but not before making a halt at London and Paris. To me London seemed to have a mood of its own. It would rain one moment and the next it was as bright and sunny as an Indian summer. It was like one of those expensive dolls encased in glass boxes that you see in the mall but are forbidden to touch. The people and the streets had a sophistication that I had not seen before. What it is, I cannot explain. Maybe it was the realization that the queen lived there and everyone needed to be on their best behavior. As naive and innocent as I was at that time, I couldn't help but realize the city had a freshness to it like the freshness you feel in the air after the rain. All I remember about London other than the museums was spending hours by the Buckingham Palace hoping I would see a member of the Royal family. I also remember all the fun I had at Madame Tussauds wax museum- the ORIGINAL. The wax figurines there were just too good to be true and seemed larger than life. At least I got to take pictures with the Royal Family there :) I am sure there is a lot more to the city that I missed out on. I would love to travel to London once again and revisit the good times.

The last stop after London was Paris. If I had any interest in fashion at that age, I would have probably refused to leave. However, Paris at that time was all about museums. The most memorable was The Louvre Museum, host to Leonardo's most famous painting ever...the Mona Lisa. I remember reading about how people have been trying to figure out the reason behind Mona's smile for ages and the mystique behind the painting is what intrigued me. I also remember climbing to the top of the Eiffel tower and enjoying the view of Paris. I couldn't believe that what I had seen in movies until then was now a reality right under my feet! So many love stories probably had their beginning there and being on top of the Eiffel truly felt like being on top of the world.

Although I came home to India after this adventure, I always had a longing to return to those places....to take in the sights again, this time with a better understanding of the world around me, of the historical value these places have, of the culture and the beauty that these places possess that make you just stop and stare in your tracks. Who knows, maybe someday I will and write my next blog post from the top of the Eiffel tower again!