The Big Blank

Whirlwind Eurotrip

I had a weeks break from classes and did catch-train-run-around-the-city-catch-train routine through germany, austria, italy and spain all in 10 days. The schedule goes something like this.

Munich, Germany (Half day - delayed train) Dachau concentration camp
Comments - It was a cold gray morning. I forgot to take my camera and ooohhh it was a depressing place. With pics of heaps of corpses, the beds used and the films shot. It was gruesome. The POWs were taken into the gas chambers faking them as bath rooms. They even had fake showers.
Salzburg, Austria (A day) Salt Mines and biking around in the city
Comments - It was a beautiful sunny day. The biking up the alps to the salt mine was strenuous. I had to drag my bicycle half the distance. The hills were great with its small houses scattered here and there. The city is really beautiful.



Venice, Pisa, Pompeii, Rome (three days)
Comments - Rome and Pisa were absolutely amazing. The compound in which leaning tower of Pisa is looked absolutely amazing in the late evening. I liked the other buildings in that area better than the tower.



I just dont have words for Rome. The city is riddled with ruins of the ancient time and every corner has a majestic site. Now I know why all roads lead to Rome and why it couldn't have been built in a day. Cliches they are but absolutely true.



Pompeii of the volcano Mount Vesuvius fame and Venice were a bit of a let down. May be the expectations were too much.

We caught a cruise from near Rome to Barcelona. It was one royal cruise with pool side bar, casions, on board shopping and what not. It was off season and we got it cheap. The deck was pretty empty and we had 15 people for 200 seats. We watched TV, sat by the swimming pool and spent time on all the decks of the cruise.



Barcelona, Madrid, San Sebastin (three days)
Comments - Barcelona is one happening city. It is a vibrant place. As the evening sets people turn out of no where and flood the streets. Saw such a display of culture and creativity no where else. In addition to the usual silver painted guy with the hat in front, there was a tree, a king, a queen, a sword eater, few skeletons and a devil all in few 100 feet.



Madrid did not had much. Had a batchmate there and as did not have time to go into southern Spain so decided to go there. We went to a nearby monastery and finally entered a museum, so far avoiding them. Tapestry there were intricate and beuatiful.



The final stop San Sebastin had these sexy beaches and a high castle on hill to view them all from a height. It was too good a view. Though I have to say the best beaches I have seen are in Malaysia.

posted by Pankaj Jain @ 4:49 PM