The world is so beautiful! Part 3

The last and the best part of my fairytale…

Switzerland - Even before arriving in Switzerland, I knew that this country would top my list of favourite places. Entering Switzerland felt like coming home - as I had always belonged here. Sitting by the window of the bus we were travelling in, I tried to grasp the beauty of the alluring Swiss Alps. I was so mesmerised by the gigantic Swiss alps emitting their majestic glory that I did not look away from them even for a minute. Looking at the beauty felt like reading a book that I cannot put down. Or perhaps watching a movie in a cinema hall - I would not look away lest I miss something.

We reached the village of Stans to take a funicular railway and then a cable car to reach the peak of Mount Stanserhorn. A funicular railway is a type of railway carriage that goes up and down steep hills. Our Funicular carriage provided spectacular views of the Swiss Alps on one side and the city of Lucerne and Lucerne lake on the other. What made the experience whole was the feeling of fresh air on my face, the gush of wind twirling my hair, the earthly scent, the crystal blue sky, the lush, green grass, the sound of chirping birds, and the silvery sound of the tolling of handbells. We also got to experience the cable car for the other half of our journey to the peak. Mount Stanershorn offered wide views of the Swiss Alps, with the Pilatus and Lake Lucerne in the north, and the Bernese Alps in the south.

Lake Lucerne

View from the funicular carriage on our way to the peak

View from Mount Stanserhorn

Just after sunset, we went for a cruise around Lake Lucern. The cruise provided another chance to take in the marvellous Swiss Alps and the breathtaking Lake Lucerne. I also indulged in a cheese fondue in Lucerne - a must on the Swiss land. And how do we cheer on the Swiss land? We say Pröschtli.

Cruising on Lake Lucerne

Paris, France

The city of love, the city of light, the fashion capital of the world - Paris is absolutely magical. There is a vibe in this city, a vibe that is dreamy, tantalising, happy, and spicy. The city has got everything - views, food, love, architecture, palaces, haute couture, style, glamour, cabarets, art, Monalisa and most importantly, La Tour Eiffel.

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 and was named after Gustave Eiffel, whose company built the tower. One word for it - magnificent. I could not stop myself from admiring its magnificence every time I saw it, which was a lot (because it can be seen from most places). It is an absolutely stunning and sensational experience to walk by the Seine river and watch the twinkling lights of the tower at night.

Panoramic view of Paris from Montparnasse Tower. Isn’t it magical?

Another wonderful and relaxing experience in Paris was the leisurely stroll along the river Seine and witnessing and admiring numerous architectural gems on the way, which is why I think the best way to experience Paris is by foot.

Strolling along Seine river

So many favourite experiences from Paris. Another experience that topped the list was Moulin Rouge. The famous Red windmill of Moulin Rouge is hard to miss in Paris. The words Moulin Rouge literally translate to the red mill. Moulin Rouge is a world of music, cabaret, art, acrobat, shimmer, glamour, and glory. The show is packed with jaw-dropping, risqué performances. I was amazed to see the extraordinary talent and art that encapsulated the stadium. It is a must-must if you are in Paris. If you are planning to experience this (which is a must, I emphasise), please get your tickets in advance.

The famous Red Windmill

I had a croissant almost every day on the Europe trip, so I had to try croissants in the country where they became famous and acquired the status of more than just a snack. That is true - it is not just a snack, it is a celebration. There is also a day dedicated to it - 30 January is celebrated as Croissant day. Anyway, I had the most amazing, flaky croissants - the best in the world in Paris. I also had the most delectable, totally worth swooning over French onion soup. How do we toast in French? Santé!

The most visited art museum in the world, the place where the iconic Mona Lisa rests, the Louvre Museum

Classic French boulevard

London, United Kingdom

London is one of the most famous places in the world - the capital synonymous with the Queen and the Royal family. Another capital city with the whole world within - nice ambience, good food, amazing style, a gorgeous river, medieval and modern architecture, and what not.

I explored London on foot, by train, and by double-decker bus. A few places that were on my must-visit list were London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Eye, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Sky Garden, Shard, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, Hyde Park, Borough Market, and Convent Garden and I managed to see all of these. Out of all the places and experiences in London, strolls along the Thames river and the Tower Bridge view from across it are my favourite.

Isn’t Tower Bridge the most beautiful bridge you have seen?

St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the backdrop are some of London’s skyscrapers - Neoclassical and modern architecture existing simultaneously.

River Thames and London Eye

The Tower of London

Big Ben

Westminster Abbey

Travelling around Europe was special because not only did I get to see so many different countries but I also experienced an eclectic mix of cultures, cuisines, languages, landscapes, fashion, histories, art, and architecture. Europe is magical - there is a different culture just across the street (the country borders, that are not far away from each other in this continent). I have taken a piece of every place in my heart and that would stay in my heart forever and every now and then would also call me back.

Travel to me means much more than doing all the touristy things. I want to go back to these places and spend some time with the locals, know more about their culture, learn more about their traditions, dance forms, and languages, and explore the roads not taken.

What’s the key thing to achieving this? According to me, it is personal finance. Making smart decisions about money - because we have a limited supply of money and myriad desires. Conscious of the length and theme of this article, I will talk about personal finance in future articles.

A travel tip - take lots of photos. Photos are good reminders of all the fun you had and the magnificence of the places you visited when the memories start to fade. Photos also entice me to revisit those places. But another also very important point, do not forget to live in the moment when you are there. Looking at photos is vastly different to what I had experienced, yet photos are a wonderful reminder of the beauty and joy that I had experienced. One more travel tip - try local food and drinks, you would not regret it.

If you are planning to visit these places, need some travel tips or just need to talk about travel or Europe, reach out. I would be more than happy to talk :)

The world is an extremely beautiful place and there is absolute charm and magic in travelling! Still too scared to travel or to break that barrier and take the risk? Think of what Sheryl Crow says:

If it makes you happy
It can't be that bad