EUROPEAN DIARY

PART 3

   Belgium: The Nation known for its chocolates, architecture, fries and football- Belgium was our next destination. Belgium is the neighbouring country of France, Netherland and Germany. They don’t have their own language but prefer using French and German or Dutch. With a population of around 11million, Belgium is a Happy Place to live in.

    We departed from France, Paris to be specific in the morning and reached Brussels (the capital of Belgium) in the noon. The first thing I saw there was an amazing network of Trams on the roads. We went to the Brussels City Centre and found many buildings and palaces in the famous Belgian architecture. They look eye-captivating and also the various floriculture exhibited there. The exotic flowers, make you want to sit there and relax for some time.

Palace

         

Flowers at every end

    Later, we walked our way to the major attraction of Brussels, ‘Manneken-Pis’. As the word Pis suggests Pissing, this is the statue of a small boy pissing. It is believed that because of the urination of this child, the entire country was saved as there had been fire all around. This is the most photographed statue in Belgium but is only of about 60cm in height.

Manneken- Pis

    Then it was the time to treat ourselves with delicious chocolates! There are many outlets nearby selling The Belgian Chocolates and you can buy them. Belgian chocolates are outstanding, they are a bit different than Swiss Chocolates because of the chocolate and milk variation. You must definitely buy a lot of chocolates from there.

   We then roamed in the city and purchased Souvenirs. They have great Souvenirs in the shops like a Glass Boot Having Photos of Belgium. We ate the famous Belgian Ice Cream Bar there and departed to see another sight there.

    It is called ‘The Atomium’.  It is a huge structure with 9 steel balls representing some chemical arrangement (I don’t remember any scientific thing now). Around 500m ahead is a water fountain from where you can click pictures. You might edge to see a rainbow from there as well. The Dutch land was calling us and we had to leave.

Atomium, Belgium

    Belgium is a Nice Country, you can definitely spend 2 to 3 days there. I didn’t do many things there which you’ll can do:                                            1. Eat the Famous Local Food and Fries.

2. Enjoy the night life there by visiting Beer Pubs there, you will not spot people out in the evening but inside a pub.

Belgium is a unique and peaceful country. The people there are very pleasant and interact with tourists properly.

   Thank You Friends for reading another blog of mine. Please ensure liking, commenting on it. Do let me know if I can improve. Hope to publish another blog by next week. See you soon.

EUROPEAN DIARY

PART 2

     Liechtenstein: Today I am going to tell you about another country that I visited- Liechtenstein! Liechtenstein can be better described as a ‘Part of Switzerland’. A very small country (160 sq.km to be precise) situated between Switzerland and Austria. The Population is approximately 40,000 and the currency having the influence of Swiss, hence Swiss Franc, even Euros accepted.

    In the morning we were in Switzerland and within an hour or so, were in Liechtenstein. From this we come to know that road travel in Europe is convenient and smooth. We visited the capital city Vaduz. Firstly, we were introduced to the Local Dotto Train that covers the whole city on roads, the city tour. Then we had to wait for half an hour for our turn, so went to the souvenir shop there, and found a lot of stuff to take back to our country. I purchased as many as 50 stamps of various countries, Golf balls of 5 European countries,and a coin. Got souvenir of many countries in a same place! The people there love Indians, this made me feel great to be an Indian.  

The Local City Tour Train

    Anyways, we were on the local city tour by the time we finished shopping. This was not on any specific train track, but on the road. So it was different as that vehicle looked like a mini train. I saw the local houses there, which are too big and luxurious like Row-houses. Then we stopped near some statue followed by the lush grape yards of the country. Something to capture in your eyes. Then came The Football Stadium! Such a small nation but they have their National Football Team and always represent in Euro’s and World Championships, which is astonishing. Then we saw the Liechtenstein’s Kings Castle. That is at an altitude and is huge. We then went to city centre, which is really beautiful. Austria was calling us, so we had to leave.

Grape Yards

Football Stadium

Local Houses

Castle kind of House

     All this cannot be defined with words but can be captured amazingly with eyes. If you are near Switzerland, Austria or even Germany or France, Liechtenstein can be one of the countries you can visit. There aren’t too many things to do, but many things to capture. You won’t realise it while travelling, but only after you come back to your country and see all the photos clicked. Thank You so Much for reading this Friends. I wait for your responses on this short description of Liechtenstein. 

EUROPEAN DIARY

PART 1

  Netherland: 3 years ago in June I had been to 10 European countries on a group tour with my family. Out of the 10 countries, one of them was The Dutch Land, Netherland! Our trip started from United Kingdom followed by France, Belgium and then Netherland, but I would definitely want to start with Holland.

    In the Morning we were in Brussels, Belgium and by the evening we reached Rotterdam in Netherland. We went to a nearby Indian Food Restaurant where it never felt that we were outside India with the ambience and service of the restaurant. For the night we stayed in The Inntel Hotels, Rotterdam Centre. Good Hotel with nice scenery around hotel and breakfast facilities. The place is well connected with Tram and underground Metro Station Leuvehaven. Connectivity in Netherlands is no problem.

    In the morning, we were on our way to Hague. 2 peculiar things that I noticed on my way were that there was a separate allotment on the roads for cyclists, and there were beautiful fields and gardens of Tulip Flowers of various colours. Both these still make an unforgettable memory.

The Tulip Gardens Around

    Anyways our next destination was ‘Madurodam’, a park near Hague. It is not just a park but much more than that! The first thing that you would say after entering the park is ‘WOW’. This park is not an ordinary park, it is a miniature park that replicates Famous Dutch Landmarks and historical places in the ratio of 1:25! And everything you want to see in Netherland in a small park! What else would a tourist want? And believe me This Park is a TREAT TO THE EYES! The park consists of almost all the must visit places of Holland like Amsterdam Airport, Port of Rotterdam, Tulip Fields, Football Stadium, etc. Not only the miniatures but also the moving vehicles installed in them entertains everyone. There can be thousands of images and videos clicked, but one of my friend has rightly said, “Eyes Capture, what Camera cannot!” And indeed you would definitely be amazed after visiting this place even without clicking photos. Apart from that there were various shops there to purchase Souvenirs of Netherland. Indeed The whole of Dutch Land in a Park!

Entrance of the Park

The Amazing Airport Miniature

Festival Miniature. 

    We left there in the Noon. After Lunch we went for a Motorboat Cruise (I don’t remember the place). But yes it was another relaxed ride between the city centre. People waiving and greeting always makes you happy as a tourist and you just want to stay in the city. Anyways we had an itinerary to follow and left for another Country.

   This is how I felt in Netherland. Despite having not visited Amsterdam, the country’s capital, I still felt that I saw the whole of the country because of Madurodam. You should definitely go there. I loved the way people live in this country, caring and cycling! I would like to request my readers to share your blog pages so that I can read you’ll. Any Suggestions or mistakes, please comment. Thank You Friends.