17-19 Sept 2008
Bonjour..
I’ve never got a very good impression of Paris prior to this trip. To my amaze, what welcomed me were beautiful sculptures and a very lovely cool weather.
First day of the tour, we were driven around the city with only a glimpse at places of interest from the coach. Not until the second day, we were allowed to roam around the city doing some reasonable shopping and sight-seeings! Joanne pampered herself with a Louis Vuitton bag at the famous Champs-Elysees while I geared myself up with a piece of the local football team’s top.
The windy weather proved to be a challenging task for us to walk around the streets. Due to the unexpected cold weather, both Joanne and I were forced to contribute to the Paris’s economic by “exchanging” some eruos with some cotton long sleeves sweaters!
Eiffel Tower was equally astonishing as compared to Tokyo Tower. The view over the top of the tower was breathtaking for sure! Night view of the well-known tower was striking from far especially with it’s disco-lighting every few minutes! Of course we did soak into the romantic evening with a hot cuppuchino by the road side café as well.
Overall my impression of Paris, or rather France, was totally changed after these 2days. Nevermind we did not speak their language, most of their people were friendly. We did experience our fair share of hooligan’s hospitality at the Effiel but nonetheless, the artistic building structures and strange sounding language did enough to convince me that this trip was worth the penny.
For this romantic trip to Paris, I’d give 3.5stars to this bunch of self-centered French. Au¬vior..
Switzerland - Lucerne, Interlaken
19 – 21 Sept 2008
Journey to our first stop in Switzerland, Lucerne, from France, Paris, was nearly 10 hours. During the long journey via coach, regular short washroom break was always turned into a short shopping spree!
Upon arriving at Lucerne, we could sense the friendliness of the local people almost immediately. That’s a huge difference as compared to the French. The Swiss smiles more and most importantly they speak English!
The building structures in Lucerne were not merely just artistic, they portraited an additional cartoonist and lively cottage sculptures as well. In short, the buildings were more colourful! Few structures worth mentioning were the Chapel Bridge, Bucherer – The famous Rolex building and the Lion Monument. Strolling around the wet market by the river on a weekend morning was interesting too.
The trip to Switzerland was filled with a couple of expeditions too; Mount Titlis and Jungfrau Region. Both Joanne and I were feeling nausea to sit through the cable car, train and tram ride up to the peak of the mountains. The view was scenic but the temperature of –4 deg cel was never giving us an easy time! We were so well-prepared to fight the cold but our feet were not; our toes nearly got froze bitten as we do not have a proper snow trekking shoes. Nevertheless, the overall experience was indeed an ever-lasting one but we do not desired a second outing again!
The stay in Interlaken was a far more better one I supposed. It’s a town which specially catered to the tourism industry. You could see lots of gifts and branded shops waiting for your “contribution”!
Stay in Switzerland has come to an end. The next stop, Italy. Hopefuilly more memorable experiences will be welcoming us! 4 stars for the great hospitality service!
Italy - Milan, Venice, Pisa, Siena, Rome
21 – 25 Sept 2008
Upon arriving at Lucerne, we could sense the friendliness of the local people almost immediately. That’s a huge difference as compared to the French. The Swiss smiles more and most importantly they speak English!
The building structures in Lucerne were not merely just artistic, they portraited an additional cartoonist and lively cottage sculptures as well. In short, the buildings were more colourful! Few structures worth mentioning were the Chapel Bridge, Bucherer – The famous Rolex building and the Lion Monument. Strolling around the wet market by the river on a weekend morning was interesting too.
The trip to Switzerland was filled with a couple of expeditions too; Mount Titlis and Jungfrau Region. Both Joanne and I were feeling nausea to sit through the cable car, train and tram ride up to the peak of the mountains. The view was scenic but the temperature of –4 deg cel was never giving us an easy time! We were so well-prepared to fight the cold but our feet were not; our toes nearly got froze bitten as we do not have a proper snow trekking shoes. Nevertheless, the overall experience was indeed an ever-lasting one but we do not desired a second outing again!
The stay in Interlaken was a far more better one I supposed. It’s a town which specially catered to the tourism industry. You could see lots of gifts and branded shops waiting for your “contribution”!
Stay in Switzerland has come to an end. The next stop, Italy. Hopefuilly more memorable experiences will be welcoming us! 4 stars for the great hospitality service!
Italy - Milan, Venice, Pisa, Siena, Rome
21 – 25 Sept 2008
Singapore’s Ah-Long will have a future here in Italy. I am referring to the artisitic graffitis which they scribbled on people’s door! In Italy, there are graffitis, no I should say, vandalism, all over every wall at every corner of the streets! It’s that serious. Apparently the Italians are not cleaning the walls as they most probably know that the “workpieces” will be back again!
According to our tour-guide, Italy has got one of the highest crime rate; tourists are potential target for pickpocket. In fact, we have had the first hand experience when we arrived in Milan, the fashion city. The Italians were knocking people on the shoulders while walking through the crowded streets. That’s when you will have to check back on your bag.
We have been visiting numerous Duomos, Italian’s churches, in Siena and Venice. Every church easily can be more than 1,000 over years old. Gosh! That’s when we were told of the story behind those famous churches, namely Gothic Duomo. Pisa Leaning Tower was marvellous too!
That not all, I am walking on a historic Roman civilization underneath my foot in Rome! That included the famous Colosseum and St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. Photos of the civilization which I’m gonna brought back, would not be able to explain the astonishment both Joanne and me felt! Every single piece of pillar or wall has a story to tell.
Overall, the trip to Europe was a memorable one for sure! Although this is just my second time joining a tour-group but if you managed to click well with the group, I think that will definitely enhance the entire holiday mood.
Lastly, this is the first time where I’ve left so much currency prior to returning (home). So how I spent the money?? Well, maybe my wife and the Gucci’s staff at Rome airport will be glad to answer your question!
4 stars for Italy. Majority of the points came off the Italian futbol which I've experienced in this trip! Ciao..
According to our tour-guide, Italy has got one of the highest crime rate; tourists are potential target for pickpocket. In fact, we have had the first hand experience when we arrived in Milan, the fashion city. The Italians were knocking people on the shoulders while walking through the crowded streets. That’s when you will have to check back on your bag.
We have been visiting numerous Duomos, Italian’s churches, in Siena and Venice. Every church easily can be more than 1,000 over years old. Gosh! That’s when we were told of the story behind those famous churches, namely Gothic Duomo. Pisa Leaning Tower was marvellous too!
That not all, I am walking on a historic Roman civilization underneath my foot in Rome! That included the famous Colosseum and St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. Photos of the civilization which I’m gonna brought back, would not be able to explain the astonishment both Joanne and me felt! Every single piece of pillar or wall has a story to tell.
Overall, the trip to Europe was a memorable one for sure! Although this is just my second time joining a tour-group but if you managed to click well with the group, I think that will definitely enhance the entire holiday mood.
Lastly, this is the first time where I’ve left so much currency prior to returning (home). So how I spent the money?? Well, maybe my wife and the Gucci’s staff at Rome airport will be glad to answer your question!
4 stars for Italy. Majority of the points came off the Italian futbol which I've experienced in this trip! Ciao..
