TRAVEL

An Explorer in every Tourist

A much-anticipated holiday had left us excited and anxious, all at once. It was the first time that we – that is, our group of six adults – were taking an extensive trip with our five kids, all 3-to-8 years old. We are passionate about road trips, but the time one must invest in getting a group of kids ready on time, every second day, can be dreadful. So, to make things a bit easier for ourselves, we planned a 7-day European cruise, followed by a 4-day stay in Italy.

What follows are our day-by-day diary jottings from what proved to be a memorable holiday.

Day 1: Arriving in Rome, we hired a taxi to the coastal town of Civitavecchia, and less than 60 minutes later, we had arrived. Our cruise ship, the MSC Fantasia, was docked and ready for guests to board. The boarding process itself was smooth, and we quickly got to our assigned rooms. All of the excitement around exploring the ship refreshed us in a jiffy!

The interiors were marvellous – gold décor and crystal stairs in the main reception area, which connected to the Casino, the Piano Room, and The Liquid Disco Club. The Pool Deck was all the way up on the 14th and 15th floors. Exploration done, and exhausted by our overnight travel, we decided to call it a day early. The next few days promised to be action-packed, and rest was much needed.

Day 2: We docked at La Spezia, a town entirely dedicated to the sea, with an impressive port and several splendid museums, including the Naval Museum. From there, we took a bus tour to Pisa, which, with its Leaning Tower, had long been on our bucket list. Next, we moved on to a wine-tasting tour. In the distance, the ‘marble mountains’ of the Apuan Alps shone in the sun like snowy mountains. We also spotted Carrara, a town that lends its name to the world’s most popular marble.

En-route we crossed Forte dei Marmi, a resort town that is popular for its clean and sandy beaches. The crowd here is suave, so don’t be surprised if you spot some of the ‘who’s who’ of the ‘Italy celebrity circuit’. (We have now added the town to our future travel list.)

Day 3: With the ship halting in Genoa, we decided to take a break, idling on board and relishing the scrumptious food. We took advantage of the beautiful, sunny weather, sipping some cool cocktails.

Day 4: We arrived at Cannes in the morning. Suckers for all things lux and opulent, we took a train to Monte Carlo, that quintessential town of well-heeled ladies and roaring automobile engines. A visit to the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the world’s oldest casino, and a gambling mecca, is an absolute must. (Did you know that each year, over 7 million tourists take selfies in front of the casino? Of course, we took one, too!) Heading back to Cannes, we had lunch and drinks at an über-chic cafe facing the coastline. The weather was perfect, and we only wished we could have stayed there a day more.

Day 5: Docking at Palma De Mallorca, we rented a car to take a 75-minute self-drive to the Caves of Drach (aka Dragon Caves), another absolute must-do. On the way, we explored several beaches, chancing upon Cala Millor, a small, serene town with hardly any tourists, and with a clean and beautiful beach. The kids had fun, and so did we. The cherry on the pie was eating at an Indian restaurant. After all, it had been five days since we left home, and we were also missing our yellow dal tadka.

Day 6: So much to do in Barcelona, but so little time. The city is a perfect tourist destination, but also heavily crowded.

Day 7: The Fantasia stopped at Ajaccio, which proved do be the most picturesque port we stopped at over our entire trip. This place is one bundle of surprises, with quaint local cafes and lots of live music. All we could say is, ‘C'est la vie!’

Day 8: Returning to our point of origin, Civitavecchia, we were back on dry land at last. Now it was time to do what we do best: a road trip, exploring the world beyond the guidebook. We had rented an alluring country villa in Umbria, with 8 tastefully done rooms, 3 kitchens, a swimming pool, and a play house for the children. Just perfect! After stocking up the kitchen, we met up with some locals – they are, all said and done, the best ‘guidebook’ of all – to get tips on the nearby region.

Day 9: Stopping at a small village that was once the summer home of the popes, we had lunch at a family-run restaurant. The black candles on our table, and the most outstanding tiramisu, made the meal all the more memorable. Driving on, we stumbled upon Lake Bolsena, Italy’s largest volcanic lake, which we had earlier seen on a map. We made a brief halt in the nearby town for a good hot cuppa, and a walk by the lake.

Day 10: Today, we visited Civita di Bagnoregio, a hamlet perched on a plateau of volcanic rock, surrounded by steep ravines, and home to a permanent population of just 10 people. Close to Orvieto, and only a few kilometres from the Umbria border, Civita di Bagnoregio can only be reached on foot via a long, panoramic bridge. If you are a Game of Thrones fan, the trek will feel very much like walking into King’s Landing!

Day 11: Orvieto’s Bartolomei L'olio is a unique, family-owned olive oil mill-cum-museum. Although we were not there on an olive oil-tasting tour, we did stop by to get our hands on some local produce, including olive oil and some savoury spreads. Next, we stopped at Cascata delle Marmore, which is, at 541 feet, the world’s tallest man-made waterfall. How the Romans engineered this marvel in the 3rd Century BC, without the use of modern technology, is a mystery. The power of the water is breathtaking, as are the surrounding views. Definitely take a walk up the trails to see the rapids from underneath and experience this ‘man-made force of nature’! While enjoying the sight, we warmed ourselves up with a hot cup of coffee at a café next to the falls.

Arriving back at the villa around sunset, there were dark clouds gathering in the East. Low and behold, the setting sun lit up a full rainbow – a view right out of fantasy-land! We raised a toast to our last night in this beautiful country, and packed our bags.

Day 12: We drove back to Rome to catch our flight to India, picking up some local chocolates (Perugina is highly recommended) from duty free. Truly, the time between meeting and finally leaving, is like falling in love. Oh Italy, you captured our hearts! Here’s until we meet again!

Mr. Sumit Berry
MD - U-Tourizmo Services Pvt. Ltd.

Ms. Sweta Sharma
AVP - Accenture India

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