By the time we got to Barcelona, our 8th and last stop, our expectations were high and energies were low. But that didn’t stop us from having a great time. There is no better way to top off the Portuguese fish, meat and beer than to delve into the tapas, paella and sangria in Spain! From the first night itself, the tone was set for minimizing planning and maximizing walking, relaxation and food!

Lisbon was the second last stop on a month-long Europe trip. Needless to say the travel fatigue was kicking in and memories were starting to blur. Excitement levels were still high but there was little energy to chase any ambitious bucket lists.

So… “How Often Do You Think About the Roman Empire?” 😆

Firenze, you beauty!

The French aren’t rude to English speakers. They just need to hear a little French before they start speaking English 😁 More than a decade after my last high school French class, I was still able to recall a few French phrases. And, I have to admit, it was fun. "Parlez-vous Anglais?". I can only imagine how funny it is to watch an Aussie with a mixed Indian accent (aka me) try to speak French. It's quite adorable how their face lights up when we mispronounce "Bonjour" or "Merci" ever so slightly and they can pick up the outsider in us 🤭 "Je ne parle pas Francais" but a small dose was refreshing and helped elevate the mood for everyone involved 🙃

Most people that travel to Europe for a short time will avoid visiting small towns and villages. I mean, who doesn’t want to tick off the bucket list of all the major museums and landmarks. I do too. But, I’ve come to realize that some things are just not possible to see in a city, in any city. You must get out into the countryside. Not only is this a great way to take a break from the hustle bustle and busy tourist schedule but it also opens the opportunity to understand how the same country can have many different lifestyles.

In the 5th century, people fled their homes to avoid barbarian conquerors. Venice was created as a marshy lagoon as a result. I like the absence of roads and railways, allowing for lots of walking, my preferred modes of transport. And if you must (which you must try!), the water taxis are the perfect replacement for buses, metro etc. They're frequent and run until late night, offering a cost effective way to explore the city and getting home from the food hubs.