The Venice Voyagers

Many years back, I’d seen a legendary Bollywood actor croon sweet nothings to an actress (known for her famed portrayal of an embittered hippie), while on a Venetian gondola. The image stayed with me all these years, ensuring that Venice remained a much-dreamt-about locale for me.

So it was only expected that when hubby and I were short listing possible vacay spots to bring in one year of wedded bliss, Venice came up trumps.

The second week of April set in, bringing with it much excitement and fervor. After a brief stopover at Paris, we landed at Marco Polo airport, Venice’s main aeroporto.

From the minute we stepped on the cobbledstones, we were hooked by the allure and magic of this architectural masterpiece that is Venice. By far the singularly most appealing and charming thing about Venice is that it is an entire city built on water – to be precise, 118 islands, 117 canals and the most majestic of all – the Grand Canal, some 360 bridges, including the famous Rialto and the Bridge of Sighs. Add to this a place where you see no automobile in sight, and you have all the trappings of a charming, quaint place. Of course, it didn’t hurt that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were also in Venice the same time as us, accompanied by their brood of children.

The water transport is incredible, to say the least – Gondolas, Vaporettos, Traghetti, and water taxis sail at various levels of speed across the length and breadth of this floating city. Even hubby, the staunch believer in the all-European-cities-look-alike-philosophy, had to take his words back, and admit that it was a place unlike any he’s seen before (and he has travelled a lot). Waterfront houses, palazzos, bistros and trattorias – all vie for space, their pictures doing no justice to their actual splendour.

Our home for the next few days was a charming B&B – Fujiyama, whose review I promptly posted on TripAdvisor here. After a hearty breakfast, we would set out for strolls, taking in the sights and smells. There were also the unforgettable Eurostar journey to Milan – a fashion paradise, the Murano island - famed for its exquisite glass, the equally gorgeous Burano island – known worldwide for its delicate lace, and the Lido island – home to the Venice Film Festival every September, when the likes of George Clooney and his other A-lister friends descend upon it, at his sprawling villa near the island.

But, coming back to Venice, the sights were many, the smells most appetizing. Each trattoria after another had tantalizing smells, and I can safely say that we have had some of our most delectable meals here – pizzas, ravioli, risotto, gelatos (favored most by me on account of my overtly sweet tooth), pasta, spaghetti, brioches, cannoli, Granitas, Tiramisu, Gnocchi – the works. The spirits were aplenty too – hubby and my personal favourites the Merlot, Campari and Bellinis. The concept of Aperitivo is a fantastic one – where, if you are buying cocktails at a bar, you can go through the buffet line as many times your tummy desires. And the spirits keep getting cheaper!

Burp! After that gastronomic’s delight above, perhaps I should also mention the repeatedly-etched-in-pictures-and-portraits – San Marco Church at St. Marks Square. Our online research capabilities proved very helpful, because we were able to beat a serpentine queue outside the Basilica, thanks to a free-fifteen minute pass we had looked up online. Near St. Marks Square, it was a wonder to see the likes of Chanel, Gucci, Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Bvlgari, Prada, Fendi, Miu Miu, Max Mara, Versace etc hobnobbing with their humble streetside counterparts. Of course, the shopping paradise was Milan – with its quadrilatero d'oro (The Rectangle of Gold), where I stood agape for a few seconds, before hubby dearest reminded me gently that people had started looking.

So while I have ticked two out of the three fashion capitals of the world, it waits to be seen now when I do the third….

But till then, I will sing songs about Venice being the ultimate honeymooner’s paradise. A place for languorous strolls, lazy tides, delightful tratorrias, gondola rides, sparkling wine, and some quality time with your mate. It should top every honeymooner’s wishlist.

It wasn’t just a coincidence that it is Casanova’s land.

And while I still remain a Paris loyalist, I also proclaim - Ti Amo, Venezia!

A Hiatus from Blogging

Last year, on the same date as today, I had posted a short post (quite unlike my rambling sorts), about a hiatus from my blogging.

This year too, it is time to kiss my trusty laptop bye and place my writing on pause mode.

So while it was the city of Lovers last year, this year is the land of gondolas and gelatos, pizzas and Prada, Carnival masks, cappuccinos, Chianti and Cavalli, Versace and Valentino, biscottis and Bvlgari, fettucine and Fendi, and TOOMA’s preferred Armani and Diesel.

Can’t wait to be off!

Back on the 21st.

Will catch up soon! Toodles!

What's your vacation breaking-news style?

The idea of a vacation is a sure-shot way to get someone to smile. Maybe even clap.

The people at work are no exceptions...

While some do their individual versions of Cheshire-cat grins when they leaf through the travel glossies, there are quite a few variants too...

So you have the ones who will do the Heyy-I-have-a-spring-under-my-rear jump rendition the minute they book their tickets online or when their travel agent hands them the ticket to their preferred destination.

You also have the ones who will air-guitar in triumph when the Bog B (the Boss) gives them the highly-awaited go-ahead green signal for that long leave...

Then you have the ones who will do the Brett-Lee fist-paroxysm-of-joy, made famous by that absolutely dishy, impish Australian bowler.

Some have been known to take out the ancient war-cry of a long forgotten African tribe which heralds its victory over another.

There are yet others who sigh in relief, and look around with that tired I-richly-deserved-a-break look (These ones annoy the shit out of me, and serve the same purpose as a laxative, proving themselves as strong competitors to the Isabgols and Phosposodas of the world).

Next are those who will make full use of the company phone, and holler into the unsuspecting ears of every friend they can manage to get on the phone, about how the blue-green waters of the resort pool they were going to visit, reminded them so much of the favourite pair of contact lenses the friend favored. Under such circumstances, can you blame it if the phone network jams all of a sudden, and after the phone getting disconnected, it is impossible to get through to the same number again?

You also have those who take a printout of a countdown calendar, and place it strategically near themselves. Making it a point to fish out their red felt-tipped sketch pens and neatly cross out that day’s date. And all this is done only you pass by their desk. After crossing out the date, they will then deign to confer their total attention on you. By then, your face is one shade short of freshly-picked spinach. And to make matters worse, you’ve forgotten why you had walked up to him in the first place. Leaving you green, hot, and very very flustered.

Next in line are those who are about to embark on their dream vacays. However, you wouldn’t know that. ‘Cos they will tell you all about Greek baklava and babes only when they return from Greece. And all this while you were commiserating that probably he was recuperating from a bout of some serious ailment. While the son of a gun was busy frolicking on the sun-kissed beaches...

Lastly, you have me, who goes into vacay mode the minute she:

o Opens her ‘Out of Office’ window
o Types in those ecstasy-inducing-in-her words about her upcoming absence at work
o Flutters her eyelashes at the monitor, air-kissing it in relief, and
o Sails out, a free bird….For her much-awaited trip.

S-W-E-E-T