MY ARTICLE ON GHUMAKKAR
 |
| A STREET IN VENICE |
 |
| A STREET PERFORMER |
We bid Les Adieux to France and were all set to gather our
impression of the land of Galileo, Leonardo, Monica Bellucci and of course the
inimitable Ferrari- ITALY. We were to board our night train to Italy from
Paris. By this time we had wised up enough to discard the idea of taking the
more economical buses to the station and rather opted for the taxi. Our life in
Dubai and India had spoiled us enough and we were completely unfit to carry the
burden of our luggage minus the escalators, or the humble coolies. It was
indeed an eye opener to see small school going children frolicking with their
huge back packs as they walked in organized lines following their scout leaders
escorting them, probably to a summer camp at some picturesque location. Clearly
fitness was ingrained into their way of life. The railway stations were neat
but without any frills.
One of the passing
thoughts frequenting our minds in this trip was “Dubai actually spoils”.
Fitness there means looking trim, but it also means visiting the gym at least 5
times during the week. Walking outdoors as an exercise regime is option only
during the cool winter months or very early in the mornings. People consider
themselves independent, but in reality the dependence on power (electricity)
and other resources is substantial and most often taken for granted. A metro
station or any other place is unimaginable without escalators. With sweltering
temperatures through most part of the year, people are used to AC waiting
booths at bus stands. While water is scarce
commodity in desert, the paradox is that most houses come equipped with a bath
tub.
We dumped our luggage at the station. Since we were two
families traveling together, we took turns to visit an Indian restaurant near
the station, while the other family kept an eye on the luggage. There, at the
restaurant was brotherhood at its best. It was heartening to discover that the restaurant
was owned jointly by a jovial Indian and a suave yet reserved Pakistani.
I remember very little about the train journey, excepting
the two friendly Korean students traveling along with us. We were tired and
slept through the night. In the morning before reaching our destination we
discovered the beautiful greenery expanding right beyond our window. All the
same this train journey was not comparable to the beauteous landscape witnessed
from the Glacier Express in Switzerland. I was sure that as this journey
unfolds, it too will offer a plethora of unique experiences, not replicable by
any other journey.
 |
| DUSK APPROACHING AT GRAND CANAL |
 |
| A HAND PUMP |
 |
| A FISHERMAN |
 |
| SIMPLE ARCHITECTURE GRAND BUILDING |
 |
| A MUSEUM |
 |
| DOG ON A STROLL |
 |
| GREEN CORNERS |
 |
| LOVELY SILHOUETTE |
 |
| THE MASKED BOY |
 |
THE TIP OF GANDOLA
|
When we reached
Venice, the weather was divine. We dumped
our luggage in our hotel and freshened up to savor the idyllic city. We took a
bus to reach the old Venice, the real Venice, with houses peaking over
the water and the romantic Gondolas.
...................................to be continued.
