Eudaimonia in Europe: A Gallivanter's Guide for a Memorable EURO trip

The Colosseum is located just east of the Roman Forum and was built to a practical design, with its 80 arched entrances allowing easy access to 55,000 spectators, who were seated according to rank.

Roman gladiators were usually slaves, prisoners of war or condemned criminals. Most were men, but there were a few female gladiators. These combats were attended by the poor, the rich, and frequently the emperor himself. As gladiators fought, vicious cries and curses were heard from the audience around the Roman Colosseum. One contest after another was staged in the course of a single day. If the ground become too soaked with blood, it was covered with a fresh layer of sand and the performance went on.

Opening hours: 8:30 - 15:30 every day.

The Roman Coliseum is located in the heart of piazza del Colosseo, on the (blue) metro line.

We came back to Airport after spending 2.5 hours in the awe-developing grand architectural cum historical marvel to catch the onward flight to Amsterdam .

It's a beautiful small town, away from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam Central but well connected through tram/bus and metro (10 mins by Train/30 mins by Bus).

Public transportation system in Netherlands is simply phenomenal and run with a 'second' like precision.

Bus tickets costed €38 /person excluding museum entry ticket fees.Amongst the multiple pit-stops, depending on our likings, we visited the following spots-

Entry Time : Open daily 9:00-17:00

Ticket Price : €20 /person

After a day long vagabonding , we came back to Central station.All of us were extremely hungry and looking for some restaurant where we could get something eatable not mere bovine meals :P (our taste buds were screeching after eating cabbage leaf,green leafs and what not at a trought ; no lesser than Bear Grylls daredevilry :):) ).

Finally, found a restaurant named 'Flame Steakhouse' to savour delicacies.After that, we explored amsterdam nightlife a bit and finally, came back to hostel around 2200 hrs. to put a full stop on day 2. We had our dinner in a downtown Indian restaurant named 'Motimahal'

How to Reach Giethoorn from Sloterdijk or Amsterdam Central (Using Public Transportation system) ::

Already stated earlier, public transportation system of Amsterdam is phenomenal. Entire country is interconnected through a grid of Rail/Tram/Bus network with second like precision. Therefore, when you are planning to visit Netherland, use Public Transportation system to the fullest.Not only the destination, even the journey through the dutch countryside in itself is idyllic, awe-inspiring.

First, from the sloterdijk train station, we bought a one day Holland Travel Ticket ** to cover our entire public transportation usage charges upto Giethoorn at a price of €41 per person. It is a cost saving option rather than paying for individual journeys in between.

a. First take a train from Sloterdijk/ Central to Arnhem Central

b. Change train at Arnhem Central for Zwolle

c. Change train at Zwolle for steenwijk

d. Just outside steenwijk station, catch Bus no.370 for Giethoorn

e. Get down from the bus at a stoppage named Dominee Hylkemaweg.

Finally, you have reached Giethoorn after 3.5 hours, a postcard-perfect village surrounded by water in the north of The Netherlands, after all permutations and combinations.

(**Holland Travel Ticket :

Holland boasts a very comprehensive public transport network. You can get pretty much everywhere. Travel to special cities like Groningen, Maastricht, The Hague, and Utrecht. Or catch a bus and explore picturesque little villages like Volendam and Giethoorn.Buy this pass, when you are planning to go beyond 25 kms from the central , which doesn't fall within amsterdam regional circuit (Within 25 kms., use Amsterdam regional passes for travelling .) Take help from Tourist information centres/travel desks before buying such concessional travel pass.)

It is so peaceful, so different and has such simple beauty that it hardly seems real – gently gliding along small canals past old but pretty thatched-roof farmhouses.

You can turn down a “side street” (another small canal) and drift under a wooden bridge where an elderly resident may be strolling over to see a neighbor. No this is not Venice, or Amsterdam.

It is too quiet, too serene and remote. It is so calm that its nickname of the “Dutch Venice” may give a false impression of size and crowds and commercialism.

Here in Holland’s water village of Giethoorn the loudest sound you can normally hear is the quacking of a duck or the noise made by other birds.Giethoorn is at the centre of Overijssel’s canal system. Indeed, the little village is so dependent on its waterways, many of the houses cannot be reached by road. Boating has been a popular tourist attraction here for years, with 90km of canoe trails and scores of motorboats to rent.

So, we hired a boat for one hour (@15 euro) and explored the canal side picturesque village. We were mesmerized and awed to see such well maintained village with nature at its' very core. Indeed, one of the 'stand alone' experiences of our euro sojourn.

After completing our day long excursion in one of the most beautiful villages alongside placid canal , it was time to bid adieu with heavy heart , and came back to Amsterdam Central following the same trajectory.

It was time to fuel the engine before it broke down.After satiating our hunger with those chicken burgers, we sauntered towards an area which is kind of world famous for its' own reasons passing through a hustling and bustling city's central square surrounded by grand old buildings redolent of history as well as modern art houses such as Madame Tussauds.

Nowadays, prostitution is legal in the Netherlands but not on the streets. That's why prostitutes in Amsterdam stand up behind a window and have their own room. The name of "Red Light District" comes from the red neon lights that highlight the 300 windows where women are working.

Well, if curiosity does get the better of you, come down at night when the district really comes to life.Most of the action takes place around 11pm , when the district is swarming with crowds and the red neon lights illuminate the inky canals. The atmosphere pretty much thrives until around 2 or 3am when the crowds die down and businesses shut stop.

Don’t visit the Red Light District first otherwise you may get the wrong idea about the Dutch and Amsterdam as this is not all Netherland has to offer! Enjoy yourself, as a trip down the RLD will leave a lasting impression.

Although the area of Amsterdam Red light district may look dodgy, it is certainly not any dangerous place . It is actually quite safe and well controlled part of the city, Amsterdam's heart of night entertainment.

Be Respectful :

It is strictly forbidden to take pictures or film women behind their windows. A sign is sticked on every window as a reminder. Be careful if you try to take a photograph as working women can become very aggressive. The best is to keep your phone or camera in your pocket otherwise you risk to be kicked out by the bouncers.

After walking down the labyrinthine alleys for almost two hours,it was time to call it a day- world is really wide and varied !!!!

DAY 04 ::

In a hindsight, it was a crazy day- travelled like no tomorrow . Basically, a day started with a plan and ended up with 'Bohemian Rhapsody '- wondering like a vagabond , making the trip decide the destination not the other way around. Literally, we thoroughly enjoyed such unplanned escapade - almost criss crossing Dutch Countryside.Believe you me, if you want to feel the vibration of a country,such as this, leave behind the hullabaloo of cityscape, dive deep into the mellifluousness of countryside. It was serene, It was calming,It was enmeshing - verdant pastures underneath azuring blue sky ,nothing sort of a picture perfect canvas. I never imagined that Dutch countryside is so beautiful, so alluring - a Magnum Opus of God- so much to offer to dazzle a nature lover's heart , often been downsized by the cacophony of city life.

After having our complimentary breakfast in the Hostel , we went to our nearest train station i.e.Sloterdijk and bought 'Regional Travel Pass' (19 euro/person) to explore amsterdam and it's surrounding areas.(within 25 kms approx.)

From Sloterdijk/Amsterdam Centraal , take a train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station. From there, it is a 10-15 minutes walk through the village of Zaandijk - just follow the signs.

We took bus from Zaanse Schans to reach volendam, using the public transportation map given with the Regional travel pass.

From Volendam, we took a bus to come to this picturesque countryside named Edam.

Kwakelbrug is a wooden bridge of the XVIII century in Edam.The bridge connects Kwakelsteeg with Doelenstraat. The bridge is a drawbridge or swing bridge or folding bridge. It offers a wonderful view of the canal and picturesque village houses built alongside the canal . Walking through the quaint village roads in itself was an experience worth cherishing.

It was 0330pm in the clock and had completed our 'scheduled' part of today's exploration.The advantage of coming to Europe in Summer months is that you get plenty of opportune time (Sunrise : 0600 Hrs.- Sunset :2200 Hrs.) to travel with having almost 16 hrs. of daylight.

So, we scoured through the map and decided to go to a place named 'Keukenhof' ,world famous for its' stunning tulip garden, knowing the fact that the season was already over (April-May),but, still, was trying our luck against all odds.

Upon reaching there, though, we could not get to see the 'Tulips', but, a sense of 'eudaimonia' was exuding out of this unplanned travelling towards no destination.

Travel like there is no tomorrow and feel the magnificence of de-planning sometimes.

Keeping the blissful setting Sun rays at the back, we ambled across the street to head back to our Hostel with tons of memory.

Flora Holland----(Bus)------Schiphol Nord.---------(Bus)--------Sloterdijk.

Sometimes, we are being caught in a dichotomy !!! The dichotomy of leaving behind a pleasurable past for want of a blissful future. Yes, I might sound a bit nostalgic,bit philosophical,but, am I to be blamed ?There are few occasions in life,when you feel every breath of your life, when you put emphasis on life not on living, when you are just aware !!!In last 4 days in Netherlands, I have lived every single moment , I have traveled for life .It might sound very cliched but nonetheless truth at its' core.

In order to get a confirmed entry into the museum, More so, during summer,it is advised to pre book museum entry tickets through official online platform(https://www.louvre.fr/en), unless otherwise you might not make into the museum owing to its' week long queue.(Ticket price is around 17 euro)

The Louvre is open every day (except Tuesday) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Night opening until 9:45 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.Free admission on the first Saturday of each month from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.Closed on the following holidays: January 1, May 1, December 25.

It was a mere 5 mins walk from our hotel, just on the other side of the main road.

We straddled a distance of 1.3 km through the parisian streets to reach Sainte Chapelle following the Google map.

During a restoration campaign in 2019, a fire broke out in the cathedral’s attic, and the massive blaze destroyed most of the roof, 19th-century spire, and some of the rib vaulting. Currently, the church is closed for tourists on account of ongoing repairment works.

Notre-Dame is at a stone's throw distance away from the Chapelle.

Sainte-Chapelle-----(walk)---------Châtelet Metro Station----(Train)----------Charles de Gaulle Étoile Station-------(walk)---------Arc de Triomphe.

Caution :: Be careful of the robbers/racists swarming in the pathway towards Sacré-Cœur . It is better not to carry too much of a cash in the wallet . Robbery/Pick-pocketing is very common in european cities. Sometimes, in the name tying a friendship band around your wrist, they will snatch out money, with targeting group of people belonging from a particular ethnicity.

Grand Palais------(walk)------Champs-Élysées - Clemenceau station-----(Train)---------Place de Clichy --------(Train Change)--------Anvers station-------(walk)-----------Sacré-Cœur.

The Eiffel Tower,was the main exhibit of the Paris Exposition — or World's Fair — of 1889. It was constructed to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution and to demonstrate France's industrial prowess to the world.

Gustave Eiffel, a French civil engineer, is usually credited with designing the tower that bears his name. However, it was actually two lesser-known men, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, who came up with the original drawings for the monument.the engineers submitted their plans to a contest that would determine the centerpiece for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris.

The Eiffel company's design won, and construction of the wrought-iron tower began in July 1887 and got completed in Mar,1889.

The Eiffel Tower is still the centerpiece of Paris' cityscape. More than 7 million people visit this iconic tower every year, according to the attraction's official website. Since the tower's 1889 opening, 250 million people from around the world have enjoyed all that the Eiffel Tower has to offer.

And it has a lot to offer. The tower's three platforms are home to two restaurants, several buffets, a banquet hall, a champagne bar and many unique gift shops. Educational tours of the tower are available for children and tourist groups.

The tower is open to visitors 365 days a year, with visiting times varying by season. From June to September, the tower remains open until after midnight. Rates vary, but visitors can expect to pay between $13 (10 euros) and $19 (14.5 euros) per person for access to the tower's three public lifts and 704 stairs. Tickets, including group-discounted tickets, can be purchased online or at the ticket office at the foot of the tower.

Every evening, the Eiffel Tower is adorned with its golden covering and sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour, while its beacon shines over Paris.

The nearest metro station to Paris's iconic grand structure is Trocadéro.

Sacré-Cœur----(walk)-----Anvers------(Train)-------------Charles de Gaulle-Étoile---(Train Change)----- Trocadéro-----(walk)------Eiffel Tower.

We spent almost 3 magical hours in front of the Tower, totally enthralled, mesmerized, more so, with the electrifying ambience, courtesy to gathering of people across the globe. As the sun set in, the crowd started to throng even more to witness the sparking of eiffel tower making it happening with no definition. My heart will go on or Ellie Goulding's -Love me like you do, played by some freelancers in the backdrop with inquisitive crowds encircling them,adding exuberance to the ethereal atmosphere.

With half hearts and reverse steps, we bid adieu to Mr.Eiffel , a perfect spot to rejuvenate after a frazzled out day.

After a long tiresome travel day, nothing could be better than savouring Indian delicacies - a kind of 'elixir'- at New Jawad Restaurant.

Ambling across the parisian streets at nights is an experience in itself,reminds me of the movie named Midnight in Paris, where in Gil Pender, a struggling screenwriter, arrives to this boisterous city , not only to propel his struggling career but also to resuscitate the sunken relationship with her ambitious fiancée.

After a night of wine testing, Jill decided to walk back to the hotel. At midnight, a 1920s car pulls up beside him, and the passengers, dressed in 1920s wardrobe, urge him to join them for a party , only to discover later, the presence of notable figures of that era - like Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway etc .

I am no Gil to search for an elixir in one of the most romantic cities of the world to revive the falling career or to solve relationship kerfuffle.Rather, I, being a solivagant, was wandering through those grand old parisian alleys with a hope to find that one '1920' chariot , which would paratroop me from modernism to nostalgia.

Alas!!! I found none :) .Still, A midnight in Paris was embellishing enough to beguile the wanderer's wandering soul.At night, as if, the whole city was bewitched by the sorcerer's magic wand.

After spending a hour or two at musee de louvre,taking full advantage of its' proximity to our hotel, we hanged our boots for the day.............

In last three days , though not covered France extensively,a plethora of experience was cobbled together.The societal matrix, as seen in those limited period, was entirely different from Netherlands. Signs of penury or people living in abject poverty was visible . My personal understanding is that the country is reeling under the pressure,and conspicuous also, of unreigned migration through a borderless conglomerate of countries. The chasm in the society is pretty evident with people belonging from a particular race was being seen as facing difficulty in earning subsistence. Adding to that, pickpocketing or robbery is not very alien , particularly, in touristy places .

Travel advisory : -

a. Don't carry too much of a cash. Use plastic money to the extent possible

b. Be careful about passport or essentials

c. Try to avoid sequestered places.

d. Night in Paris is magical but avoid solo vagabonding through quaint streets.

e. Though not faced, still, racial vilification, if you come across, to be brushed aside with nonchalance.

f. Midnight pub crawling , visiting in painted & dainted areas to be avoided,unless otherwise you are guided by a local.

These are not to intimidate any budding traveler. But, as the adage goes, it is better to prepare and prevent rather than repair and repent.The world is a beautiful place and those who do not travel , devoid of very 'life' experience.

After devouring the beauty of this picturesque swiss town, we crossed the bridge over lake thun to come a station named 'Harder Bahn' to go to 'Harder Kulm',Top of Interlaken. With a modern funicular train, within 10 mins,Harder Kulm,Top of Interlaken, can be reached from the valley station.(19 CHF per person for to and fro journey from Harderbahn-subjected to availability of Hare Fare Card; otherwise,38 CHF to be paid)

If Interlaken had a king, he would reside on the Harder Kulm. From the viewing platform at 1,322 metres above sea level he would graciously look down upon Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, or admire the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. In fact, the Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant is reminiscent of a castle. In order to visit it, however, you don't need to be a king – just take a seat in the cable car and ascend Interlaken's own mountain.

After coming down from the alluring swiss mountain top, it was time for another and today's last swiss countryside visit - LauterBrunnen.It takes around 20 mins to reach to Lauterbrunnen by train from Interlaken Ost station.

After reaching there, we checked into our hotel named Base Cafe hotel , well within a 5 mins walk from the station.

Lauterbrunnen is situated in one of the most impressive valleys in the Alps, between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks. With its 72 thundering waterfalls, secluded valleys, colourful alpine meadows and lonely mountain inns, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the biggest nature conservation areas in Switzerland.

So,hyper excited with the travel spree, that immediately after putting our bags inside the cabin, we went on to explore the small village,often been considered as the 'Gateway to Jungfrau region.Calm,serene,picturesque, village road led us to one of its' famed water fall - staubbach waterfall ,from which voluminous amount of water is dropping from a vertiginous cliff height of approx. 300 mtrs. After that, we went on to explore the unbeaten tracks of the village, crossed a swelling and impetuous glacial river , a children's park and a cemetery.A special mention to all the wooden houses,so well maintained and decorated , much in semblance with the jaw dropping beauty of outside world.

Instead of staying in the downtown suburbs like Interlaken, it is suggested to stay in this mountain valleys (like Lauterbrunnen /Murren/Wengen) to breathe nature at its' pristine form.Lauterbrunnen will offer you both easy accessibility from Interlaken as well as mellifluousness of nature- a rare combination to find.

Point to remember : Swiss people take dinner early. All restaurants stop taking order for dinner by 2030 hrs. so that they can pack up by 2100 hrs. As they are extremely punctual, you can try your luck, but we ended up in vain.

Let me rewind to the beginning. As we would be staying in Lauterbrunnen itself, there was no need for packing etc. We took some breakfast items from our hotel-cum-restaurant before going towards railway station. Tickets of this mountain railways are extremely costly. A ticket for jungfrau region costed us around 117 CHF per person with a half fare card.(Ticket was bought for Lauterbrunnen-Klein Scheidegg- Jungfraujoch and return to Klein Scheidegg. We returned to Lauterbrunnen following another route owing to which klein-schedegg to Lauterbrunnen was not booked )

Suggested Route to explore Jungfrau Region in limited time::

Option 1: Interlaken ↣Normal Train↣Zweilütschinen↣ Lauterbrunnen↣Normal Train↣Kleine Scheidegg ↣Cog wheel Train↣Jungfraujoch

Option 2: Interlaken ----Normal Train-----Zweilütschinen--------- Grindelwald------Normal Train-----Kleine Scheidegg -----Cog wheel Train----Jungfraujoch

Route we followed : (We travelled from L.B to L.B)

Lauterbrunnen-------Normal Train-----Kleine Scheidegg -----Cog wheel Train-----------Jungfraujoch--------Cog wheel Train----------Kleine Scheidegg-----Normal Train-------Grindelwald------Normal Train-----------Zweilütschinen-------Train------Lauterbrunnen

Important Things to See at the Top :

a.Eismeer Station:: Ice blocks under a blanket of eternal snow, and in the distance the panorama of four thousand metre peaks: This is how the Eismeer station appears at 3,160 metres above sea level. This is where the train stops for five minutes,just before Jungfraujoch station, so that the passengers can take their own personal souvenir picture. What actually lasts five minutes seems like a journey through time lasting many thousands of years: During the last ice age, all of Switzerland must have looked like this mountain.

b. ICE PALACE

c. SPHINX OBSERVATION DECK

d. ICE PLATEAU

Is it worth the money?

Many people wonder if the price is worth it. I think it is. The trip to the Jungfraujoch and the experience at the top are truly unique. It's a once in a lifetime experience you should not miss.

Booking in advance ::

Only buy the tickets once you are sure the weather is clear enough to enjoy the view from the Jungfraujoch. It does not make sense to travel up there if you end up in the clouds. If you buy tickets well in advance, make sure the date is flexible.

Tickets can sell out. This usually happens in July and August when many people want to go up on the same day and maximum capacity is reached. It's exceptional, but not unheard of. Once your ticket is dated, you are guaranteed you can access the trains. A seat is not guaranteed but on most days it won't be a problem to find a seat.

There's an option to buy seat reservations for the section from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch. You can consider this on a crowded day as waiting times before boarding might be longer without a reservation.

The part of the journey, particularly, from Klein Scheidegg onwards, is extremely beautiful. So, keep your camera ready to capture every single moment.

Early morning around 0630 hrs., I took a train from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken , and Luzern-Interlaken Express from Interlaken to Luzern/Lucerne .It takes around 2 hours to reach to Luzern from Interlaken ost. via Brienz** (Beautiful village in the shores of Lake Brienz) ,Meiringen and Giswil.

(**Brienz is located in the middle of charming mountains at the eastern end of turquoise-coloured Lake Brienz. The cosy village is starting point for excursions to the Bernese Oberland, the Ballenberg Open-air Museum but also to Lucerne or Interlaken or across the nearby Alpine passes.Though, we hadn't made any pitstop there, but,it can be part of the itinerary.)

Trübsee is an intermediate cable car station by the Titlis Bergbahnen, Trüebsee is an Alpine lake on the Ober Trüebsee Alpine pasture in the upper part of the extensive municipality of Wolfenschiessen in the Swiss canton of Nidwalden. The lake lies at the foot of the Titlis above the village resort of Engelberg.Trübsee is one of the loveliest mountain lakes in Europe along with a very scenic easy walk along the lake loop.In Summer, you can rent a rowing boat to explore the Trübsee.

Carefully cultivating their vines for generation upon generation, whole families of vine-growers have shaped these beautiful vineyard terraces. The unique beauty of this landscape has seeped into the soul of visitors just as it has fascinated the many artists who lived in the little picturesque villages.

We had flights of Ukraine International to fly back to Delhi via Kiev, Ukraine.(Please ensure web-check of Ukraine International Flights , otherwise, you may run the risk of being put at standby)

8. Detailed Expenditure ::

Epilogue ::

A passionate traveller lives through experiences and not by years. Exploring the distant unknown lands forces you to live on the edges, to scour the underneath feelings, throws an opportunity to let go of the veneering and face the real self. Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comforts of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things. -air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky. –all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.

Keep Wandering.................Keep Wondering...........................

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