Journey to France and Switzerland

Fantasies and fascinations are common among youngsters, and I am no exception. My desire to explore foreign countries sparked after following news about star test cricketers touring India for test matches. Being an avid cricket fan, I would often tell my uncle that I, too, dreamt of becoming a cricket test player and traveling to England and other foreign lands.

One influential moment was watching the Hindi film "Sangam," featuring Raj Kapoor, where he expressed his ambition to become a pilot and fly to Rome, Paris, and Switzerland. This scene left a lasting impression on me, intensifying my fascination for Switzerland. Another film, "Sivandha Mann," starring the legendary Sivaji Ganesan, further fueled my interest in Switzerland with scenes of skating in the Swiss Alps.

During college, my friend Pattabhi and I envisioned becoming entrepreneurs, dreaming of becoming wealthy through business ventures and exploring European countries. However, these dreams took a back seat after entering the workforce. Despite traveling to countries like South Korea, Hong Kong, Iran, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain during my employment, visiting the US and Europe seemed distant.

Destiny took an unexpected turn after my retirement when an opportunity to visit the US presented itself through Harish, my son,who was employed there after successfully completing his master studies at University of Arizona. Subsequently, we visited the US multiple times, exploring various attractions and cities. Meanwhile, my hope of visiting European countries diminished until a new opportunity arose.

Our son-in-law, Giri, established his startup in Chennai and considered relocating to a foreign country. After much contemplation, he chose the Netherlands as the headquarters. Giri, along with my daughter Priya and grandchildren, shifted to the Netherlands. After nearly two years, Priya invited us to visit, leading to our maiden Europe trip in August 2022, including a long-awaited visit To France and Switzerland .

After a few days of stay at Netherlands,which included visits to places of tourist attraction in Netherlands like Amsterdam square, boat cruise in the canals,visit to van Gogh museum,wind mills at

Zaans Schans ,de pier scheveningen,and ship visit at Rotter dam,

Priya proposed visit to france and Switzerland.

Once the plans were finalized, Priya coordinated with the Pick Tour Trails travel agency in Chennai, run by Giri's good friend. They tailored a compelling package for our trip to France and Switzerland:

- Train ride from Amsterdam to Paris

- 2-night stay in Paris

- Eiffel Tower visit with a small group tour and priority access

- Louvre Museum visit

- 1-hour sightseeing River Cruise in Paris on the Seine

- Train ride from Paris to Zurich

- 3-night stay in Zurich

- Visit to Rhine Falls in Switzerland, the largest waterfalls in Europe

- Visit to Titlis

- Return from Zurich to Amsterdam by air

On October 15th, 2022, we arrived at Amsterdam Central, took a fast train to Gare du Nord in France, and reached our hotel, Novotel 17 Paris, around noon. After a refreshing break, we enjoyed a North Indian lunch at a nearby Royal Indian hotel. In the evening, we visited the Arc de Triomphe, followed by a delightful boat cruise on the River Seine, and dinner at a restaurant beneath the Eiffel Tower.

The next day, we explored the renowned Louvre Museum in the morning, marveling at its vast collection of paintings and sculptures. In the afternoon, we visited Champ de Mars and the iconic Eiffel Tower, enjoying a guided tour to the top for a panoramic view of Paris. In the evening, we relished South Indian dishes at Saravana Bhavan near Gare du Nord.

On the third day, we boarded a fast train from Gare de Lyon to Zurich, reaching our hotel, Montana Zurich, by 11:30 am. After a delicious North Indian lunch at a nearby Thali House, we relaxed. The fourth day included a visit to Rhine Falls, where we relished an exciting boat ride.

The fifth day took us to Engelberg, with Radha staying back at the hotel due to our Grand son Siddhu not feeling well. Myself, Priya, and Ani journeyed to Titlis Cliff, enjoying breathtaking views via train and rope car rides. Lunch at Titlis Cliff amidst the snow-clad Alps at 10,000 feet was a surreal experience, fulfilling my long-time fascination with Switzerland.

The next day, after lunch at Thali House, we checked into Zurich Airport and returned to Amsterdam. This unforgettable trip realized my long-standing fantasy of exploring France and Switzerland.