10 days were spent on the European continent. The purpose was to apply the old 'seeing is believing' funda to a certain event in our lives; my younger brother graduating from Design school with a Diploma in Automobile Design, IED Torino, Italia.
A road trip, with the parents, Doof, his girlfriend Chloe, the parents, and yours truly, in a charcoal grey Fiat Croma was planned, and happened more then successfully.
First evening in Torino itself, where my brother spent the last 4 years getting educated. Landed by 6, we were out post dinner by about 10 to go drinking in the city with his lot(surprise, surprise ). It was an.....interesting night, with some great European Weiss beer and a little tequila thrown in for good measure, with a few glasses of chugged sangria. Eventually wrapping up by about 4.30, we crashed out only to wake up by 10 to begin the road trip.
First stop, Monaco - glam-town; Yachts, fast cars, fancy houses, stunning shoreline, and of course, the ladies!!!!!! unbelievable.
We got to the hotel , and straight up headed for the beach. A nice pebble beach, crystal clear water, sun bathing the shore till about 7 in the evening, swimming out about 250 metres to a little raft/pontoon anchored so that people can go there and chill. that was just unbelievable.
Post a swim, shower, and head out to Nice(France), to get some dinner, we missed out on a brilliant burger place, but got some good food at another restaurant. Ice cream, scenic drive, and we were back in bed, gearing up for the next day.
The next day, we drove out to Cannes, along the shoreline, to see what it was all about. Another mind-blowing shoreline, another glam filled place, crystal clear blue water, cars, ladies, food.
We didn't swim there, but drove back to a place called Eze Sur Mer, another rocky/pebble beach halfway between Monaco and Nice. A bottle of wine, some beer, more time spent in the water, a blissful evening back to Monaco, shower up, and headed back out to Nice for the best, and most mind-blowing burgers in the world, at a little joint called Le Eclypse. We were definitely Comatose after. Sleep was greatly welcomed.
The next morning, we drove out to a place called Eze Bord Du Mer, which was a Eze castle high up on a mountain top overlooking Nice, Eze, VilleFranche, Cap Ferrat and Cannes in the distance.
Breathtaking, beautiful sights and a view.
We then drove back into Monaco to spend the entire evening on a beach and in a Principality that we just had not devoted enough time to, Monte Carlo itself. More beach time, swimming , lazing around on the raft, and generally letting go of reality was what ensued, followed by a night on the town with Advait and Chloe, though hardly, it was a Sunday night, we walked around the entire place, walked the length of the F1 track demarcations (The pilgrimage was complete), had a few drinks at 2 waterfront pubs, oggled at cars, yachts, women, and eventually walked back to the room and crashed out. We also earlier went to the casino, to see the obscene displays and amounts of money people gambled with and this wasn't even a high roller room, or high roller night.
The next morning, we walked up to the Castle of Prince Albert of Monaco. A lovely place, with an even more mind-blowing view.
The most astounding thing over these days were the cars we saw; Ferraris (including the Enzo and the FF), Maseratis, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugati Veyron, KTM X-Bow, Dodge Viper, Corvettes, Jaguars and probably many more. Apart from the lone Enzo, the 2 Veyrons, 5 lined-up Lamborghinis with the Kuwait plates, and the KTM X-Bow, every other manufacturer, became Just Another Ferrari, Rolls, etc...... crazy.
We then drove towards Italy, to base our selves at a lazy, often mistaken for poor, seaside town called Lavagna. Another stunning beach front, with crystal clear blue green water and a lovely beach. After getting there we dumped our bags and took a train towards a place called St. Marguerite and then boarded a bus for another beach and cove called Parragio beach and Porto Fino.
The beach was in a cove, where we once again struck out, the 3 of us, for the mouth of the cove, where a house on a little hillock had a dock, where we went and sat, swimming through the crystal clear water, without wanting to come back was another feeling altogether.
We then went on to Porto Fino, which was a little cove/port for Luxury yachts and there were several stunning mind-blowing ones there. Dinner was at a waterfront cafe, after which, we headed back to the station and to Lavagna. A drink later, we all crashed out.
The next morning was an early one, with a mind-blowing breakfast of great coffee, breads, meats etc. 9 am train to Monterorosso, the first town of the Cinque Tere. 5 beach front towns which were connected by seafront paths on hillsides.
The first connecting trail was a tough trek which the 5 of us did, while on the second it was Advait, Chloe and myself, while the parents took the train as they were pretty tired. Lunch at the 3rd town, and train to the 4th as there were landslides on that path . town 4-5 was a seaside promenade walk, nice and comfy so we all ambled along taking in the amazing view. A train back to the first town which had the best beach of all, and naturally, a leisurely evening spent swimming out and then kayaking on the beach, after which we sat leisurely on a street-side bench, and the 4 of us, including mum, killed a nice bottle of local wine.
A train back and a lovely pizza beer+wine dinner at a local restaurant in Lavagna.
Disappointed , but currently content, we slept off, the beach side vacation was over.
The next morning, we drove back into Torino, where Advait and the rest of graduating batch had their designs on display , followed by a dinner with the families of a bunch of his friends, and another night on the town.
We drove out to a place called Lake Maggiore the next morning, part in Italy, part in Switzerland.
This was also a pretty rich area, though the extremely classy, grandiose, almost Austrian-Swiss architecture wise opposite of the glamorous, showy Monaco. We visited 2 of the 3 islands in the centre of the lake, saw 1 palace and some architecture, pieces of history as they were preserved, and then took the scenic route back to Torino.
The next 3 days included walked around Torino, taking in the sights and sounds, a church on a hill with a fabulous all around view (Superga), a couple of fun drinking and partying nights, some brilliant spoken buffards by Chloe and Mum, advaits Graduation Ceremony, a crazy IED grad party, and one final, insane, late, semi-plastered, champagne , cigars, and long-island iced teas night on the town!!!!
All sad to leave the next day, the 3 of us, walked around the city and ate some brilliant food and ice-cream, took in a few more churches and one last high point called Cappucini. Advait was to stay on for 3 more days with Chloe and wrap things up in Torino.
He drove us to Milan airport, where we were to board the flight back to India. I nearly bought a Hughes and Kettner amp, but didn't for fear of Delhi customs getting up to some bullshit with bringing an amp in.
I've rushed through 10, mad, brilliant, insane, unbelievable, maybe once in a lifetime , indescribable days. I've written like an idiot, like a child, abrupt, more concise then even a summary, more rushed then God knows what. There was no possible way I could bring myself to go into detail, because I would possibly have to put up separate blog entries for each day, because every minute is crystal clear, every view, every memory, every feel, every sight, every sound. Unfortunately its like an experience out of time and the reality that we live in. More so, I probably wouldn't be able to do justice to those 10 days and all we did and saw, and would end up falling short, disappointing myself and others with what I wrote, and most probably didn't convey.
To sum up, it was truly unbelievable, indescribable, and I have no words. For those of you who understand what I mean, despite the fact that I have written about those 10 days, I truly have no words that would be appropriate or do justice to the experience.
I will however, link you to some facebook albums, so that you may at least have some visuals of what we saw. And some wiki links, so maybe if you're interested, you could read about the places.
All in all, the trip and stay at each place on the Italian+French Riviera, and more so in Italy, was too short, it shall be done again some time, with full justice being done to each place.
For now... as always..
Cheers,
Beast.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151095558702930.503492.508537929&type=1
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151094034932930.503311.508537929&type=1
Cinque Tere - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Terre
Lago Maggiore - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Maggiore
Porto Fino - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portofino
Superga - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superga
Eze - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%88ze
A road trip, with the parents, Doof, his girlfriend Chloe, the parents, and yours truly, in a charcoal grey Fiat Croma was planned, and happened more then successfully.
First evening in Torino itself, where my brother spent the last 4 years getting educated. Landed by 6, we were out post dinner by about 10 to go drinking in the city with his lot(surprise, surprise ). It was an.....interesting night, with some great European Weiss beer and a little tequila thrown in for good measure, with a few glasses of chugged sangria. Eventually wrapping up by about 4.30, we crashed out only to wake up by 10 to begin the road trip.
First stop, Monaco - glam-town; Yachts, fast cars, fancy houses, stunning shoreline, and of course, the ladies!!!!!! unbelievable.
We got to the hotel , and straight up headed for the beach. A nice pebble beach, crystal clear water, sun bathing the shore till about 7 in the evening, swimming out about 250 metres to a little raft/pontoon anchored so that people can go there and chill. that was just unbelievable.
Post a swim, shower, and head out to Nice(France), to get some dinner, we missed out on a brilliant burger place, but got some good food at another restaurant. Ice cream, scenic drive, and we were back in bed, gearing up for the next day.
The next day, we drove out to Cannes, along the shoreline, to see what it was all about. Another mind-blowing shoreline, another glam filled place, crystal clear blue water, cars, ladies, food.
We didn't swim there, but drove back to a place called Eze Sur Mer, another rocky/pebble beach halfway between Monaco and Nice. A bottle of wine, some beer, more time spent in the water, a blissful evening back to Monaco, shower up, and headed back out to Nice for the best, and most mind-blowing burgers in the world, at a little joint called Le Eclypse. We were definitely Comatose after. Sleep was greatly welcomed.
The next morning, we drove out to a place called Eze Bord Du Mer, which was a Eze castle high up on a mountain top overlooking Nice, Eze, VilleFranche, Cap Ferrat and Cannes in the distance.
Breathtaking, beautiful sights and a view.
We then drove back into Monaco to spend the entire evening on a beach and in a Principality that we just had not devoted enough time to, Monte Carlo itself. More beach time, swimming , lazing around on the raft, and generally letting go of reality was what ensued, followed by a night on the town with Advait and Chloe, though hardly, it was a Sunday night, we walked around the entire place, walked the length of the F1 track demarcations (The pilgrimage was complete), had a few drinks at 2 waterfront pubs, oggled at cars, yachts, women, and eventually walked back to the room and crashed out. We also earlier went to the casino, to see the obscene displays and amounts of money people gambled with and this wasn't even a high roller room, or high roller night.
The next morning, we walked up to the Castle of Prince Albert of Monaco. A lovely place, with an even more mind-blowing view.
The most astounding thing over these days were the cars we saw; Ferraris (including the Enzo and the FF), Maseratis, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, BMW, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bugati Veyron, KTM X-Bow, Dodge Viper, Corvettes, Jaguars and probably many more. Apart from the lone Enzo, the 2 Veyrons, 5 lined-up Lamborghinis with the Kuwait plates, and the KTM X-Bow, every other manufacturer, became Just Another Ferrari, Rolls, etc...... crazy.
We then drove towards Italy, to base our selves at a lazy, often mistaken for poor, seaside town called Lavagna. Another stunning beach front, with crystal clear blue green water and a lovely beach. After getting there we dumped our bags and took a train towards a place called St. Marguerite and then boarded a bus for another beach and cove called Parragio beach and Porto Fino.
The beach was in a cove, where we once again struck out, the 3 of us, for the mouth of the cove, where a house on a little hillock had a dock, where we went and sat, swimming through the crystal clear water, without wanting to come back was another feeling altogether.
We then went on to Porto Fino, which was a little cove/port for Luxury yachts and there were several stunning mind-blowing ones there. Dinner was at a waterfront cafe, after which, we headed back to the station and to Lavagna. A drink later, we all crashed out.
The next morning was an early one, with a mind-blowing breakfast of great coffee, breads, meats etc. 9 am train to Monterorosso, the first town of the Cinque Tere. 5 beach front towns which were connected by seafront paths on hillsides.
The first connecting trail was a tough trek which the 5 of us did, while on the second it was Advait, Chloe and myself, while the parents took the train as they were pretty tired. Lunch at the 3rd town, and train to the 4th as there were landslides on that path . town 4-5 was a seaside promenade walk, nice and comfy so we all ambled along taking in the amazing view. A train back to the first town which had the best beach of all, and naturally, a leisurely evening spent swimming out and then kayaking on the beach, after which we sat leisurely on a street-side bench, and the 4 of us, including mum, killed a nice bottle of local wine.
A train back and a lovely pizza beer+wine dinner at a local restaurant in Lavagna.
Disappointed , but currently content, we slept off, the beach side vacation was over.
The next morning, we drove back into Torino, where Advait and the rest of graduating batch had their designs on display , followed by a dinner with the families of a bunch of his friends, and another night on the town.
We drove out to a place called Lake Maggiore the next morning, part in Italy, part in Switzerland.
This was also a pretty rich area, though the extremely classy, grandiose, almost Austrian-Swiss architecture wise opposite of the glamorous, showy Monaco. We visited 2 of the 3 islands in the centre of the lake, saw 1 palace and some architecture, pieces of history as they were preserved, and then took the scenic route back to Torino.
The next 3 days included walked around Torino, taking in the sights and sounds, a church on a hill with a fabulous all around view (Superga), a couple of fun drinking and partying nights, some brilliant spoken buffards by Chloe and Mum, advaits Graduation Ceremony, a crazy IED grad party, and one final, insane, late, semi-plastered, champagne , cigars, and long-island iced teas night on the town!!!!
All sad to leave the next day, the 3 of us, walked around the city and ate some brilliant food and ice-cream, took in a few more churches and one last high point called Cappucini. Advait was to stay on for 3 more days with Chloe and wrap things up in Torino.
He drove us to Milan airport, where we were to board the flight back to India. I nearly bought a Hughes and Kettner amp, but didn't for fear of Delhi customs getting up to some bullshit with bringing an amp in.
I've rushed through 10, mad, brilliant, insane, unbelievable, maybe once in a lifetime , indescribable days. I've written like an idiot, like a child, abrupt, more concise then even a summary, more rushed then God knows what. There was no possible way I could bring myself to go into detail, because I would possibly have to put up separate blog entries for each day, because every minute is crystal clear, every view, every memory, every feel, every sight, every sound. Unfortunately its like an experience out of time and the reality that we live in. More so, I probably wouldn't be able to do justice to those 10 days and all we did and saw, and would end up falling short, disappointing myself and others with what I wrote, and most probably didn't convey.
To sum up, it was truly unbelievable, indescribable, and I have no words. For those of you who understand what I mean, despite the fact that I have written about those 10 days, I truly have no words that would be appropriate or do justice to the experience.
I will however, link you to some facebook albums, so that you may at least have some visuals of what we saw. And some wiki links, so maybe if you're interested, you could read about the places.
All in all, the trip and stay at each place on the Italian+French Riviera, and more so in Italy, was too short, it shall be done again some time, with full justice being done to each place.
For now... as always..
Cheers,
Beast.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151095558702930.503492.508537929&type=1
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151094034932930.503311.508537929&type=1
Cinque Tere - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinque_Terre
Lago Maggiore - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Maggiore
Porto Fino - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portofino
Superga - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superga
Eze - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%88ze
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