Europe - Part 1

If you've grown up reading Enid Blyton's, Dickens or any classic children's books you would have a fair-y view of the world. Sprawling meadows, mooing cows, lots of gingerbeer, marmalade, ham...Mmm

Then there's also the expectation of adventure. Like when you see a hideous looking pen-seller by the school grounds after class, you trail him suspecting he's smuggling (what only your tiny underdeveloped brain can imagine) in those pens...

Then there is green air, space, comfort, quiet.. freedom..

When I first landed in Germany I tucked away my dreams in the dark looking airport, cloudy chill, deserted roads and well.. my humble hotel room. But then that was November and I was not a rich kid. As I unpacked, the fantasies burst out too and how! From Germany to Paris to Venice and back it was the first and best glimpse I could get of the world outside.

Munich - Campeon: The place where my workplace was - a huge campus with three ponds, reluctant ducks, frozen gardens and the autobahn around it. As I took the bus/train to work I could see the really tall building with the hard-to-miss wheel with blue and white spokes.

Fussen: Then there was Fussen. Ah! Throw in all the good, cosy things you have seen in the movies and this place trumps that. A good few hours from Munich by the spectacular Eurail.. every frame that passed my window is still crystal clear. Ahead from Fussen, separated by yet another train ride stood Neuschwanstein. 

Neuschwanstein Castle: Picturesque village, woods closeby leading to the hill that held the Castle. Built by a not-so-frugal ruler, this castle stands in the clouds with its own small indoor forest for tea/garden time for the royalty. Beautiful in its court as much as inside this place can be reached by a short stroll in the woods up the hill or by regal carriages driven by sturdy, dark and elegant horses.

I couldnt get enough of it.

Lindau: On my way back, I took a detour to a little-heard-of place called Lindau that sits in the midst of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. To think we sometimes get excited about double-cheese.

Well Lindau is closest to my heart not because it has views to die for or because it has a mini-harbour, or the cobblestone streets lined with pretty shops and cathedrals and casinos.. but because I met a stranger who took it upon herself to be my tour guide!! An elderly woman who visited on-and-off for conferences, she didnt consider it late after 9PM to introduce herself to me (having been to my country too). She dropped off her bags and chaperoned me into the cracks and crevices of this beautiful place. We also sat for a sermon. My first real bit at a decent pizza was here at the train station in Lindau waiting to head back after a most pleasant day.

English Garden: A good stroll close to where I stayed. Got to watch all the breeds of canines I had only read about. And some..

Deutsches Museum: One-Stop shop for all Science aficionados. 

Paris: Next up was Paris. I may be killed for saying this but I didnt connect so much with Paris. It was bustlier and real unlike Germany. Reminded me much of the city I grew up in. Lots of people, lots of activity, commercial..but here is where it shone for me. Imagine walking by a crowded subway and you witness someone playing the harp like a pro!! Or when you are in the train, a good-looking young fellow just gets up from his seat, produces a guitar and sweeps you off your feet. And asks you to dance with him??  Paris. Paris. 

Sacre Coeur (sacred place): Cut to another scene where for every hero, you meet a big, scary guy, trying to block you from moving, to sell a friendship band at Sacre Coeur.

Didnt help that he realized I was frantically shaking my head a no (wouldn't you if you were asked 8 Euros for a band??) and gave me one for free. Phew..wasnt I glad to run.

I loved the music on the steps of Sacre Couer, the fun train that you could hop onto for a tour and the amazing architecture around it. 

NotreDame: A quiet little cathedral, and streets full of splendid art and museums and tiny book shops. I would love to have sat here with a book..

Arc De Triomph was a short stop - a memorial of sorts.

Champs De Elysses: Confessions of a shopoholic.. By the way here was where I first saw crepes, yum!

Eiffel Tower: The day's grand finale was walking up to the Eiffel. Not only is the gardens around the tower very relaxing, the view from up there is really a wonder. If you stay until 7-ish in the PM, you can also see the lights magically turn on.. as you stand. It is quite a climb though.

The Louvre: brought down my exorbitant expectations to see it all in a day... There could be a city in there! It was inspiring to see artists of all ages brushing away in front of the masters.

Montparnasse: I took a taxi to pay a short visit to Montparnasse, decided against climbing up for the view this time and headed back to Germany on a bus.

Venice: The last leg of my EuroTrip was Venice. It was the sunniest day, and there was clear water waiting outside the Trenitalia station. I could have taken a gondola but I saved it for a time when I wasn't alone ;)

Murano: First off I headed to Murano to see the glass art and factory. The boat ride was the best commute I have ever had. 

Burano: I call it the 'Asian Paints Island'. You will know why when you see the bright colours revealing themselves as you reach the island. I could live here. Amazing homes, cobbled streets, music .. if Sunday were a place this would be it. If you like Italian gold and Venetian masks Burano offers aplenty. I would've never come back if it were not human nature to see if the next island had anything better to offer!

San Marco: A short cruise away was San Marco. The place for St. Marks Cathedral, The Bell Tower, numerous museums, the Rialto Bridge and romantic waterfront restaurants.

Ducale Museum: Doge's Palace

Germany: Back in Germany I spent a memorable time with Gitty - my good friend and colleague who was passionate about showing me the local haunts - jazz club, dance floor, a live brewery, shopping malls and some buildings of the parliament. I saw my first snow in heaps in the city centre.

We went to a nice little restaurant that college students frequent, had a drink in another popular hangout.

Apart from all the fun part, I wanted to see something historic and grave - Germany being the spotlight in the wars.. Dachau was intimidating, moving and enough for me to be grateful for the much better world we have today.  [http://sandsofrhyme.blogspot.com/2007/12/dachau.html]

Europe was like sugar-rush .. for my soul and eyes. Will be returning soon for Part 2..

Plow and Hearth - "Customer is nothing"

Once upon a day
I was shopping at this place
All green and orange it looked
Had exotic items too

New home that I had moved into
Had windows from floor to roof
Having lived awhile through snickers and stares
It pounced upon me to shop for drapes

Now this place I stopped at to shop
Was easy, great views and all
So I clicked on some curtains and valance
And they offered me discount on my balance!

I log off, wait for the stuff to arrive
It showed up as promised and I dive
Into the package to uncover a poor copy
Of the glamorous pictures online that stopped me

With sunken heart I yet lay them out
And what must stare at me rude and loud
A pair of swags with the dull drapes
Where I wanted valance in its place!

I promptly return them and wait for a refund
But when its short its no fun
So I call them and find out
They charged me for the discount!!

Who does that in today's world??!
Of the Amazons and the Zappos
Well one agnostic company for a start
That hides behind the name "Plow and Hearth"

The story continues as I try to write
A review to warn fellow shoppers tight
But guess what the only way
Is to write on some arbitrary page

Called 'Dave's Garden' where they stow
Away all negative feedback on Plow..
Leaving only self praise
To ever show up on their own web page...

so(u)l

There it is going down
all colour slowly fading out
voices of the world are loud
but not one to care about

Time and tide before its eyes,
people to watch and anticipate..
a long while it has tried
alas no purpose it finds to stay

How long can it burn alone
to shed light for a few others
eaten away till its bone
now it ceases to bother

It has set, weighed down by salt water
what difference be it if tear or ocean?
those it burned for move on faster
it stays unsought, the lonely one

Each one to his own

I try to run after him and he slips by
He seems away, then I find him by my side
When I look away, so does he
But when I lean in, he reaches for me

I may be called a hundred things
For chasing that to which I cling
No doubts, I have been asked to let go
But the one who never gave up, ask what he knows

Seems pretty dark, but it is so
nevertheless, my pursuit is not low
for some it is dreams, for others a love
for me it is my shadow that I cant think above

An affair to remember

There goes my train
puffing smoke that fogs the sight
that has already been blurred with tears
and I can only hear the urgency in the whistle

I know it wont wait for me
nor will it remember I travelled along
leaving a trace with every stroke of hand
as it chugged with my mind like it could listen

windows pass by like frames of a camera
showing glimpses of each memory
familiar sounds and smells will stay
for time and again to glisten

I got in an aimless wanderer
found my anchor in there
it has to offload me now
and again I am without a mission

Every night in bed henceforth
I will feel the cradling if I sleep
Life is but standstill without
that'll be the only rhyme and reason

As it rolls

There is supposed to be meaning
to everything that happens to us
it sure must be in a foreign tongue
or it mustn't be a good thing to trust

We are supposed to agree on hindsight
smile back on the broken pieces
and see how they still led here
but what if time freezes?

Life is meant to be a book
with many many chapters
while many make good reads
some also end up in tatters

Is that what we must get
that life is an outcome of chance..
uncertainty the only sure thing
and pointless, the best laid plans.

It's my life!

I quit my job , oh brother I did !
The one that sapped all the life outta me,
walked out in the sun like I always wished
without a worry or a penny

Voices of friends lingered from work
doubts, questions, concern for my act
but  boy, I didn't miss staying in the lurk
of pressing issues and facts

A lifestyle bought by dollars
may have been hard to beat
but freedom from the stifling collar
felt like rising up Broadway Street

Behind my gates lay in wait
only a handful of ideas and will
but never had life in its wake
promised this meat in a kill

No lure of success or fear of defeat -
only the lookout for a new path
I drive, I decide who else to seat
and it'll be some journey, no matter what!