A Glimpse of Europe

Our family Euro tour was decided almost on a whim.

We started planning months ahead for a family milestone to celebrate. It was to be a proper function with close friends and family at fancy reception, complete with 3-course meals plus canapes and bottomless booze, with a live band, fresh flowers and professional photographer. No expense to be spared, it was going to be a super-special but an extravagant night. After all it was a celebration of our 15th Wedding Anniversary, and the whole family was so happy how far we have come.

As were planning for the finer details, then the practical Self of me showed its clever head, as if coming back from hiatus. And then enlightenment suddenly dawned and that’s when we decided to embark on 3 weeks of fun exploring a little bit of Europe rather than splurge and indulge like a millionaire just for one night.

Europe has always fascinated me as a child and dreamed of one day setting foot in its illustrious cities. Both grown out of curiosity and aspiration, I have sowed the seed in the hearts and minds of my precious younglings.

Kids missing school for non-urgent reasons is something that I never appreciated, so with that our trip was constrained by time. We can only go during the school holidays and we picked the Easter break as it meant more school-free days than usual. And timing was perfect as our dear Lynette was to celebrate her 7th birthday, too.

We knew we had limited time, but we were adamant not just to see the touristy places but to experience a bit of cultural immersion.

We picked only 4 cities where we knew we could meet up with some family or friends. We decided to stay in each city at least 4 to 5 days.

London was the top pick of course ! How can a European trip be complete without visiting the seat of the most famous, most influential modern-day royalty in the whole world ?

Overlooking the River Thames through the Air France window during the trip from Paris to London

Paris was another city not to be missed. Like London, we felt that a Euro trip is not complete without visiting the City of Love (or the City of Lights).

Approaching CDG Airport (Paris). Even at the top, France looked elegant

Rome wasn’t as appealing to me as the first, but being Catholic, I felt compelled to come to the place, and it was an amazing but a humbling experience. I vowed to bring my parents to this place and allow them to experience the same thing as I did.

View from the plane as it approached Fiumicino Aeroporto (Rome)

Barcelona boasting its seaside location was the Spanish city that the family decided to go over Madrid, and I fell in love not only with its food but its blue skies and warm, balmy weather ?

The Coast of Barcelona Aboard Vueling Airlines

Three weeks went by so quickly. We had a great time exploring some of the greatest capital cities of Europe. It widened our horizons and increased our understanding of other cultures. But most of all, it made us appreciate Australia and Melbourne more, our home.

View of the European Alps Aboard Air France