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General Travel

French Riviera Travel Guide and Tips

June 15, 2016

Day 1

Nice, the capital of the French Riviera was love at first sight for us. The undulating Promenade des Anglais, lanes dotted with quaint chapels and boulangeries teeming with people are all an inordinately beautiful sight. On our first day, we sauntered through the entire stretch of the promenade while relishing a gelato and thinking c’est la vie! One of the best places to enjoy the view is to climb up the winding stairs of Le château de Nice (Castle hill). There are various entrances, or you can even take the free lift. This medieval castle is a maze of greenery that offers stunning views of the old town and the port. We spent the entire day wandering around and exploring this place. We even chanced upon a waterfall that was built during the 18th century. As the evening light started to set in, we walked over to the beach to bask in the warm glow.

Day 2

Eze Village

The next morning, we took a bus to Eze Village – make sure you sit on the right side of the bus to enjoy the plentiful vistas. Following a quick breakfast of buttery croissants and black coffee, we headed to explore the fortified village. Perched on a rocky peak, this village offers an outstanding view of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula. Dotted with quaint boutiques and bougainvillaea-covered villas, this place has maze-like streets that lead to beautiful courtyards and hidden alleys. Next, we climbed up to the Jardin Exotique, where an abundance of succulent plants surrounds the castle ruins. Perfect place to enjoy a quiet moment.

Monaco

After spending three hours in Eze, we took another bus to Monaco. On reaching, we headed to a restaurant overlooking the harbour to devour dried cod cooked in tomato sauce and pasta with Mediterranean vegetables. The wide variety of museums and sites reflects the importance of art, history and culture in Monaco. We walked around the harbour for a while enjoying the sight of docked yachts dancing around in the water. Post that, we walked to the Oceanographic Museum from the old port. Although it’s quite a walk, the view is breathtaking! We highly suggest you do this instead of taking a bus or a cab. The Oceanographic Museum is a neoclassical building that houses over 6000 species in a spectacular underwater environment. The shark lagoon is a must-visit, it will surely blow your mind. In the same vicinity, you’ll also find the magnificent Prince’s Palace, the white stone Cathedral and the Chapel of Mercy. Instead of walking all the way back to the old port, there’s an exit next to the palace that’ll take you back into the city.

Day 3

Cannes

Pronounced as ‘can’, this place is all about glitz and glamour. From taking pictures on the red carpet to dining at upscale restaurants, you can do it all. While there’s nothing much to see apart from the razzle-dazzle, there are a few places that are worth a visit. Head over to Forville Market to taste the local delight – Socca (chickpea crepes), walk through the charming neighbourhood of Le Suquet or shop for vintage knick-knacks at Rue Meynadier. If you have time we would surely recommend taking a ferry to Ile Sainte-Marguerite – a beautiful island with a fort and maritime museum.

While Eze still remains the best part about our trip, the French Riviera certainly did steal our hearts forever.

Handy Tips

1. We booked an Uber from the airport to Nice using the wifi available at the airport and it cost us 19€, an alternative is to use the express bus which costs 6€ per person. Note that when you pull up your list of available wifi networks at the airport, you will probably see ‘FreeWifi’: this is NOT free, ‘Free’ is a network provider and it’s only free… if you pay!

2. We chose Nice as our base and travelled to Eze, Monaco and Cannes

3. Buy these handy Foldable water bottles as you will need it while exploring the city plus you can easily clip it to your bag.

4. When you get on the train to Cannes, the stop you need to get off is Cannes Voyagers, not Cannes la Bocca.

5. Nice has 3 stops Riquier, St Augustine and Nice Ville figure out which station your Hotel is the closest to

6. Validate your ticket in the little yellow machines before getting on to the train, if you’re on a tram you can do this once you get in.

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Life Lately Travel

Gloriously Romantic Venice

April 3, 2016

City of romance: words that describe Venice perfectly. Sun glints off the canals, while the smell of fresh fish wafts through the lanes. Ancient buildings, docked gondolas and the breathtaking landscape will command your attention everywhere. Venice’s beauty lies in its intricate canal system, they bring a great sense of serenity to the surroundings.

After a hour long boat ride, we checked into L’Orologio hotel, a few minutes from the Rialto bridge. Our agenda for the evening was to explore the city and taste some Venetian cuisine.

Post a somewhat disastrous meal, we headed towards Piazza San Marco, a magnificent square that truly enchants. This usually buzzing space was completely empty, saving a few people taking selfies.

At dawn, we set out to explore the majestic Saint Mark’s Basilica. It is regarded as one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture in the world. We were especially awed by the ornate architecture and the gemstone studded altar inside the basilica.

No trip to Venice is complete without a gondola ride. It is possibly the best way to see the city. You can explore various Byzantine and Baroque landmarks at your own pace. Also, never give your camera to your gondolier, he will probably run away with it. He did with ours but we were faster than him. Ha!

Since we visited Venice during the off-season, we paid only €60 for the gondola ride. Don’t be shy to negotiate with them, as they quote anywhere between 90 and 150 euros.

As the city bathed in splashes of gold, we walked around exploring popular sights like Doge’s Palace, an imposing gothic structure converted into a museum; Gallerie dell’Accademia – a museum showcasing pre-19th-century art, bridge of sighs and San Giorgio Maggiore, a basilica with a gleaming white façade.

Next day, we jetted off to Venice’s neighbouring island, Murano. This unassuming island is the perfect place to experience classic, old-world Venice. You can go on a tour of the glass-making industry or sit down to relish Venetian fare at a trattoria.

Venice Two Day Itinerary

Day 1:

Places to see: Campanile di San Marco, St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Peggy Guggenheim Museum.

Day 2

Places to see: Grand Canal Gondola Ride, Murano (where you can visit the glass museum and workshops) or Burano (known for lace making and colorful houses) and if you still have time head to Punta della Dogana and you won’t regret it.

Travel Tips:

1) Take the Alilaguna from the airport to your hotel. There are many private boat operators best to avoid them as they’re way too expensive. You can buy tickets for this at the airport’s information desk.

2) Once you’re in the heart of Venice the best way to get around is the Vaporetto which is the Venetian water bus.

3) It’s advisable to stay close to the Rialto bridge as all the touristy attractions are at a walking distance.

4) If you are looking for offline navigation then Here maps is a handy app to have. Download links for Android and iOS.

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Travel

A Photo Journey Through Strasbourg

January 24, 2016

Strasbourg has a special place in our hearts for many different reasons and the Mille Ans light show was just one of those. Pardon the quality of the video but this is an experience we will cherish for the rest of our lives

In pictures: Unadulterated beauty of Strasbourg

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Travel

Strasbourg, So Much Wonder

January 4, 2016

After a sleepy one and half hour flight, we alighted in the most gorgeous city in France. Strasbourg, which sits right on the border of France and Germany is a picturesque city renowned for its canals and cobbled lanes. After checking into our hotel, we headed towards the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg for the ‘Mille Ans’ light show. Touted as the emblem of the city, the Cathédrale is acclaimed for its architectural elegance. The Romanesque and Gothic structure is truly a sight to behold with its intricate sculptures and stained glass windows.

The light show to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Cathédrale left us misty eyed and mesmerised. It was one of the most magical experiences – sitting under the starry sky and looking at the majestic Cathédrale light up in colours. Designed by digital-projection artist, Skertzò, the video-mapping show brings the Cathédrale to life with hauntingly beautiful music. Truly transfixing! After watching the spectacle, we spent the evening ambling through the lanes looking at everything with a wonder. A satisfying meal of pizza and risotto later, we headed back to our hotel to rest for the day.

Following a hearty breakfast the next morning, we set out to explore this magnificent city. Since it was a week of festivities, we had free access to enter the Cathédrale and all the museums. We spent the entire morning inside the Cathédrale marvelling at the craftsmanship – the astronomical clock is truly a work of art. In spite of the light showers, we decided to climb the Cathédrale to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Once you get through the hurdle of climbing 330 stairs, you’re rewarded with the most breathtaking view of the city. We sat there basking in the beauty of this moment.

After exploring a few museums, we headed towards Petite France. Considered as the historical centre of the city, Petit France is an otherworldly beauty with half-timbered houses and spectacular waterways. We spent hours promenading through the tiny lanes photographing everything in our memories. After wandering around for a while, we sat down to have lunch at La Corde Á Linge. Overlooking the canals and gingerbread-style houses, this restaurant serves up authentic Alsatian food.

We had a gastronomic experience with Alsatian food. We relished the traditional Alsatian pasta cooked in tomato sauce with fresh herbs and topped with a generous sprinkling of Parmesan. The fish cooked in delectable red onion compote and Riesling sauce was simply divine.

After that heavenly lunch, we made it just in time for our city boat tour. If you don’t have a lot of time, we suggest you do this because it takes you through all the popular attractions. Finally we ended our day by going for the light show because no matter how many times you see it, it’ll give you goose bumps. We rounded off another fabulous day with a hearty Indian meal.

Strasbourg is a bewitching city that offers a breathtaking sensory and gastronomical experience.

We departed from here feeling happy and content.

Tips For Visiting Strasbourg

1) We found a brilliant deal on Holiday Pirates, flights + hotel came up to £180 per person from London Gatwick.

2) As soon as you clear immigration head towards your right and look for Entzheim-Aeroport Railway Station which is beside the car hire section. Trains going to Strasbourg are on platform A and you will need to buy your ticket at one of the automated ticket machines. You can buy a ticket for €2.40 (one-way) to Strasbourg Railway Station.

3) Comfort Hotel, Montagne Verte is centrally located, albeit a little small, it is clean and comfortable. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful.

4) The tram stop is 5 minutes away from the hotel, and it takes roughly about 10 minutes to get to the heart of the city.

5) The Strasbourg pass priced at 18,90 € per adult gives you access to all the popular museums and other attractions.

6) Tram is an extremely affordable mode of transportation. The 24-hour tram/bus/coach pass is 4,30 €. If you end up buying the 24-hour tram ticket, ensure you validate it on every journey

7) If you’re planning to climb the Cathédrale (which we recommend you should), make sure you carry a bottle of water with you.

8) The boat tour is extremely popular so we suggest booking well in advance.

9) If you’re looking to grab a quick bite in Petite France, Mezzo Di Pasta is a must-visit.

PS: Keep your eyes peeled for more pictures and an exclusive video of the millennium light show.[Edit – New blog post is now live]

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Travel

A Weekend in Netherlands

October 5, 2015

Last month, we spent a weekend in Netherlands visiting Volendam, a picturesque seaside fishing village and Madurodam, a miniature park with replicas of famous Dutch castles and buildings before heading off to Amsterdam. Amsterdam, which is considered a wonderland for adults is a charming city famous for its canals, historic landmarks and seedy, but vibrant nightlife. Let us take you on a visual journey of Netherlands.

Happy Blogiversary to Our Infinity!

Our blog turned 1 year old on October 1st and to celebrate this happy occasion we are hosting an international giveaway especially for the ladies(sorry men!) on L’s beauty blog, so head over and get winning.

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Travel

Why Bruges is a Must Visit

September 18, 2015

Bruges is a wondrous waterborne city situated in the northwest of Belgium. Bruges, which is called the Venice of Belgium, is renowned for its imposing gothic architecture and intricate canals. The medieval town is a delight for history enthusiasts because every monument and sculpture has a tale to tell.

Even though it was raining when we arrived, the city looked all brushed up and festive. The best way to explore this historical town is to hire a guide and go on a walking tour. Our guide took us through all the beautiful cobbled lanes while explaining the art and architecture of Bruges. So fascinating! We started our tour from Minnewater Lake and walked all the way up to the Market Square (Markt).

Our first stop was the Béguinage (Begijnhof), a convent for Benedictine nuns, which was earlier a place for single or widowed women to live in a pious way. The 18^th century buildings surrounded by lush foliage is a sight to see – it’s one of the most tranquil places I’ve ever seen. There’s also a small museum, which recreates the living quarters of Béguinage an absolute must visit.

Another brilliant piece of architecture is the Church of Our Lady, a magnificent brickwork church famous for its white marble sculpture of the Madonna and Child created by Michelangelo. The Old St. John’s Hospital next to it houses the famous Hans Memling museum, which showcases the 19^th century artists’ works.

Since the weather took a turn for the worse, we decided to have a quick meal before exploring further. After gobbling up waffles and frites, we decided to wander around Market Square – the lane is dotted with quaint lace shops and outdoor restaurants. Horse-drawn carriages and water fountains are a common sight in Bruges – the city still remains untouched by modern civilization.

You’ll love the Groeninge Museum if you are an art lover. The museum has exquisite Flemish and Belgian artists’ masterpieces. You can languish and pore over the beautiful works of art. Though we didn’t get to see Basilica of the Holy Blood, you must make sure to check it out. The Romanesque style chapel is famed for housing a phial of Jesus Christ’s blood. Intriguing, isn’t it?

L & R’s Verdict: Bruges is a must visit! It’s a charming and culturally rich city that is sure to mesmerise you.

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