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    We departed from the hotel at 8:00 am after a sumptuous continental breakfast. Soon, our coach was navigating the wide and shimmering roads of France. Today, we were to travel from Paris to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and also the capital of the European Union. From there, we were to proceed to the Netherlands. We realised Europe was so unique. We had breakfast in France, lunch was in Belgium, and dinner was in the Netherlands. It took us three and a half hours from Paris to Brussels. The drive was picturesque, with the ever-changing green landscape and flowing rivers. Notably, there was no honking. The drivers in Europe were disciplined and maintained their lanes, a truly commendable trait.

    Our coach driver, Michele, hailed from Italy. As we drove along, we passed both small and large villages, each neatly maintained and typically featuring a church tower. The verdant surroundings and the occasional river added charm to the journey. Before Belgium, we stopped to enjoy a hearty lunch at the Wonders Restaurant.

After lunch, we visited the city centre of Brussels, known as the Grand Place. It is a beautiful square that houses the Town Hall, several Gilded Age buildings, and a circular monument. A popular landmark here is the Manneken Pis Statue, also known as the ‘Peeing Boy Statue’, located right in the heart of the square. According to an old folktale, it holds historical significance and continues to attract visitors from all over. The square was bustling with shoppers and tourists. We made the most of the vibrant atmosphere, capturing several photographs and enjoying delicious ice cream.  

    By 4:00 pm, we departed for our next attraction, the Atomium. It took about an hour to get there. The Atomium is a striking historical monument, built in 1957, featuring nine massive spheres connected by 21 tubes. It represents an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times and is considered a national icon of Belgium. It was another excellent photo opportunity, steeped in architectural and scientific heritage.

    After visiting the Atomium, we resumed our journey to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. From Brussels we crossed over to Valenciennes, a border town in France and then circled back to Antwerp, a town in Belgium, well-known for its diamond market. In and around Antwerp, we saw many windmills, canals, lakes, and quaint village houses. My spouse and I were thrilled to witness this exquisite blend of nature and culture. Finally, we entered the Netherlands via the Hazeldonk, on the Belgium-Netherlands border and then reached the town of Breda and then Amsterdam. Our dinner was at an Indian restaurant called ‘Bollywood’, located in Amsterdam. After enjoying a good meal, we checked into the Amedia Hotel, Amsterdam by 9:00 pm, ready to rest for the night. After a refreshing night, local sightseeing was to follow in Amsterdam during the day. Later, our group was scheduled to travel to Germany the same day. But first, at 9:00 am, we set out to visit Madurodam, a miniature park in Amsterdam, often called ‘Mini Amsterdam.’ 

Madurodam Park offers a fantastic overview of Dutch architecture and culture, all recreated in miniature. Amsterdam is known as the city of bicycles, canals, and rivers. It draws parallels to Venice in some ways, and gets its water from the North Sea. We entered the park at 9:45 am and were to stay there until noon.

    There was so much to see in the park. The landscaping was phenomenal, and the level of detailing in the miniature replicas was truly mind-blowing. Whoever designed the park must have been a genius. Among the many attractions, there was a fascinating 3D flight simulation inside a stationary Dakota aeroplane, complete with realistic sound effects.

    There was so much to photograph there, like the verdant garden with miniature canals, boats, luxury liners and the drawbridges that lifted when the toy ships passed through. It was a real delight not only for children but even adults. The landscaping was just awesome with miniature hills, forests, rural homes, and the modelling of canals, windmills, and rural houses was amazing. The souvenir shops within the park were so well laid out and with so much merchandise that it could have tempted anyone to buy in droves. As noon approached, we were supposed to leave the park for lunch, but on that day, our appointed Guru Restaurant caught fire, and we were accommodated in Rangoli Restaurant instead.  It’s so nice to see Indian cuisine reaching the nooks and corners of Europe, but you need to book it in advance because the capacities are still low. The change of venue turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The Rangoli Restaurant was just a five-minute walk from the Lovers Canal Cruise Station, so we were able to meet our schedule. We reached the Restaurant at 1:00 pm. After a quick bite, we were on the Lovers Canal Cruise for a boat ride at 1.45 pm. The canals reminded me of the last scene (a motorboat chase) of Alistair Maclean’s famous movie ‘The Puppet on a Chain.’ It was truly the best of both worlds, a satisfying Indian lunch and a relaxing canal cruise through one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

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