A different side of Venice – Staying in the Venetian countryside

Venice – about 3 years ago I found myself in this city at a really short notice of 2 days. While looking for a place to stay online,  I realized that last minute trips to Venice is not a good idea as all places that I liked and within my budget were full. After a lot of research I  ultimately stayed at the Faronhof B&B, a small bed and breakfast in Oriago di Mira (about 15 kms from Venice). Though I would have loved to stay in Venice; it all worked out much better in the end as this B&B gave me an opportunity to get a glimpse of the Venetian countryside.

The Venetian countryside, near Venice, Italy

Photo Essay: Venice through my camera lens

Venice. About 3 years ago I found myself in this city at a really short notice of 2 days. With no time to research or read on it, I was quite unprepared as to what to expect or the unique things to see and do here. So I just spent all my time just walking around and exploring the nooks and corners of this unique city.

Venice in one pic – Gondolas, Cupolas and Lamps

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge is Reflections, a topic that can be captured in a multitude of ways i.e. via landscapes, in people’s expressions, in the mirror etc etc. But for my post I close this picture that I had taken in Venice, Italy.

One of the canals in Venice, Italy

Weekly Photo Challenge – Layers

This week’s weekly photo challenge is “Layers” and my image for the same is this flower, whose name I earlier didn’t know. But after this post went live last night, I received numerous responses from my blogging world friends who identified this flower for me, and it’s the Passiflora – the Blue Passion Fruit flower. I would like to thank everyone who commented on this post and helped me identify this flower. 🙂 Super thanks everyone.

I saw this flower on one of the 5 islands of Cinque Terre in Italy and instantly loved its colors and numerous layers. This was growing like a creeper all around these islands, but surprisingly I dint see them anywhere else in Italy (i.e. wherever I traveled).

Passiflora or the passion fruit flower 🙂

And it’s time for Europe again

I have been fascinated with Europe for a while. It all started in 2004 when my BFF, P first moved there and started sending postcards and sharing stories of a gorgeous world full of snow-clad mountains, fairy tale castles, scenic lakes, etc etc. All her stories created an image of a wonderland in my mind and I resolved to visit it as soon as I could collect some money. And as Paulo Coelho said in The Alchemist “if you truly want something, then the entire universe conspires in helping you achieve it” – well, mine sure did. After numerous failed plans, my first international trip was to Spain in 2006. And with this trip, the fascination increased.

Italy