We set off for Old Dubai in the morning, having read about the more rudimentary parts of the city untainted by the modernisation plague.

 

We walked through the Spice Souq and Gold Souq where the narrow lanes are lined with stores proudly displaying their wares.

As part of the tour package, we got a 2-day stay at Dubai.

 

EU offered an optional land tour package which we were reluctant to take up, again because of the inflated price. Fortunately, we met a resourceful trip mate who scoured the internet and managed to secure the same package at a fraction of the price.

To Rome with Love.

 

It was our last day in Europe.

Day 10 was spent in the Tuscan sun.

 

We visited the Square of Miracles in Pisa, where the well-known leaning tower is located. There was also the trio of monuments that symbolise the stages of human life: Baptistery - Birth; Cathedral - Life; and cemetery Campo Santo - Death.

Day 9 was another optional package to Florence.

 

Before that, we spent a dull morning at Barberino Designer Outlet. Shops run along the banks of river Sieve connected by two bridges.

 

We fluttered between shops and finally settled down at Borgo Café for a special buffet lunch. For €18, we could go through the buffet line once and stack as much food as we can on a single plate. We gathered a mix of pasta, meat and pizza which was just right to fill both our stomachs.

A quaint city built on water interspersed with canals.

 

My pre-impression of Venice was derived from the novel version of Merchant of Venice - a compulsory read for Literature in secondary school.

 

We have been hoping for the skies to snow and it finally did today. Albeit in the least romantic of places: at a toilet stop en route to Milan. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the magical moment of watching the torrent of snowflakes cascade before us.

We requested for a late set off since the group decided against the optional excursion to Bern. So we walked down the streets of Interlaken once more after breakfast to admire the town in its morning glory.

Day 5 was the most fun day of the trip. As daylight breaks, the picturesque Lucerne Lake came into sight.

 

While waiting for the missus to get ready, I opened the windows braving the chilly winds, climbed onto the table and sat absorbed in the blue hour portrayal of the surroundings.

Day 3

 

Before bidding farewell to Paris, we headed over to La Vallée Village, a factory outlet where off-season luxury labels are sold at a bargain.

 

Apparently, the Long Champ bags are a steal as the ladies simply raided the shop. The elderly auntie in our group had like 10 bags hung over her arm!

 

After the shopping spree, we rested @ Starbucks over complimentary coffee and muffins. We then set off for Switzerland, stopping over for the night at Nancy, Lorraine.

 

We got a shock later on when we were asked to pay €25/ pax for the visit to the shopping outlet. Apparently, the guide had told some people in the group who agreed to pay for it. But she had not sought the consensus of the entire group. But kudos to the 2nd guide, he refunded all of us the money upon learning about the miscommunication.

 

Day 4

 

We went on an excursion to Titisee, Germany where we experienced snow for the first time.

Day 2 was our free-&-easy day since we did not sign up for the optional tour. With a metro map in hand, we charted out our day’s itinerary over breakfast.

 

We touched down in Paris in the morning and began right away with the city tour.

Our honeymoon could not have gotten off any better.

 

We flew Emirates A380 and we were given the last row of window seats; which meant breathtaking views, privacy and ease of accessing the lavatory.

 

Day 6 was the re-visitation of another of my childhood interest – flying and space machines.

 

We spent the morning at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Sadly, it was the day before the space shuttle Enterprise was due to arrive at the museum. I remember staring in awe at its pictures as a kid and making models of it for science projects. Sigh, even a glimpse of the real thing would have been good.

We set off in the morning to the American Museum of Natural History, made famous by the movie – Night at the Museum. Maybe it was because we visited in the day, there was little adventure: no stampeding T-rexes or irate diorama figures.

We finally arrived at New York City. I have always longed to visit NYC, after seeing glimpses of its beauty on film: the ball dropping at Times Square in “New Year’s Eve”, Giselle singing and dancing around Central Park in “Enchanted” and Kurt and Rachel strutting down Fifth Avenue in “Glee”

We left Boston and headed to New York City. En route, we stopped at Woodbury Commons Factory Outlets which totally changed my perception of premium outlets. On the bus, I watched in puzzlement as the people started to scribble purposefully on the map as if planning a military attack.

Our first stop in Boston was to Harvard University, the alma mater of Barrack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg amongst numerous notable people.

 

It was my first long haul flight: 12 hours to Frankfurt followed by 8 hours to JFK. That's almost a day in the air. I kinda enjoyed it though; eat, sleep, watch movie.