Tulips were, and still are, my absolute favorite flowers. Ranie knows that. I couldn’t contain my excitement that Keukenhof in The Netherlands became the first order of the day upon our arrival in Amsterdam.

Keukenhof, more popularly known as the Garden of Europe, far exceeded my expectations. Open only for two months every year, we were fortunate enough to enjoy the last blooms of tulips, alongside daffodils and hyacinth before the park closed for that season.

Windmills and tulips, what’s not to love? Oh, yes, I forgot, haring (herring), that’s what!

Dubbed the Venice of the North, we couldn’t explore Amsterdam without doing a boat tour. My geeky brain bled when we passed by Anne Frank’s house, while Ranie was salivating when we were by the Heineken Museum. Next time, became the mantra of that trip.

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Having my friend as a tour guide, we were introduced to the permissive society that is Amsterdam. We had our fill of the traditional Dutch dinner to end the day. Oh wait, we still explored The Red Light District on foot after that. The aroma in the air was unmistakenly marijuana-infused.

The next day, another family friend took us to Noord Holland where we saw rows upon rows of tulips as far as one’s eyes can see. We also visited Kastel de Haar in Utrecht. Although it was already closed, a nice frau (lady) let us into the property. It was an epitome of a medieval castle.

The drawbridge and the moat had me at hello!

La Vie est Belle, or is it?

Paris, the amazing City of Lights, was just a layover for us. Alas, half of that day was spent in a police station!

Halfway through our Metro ride to our hotel, I just noticed that my purse was open, and gone was my wallet. I only had a few Euros and dollars in it. I was mad about that feeling of vulnerability and helplessness! And yes, add up the fact that “je ne parle pas francais” (I don’t speak French), except for “Oui” et “Merci,” then it’s Google translate to the rescue.

I spent the rest of that day wallowing in misery while consuming box after box of Laduree macarons! Well, after praying profusely to Notre Dame, that is.

Overdosing on sweets had a therapeutic effect on me! I woke up brand new the next day. I was overly excited to finally go to Switzerland. Upon seeing the snow-capped Alps, I felt like singing: “The hills are alive with the sound of music…”

What do you mean that was in Austria? Oops, wrong country, never mind!

Luzern (Lucerne) was a dream! Fondue or not, I was determined to set foot in the Swiss Alps. We stayed in Kriens, a short train ride away from Mount Pilatus.

On our ascent, we took the steepest cogwheel railway in the world.

Sadly, that moment had to end! But that sadness was just for a moment because more adventures awaited us. So excited to finally explore Luzern on foot, my cousin, whom we traveled with, and I got off the gondola, even if the ride was just halfway done. The operator had to yell at us to get back to make the final descent.

Turned out, the group of teenagers sitting behind us were half-Filipinos who looked every inch Swiss boys but spoke fluent Tagalog. They helped us get our fill of Swiss chocolates and Swiss cheeses. They even warned us against the vicious but very graceful swans floating up and down the lake.

All Roads Lead to Rome

After a six-hour train ride between Switzerland and Italy, we arrived in Roma – la Citta Eterna. The city where all roads lead to! The focal point of that trip!

Our local priest-friend suggested that we renew our vows there. We did just that at the Parish of Santa Anna inside the Vatican Walls. Yes, there is another church aside from St. Peter’s in the Vatican! Surprised? I was, too, the very first time we went there.

Since it was totally unplanned, our reception was enjoying a scoop or two of gelato at the nearby Old Bridge Gelateria. Our nun-friend joked that that gelateria was the go-to place of the pope whenever he craved gelato. After all, that place was a stone’s throw away from the Papal Palace.

We did the touristy Roman things, too. We walked for miles from Vittorio Emanuelle to Colosseo, Piazza Navona to Fontana Trevi, and everything in between. Back in San Pietro, we ascended to Michelangelo’s cupola. Climbing up those 320 steps was not for those with weak knees I tell you!

The highlight for me, aside from our vow renewal, was of course finally visiting the Sistine Chapel. I could never quite put into words what that experience meant to me.

The Birthplace of Pizza and Limoncello

Next stop? The Amalfi Coast and Capri! Those hairpin and death-defying turns the bus made from Sorrento en route to Amalfi almost made me lose my breakfast. However, the breathtaking scenery more than made up for it!

Back in Sorrento, Ranie had his “Disneyland” (Happiest Place on Earth, get it?) moment. There he got to hang out and cook with esteemed Italian chefs. He learned the tricks of the trade from the masters themselves. His risotto pescadore was to die for!

The next day we visited the world-famous island of Capri.  A boat tour afforded us to experience the Blue Grotto. The skipper of a small wooden rowboat had to time the entrance perfectly. We had to duck so we don’t hit our heads against the minuscule opening of the cave. Inside, we were treated to a few lines of “O Sole Mio”, complemented by the blue reflection illuminating the cavern.

Firenze (Florence) made me feel like I was living in a Renaissance dream, albeit for only a couple of hours. I was a total nerd inside Sta. Croce. The tombs of the likes of Michelangelo, Galileo, and a monument for Dante are immortalized there. It was like being inside an old Renaissance novel!

Venice was all they said it was and more! Getting lost in the small alleys and crossing all those charming bridges seemed like a must while hunting for the best spaghetti di nero (in squid ink) in town! The pigeons in St. Mark’s Square had a ravenous appetite for bread while the gondolas were swaying in the grand canal like they had a rhythm of their own.