Discover Europe - Chapter One

Day 1 : Paris City Tour
Day 2 : Rouen - City of Art and History
Day 3 : Louvre Museo
Day 4 : Geneve 75th International Motor Show
Day 5 : Geneve City Tour
Day 6 : Annecy Lake, Europe Purest Lake
Day 7 : Mont Blanc, Chamonix
Day 8 : Milano - Italy's Second City
Day 9 : Venezia - The Islands
Day 10 : Venezia - Canal Grande
Day 11 : Pisa
Day 12 : Firenze / Siena (Tuscany)
Day 13 : Roma - Medieval Tour
Day 14 : Roma - Piazzas and Fountains
Day 15 : Roma - Vatican City


PARIS. On Tuesday 18th May 2004, in Lausanne, the IOC disclosed the list of candidate cities bidding to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Out of the 9 applicant cities, 5 have been selected. And Paris is one of them. On 6 July 2005, in Singapore, the IOC members will elect the Host City for the Games.

ROUEN. Over 2,000 half timbered buildings line its charming streets and alleys. Joan of Arc (January 1412 – May 1431), a national heroine of France lived until her execution in the city of Rouen.

PARIS. The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. The building, a former royal palace, lies in the centre of Paris.

GENEVE. The Geneva Salon International de l'Auto (or Geneva Motor Show) is an annual auto show held in March. The show started in 1930. The show is held at Palexpo, a giant convention center.

GENEVE. It is the second-most populous city in Switzerland, located ideally in the heart of Europe. Geneva is the seat of many international organizations, including the European seat of the United Nations and several United Nations organizations, such as the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, etc.

ANNECY. Lake Annecy is the second largest lake in France and known as "Europe's cleanest lake" because of strict environmental regulations introduced in the 1960s. It is a popular tourist destination known for its swimming and water sports.

CHAMONIX. Mont Blanc in the Alps, is the highest mountain in western Europe. Its height is about 4,810 metres (15,780 feet), but varies from year to year by a few metres, depending on snowfall and climate conditions. The two most famous towns near Mont Blanc are Chamonix, (France; site of the first Winter Olympic Games in 1924) and Courmayeur, (Italy).

MILANO. Milan's name has for many centuries been recorded as Mailand, which is still the German name of the city today. A businesslike metropolis a world away from the medieval sublimities of Rome, Florence or Venice. One of the world capitals of fashion, like New York or Paris.

VENEZIA. Venice is a relatively recent city - compared to Rome, London or Paris - yet, the world's most beautiful city rarely disappoints. Just over half an hour by boat from Venice lies the island of Burano. Unlike Venice, Burano is richly coloured.

VENEZIA. When you arrive in the city, your first thought should be to board the vaporetti (water bus) and explore the beautiful and mesmerising Canal Grande. And allowing yourself plenty of time simply to wander its magical labyrinth. I got lost many many times. Nighttime exploration, when the streets are virtually deserted, is particularly rewarding experience.

PISA. By far the best known sight in Pisa is the famous leaning tower.

FIRENZE. Ponte Vecchio is one's of Firenze most familiar images. The Arno river, which cuts through the old part of the city, is sometimes described as having a torrent-like behaviour, because it can easily go from almost dry to near-flood in a few days.

SIENA. Italy's most perfect medieval town, a city in Tuscany. The decorative complexity of the Siena cathedral took hundred of years to complete.

ROMA. No other city can match its artistic, historical or architectural riches. Rome means history. Most of the major sights are within a reasonable distance of the central railway station, Stazione Termini.

ROMA. It is possible to walk from the Colosseum, through the Forum, up to Piazza di Spagna and across to the Vatican in one day, but you wouldn't really want to. All the major monuments are west of the train station.

ROMA. The Vatican City is a landlocked enclave surrounded by Rome, and the smallest independent state in the world. The Vatican is the home of the Pope, and forms the territory of the Holy See, the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

Very tiring but good trip. More pictures in next postings