❤❤ My Germany Diary ❤❤

Travelling is an activity that each and everyone loves to indulge into . Travelling gives us our greatest stories, our most cherished memories , and countless irreplaceable learnings . Visiting new places, meeting new people , getting indulged in whole new cuisine are the experiences that everyone loves. Travel is a way of life, and I am no exception. I also loved travelling. visiting my daughters and going to different places with them, was a great pleasure for me and I had cherished every moment of it. But the desire suddenly died in me with the shocking and sudden demise of my dear husband. The things which had always been a joy for me, suddenly turned a nightmare and I hated moving out of the house. But time is the best healer, and my bleeding wounded heart is also being healed with time and by the loving, caressing and soothing support of my sweet daughters.

There is a certain part of us that lives outside of time, laughter is timeless, and dreams are forever. I was also a dreamer and my dreams of travelling to different places was still hidden deep inside me like hot ember, which needed to be ignited. And here came my daughter who acted as the incense and lighted the dying ember inside my heart by sending tickets to Berlin, Germany . I was shocked but overjoyed and decided to give wings to my dreams once again . I did not dare to miss the chance to visit my dream destination. From here began the new phase of my life.

Journey of thousand miles begins with a single step, my first step was the ticket to Germany. My youngest daughter and son-in- law live in Berlin, Germany. They always insisted me to travel here and there but my answer was a big no as the desire of traveling had subsided and I did not want to leave Aurangabad. My daughter was not hopeless, she directly sent the tickets with Premium lounge Visa appointment in Delhi on 3rd January 2022. She got this chance because I had decided to visit my eldest daughter in Jaipur on 31st December 2021 , Delhi is not too far from Jaipur , so she had my Visa appointment in Delhi .

Germany is a tourists fascination , and as my tickets were confirmed , I decided to go for the Visa interview . I had heard that getting Schengen Visa to Germany was a very difficult task so I was nervous . We booked a cab from Jaipur to Delhi and along with my daughter, son-in-law, and my grand daughter, started the journey to Delhi on 2nd January 2022 . We lodged in Metropolitan Hotel and Spa; a five-star hotel booked by my second daughter who lives in Abu Dhabi . God has taken away everything from me, but He has graced His blessings on me in the from of my loving daughters. Not only my daughters but also all my sons-in-law are real gems, who are ever ready to do anything to keep me happy. I am utterly proud to be their mother.

On 3rd January 2022 at 9am I reported at the German Visa application center, VFS Global Service Private Ltd . As it was a premium lounge booking , all the documents were verified quickly , I did not face any difficulty . I was satisfied . Everything was smoothly done. I collected my documents and was about to complete the payment procedure , the lady casually asked the last question , where I had been staying from the last six months ? I , proudly announced , Bihar! The lady was shocked and announced in a clear voice that I was not eligible for that appointment as candidates from Bihar must go to Kolkata for German Visa . This was a thunderclap for me . I felt that the world has crashed , I was extremely disappointed . A lot of time, money and energy was wasted of no accord . I did not want to try for Visa again , but my daughter immediately had the appointment rescheduled for Visa at Kolkata Visa application center for 7th January 2022.


With a heavy heart , we returned to Jaipur on 3rd January itself . From there I left for Kolkata on 6th January 2020 and landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 9 pm . A cab was booked, and I resided in a Hotel near the Visa Office . Next morning , I reported at 9am at the Visa Application Centre Kolkata VFS Global Rene Towers . The procedure took nearly one hour , I was asked to complete the payment . I was told the Visa with my Passport will reach shortly at my home address , Aurangabad . Light heartedly I left for the airport and reached Aurangabad via Patna . Finally , the great day arrived , and I received the Schengen Visa on 13th January 2022 . I was overjoyed as this Schengen Visa opened the gateway to my dream destinations Germany and Switzerland .

I had now one month and six days at hand to make preparations for the on coming journey to Germany . My second daughter and Son- in — law who live in Abu Dhabi quickly grabbed that short span of time and sent ticket for my travel to Dubai via Jaipur , from 4th February to 27th February . It was a very hectic one but the desire to meet my two cute grand daughters made me accept the travel plan to Abu Dhabi . The 24 days passed joyfully in the doting company of the cute kids . My daughter and son left no stone unturned to keep me occupied and happy .

The vast beaches of Abu Dhabi are the marvelous place to escape the boredom of the humdrum of everyday life . The lovely beaches are the city’s main tourist attraction , the vast stretch of shining sand , the green parks , and the crystal-clear water of the mighty ocean shines like pearl . watching the Sunset is a pleasant sight , this is a blessing to the eyes . I
enjoyed every single minute of my stay there , but sometimes the feeling of loneliness unknowingly creeped inside me and made me gloomy , but walking on the sandy area with cool wind refreshed my mind and made me happy again .


On 13th February, we visited the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum , it deserves a visit for its innovative architecture and exhibits . It was worth watching the sun-light filtering through dome . We had ample time to view the art arranged to reflect the world’s cultural history .

Miracle Garden of Dubai , a real miracle indeed , attracts a large number of tourists every year . we were also attracted by its miracle and decided to enjoy the natural colors on 25th February . The Miracle Garden with 150 million flowers in full bloom is the region’s most picturesque , sweet scented destination . It is the world’s largest natural flower garden having a variety of new and exciting attractions and activities . The natural and lovely colors of scented flowers filled our hearts with heavenly pleasure .

The Dubai Marina yacht cruise added excellence to my stay at Abu Dhabi . On our way to the Miracle Garden Dubai on 25th February , we decided to have a cool yacht cruise . Though the weather was hot , the ride was pleasant and cool . The one hour ride was enough to relax and refresh us in every sense . We enjoyed a spectacular and star-like ride exploring Dubai through surfing the clear green waters . we experienced the best yachting experience and enjoyed the panoramic views of Marina lagoon , Atlantis , Burj Al Arab and many more skyscrapers . The ride and sights were enchanting and we savored every minute of it .

Abu Dhabi is a clean city with many breathtaking sights , but I did not have enough time to explore all its treasures . How the time flew fast , I do not know , the day arrived for me to depart from that lovely place . The company of my cute grand daughters made me forget my pain . My blessings are always with my daughter and Son-in-law for giving me this wonderful chance to relax , it was a wonderful change for me . Time does not wait for emotional moments , and it did not wait for me too . I returned back to Aurangabad via Jaipur on 27th February to prepare for a long journey to Germany .


The travel preparation for Germany was very hectic , I had to make a lot of arrangements before leaving for a long journey . Finally , I set out for Patna and boarded the Vistara on 18th March and landed at Delhi airport . From here my flight to Frankfurt was at 2am on 19th March . After a long and tiresome flight for eight hours, I landed at Frankfurt airport , a chilly weather welcomed me . I was dead tired but as soon as I saw my daughter eagerly waiting for me there , my tiredness vanished and I was overjoyed to be with her .

Together we boarded a train for Berlin , the capital of
Germany . After four hours, we were finally in Berlin.
Berlin is a hub of touristic activities . It has an amazing history , filled with places of significance from its many wars and conflicts . Even though a lot of it was destroyed during the war , the city was again rebuilt with the intention of preserving its glorious history .

Berlin has innumerable historical monuments to be adored by tourists . we decided to feast our eyes to the historical sites and selected Brandenburg Gate and Soviet war Memorial as the first in our list . On 23rd March we went to Brandenburg Gate , which is Germany’s and Europe’s symbol of peace and unity . It is a famous monument and is used to be a dividing point between the West and the East .

From Brandenburg Gate , we moved to Soviet war memorial , it is one of the several war memorials in Berlin to commemorate its war dead . It a tribute to the war soldiers .

If you go to Berlin , and do not opt for River Spree Boat Ride , your going there holds no meaning . On 26th March , the weather was extremely cold , icy wind was piercing through our bones , but we did not miss the chance to enjoy the marvelous boat ride . The ride took us to the most exciting places on its way through the heart of the city . We feasted our eyes to the unique scenery and various historical places . We enjoyed the iconic sites including the Reichstag and Museum islands . After a freezing cold ride for three hours we wanted some hot drink to make ourselves normal , so we went to the Modern Indian Restaurant , Indique , for an appetizing lunch and hot tea .

On 27th March , a unique sight awaited us , the clocks were switched forward by one hour at 2 am to day light saving time . The time of the Android mobiles automatically changed to 2.59 am just after 1.59 am . The Sunrise and Sunset were about one hour earlier than the day before. There was more light in evening from that day onwards .

On the 28th March , we went for a soothing stroll in the Treptower Park . This park is one of the most acclaimed green spaces in Berlin , situated alongside of River Spree with cool shades of huge trees . The incredulous and awesome huge Soviet war memorial monument is built in the middle of the park which arrest the sight of one and all for its great height . The park is joggers delight and a healthy place for sun- bathing.

Weather fluctuation is very common here , at five in the morning it is -2 but during the afternoon , it is quite hot up to 17 or even 22° . The phrase ‘Morning shows the day’ is not apt in Berlin . The weather keeps on changing and We can not predict the weather here , the hot afternoon can automatically turn into a tremendous shivering cold evening . I eagerly waited for snowfall in Berlin but that could only be possible in Switzerland , the world’s most beautiful and the richest country . A real paradise on Earth .

Switzerland is a mountainous European country , home to numerous lakes , villages and high peaks of Alps . Lucerne wooden Chapel Bridge is a unique landmark . My daughter had meticulously planned a weekend holiday trip to this enchanting dream land . So , we boarded the flight from Brandenburg airport , Berlin to Luzerne , Switzerland on 8th April 2022 . My dream desire turned into a reality and I watched the first snowfall of my life from the open window of the hotel in Lucerne on 9th April , I was thrilled and mesmerized .


It is very well said that the beauty of Switzerland never ceases to amaze , each and every day adds to the beauty of beautiful place . John Keats has rightly quoted ,”A thing of beauty is joy for ever “ , The only two days that I have experienced the unending beauty of Switzerland , will keep me lively and joyful for the whole of my life .

Snow and greenery mingle together to form a blaze of colorful astonishing sight . we also needed to mingle ourselves with the enchanting beauty of Switzerland in its full bloom .we decided to enjoy a scenic boat ride on lake Lucerne on 9th April . It was a great scenic ride of one hour on panoramic yacht . The snow clad mountains on both the side of the lake created a spectacular sight . The view of the natural landscape made us hold our breath , we got ourselves immersed in the heavenly sight . After the refreshing boat ride we hopped down on the venerable Mount Rigi Railway Cogwheel train for a unforgettable ride to Rigi Kulm , known as the ‘ Queen Of Mountains’ . From the summit we soaked in the marvelous panorama of Swiss Plateau . What a lovely ride in the cogwheel train!!! Moving in between snow and snow shining like silver flakes greeted us and we forgot ourselves and got lost in the natural beauty . The experience of playing with snow and sipping hot chocolates , can never be expressed in mere words !! After being cuddled by Nature ,we returned back again by cogwheel train and then the boat ride to the place from where we had started the adventurous journey .

While at Lucerne , finding Indian dishes was not a difficult task . There were some good Indian restaurants that served all different varieties of Indian cuisine , we could order anything of our choice . The only thing that was missing was good tea with ginger and cinnamon . But finally I could get the taste of fresh Indian tea at Kanchi Indian Restaurant with the Indian flag fluttering in its full glory , what a sight it was !! The feeling of patriotism made me enjoy the lunch and the tea with a pleasurable heart and the saunf ( fennel seeds) after appetizing lunch was a real delight !!

It was now the day for us to bid adieu to the bewitching city , but we wanted to utilize the few hours that we had at hand . After breakfast on 10th April we set out to explore the magnificent treasures of Lucerne . we visited the Church of St. Leodegar , A Roman Catholic Church with unique Renaissance architecture . It is very well appreciated for its two Romensque Towers .

The next stop after the Church , was to the amazing carving of the Dying Lion Monument which is carved out of a wall of sandstone rock above a pond at the entrance of Glacier Garden . Glacier Garden is a journey through time . we had the astonishing opportunity to see glacier pot holes from the ice age about 12000 years ago . Moving forward we came inside the Gyrate cave , which shows the history of the last ice age 20000 years ago . The history inside the cave was beyond compare ,the audio video recordings filled our minds with information regarding the geographical changes of the Earth . Earth history and Nature are the core themes of the Glacier Garden and the Gyrate Museum .

While walking to the hotel ,we had a stroll on the Lucerne wooden Chapel Bridge which has a history of its own . A major part of the timber chapel bridge had caught fire in the night of 18 August 1993 , but it was rebuilt in a record eight months time . It is Lucerne’s major landmark .

Our short trip to Lucerne , Switzerland ended , but it is as if we found ourselves at the end of memorable journey . At the end of all the precious exploring we again arrived from where we started , we returned to Berlin . The TV Tower Alexanderplatz is Berlin's most prominent landmark and the tallest building in Germany . Its steel sphere contains an observation platform and a gourmet restaurant .

My German Visa of one month was nearing its last phase and the time to depart from the Beautiful tourist attraction was fast approaching . I had promised my students that I would bring European chocolates , so the last few days we decided to taste the chocolates from Berlin chocolate factory ,Rausch Schokoladenhaus , is sophisticated chocolatier show causing unique confections in an expensive space with an upstairs cafe . The special creations of chocolates made by hand and developed with supreme attention , was unique and mouth watering . We bought some chocolates and enjoyed some delicacies in its cafe .

Finally , the day of departing from Berlin , Germany arrived .16th April 2022 was a clear and bright day but there was darkness within me .With a last adoring glance at the cool beauty of Berlin , I boarded the flight with my daughter and left for India .The return journey was not that tiresome because my daughter was at my side .Good company in a journey makes the way shorter .We talked and watched some web series and the time passed quickly . A warm , in fact a heat wave (of about 43° ) greeted us at Delhi airport . After a calm cool weather , the noisy crowd and the heat was quite unbearable but after all we are Indians , so we quickly adjusted ourselves to our land and its weather .

Life gave me a beautiful opportunity to visit my dream destinations , I seized the opportunity , I lived each day to the fullest .This journey is the reward of my life given to me by my daughters .I will not thank them for this , as I love them more than my life , I bless them from the very core of my ❤ ❤😍😍

“JOURNEY BEGINS AND JOURNEY ENDS , ONLY HAPPY MEMORIES REMAIN FOR AGES AND AGES”

By Dr. Manju Lata Sharma