EUROPE

Let’s travel to that landmark where our planet comes full circle. And, East meets West. Beyond establishing the relative location of places on our planet, it provides the basis of relative time across the globe. I talk of the Prime Meridian. - Royal Observatory Greenwich London - Travelure ©

Straddling two continents, and between two seas, Istanbul enjoys a unique position. A European and an Asian side. A natural strait - Bosphorus - separates the two. Earlier going by the names Byzantium and Constantinople, it is home to over 15 million people. - Historic Areas of Istanbul - Travelure ©

In one room, over a dozen traditional chefs were at work. They were creating sheets of white flour, thinner than muslin. The room had a haze of flour. The rolling pins were a yard and a half long. These sheets were being sheared off the pins in delicate layers. And all this, happening on a table over 25 feet long! - Gaziantep Turkey - A UNESCO Gastronomy Creative City - Travelure ©

You are born a deer with a lifespan of a mere 20 years. Along the way, you turn into a tortoise with a lifespan of 130 years and counting. Pray, you can only be Eiffel Tower! - Eiffel Tower Paris France - Travelure ©

Insides of the Catacombs felt like a wine cellar. Cool, damp, and dark. Knowing what lay ahead made it eerie too. A short walk later we saw the first stack. Of human bones. - The Catacombs Paris France - Travelure ©

Once on the roof, I figured why they called it Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris). It almost seems to be watching over the city of Paris. I also realised the gargoyles were ornamental decorations for rain spouts. - Notre-Dame Cathedral Paris France - Travelure ©

As we entered the palace, the first significant chamber we saw was the Royal Chapel. Corinthian columns, gold accents, and an intricate ceiling mural gave it grandeur... Château de Versailles Near Paris France - Travelure ©

As I boarded an OBB train from Vienna, a few scenes from The Sound of Music replayed in my mind. The baroque city centre, the invincible-looking Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the meandering River Salzach. And of course, the cemetery crypt where von Trapps hid before their escape. - Hohensalzburg Fortress Salzburg Austria - Travelure ©