Writers’ Paradise

The trips to Paris and Switzerland were great. We enjoyed a lot, especially in Switzerland, though it was freezing cold most of the time. I have learned one thing from both of my trips, that you should start saving for souvenirs well in advance. Both the trips were made on shoestring budget. There was always room for small souvenirs to be bought. But I regret not buying Swiss Army watches and cuckoo clocks. I so much wanted to buy a cuckoo clock, but the cheapest one was 46 Swiss franks, and we couldn’t spend so much on a clock!This time round, I have started saving early. I am looking up information on things that can be bought in Italy.

We are thinking of applying for visa to Italy in January. We won’t be going there before April or May, but we don’t want to repeat our mistake. Last time when we applied for French Schengen visa, we were on a very tight schedule. My husband collected the visa just a day before our flight. That time also we had planned a trip to Italy, but couldn’t. Hubby dear had made all the hotel reservations in Rome, Milan and Venice except train bookings. He had thought that it will be done as we go, just like in Switzerland. But when we reached Paris, we couldn’t find a single seat in any train going from Paris to Rom or Milan or Venice. All trains were full. This was summer and schools were closed for summer vacations. Practically half of France was going to spend summer in Italy.
There is a beautiful picture in this new apartment. It is a postcard shaped picture of a resort of some sort. I think it is some where Westgate, but I am not too sure.
I have to start going to library, to get reading material on Italy and places to visit there.