Brussels: First Steps & Sweet Discoveries
I started my trip in Brussels, and my very first stop was the Grand Place. Walking into that square felt like stepping into a painting — the guildhalls glittering with gold, the Town Hall standing tall, and the cobblestones carrying centuries of stories.
By evening, the sky put on a show — glowing in warm shades as the city slowed down.
Of course, no trip to Belgium is complete without waffles. Mine came loaded with strawberries and ice cream — the kind of happiness you can actually taste.
An Unexpected Turn: The Solvay Steps
One day, while trying to visit the European Parliament, I took the wrong exit — and ended up somewhere magical. I found myself at the steps where the 1927 Solvay Conference photo was taken, the same place where Einstein, Bohr, and other brilliant minds once gathered.
I sat there quietly, imagining their conversations echoing through time.
Amsterdam: Golden Evenings by the Canal
Amsterdam welcomed me with quiet canals, twinkling lights, and bicycles parked like works of art.
I wandered along bridges framed with flowers, pausing to watch the sunset’s reflection on the water.
One bike, covered in yellow flowers, made me smile — Amsterdam has a way of turning the ordinary into something magical.
And as the boats rested at golden hour, I felt like I was walking inside a postcard.
Berlin: Walls & Silence
In Berlin, I stood before the East Side Gallery — a wall once meant to divide, now carrying colors, art, and hope.
Later, at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the air itself felt heavy. Walking through the concrete slabs, I felt small, reflective, and deeply moved.
Paris: A Golden Night
And then came Paris. Nothing prepares you for the first time the Eiffel Tower lights up before your eyes. Standing beneath it at night, surrounded by laughter and city lights, I felt the cliché — and I loved every second of it.
Florence: Aperol & Marble Dreams
Florence was a dream. I sat in front of the Duomo, sipping an Aperol Spritz, the Tuscan sun on my face.
Later, I finally met Michelangelo’s David. The detail, the muscles, the perfection carved out of stone — it left me in awe.
Looking Back
When I think of this trip, I see waffles dusted with sugar, wrong turns leading to history, canals glowing at sunset, walls painted with hope, towers sparkling in gold, and Renaissance art that feels alive.
This was more than travel — it was a string of moments stitched into memory.