Setting sail in Italy
Nidhi Subbaiah
My most recent trip to Italy was one that opened up new vistas of the country and its culture. I am completely in love with the beauty of each part of Italy. In Tuscany, I was lazing on the beach with a few friends and I spotted a sailboat. Since I was a national-level sailor and have won gold medals in sailing at two regattas, I got very excited. So I went with a friend and asked the guy if we could sail and also added that I was a certified sailor. He was bit hesitant at first and then agreed. I got into the boat and I could see that the guy was impressed at my skill set and he looked at me and exclaimed, “Wow, you are good.”
The first part of the trip started at the tip bordering France and Italy. Cour Mayeur which is a town in Northern Italy, in the Aosta Valley. It is located at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe. It is a small and quaint place that is from another era. Everytime I drove from my hotel to the shoot, I felt like I was in an Enid Blyton set, with its quaint bakeries tucked away. It was an amazing experience and it was snowing so it was even more beautiful.
My next stop was Tuscany, which has been featured in so many movies I have seen, like Under the Tuscan Sun and books. There is something magical about the place and its people. They are so chilled out and relaxed. Such happy people who take breaks for a beer and lunch from work. I think that’s the way life should be. Easy and happy. I got a chance to eat the most amazing array of cheese and drink loads of red wine, which they had endless varieties of. Since I’ve never been on a diet, it was wonderful to eat pizzas loaded with so much cheese.
Italy is not done if one has not visited Milan and while it is touristy, I had to shop there. I shopped at a few quaint boutiques in and around Milan Square.
I picked up what ever I could. Everyone is dressed in high fashion, it could be a scene from any high fashion magazine. I also went to the Piazza del Duomo, which was huge and its architecture was breathtakingly beautiful.
is an actor
As told to SKG