Rome has been called the navel of the world since time immemorial in India. It is certain that Rome is not in the middle of the earth, then why is Rome called the navel of the world! Certainly Rome gave Europe science, religion and philosophy. Gave laws and rules, gave food and dress style. There was a time when the politics of Europe and the Mediterranean countries were governed by Rome. Perhaps for all these reasons, Rome would have been called the navel of the world.
We had visited Bali and Java islands in Indonesia in the year 2017 and this time wanted to see a country in Europe. That's why we 'the navel of the world' i.e. 'Rome' decided to see. Along with this, a program was also made to visit the cities of Italy named Pisa, Florence and Venezia. Today was May 17th, today we had to leave for the navel of the world.
This time also our group only had members who had traveled to Indonesia in the year 2017. That is, father Shri Giriraj Prasad Gupta, I, my wife Madhubala, son Vijay, daughter-in-law Bhanupriya and granddaughter Deepa! Four-year-old Deepa, the demons from whose mind they find refuge in the world. She was also ready with her own little bag, which contained her biscuits and a bottle of water.
Deepa's Passport
We all kept our passports in our respective bags or pockets, then the small man Deepa also asked for his passport from Vijay and Bhanu, but it was not much to his dismay to see that his parents refused to give him the passport. . With great difficulty, he was explained that it is necessary to have his passport with his mother, otherwise he will not be allowed to enter the plane.
Indira Gandhi International Airport
Our flight took off from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport at 12.15 pm. So we left Vijay's Noida home at 8.30 am. The taxi dropped us at the airport at 10.05. It is natural to find the toilet first in the morning after a one and a half hour journey, but the toilet at Terminal-3 of the airport is so far away that it takes 20-25 minutes for an old person to reach there and come back.
By the time we came back free from the restroom, it was 10.25. At 10.30 we crossed the security zone inside the airport and after the security check, at 10.45 we got into the queue leading to the immigration counter. It was an Air India flight. Air India flights around the world fly at this time in the afternoon. That's why there were long queues at the immigration counter.
Our flight was at 12.50 hrs so the immigration point had to close at 11.50 exactly but by the time 'Q' was moving ahead, it became difficult for us to reach the counter. Father repeatedly requested the Air India employee that our flight will be missed, you let us go ahead, but that employee kept avoiding saying- 'Don't hurry sir, your number will come.'
We felt heavy for a moment. If this flight is missed, then all our further programs and bookings will be spoiled. Finally, after a long time, a new employee came in place of that employee. Dad requested him, too, to let him go. On this the employee said - 'You hurry sir, go ahead. It's time for your flight.'
With the help of that employee, we got out of 'Q' and reached the counter. By then it was 11.45. The immigration officer asked us why are you so late? Before we could answer anything, a passenger started fighting with the officer sitting at the 'counter' to allot him the seat near the window. The officer told that it is not in his right to do so.
All the seats are booked and all the passengers have decided their seats of their own free will, even you have chosen this seat of your own free will. Now I can't change it but that passenger was very stubborn. He was not agreeing and we were getting delayed. We felt that today we were going to be punished for a mistake that we did not commit.
Rushing in the plane
Somehow the immigration officer took our luggage and signaled us to go inside. It was 12.20 then. From there it is also a long walk and there are 26 gates on T-3. We had to go to the number 17 gate which was almost at the end. By the time they reached there, it was 12.40. By reaching the seat it was 12.45.
Eating while sitting on the seat
We had left the house after breakfast at eight in the morning, after that there was no time to eat anything. Dad and I have diabetes. Till now, the body was cooperating due to anxiety, but as soon as sitting on the seat in the plane, it was felt that the 'sugar level' in the blood was getting low. I was not even able to collect the goods properly so that I started eating after taking it out of the bag. Father gets 'sugar low' in very few cases. His stamina in this matter is more than mine. So they could wait a little longer.
Continuation of mountains, forests and seas
At 5:30 in the evening (Italy time) a series of high mountains began to form, which were covered with snow and in between were visible lakes and thick forests. When viewed from such a height, the mountains below were visible round, from which it was estimated that these mountains have been raining for the last hundreds of years. The procession of the mountains ended in the green plains where rows of fields were neatly decorated.
In between these are human settlements whose houses have roofs made of earthen kelu and built in hut-like shape. Soon the process of the fields ended and the sea began. After flying along the seashore for a long time, the plane came down significantly and then touched the historic land of Rome.