Friday, 22 August 2008

• Venezia

  Ah, Venice.  It's every bit as amazing to see in person as you would expect a city built on the water to be.  Absolutely stunning.  This time, especially in this city, I'll let the pictures do (most of) the talking:

  

  As usual, more pics here.

  Some random thoughts:

  • Imagine the city you're in without any cars.  Imagine the serenity, the clean air.  The only noises you hear are of people chatting on the corner, the click-clack of shoes on the stone paths, water gently lapping against the canal sides.  It was very soothing to be in Venice, and rather nice to wake up not to the noise of engines and horns, but instead to the sounds of people simply living.
  • However, traffic jams still happen here too.  Just imagine boats and gondolas bunched up together, angry Italian phrases being exchanged, haha.  Also, the ambulances are high-speed motorboats.  Of course.
  • While sitting on the edge of the Grand Canal, legs dipped into the water to mid-calf, I had a thought: Dad would have loved this place.  I always had the feeling he felt most at home behind the wheel of a boat.  A city built in the middle of a lagoon, with canals for roads and boats instead of cars?  I imagine he'd easily develop a liking to that lifestyle.
  • St. Mark's Square at night is so alive.  In the evening, the outdoor cafes each have their own orchestras, and so they have dueling performances!  It's a game of one-upmanship for the hearts of the crowd, but the real winners are the observers simply enjoying the free show.   
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL calls itself the "Venice of America."  Now that I've been to both, I think it's fair for me to say, "Umm...no."

  *****

  Next up is my final destination, as I head to the Cinque Terre for some hiking and scenic views...

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