Saturday, November 10, 2007
Johnny's back in town
I had seriously considered letting my blog die a quiet death because the last entry of "goodbye" seemed like such a good place to stop. It had a definite sense of closure and finality. But there's so much more going on that I couldn't leave well enough alone.
I don't have anything in the way of a full trip report, but I will report that I would like to go back to Venice some day. The rest of the trip was really nice, but Venice was the most - umm, relaxing. Perhaps because I had so many extra days there with no agenda. Perhaps because I was completely alone to travel the cobblestoned paths and centuries old bridges by myself. It was peaceful and relaxing.
Venice 2007
I begin my day with a light Italian breakfast (or what I imagine an Italian breakfast would be). Some slices of salami, some cheese, a cracker or roll and of course coffee. The coffee was really good - and strong. I pack up my camera and start strolling around the islands before most of the other people were awake, so I had a good hour or two to enjoy some sights alone. By 'sights' I mostly mean just looking at the architecture of the islands. Well, not really islands either.
Before I knew much about Venice, I knew that it was a city built on water. Then, after I learned a bit more about it, I learned that it was a city built on trees. They'd pile drive timber into the water until they hit sand and they built the city on those pilings. You can still see them putting logs into the water today.
Once I arrived in Venice though, I realized that it's more like a series of tunnels. Not real tunnels like you were surrounded on 4 sides, but you can touch the walls on both sides in some spots and the walls are at least 3 stories tall. So, you're essentially in a series of tunnels, attempting to find Rialto or Piazza San Marco (both of which are pretty easy to find with signage) or your hotel (which can be nearly impossible to find if you're not using satellite imagery).
I sat in the Piazza and sipped cappuccino and took pictures of my feet in interesting places and 'people watched'. I did my devotionals in odd places at odd times, but I was in a foreign land and on Pacific Daylight Time. I sat still and thought big thoughts about everything. Then, I'd sit some more and think about nothing at all - I'd just enjoy the noises around me.
I experienced the sun moving across the sky slowly and I saw the people begin to appear at the square. Followed closely by the pigeons. I witnessed the cycle of a day that had probably been reoccurring for centuries with little change.
True, at times I got a little lonely, but I couldn't think of anyone who I would feel comfortable with just sitting at a table doing nothing at all, sipping cappuccino. Sure, I visited the Basilica and the Doge's Palace. I took hundreds of pictures of architecture and (yes) gondolas, but my favorite time was sitting in the piazza or along the Grand Canal just sipping and watching.
I don't have anything in the way of a full trip report, but I will report that I would like to go back to Venice some day. The rest of the trip was really nice, but Venice was the most - umm, relaxing. Perhaps because I had so many extra days there with no agenda. Perhaps because I was completely alone to travel the cobblestoned paths and centuries old bridges by myself. It was peaceful and relaxing.
Venice 2007
I begin my day with a light Italian breakfast (or what I imagine an Italian breakfast would be). Some slices of salami, some cheese, a cracker or roll and of course coffee. The coffee was really good - and strong. I pack up my camera and start strolling around the islands before most of the other people were awake, so I had a good hour or two to enjoy some sights alone. By 'sights' I mostly mean just looking at the architecture of the islands. Well, not really islands either.
Before I knew much about Venice, I knew that it was a city built on water. Then, after I learned a bit more about it, I learned that it was a city built on trees. They'd pile drive timber into the water until they hit sand and they built the city on those pilings. You can still see them putting logs into the water today.
Once I arrived in Venice though, I realized that it's more like a series of tunnels. Not real tunnels like you were surrounded on 4 sides, but you can touch the walls on both sides in some spots and the walls are at least 3 stories tall. So, you're essentially in a series of tunnels, attempting to find Rialto or Piazza San Marco (both of which are pretty easy to find with signage) or your hotel (which can be nearly impossible to find if you're not using satellite imagery).
I sat in the Piazza and sipped cappuccino and took pictures of my feet in interesting places and 'people watched'. I did my devotionals in odd places at odd times, but I was in a foreign land and on Pacific Daylight Time. I sat still and thought big thoughts about everything. Then, I'd sit some more and think about nothing at all - I'd just enjoy the noises around me.
I experienced the sun moving across the sky slowly and I saw the people begin to appear at the square. Followed closely by the pigeons. I witnessed the cycle of a day that had probably been reoccurring for centuries with little change.
True, at times I got a little lonely, but I couldn't think of anyone who I would feel comfortable with just sitting at a table doing nothing at all, sipping cappuccino. Sure, I visited the Basilica and the Doge's Palace. I took hundreds of pictures of architecture and (yes) gondolas, but my favorite time was sitting in the piazza or along the Grand Canal just sipping and watching.
