bluerain

(06.03.07/22.00)

"nothing is simpler than to lose oneself in venice; and nothing is more fun than to be in this labyrinth without a minatour, as a theseus without an aradne’s thread." - jean-louis vaudoyer.

arriving in venice

the french poet and novelist, vaudoyer, was quite exact when he wrote those words in describing how intricate and intriguing the alleys, nooks and deserted piazzas are in venice. forget about  the gondolas and about the lagoons and canals and  gothic architectures, the maze that is venice has caught my imagination and fascination. 

we arrived in venice yesterday afternoon at two.  after leaving our luggage in our hotel,  we decided to venture into the famous piazza di san marco.  it was almost dusk, and the lights were playing with our cameras and we decided to take advantage of the bright golden colours of dusk to capture the plaza, the basilica, the palace, and the gothic architectures that go with them.  we walked around a bit, the breeze getting cooler and cooler.  the plaza and the nooks and corners were still busy with ristorantes and venetians selling souvenirs, etc., we were forewarned - venice  is not the cheapest city around, everything is around 25% more expensive.

today, we started early as always and had our breakfast in our hotel, and went for the 9.30 mass in one of the ancient churches of venice. the priest officiating the mass in english was, i think, as old as the church itself. then went to the piazza di san marco.  lea, being obsessed with the birds in the plaza started feeding them, i tried a hand in throwing pieces of seeds for them and they started attacking me (not really, i was just so terrified with birds - thinking that they might nibble my eyes off!) - much to the delight of lea. crazy birds!

gondola ride with nasuko

then walked around for a bit while, taking pictures of bridges and the lovely sights. of course, the gondola ride will never be missed.  the gondoliers charge 80 euro for a 40-minute ride and 100 euro for a longer ride to floating palaces, etc., - and off we went venturing venice in a gondola and it was all worth it. but i wouldn’t do it next time though, aside from being too expensive, the best way to discover venice is by foot.

piazza di san marco at night

after doing the walking rounds around san marco, ponte di rialto, crossing over to sao paolo, to  piazza roma  and back to ferrova (train station), into alley ways, small markets, little piazzas, small bridges and canals, we finally said farewell to our new found japanese friend, nasuko.  we parted ways with nasuko, it was a teary-eyed farewell for us.  nasuko was going to the lido island in venice and we wouldn’t be able to go as we had other plans.  very early the next day, nasuko was to take the train to munich and then will proceed to prague, into the final stretch of her european journey, all these, by herself.

lea and i decided to do our own things.  so we went our own separate ways.  i decided to walk around the heart of venice, getting lost literally within the venice maze, pretending to know where i was going and following people’s trails in stone pathways and across bridges, took peeks into old building, taking pictures of some crowded piazzas and some deserted ones, of old ladies sitting in park benches, went into two old churches, and admiring the frescoes and gothic sculptures. and finally had my last full venetian meal, the full course, an antipasti, primi, secondi and something dolce to end it. i ended the day by strolling the waterfront of san marco, admiring the night views, the people passing by, the families on vacation, of student-excursionists acting daft around the piazza. the best way to end the day, the best way to end the italian trip

lost in venice

- bluerain