Pigeons!
My first moments in Venice are filled with memories of being poked, scratched, and pecked at by Venetian pigeons.
Upon disembarking from the boat which brought me from the mainland, I stopped to ask a gentleman for directions to my hotel. Not realizing he sold pigeon food, I found myself engulfed by Venice’s largest population, next to tourists, that is.
Venice is magical, mythical, and marvelous. It’s everything you’ve read about, heard about, and seen in pictures.
The city is a pedestrian’s paradise. You walk everywhere, taking centuries-old footbridges to your destination. The streets are lined with Murano glass shops, restaurants, and both grand and quaint hotels.
Venice is a three dimensional museum-the architecture, which consists of Romanesque, Baroque, Gothic, and Neo-Classic, is outstanding. The churches, museums, and theaters are unforgettable.
Sitting in St. Mark’s Square at Cafe Florian sipping a cappuccino and listening to a classical orchestra was a singular experience.
I took the required gondola ride and passed by decaying buildings and under timeworn bridges. I rode the water buses up and down the grand canal and wandered ancient neighborhoods sampling local fare.
Encountering the beginning of Venice’s rainy season in September, I found the streets not only filled with tourists and pigeons, but water as well. The lowest level of my hotel was flooded, as were the streets-up to my knees. Portable raised walkways are set up around the city for this reason. Hotels are equipped with boots in every size and umbrellas.
The only thing missing from Venice is the sense one gets of the Venetian’s day to day life. Most natives live outside of central Venice on the surrounding islands, as Venice itself is not affordable. This was something I did miss on my trip to Venice, as I enjoy watching how the locals work and play.
The city is inundated with tourists and those making their living from them. At close of business, however, the city is devoid of your average citizen. Tourists are left behind to dine, walk the streets, and take in the city’s energy.
I did experience a wave of sadness upon contemplating Venice in its heyday. To have seen Venice in all its early glory-now, that would have been a trip!
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