Photo galleries:
(from most to
least recent)
Photo galleries:
(from most to
least recent)
Venice. . . carnival,
gondolas, canals, a virtual labyrinth of streets,
and brigdes, merchants, floods,art and architecture, a city on the
sea.
Everything I've heard, read, and seen about this fiercly independent
and
proud city on the eastern coast of Italy was true. Today though, more
than
ever, Venice is a city struggling to stay alive. She is under siege
from
all sides as the oceans continue to rise and her soft foundations
continue
to sink. We experienced this firsthand as we walked across pathways
laid
above the sidewalks and plazas while native Venetians sloshed through
the
sometimes knee-high water in large rubber goloshes. By noon or so
the
water would recede with the tide and the stones of Venice would be
left to
dry out again before another round. Efforts are being made to deal
with
this problem such as new and more drains and I hope upon hope that
a way
will be found to prevent Venice from becoming the next Atlantis, saving
her for generations to come. I can only hope that my children and
their
children will be able to experience Venice as I have!
I think that
Venice was one of my favorite cities in all of Europe, that
I've been in thus far. There was just something in the air or magical
about Venice. This could especially be felt at night with the sounds
of a
piano or stringed ensemble floating in the air, the lights reflecting
across the ocean and clans, and lights sparkling across the beautiful
architecture that makes Venice what she is. I felt this that first
night
as we made our way down the Grand Canal and every night thereafter
until
we departed. I found the weekend to be very refreshing and fulfilling,
very
different from the other parts of Italy I have experienced. It was
a good
break from Florence and Villa Aurora.
Along with the actual beauty and magic of Venice, what made the weekend
so good, for me at least, were the scavenger hunt and neighborhood
exploration activities. I had a great group; Jeremy, Kelley, Niki,
and
then Tia on Sunday and I really enjoyed spending time with and getting
to
know them all better. While the scavenger hunt took lots of time,
seven
hours, in all, I really found it stimulating and fun. It was a game
and
each new piece found brought about a sense of accomplishment and
excitement. It was with pride that I think all of us finished and
handed
in our little booklet in. It had taken all of us working together
which
I think made the ending acheivement that much better. It was a wonderful
way to see a city and all the little things it had to offer from side
streets, churches, and just little statues and figures carved into
or
placed on walls, buildings, and bridges. The neighborhood exploration
was
also a nice way to see Santa Croce and learn about its history at
the
same time. All in all Venice lived up to and exceeded my expectations
and
I can't wait to return again another time.
-Jon Risser