Dave the Nomad

I realized it would be silly to go to Italy and not visit the city of water and port for the great explorer, Marco Polo. I arrived in the city tired from a long and beautiful hike through Cinque Terre. It was a crisp cold night and wisps of mist filled the air as I waited on the dock for a ferry to my hostel. The whole scene seemed to be out of a foggy Sherlock Holmes novel. As the ferry approached the dock it seemed to appear out of the mist, first hearing its engines roaring in reverse only to muster a half-hearted attempt at landing, banging into the pier and slipping into the landing area like a drunk Irishman stumbling through a bar door and sliding onto a stool after a couple of carefully placed steps so as to not fall over. There was no austere ceremony, just a ferry ready to take me down the river. As we wound down the Grand Canal and out across the more open water to Guidecca Island I watched us b-line for small incandescent lights atop the distinctive yellow and white ferry ports. It was only when we were about to crash land each time that I could make out the signs for each stop, waiting for my chance to jump off and pass out. My hostel was nothing to shake a leg at, and I was happy to checkout in the morning and trundle around the islands and canals.

Venice is a city that is romanticized for its elegance and beauty, but I quickly realized everything is done by water. Garbage boats, construction boats, police and ambulance boats, and of course the gondolas. Being a boat lover my whole life, this was a fairy land destination that could only be improved if I could be water-skiing down the Grand Canal, and actually afford to live in Italy’s most expensive city. I decided to not worry about exact directions and would sort of walk in the general direction of where I wanted to go next. The first stop I wanted to make was the Piazza San Marco. This place is a monstrous square, comparatively speaking. Walking along waterways or winding streets seems to make the square that much more grandiose. The highlight is the Basilica of San Marco which is decorated with beautiful gold mosaics. It is unlike any other church I have seen, and it definitely a place to visit.

I bought a 12 hour ferry pass which was very useful for getting around, and out to the other islands. I went to the island of Murano, which is known for its glass-blowing. After wandering around waiting for the lunch break to end, I was able to watch several men make some glass sculptures. The main piece they made was a large horse head with a gold inlay in the middle. It was amazing how well they worked together to make everything, and how easy they made it look. Unfortunately, they weren’t about to let someone like me try, so I wandered back to the main islands.

I didn’t realize this until after leaving the city, but Venice has one of three bridges in the world with stores on it. The bridge didn’t seem out of place in Venice, as everything is built on or near water, but it was still really cool to check out. I’m on my way to Firenze (Florence) right now, and will make sure to check out another bridge with shops on it, Ponte Vecchio. Hope all is well back in the states.