Not much needs to be said about Venice. Everything about it makes it an attractive destination: the labyrinthine canals, the history behind every building, the festive atmosphere, those gondolas, the colorful houses, even the throngs of tourists. My short trip to Europe with my sister in September 2002 included Venice in the spur-of-the-moment itinerary. Even though we only stayed for two days, the time was well spent getting lost in the backstreets, island-hopping by water-taxi, and filling my daily quota of gelati.
Venice is a collection of islands scatter through the lagoon, with the main island connected to the mainland by a train bridge.
View of San Marco Square from the poor-man’s gondola – the utilitarian water-taxi
San Marco Square was deserted in the early dawn.
At this early hour, the famous and famously annoying pigeons were the only visitors to San Marco Basilica and Campanile.
The gondolas were moored to pylons at the end of San Marco Square with San Giorgio Maggiore Island in the background.
Later in the day, the gondolas would be put into service for all the tourists who wanted that romantic ride through open sewage, er, I mean the canals.
The juxtaposition of gondolas and a warship
The water lapped at the edge of San Marco Square. Flooding has become a common occurrence in recent years due to both the gradual sinking of the city and rising level of the sea.
Gondolas going under the Bridge of Sighs
Get your tschochke along the waterfront
Art student or watercolor master?
While gondola rides are considered a must-do in Venice, we got around by the much more utilitarian water-taxi.
Just a quiet corner in some back canal
All the ubiquitous gondolas were starting to make the whole place feel like a theme-park, only tourists were riding them, after all.
Out on the Island of Burano, the residents must have been competing to see who has the house with the loudest colors.
An American suburban neighborhood association president would surely go apoplectic upon laying eyes on such gross violation of uniformity and the distinct lack of beige.
Filling up on gelato
Venice is a collection of islands scatter through the lagoon, with the main island connected to the mainland by a train bridge.
View of San Marco Square from the poor-man’s gondola – the utilitarian water-taxi
San Marco Square was deserted in the early dawn.
At this early hour, the famous and famously annoying pigeons were the only visitors to San Marco Basilica and Campanile.
The gondolas were moored to pylons at the end of San Marco Square with San Giorgio Maggiore Island in the background.
Later in the day, the gondolas would be put into service for all the tourists who wanted that romantic ride through open sewage, er, I mean the canals.
The juxtaposition of gondolas and a warship
The water lapped at the edge of San Marco Square. Flooding has become a common occurrence in recent years due to both the gradual sinking of the city and rising level of the sea.
Gondolas going under the Bridge of Sighs
Get your tschochke along the waterfront
Art student or watercolor master?
While gondola rides are considered a must-do in Venice, we got around by the much more utilitarian water-taxi.
Just a quiet corner in some back canal
All the ubiquitous gondolas were starting to make the whole place feel like a theme-park, only tourists were riding them, after all.
Out on the Island of Burano, the residents must have been competing to see who has the house with the loudest colors.
An American suburban neighborhood association president would surely go apoplectic upon laying eyes on such gross violation of uniformity and the distinct lack of beige.
Filling up on gelato
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