Last weekend, as
I moved into my 34th year, Jeremy and I celebrated Italian-style
with a long weekend in Venice, Italy.
Although we’ve
explored Italy a bit since arriving in Europe, this was our first trip to the Veneto region. Venice is made up of 100 small, intertwined
islands, connected with a dizzying amount of canals and bridges that rival
Amsterdam. It’s completely man-made with brightly colored buildings that are a
dim reflection of what they were at the turn of the twentieth century. Not to
mention they rise out of the sea with no visible support or structure. The city
itself would seem like a dream if it weren’t for hordes of tourists vying for striped Gondolier shirts and Carnivale masks.
But through the
hustle and bustle, it’s easy to slow down and let that facet of the city pass
you by, for Venice is and will always be romantic. Strolling the narrow
walkways to get lost in the inner city is a must. Kitsch restaurants, family-owned
bakeries, dogs playing in the park and freshly washed clothes hanging on lines
show the everyday life of the few residents who still reside in here. Gondolas
and small boats pass through under low bridges and the waterbus (yep, it’s a
bus that’s a boat) provides viable transportation along the Grand Canal.
Venice is a
photographer's dream with picture-perfect settings at every turn. While camera
in hand monopolized much our trip – we also managed to see some sights and
learn some fun facts about the city.
The original gangsta: Venice is home to the very first known
ghetto. The name comes from an area restricted to Jews in the 1500s near the
former foundry which translates to geto. The
word ghetto was then coined to refer to a segregated community. Italian Jews
are, therefore, the original ganstas. Respect.
Passing the torch: It’s apparently pretty tough to get a gondola license as there are currently only a few thousand. But there is no
waiting list – for when a Gondolier dies, the license is passed on to his widow or
children. Gondoliering is in the blood, and a unique family tradition.
Jesus rides on a rainbow: On the ceiling of the famous St. Mark’s Basilica, a mural depicts the Son of God riding a rainbow in exquisite detail. No
unicorns were spotted, however.
Big Pimpin: Peggy Guggenheim. Her art collection is
impressive. Her list of lovers is even more impressive. The number of furry
friend Lhasa Apsos she owned is the most impressive.
One for the tummy, two for the show: The best eggplant parmesan you will
every taste resides in a restaurant tucked away in the back streets of Venice. It’ll
make you throw your fork down and scream, “holy shit that’s good!” True story.
And a trip to
Venice isn’t complete without an overpriced gondola ride. Overpriced, yes,
but some of the best minutes we’ve shared. Take a ride yourself in the video
below.
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