venice

there is always that time - some time - after a vacation where you can recall the sights and the smells and the minutia of details. and you can kind of even re-create a flutter in your head or your heart or the distinct feeling of excitement of when you are someplace OTHER. and then it starts to fade. and you rely on the way that you tell these memories to others to conjure. and you rely on the photos [in my case hundreds of photos] that you take. glad that there are these frozen moments of that time because really? how do you encapsulate an experience? and how do you know the repercussions it will have on your psyche? or the influence it may have on your work? your opinion? your taste?



venice was indeed like a magical wonderland [not unlike disney, but really enchanting because after all it is more than just simulacra - at least i think so]

and i can't even really figure out what to say about it because the whole day was an experience - so instead i'll type what i wrote in my journal that evening. [and keep in mind i no longer journal the way i used to post little]


taxi to train. oh italian trains - after 1/2 hour delay - off we went
2 yo gabba's later and some rollings past cows, horses grapes, some marble, a mine and VERONA [i've heard of that town yes?]. every town has a church or a castle, or both.

V E N I C E

leaving the dingy train station you can only utter 'oh my god'
really?
could it be more fairy tale esque?


narrow streets. the GONDOLAS [real ones]. the sheer beauty of every building. the wrought iron details. the tones.


the small stores. the row after row of tourist shops. oh but the wood turning shop. and that kodak sign [neither of which could photo b/c the little was being "tall" on me]

winding around following the signs for s. marco < > ^ >> just pick a way. any way. you'll get there


a square with pigeons.
and more narrow corridors
and another square.
the dragon light with the umbrella shade [also no photo]


and then


as if the world opens up


the square.
white.
huge.


majestic.
morrocan. mosaic.


it's almost too much to take in.
especially with a toddler who with no nap is on melt-down alert.


thank god for pigeons?


the boat ride.
people live like this? water taxis?
the awnings
the yellow
the melon
the green
the churches
people live like this?



do you ever leave venice if you live here?
what other city would be so captivating? [ok. there are other cool cities, but this feels so unique]

the hordes of people


the well dressed woman on the boat [i did get a photo!]


and the little. eating 6 packages of sembei.
drinking lemonata and saying spicy [hands raised to her face]
gelato
the pigeons eating out of ba-chan's hand !!!!!
and finally collapsing
finally
asleep on my shoulder on the train.


venice. i hope i return.

all the pics are here