November 2009
Venice! I thought it would be magical (romantic they say) and I think I expected too much. It wasn’t as magnificent the first few moments but after smelling the moist air from the canals and feeling the textures of thousand year old structures; you will definitely feel its beauty.
Venice Romance: Lovers in Piazza San Marco
Some of our Asian tour mates commented that the Venice replica in Macao is much better. The Venice in Macao is newer, cleaner, well maintained for tourism purposes. In the real Venice, the gondola drivers (gondoliers) have jaded attitudes and have jackets over their red and white striped shirts; they aren’t smiling. I don’t think they are happy working this close to winter. No singing from the boatmen either, though our tour hired some singers with a small Italian band to ride with us. The buildings were old, not maintained too well; it’s probably hard to do repairs and construction when you have to transport everything by boat! The canal isn’t smelly or anything, but it doesn’t look clean. Despite all of this, there is always something better about the real thing. It’s an aura that you can’t explain, mostly psychological but a different feeling nonetheless than being in a replica. The atmosphere of thousands year old buildings and structures make my mind wander and start imagining. History is something special; I think everyone can agree to that.
everything by boat: food/supplies in, trash out
What I found very interesting about Venice is how they go about their daily lives! Everything has to go by boat including people, food and supplies in, garbage out. Everything by boat and Venice doesn’t have giant ports to accommodate giant ships to transport. This has made living in Venice 4 times more expensive than the nearby mainland! Few people actually live in Venice as it’s hard to afford and a bit impractical. There is little transportation inside Venice; when the boat drops you off; you have to start walking! Cars are very limited to a certain part of Venice as they will not fit the old streets. The uneven stones of the side streets and small alleyways would make it difficult for wheelchair users as well. Tourists, policemen, restaurant staff, church staff, and almost everybody ride over water to get to Venice everyday! People go back and forth using water buses, private water taxis or gondolas (only tourists use this).
The Grand Canal which is 90 meters wide has very few bridges (3 or 4) for its 3,800meter length. A simple gondola that accommodates standing pedestrians can be found at certain points along the canal to cross to the other side. It is a short distance and the locals were boarding the gondolas with much ease. Unlike I who held on to the wooden posts of the pier as I went down to the gondola, technically pushing the gondola away from the pier with my foot. I got a short (a bit stern) lesson from the gondolier and so now I know a bit more about riding boats and about how NOT to rock them. I was scared for my camera the whole time actually. I’m no water person; that I am certain of. All of the passengers on the crossing gondola remained standing for the short trip (as sitting down actually rocks the boat a bit as well). They are wearing their suits and office attires carrying important documents and laptops with no worries of the 5 meter deep water beneath their gondola.
Another important fact to note is that Venice is sinking; the water level is going up due to climate change. Quite a number of side streets from the Grand Canal are now smaller canals instead of streets! Imagine having to need a gondola to enter your house as there is not always an elevated sidewalk! Governments and groups are contributing and spending billions of dollars in making a giant dam to keep Venice above water. At first I thought, maybe they should just let it sink, a lot of other people are going hungry, and they could use the billions of dollars. But then again, something in me (and each one of us) also values history and culture. Seems like such a crime to let Venice sink after it has survived for thousands of years. Many things were lost in many wars and tragedies and keeping these ancient structures are very important.
Former streets are now smaller canals with no sidewalks! You need to ride a boat to enter your house.
Venice has technically little industry and mainly serves as a tourist destination. It is basically being preserved as a testament to man and his accomplishments over the years. You can actually buy an old building along the Grand Canal or in other parts of Venice for an affordable price; the problem is you have to restore it to its previous form (Venetian design and the works) which is extremely expensive!
Flooding! Venice is actually sinking!
For part 2 of Interesting Italy! (Venice/Venezia) click here
For other photos of Venice/Venezia, Italy click here
For other blog entries of Italy:
For other photos and blog entries of other places we went to in the European Cavalcade Trafalgar Tour, please click here
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