Friday 25 April 2014

V for Venice

When I was living in Athens (many years ago) some friends and I decided to do a road trip to Italy. We took the ferry from Patras and arrived Brindisi early morning. The sun was just up and as we hit the roads and the landscape opened up in front of us I got this intense feeling of...  belonging. You know, one of these places on earth where you just feel like home the moment you arrive. Italy was that kind of place.

We visited Bologna, Florence and the mini state of San Marino on our trip, but the highlight for me was the one and only magic city of Venice.

Venice consists of 18 island and the whole city is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city is unique because of the canals going in between the houses. It is often threatened by flood tides pushing in from the Adriatic Ocean. Six hundred years ago, Venetians protected themselves from land-based attacks by diverting all the major rivers flowing into the lagoon and thus preventing sediment from filling the area around the city. This created an ever-deeper lagoon environment.


What I love about Venice ( and get ready for this one:) - is that it is the world's only pedestrian city. So No. Cars. Anywhere (!), something that makes strolling around sooo enjoyable. If you want to get around quicker, you can take the vaporettis (water buses) or the water taxis. If you go to Venice on a romantic trip or honeymoon (we were in neither categories), going for a gondola ride on the canals is a must. (but not advisable if you are an impatient non-romantic soul wanting to get from A to B as soon as possible)


When we went, we stayed close to Piazzo San Marco. I was enjoying the strolls in the narrow alleyways, and over the picturesque bridges crossing the canals, the art work and just sitting for a coffee at the large open squares (though really expensive coffee)  - watching the doves fly up. It was early spring, the weather was beautiful, and I was thinking to myself: yes, this feels right. This could be home.

Masks - the big carnival in Venice is in February. 


But just as I left Udaipur behind yesterday, the time to leave Venice behind, caught up with me back then also. I did leave.

And as sad as it may be, now it is our time to fly away from lovely Venice - our dream destination for the day. What? You don't want to leave? Come on, dear reader, I will take you with me to another place which I think you will find interesting.. Trust me. Pack your bags and get ready for W...

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs hereMy theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow. 

73 comments:

  1. You brought back so many memories of Venice. I love those Venetian masks. Nice one Eli.

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  2. Venice is high up on my must travel list. Love the city's picturesque waterways! Hope we get to visit it soon. Thanks for a beautiful virtual tour this morning, Eli :)

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    1. Great Shilpa - hope you get to visit it too:-) Happy you enjoyed the tour:-)

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  3. Wow! Just seen this place in movies and pics...you've described this place very well! Looking forward for W too!

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  4. Venice seems to be THE romance destination.The water buses and gondolas sound like an experience to undertake.
    There's a beautiful romantic song from a Hindi film 'The Great Gambler' which was shot with actors Amitabh Bachhan and Zeenat Aman on a gondola in Venice...that song colors my imagination of Venice :)

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    1. Aw- that's great - will check that out - thanks for the tip. Happy to see you here:-)

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  5. Dearest Eli,
    Oh, that is a lovely post and it makes my heart beat faster because we did live and work in Il Veneto. Only 45 minutes away from Venice. Before we got to live and work in Italy we'd been to Venice several times. Also on vacation in Jesolo, close to Venice. It is lovely when the weather is lovely but one visit it was not so lovely as the sewage stench of the city was almost unbearable. So one can have bad luck too.
    The Dutch have been active in saving the city from sinking. Hope they have preserved it well enough to show it to future generations!
    Bologna and Florence we have visited too. Bologna for a visit with a colleague at the University of Bologna and Florence we went to with our best friends. LOVELY city and great Musea.
    Hugs to you,
    Mariette

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    1. Thank you so much dear Mariette. Always so nice to read your comments - thank you for sharing your experiences. Yes, hope they will manage to preserve beautiful Venice:-) Big hugs back to you:-)

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  6. One place I dream of going to. Lovely post Eli..:)

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  7. Lovely pictures and lovely writeup about this lovely city...Italy and France would be two places I would love to visit on my European tour, whenver that happens...and Spain and Greece...and... you get the idea :) But Venice simply looks out of this world everytime I see the pictures.

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    1. Thank you dear Beloo. Hope you get to do your European tour -the grande one.-) Best

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  8. Lovely post! Been there a few times...loved it over and over again!
    http://soniarevankar.wordpress.com/2009/10/15/masquerade-carnival-of-venice-italy/

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    1. Thanks a lot Sonia:-) Totally understand why:-)

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  9. ok i'm in !!! :D i'm in luv wid venice with the way u described d city :) just made me remember movies :D laketown frm hobbit :D

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  10. Love this! I've always wanted to go to Venice and even more so, now. Thanks for the tour, Eli. ☺

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    1. Happy you loved it - and Thanks - hope you get to go:-)

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  11. Eli, Venice has long been in my dreams dear and I HAVE to go there at least once in this lifetime. The lagoons, lack of cars and esp the Gondolas appeal to my heart v much :) If you haven't do go to youtube and see this song picturised in a gondola of my Favourite person in Bollywood. The Amitabh Bacchhan :) The film is The great gambler. the song starts with-Do lafzon ki hai dil ki kahani...., which means The story of the heart is sung in two words...it is eaither love or it is youth. This song and Venice itself gives me goosebumps :)

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    1. Thanks Sunila dear for your very kind words and tips - will check out that song for sure:-) Hope you get to visit Venice :-) Hugs your way

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  12. I often sigh in anticipation - "when will I go to Venice"... Your story and pictures urge me even more now...

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    1. Hope you get to go, dear Renuka:-) Happy to see you here:-)

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  13. aah- Venice - saw read / heard and dreamt so much about the place
    That gondola ride is on my to do list!
    Brilliant post. Thanks for writing this
    I Visualised every thing. I Know a bful song shot there in Hindi
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waeAGdCvJd8

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words Afshan:-) And for the tip - off to check out that song..:-)

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  14. I have just found you through the A-Z challenge. Interestingly, although we share a similar theme, Venice is only the second location we have shared during the month. I shall have to follow you now, if only so I can see whether we have any more common ground.
    Keith A storey of stories

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    1. Ah - that is so great Keith! Happy to have you here! Will pop over to your blog now:-)

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  15. a very vivacious vista. Verily I thank you for sharing your voyage.

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    1. Very velcome Cecilia! Always a pleasure to have you here:-)

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  16. I expected V for Venice from you :) Lovely snaps

    PhenoMenon
    http://throodalookingglass.com/2014/04/voices/

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  17. Very well depicted. Inspired to visit!

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  18. Venice is my dream Destination.... Lovely photograps... I will make sure whenever I go there I will ask for your two cents on itinerary! Your description of the place has made it even more beautiful...
    Elixired

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    1. Ha ha - thanks dear Shesha:-) Hope u get to go:-)

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  19. I've never been to Italy but I loved your photos. Thanks for sharing.

    Visiting from the A-Z Challenge

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  20. A gadola ride is still a dream for me...

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  21. Venice fascinates me and would love sitting there, scripting an imaginary love story. Why not fall in love and kiss in Venice, the most romantic place on earth. WoW! Love the idea of traveling in a place with no cars on roads..amazingly romantic, pics, Eli. One of the best as part of the challenge:)

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    1. Thank you so much Vishal:-) Your kind feedback makes me so happy - so glad you are coming along on this crazy tour of mine.-)

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  22. Venice has always fascinated me! I am so glad you chose this city for the letter V! ♥

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    1. Thank you Kathy, so happy you liked it:-)

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  23. I was planning to go there this month but unfortunately Italy will be left out from my Europe trip this time ...ahh!

    V for Violated-Random Thoughts Naba

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  24. Lovely travelogue. Nice pictures

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  25. I love Venice, too...Have you been to Croatia? So many Venetian cities, without the canals....so gorgeous! (http://www.reflectionsenroute.com)

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    1. Yes, its a great place:-) Happy to see you here:-)

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  26. I love Venice too. I love nothing more than wandering around the city, getting lost and then finding a new way home!

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    1. Ha ha ha - been there done that:-) Happy to see you here.

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  27. I haven't been to Venice - I just don't know why! I have to bump it up the list.

    Anabel at Anabel's Travel Blog

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    1. It's a one of a kind place -hope u get to visit:-)

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  28. Such a wonderful city, nothing like anything else. But if you do like waterways I would strongly recommend Alleppey in Kerala Backwaters.

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    1. So true:-) Thanks for the tip - Alleppey sounds like something I would like:-) Always so happy to see you here, Prasad:-) Best to you

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  29. No cars huh! Sounds like a great place. I've seen it in films. Wish I get to go there one day.

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    1. Hope you will Tulika, so happy to see you here dear:-)

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  30. We are hoping to do Venice this summer when we fancy a road trip for a couple of months round Europe...it appeals to my senses very much. :)
    Maggie@expatbrazil

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    1. Hope you get to go Maggie:-) But the car stays outside Venice.. He he ...

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  31. I've seen a few Venice-inspired places. I bet they're nothing compared to the real Venice. I hope to visit that someday.

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    1. I hope you get to visit too:-.) All the best to you

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  32. Venice always seemed to be so appealing. I wish and hope to spend a few days in Venice someday.

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    1. I hope you get to visit Natasha:-) Thanks for visiting:-)

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  33. Ah Venice...the place for my romantic soul. This one is high up on my Hubby's list!! :-* Superb post Eli!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words Aditi:-) Hope you get to go with your hubby:-)

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  34. Venice Venice - My honeymoon destination :D :P Lovely write up!

    ~S(t)ri Writes

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    1. Aaaa- nice Sri:-) Thanks for your kind words, dear.-)

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  35. What a pleasure.... to be in this place.. its attractive and tempting, thanks for putting a desire inmy heart to visit this place...

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  36. A romantic place to be in...and the highlight point is that it is a pedestrian city...wow lovely !!!

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  37. Another mystic place from Italy with the beautiful canals and gandolas...The closest I have seen is the venetian hotel in Las Vegas ;-). Thanks for taking us to another beautiful place.

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  38. Another mystic Italy place with the beautiful canals and Gandolas...The closest I have been is at Venetian hotel @ Las Vegas. Thanks for taking me there :-).

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  39. We honeymooned there mumble, mumble years ago. Lovely place.
    Visiting from AtoZ
    Katherine Walcott
    http://rodneyssaga.com/

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  40. We are returning soon, next month to Venice! Joint family style - with my parents, my inlaws and us! :D

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