I'm sure when I had first looked at Venice I gazed at her with my I'm falling in love eyes. I had. Venice excudes romance, so either you bring love with you to make the experience more spectacular or she becomes your lover. It was settled, Venice was my date and I was enamored to be in such exquisite company. I couldn't resist her colorful personality, brilliant energy and fascinating history. The affair rendered my heart dizzy. No love is perfect and one minor issue was that I couldn't walk around with a cup of coffee!! (venice cafe's don't have to-go cups). Good news, one day I managed to do so and therefore was satisfied.
Every single place, every spot, curb, staircase was a place to get lost, rendezvous with your significant other and talk about forever or where to go for lunch. The air carried languages from all over the world, all intermingled to form one huge, well deserved compliment to Venice for making us feel welcomed.
Piazza San Marco shined at night with three orchestra bands playing music as the crowd walked from one to the other. Every performance was followed by a generous applause. Couples were seen giving each other roses, hugs and kisses with lovely thoughts. Smiles were part of the evening attire. Everyone was basking in Romance.
Leaving Venice. I had to get up in the brisk of dawn, walk a lonely, quiet passageway and hop on a boat. When do you get to do something like that? It felt exciting, like I was on a mission. Partly I was, my mission being to return back home. It was such an abrupt way to say good-bye to Venice but as we steered away I kept my eyes fixated on all of Venice, taking it all in one last time in efforts to engrave every last detail in my memory and whispering in my mind parting is such sweet sorrow.
Fortunately, distance makes the heart grow fonder.
42 comments:
That was very beautifully put. I remember the first time I visited Venice, I was about 13. My wonderful parents had taken my 3 siblings and myself. I remember my brothers complaining about the smell, but I was completely taken by its beauty the whole time I was there.
One night there was a huge downpour which covered St. Marks Square with about 12 to 18 inches of water, but the next morning the sweet Venetian sun came out to dry the rain, and the wet cobbles glistened in the glorious sunlight.
it's hard to take a bad picture in Venice. that said, it's not necessarily easy to take a good one, and you've definitely done that and then some.
I liked the parts of Venice that you photographed. and I liked the dark and grotty bits as well, like when you would turn down a little alley and find yourself in a narrow brick passage dead-ending into a canal, with that musty always-wet smell and a splash of graffiti on the walls. you know?
i love these photos. would we (cat)fight if i decide to say that venice is my date, too?
Man, that was awsome! Again you have treated me to a nice virtual vacation and have decided that if I ever go to Europe, Venice would be the place to go. It looks wonderful. You are so lucky to be able to experience that.
Venice ! Probably one of the most beautiful cities on earth and if not for sure the most romantic. You said it all and you captured the magic with your pictures.
I wouldn't go there during summer when hordes of tourists infest the place.
venice looks absolutely fabulous and i am deeply envious. it looks so damn romantic and so full of history that i can almost smell it.
between your words and photos, how can i not fall in love too, even never having been there. I feel like I have now. :)
Ice cream houses and fairy tale gondelas, it's so beautiful
Unfortunately, I think my expectations were too high. When I got there, I could not help but take in the crowded boats, the heat, and the smell rising from the water, littered everywhere I looked. I was also there in July, at least 5-6 years ago. Those pictures are gorgeous. My favorite place was the last church to your right before you leave the southern edge of the city. I also liked the architecture of several palazzos, and the bridges that led to secluded alleys. I can see why you felt like you were on an adventure.
I still think Florence will have my heart...
thank u thank u thank you for posting these pix! :):)
btw, your pic in the earlier post of the two deck chairs on beach is my absolute favourite, such calm, such beauty and such romance!
you are a fantastic travel writer/ photographer!
i, too, am in love with venice now.
=)
"An Affair to Remember.." are my only words for you and venice :)
I only got to spend a day in Venice. And I, too, loved it. Hey, are you posting these as you travel? If so, what are you doing on-line, dear? I can't imagine how you find time to post while seeing the sights. Though I am incredibly grateful that you're sharing your journey with us! ;-)
When we visited Venice I didn't really have any preconceptions. But I loved it. It really is an amazing place. And magical. I'd definitely suggest visiting in early Spring.
Your photos certainly give a fine flavour of the place.
finnegan :: well, i'm glad you dropped by :) i hope i'm still just as moved the next time i go to Venice. thanks!
neel :: yeah, i heard that it was suppose to smell. i didn't find it to be smelly at all!! i don't know if my sense of smell disappeared when all other senses were heightened but this was not the case for me.
did you go splashing in the water? that must have been cool!
monkey 0 :: i agree with you. with venice as the subject, you really can't take a bad picture unless you put your finger in the frame. thanks for the compliment!
yes, those hidden places. i took many of those as well. i just couldn't get enough.
virumandi :: like the comment, very clever. thanks :)
transience :: thanks! cat fight it is!! but wait, maybe we can share venice. i've never tried that before...hehe...it's all up to Venice ;) :)
irina :: really you think i made it mine? huge compliment for me, thank you!! yes, i love learning about different cultures and romania sounds like a beautiful place. you put it nicely, "reflective, dream traveling." it's the best way to travel.
btw, the poem you have on your blog now, I love, love, love it :) thanks for sharing it.
gq1nyc :: yes i do feel very fortunate. i hope you are able to go there as well and i'm glad you enjoyed your venice escape :)
sidney :: yeah, i think it's the most romantic but some say it's paris. i'd have to go to paris and make a comparison. pretty sure venice would still win. thanks for the compliment!! (yes I went in a perfect time, not too crowded)
thanks c.j. and sue hardy-dawson!!
deem :: wow, really, it makes me happy to hear that! and doesn't it feel great :)
mermaid :: i didn't really have expectations. visually i knew it wouldn't disappoint me, the color, the architecture, the narrow passageways..i don't know, it was wonderful. i went in may and it wasn't that crowded, it was a perfect time. florence is beautiful as well.
jenn see :: thanks. on "middlesex" yes, its a big commitment, its 529 pages! since i know you like jeanette winterson...when i went to her book signing someone asked her why her books are short (like her recent one) and she said because she feels like authors that write long ones are in a sense selfish to expect us to read such long books. she said it playfully of course but i can't help but think of it now as i'm reading this one :) i'm loving it though!
on rachael, yes i have that one as well. i'm waiting for some new stuff!
gulnaz :: your welcome! :) i love sharing i'm glad you like the beach picture. yeah, so many possibilities to daydream in that photograph....hmmm....happy you liked it!
stella :: thank you!! i'm so glad everyone is falling in love!!! :)
venus :: very well said!! :)
sk8rn :: no, these are of my trip last year (you missed the time-stamp on some of them which is good because that means that its not so distracting, i tried taking them out but didn't have the patience to figure it out). still happy to share my past journey with you all :)
roger steven :: I went in late May and it was still perfect time. I also wasn't building to many expectations.
thanks for your comment.
very very beautiful pictures, i hope to visit some day. just lovely.
Lovely venice with a lovely lady like lorena would likely make a lovely date.
I tried to form a sentence using only words starting with the alphabet "L" this was the closest I could come up with :)
"I gazed at her with my I'm falling in love eyes"
-- hehe. that's cute!Ü loved the pictures. you're date seems so wonderful! don't worry, i'm happy just looking at you two. :)
well i've never been to venice but it's so nice to experience the place thru your eyes and thru your words. oooh i'd love to date venice :D
Yes, it does feel great. I love the first picturet. The bride, the flowers, contrasted by the vertical buildings.
ill come with you next time. you can take the pictures while i draw some of the scenery. *smiles*
thanks mitzzee and gangadhar!
sensiblystoned :: well that was said very lovely :)
thanks for adding a different flair to the comments and
thanks for visiting!!
rain :: thanks!! our eyes do look at someone differently when love comes. you would be tough competition so thanks for just looking ;)
thank you amie and mirzaghalib :)
deem :: thanks, that was actually my first view from a narrow bridge on my way to the hotel.
it's also one of my favorites :)
jenn see :: i've heard of her. i will have to check her out. thanks for letting me know.
"lovelorn" I like that.
good, i'm glad people aren't getting tired of them since i've been posting venice for like forever :) (since i first started blogging)
neel :: wow, you draw as well, i'm impressed! all set then, you're coming with me! ;)
That is simply, breathtakingly... amazing.
"Memory is the best safekeeper."
Eventhough it might be best for us, we wont be able to share it with others. I admire photographs bcoz each snap can magically transport us to the past, relive the memories and offer a story to tell.
Forgot to tell you, your travellogue was really nice.
awesome pics. hope to visit venice soon. and after this piece, i am surely looking forward to it :)
Nice to be there. Nic pics.
Just wanted to say hi. You are the one with the pretty Wonder Woman smile!
Ok, you two. Don't think I'm oblivious to this blossoming "something" going on in cyberspace. Lorena, I think you'll have to come out to the West coast:0
BTW, my B-Day is approx 2 weeks after Eden's, in April, not March. I could have sworn you were an Aries.
wow! this is awesome lorena !very nice details !
thanks jaxe, baejaar, aashish, shirazi and eden :)
hi neel, a smile always looks wonderful on everyone, well a sincere one. thanks :)
mermaid :: hehe...no, i think he was just returning a compliment but a trip to the west coast sounds like a great idea!! i've only been there once (San Diego & 1 day in LA).
nope, pisces here :)
My mother always wanted to visit Venice n she is so eager that I keep thinking someday ill take her. But after viewing these pics u have taken so beautifully i cant help being drawn to it myself. Hopefully I'll see it someday. Well now i know which is the 1st place I wanna go to.
I have never been there - but these pictures sure speak volumes of the place. On my travel plans... :D
thanks mydepiction and balakumar!
tazeen :: hope you and your mother have the opportunity to visit this place. i'm sure you'll love it. thanks.
You are totally missing the rugged beauty of the Northwest coast, especially northern California.
I'm sure Neel will tell you all about Seattle. It is an awesome city, especially love the seafood. Then agian, Alaska is too cold, but unbeatable in natural beauty.
Ah beautiful. Venice remains one of those dream destinations. What you have written about it is so true,
"Venice excudes romance, so either you bring love with you to make the experience more spectacular or she becomes your lover."
hey mermaid, you've convinced me, west coast here i come!!! well, at least i hope so. :) i love seafood!!
hi a, thanks!! my dream came true :) and hope everyone else who wants to visit this place also gets a chance in their lifetime.
With such lovely snaps, you gave the right reason to visit your blog for every new post :)
-- Akshaya
thanks braveheart :) hope you do visit again!
Lorena you photos are wonderful! I enjoy your blog and I'm so glad that you are traveling. I'm still stuck in this boring city. Suggestion: Maybe you can exhibit at Woman Made Gallery or have a small photography show at a cafe for starters. By the way I love coffee also. Let's go get some. You might remember me you might not. http://www.artbotanas.blogspot.com
well i don't think i remember you. we probably didn't talk much when we worked there, no?
thanks for the suggestions, how sweet. i'd be to shy for that.
we should meet up for coffee one day. i read you are involved in plays, how exciting. i will visit your blog more often. you seem to be up to date in politics and i'm behind on that. thanks for your lovely comments. coffee it is! :)
btw, thanks for introducing me to this organization. i went to their website, very interesting. thanks.
hi alex, thanks :) i consider it the most romantic as well!! i'm with you on the runner-ups. i will definitely look at your pics. thanks for dropping by :)
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