Waiting For Twilight
According to my trusting traveling partner Rick, Venice is at its most beautiful during sunset. So I went to Venice, the dying city has undying charm. St. Mark's square was bustling and as crowded as ever, constant tourists queues became an almost permanent part of the Rialto bridge, and high school kids, while annoying to stand in line with, were actually waiting for an hour to see the ancient mosaics in St. Mark's basilica. And while pigeons overtook St. Mark's square, the manicore stares regally from Doges's palace reminding us of the empire's ancient glory. I met a fellow traveler to tour the basilica and the palace, and on Rick's advice, got lost in the charming back streets of Venice on my own. Through the often empty side streets you see Venetians, their lives simple and charismatic, through "getting lost" I was ensnared by the city's seductive beauty and experienced the qunintessential Venice. I walked by a friendly gondolier who offered me a free gondola ride, and insisting that it is tradition for the women to kiss the gondolier when going under bridges. I told him that my kisses are for another. And all the while, I waited for the sun to set, it never did. I reluctantly ran to the last train of the day at 8:04 leaving for Florence and said ciao to an amazingly beautiful city. On the way home I imagined a purple and blue Rialto bridge overlooking happy travelers, lovers, and waters. I then firmly decided to re-visit the city some day soon. Next time it'll be Chris and I sailing through the grand canal at twilight - perhaps with a different gondolier...