Venice: Closing Thoughts On The Trip

Well, my Venice trip is now well behind me and I’m left with so many wonderful memories. Venice was a bit of a learning experience for me, having never been. I’m glad everything turned out so well (not counting my experience in the hated Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, of course), and that I didn’t take a tumble down any stairs – I’ve been known to do that when in Europe.

The Resilient City on the Water

Several times over the course of the visit I found myself marvelling at the fact that we were essentially sitting in the middle of a lagoon. The city squares, hotels, museums, stores – all supported by posts and pillars underneath the surface of the city.

The resilience of Venice and its native population amazes me. While I was there I learned about something called the Acqua Alta. The Acqua Alta is the name given to the occasional episodes where high water levels flood the lowest parts of Venice. The phenomenon occurs mainly in the winter and occasionally in autumn. Acqua Alta is mostly caused by tides and other contributing factors. In recent years efforts have been made to counteract the effects of these floods. Something called the “MOSE Project” has been under construction since 2003. The MOSE system consists of 79 separate 300-ton flaps which are hinged on the seabed between the lagoon and the Adriatic Sea. Under normal conditions these are fully submerged and invisible but when an Acqua Alta is forecast they can be raised to create a temporary barrier to the rising water. Amazing.

Get Out Your GPS!

Venice is NOT a grid! The streets are organic – they wind, twist and turn, going in the path of least resistance. When travelling to a new place I usually have a pretty good sense of direction, but not in Venice! The streets all looked quite similar and snaked everywhere – so confusing. Also, it was a different experience for me having someone lead me through a city – I tended to not worry about the route or getting my bearings as I basically just followed the Leader (literally).

Awkward Transportation

I found transportation extremely difficult in Venice. I know it’s all supposed to be part of the “charm” of being in Venice, but I didn’t find the water taxis and vaporetti charming or endearing as many people have. To me, all the different water vehicles we had to take just to get from point A to point B in the city was a pain. I found the water vehicles clunky, awkward and perilous (when boarding and exiting, especially). If you are familiar with how clunky and bottle-necked Toronto’s streetcar system is, then the water transportation in Venice is a close parallel – if you have to get anywhere in a hurry, forget it!

Italians + Food

This was my second trip to Italy and, like my Tuscany photo trip in 2023, I found the Italians to be absolutely wonderful people. They are so upfront with their emotions and you always know where you stand with them. Italians have such big hearts and if they take a liking to you, they really like you. – or hate you – depending on the situation; there’s no half measures.

The food quality on this trip was spectacular. We had only simple pasta meals but everything was so fresh and delicious. The Italians make simple food taste soooooo good! Speaking of food, those who follow my blogs will recall my addiction to ice cream when travelling. Shockingly, I did not have any on this trip! – no, really. I didn’t even try the gelato, although it was everywhere. I found the regular meals so satisfying and filling I had no room for my usual allotment of ice cream.

Group vs Individual Photography

There are pros and cons of photographing with a group. It was nice to be taken to the best photo locales, but as a group we tended to rush from point A to point B to point C, etc., rarely stopping to shoot interesting things on the journey between the points. I love to wander, taking my time to photograph the minutiae and small details of a city; it’s very hard to do that when you’re moving en masse. Having said that, though, we did have a couple of sessions where our group broke apart and I was able to grab some detailed shots of alleys, doors, buildings, etc. One of the positive sides to group photography is that you sometimes are allowed into places normally off limits to individuals.

Kudos to Air France

I must mention, too, how impressed I am with Air France. All the AF staff – from the terminal counter staff to the Flight Attendants – were phenomenal. So friendly, kind, efficient and patient. The food on all the flights was delicious and plentiful. 10 out of 10 in my books, AIr France!

I’ll Be Back…?

Would I do a return visit to Venice someday? Ummm… maybe… probably. It would be nice to simply wander the streets and immerse myself in the city for a couple of days. Venice is truly a city you want to get lost in.

Thank you, Venice! It was wonderful!