venezia

It's funny how far people will travel to do nothing, while others place so much effort in creating the perfect vacation they forget they are there to relax. I know my mother is a person who needs to be active and constantly checking out the tourist attractions, because she is also the person who wants the bragging rights to say she saw the place. I, on the other hand, want to escape from the drama and insanity and like to do nothing at all.

I had already spent a large amount of my trip on a Christian pilgrimage discovering the roots to my Catholic faith and did not feel the need to see another church. Although it would have been interesting to see the Dodge's Palace, I also spent several nights in castles and saw palaces as well. I just wanted to be with the Venetians and explore the place on my own. You could imagine my delight when Li and I went on a little adventure searching for an internet cafe four islands away from us. It was great just walking around and asking for directions and checking our map. I remember we stopped by a man painting near a church and then wandered a few more streets before going into a butcher shop and asking them as well. We took pictures along the way and just enjoyed the time together.

I love being near water so Venice was perfect with all the small bridges and waterways slithering throughout the city. I also enjoyed just waiting for people. I would often make appointments to meet my mother, Kam, Shuyan, Ruth or Li at certain places and then wander on my own and meet with them later.

I also loved going to Harry's bar, because I felt more connected to Hemmingway and Welles. Ernest Hemingway use to go to the same bar all the time and became attached to his bartender Harry so when they opened the bar, it was named after his favorite bartender. Orson Welles also enjoyed drinking there as well. I find it exciting how the waiters are still in beautiful white tailored blazers, black ties and black pants. There is something historical and enchanting about sitting in a place like that sipping on Bellini's. (I didn't have enough money both times I went to the bar so I actually drank the non alcholic version, which was still very good.)

I remember wandering into the tourist information booth and enjoying the air conditioning and they told me of an internet cafe that also had air conditioning. It was around the corner from Harry's, but didn't have a printer. We needed to print tickets for Li so she could get into the Uffizi. I told her that I went to the Uffizi and Accademia, but enjoyed the Uffizi much more. The bookstore reminded me of our Chapters, Borders or WHSmith. It had travel books on the lower level and then general interest and more specific books on the higher levels. I took Kam here to use the net, but Li and I decided to leave since we knew Kam would have to leave soon for the island excursion.

I saw several men wandering the streets loaded with bags, but would quickly run away if they thought someone authoritative was watching them. I also had an enjoyable lunch with Li, Shuyan, Ruth and my mom at a local cafe. I also had fun wandering on my own when I noticed a salon. I remember stepping inside slowly and the lady approached me. We both discovered quickly that she only spoke Italian and I only spoke English so with some great mimicing waxing eyebrows and lips..she understood what I wanted. I do remember looking at her swirling the wax with her popsicle stick and for a moment I prayed she understood me correctly, lol. All worked out well and I gave her most of the money in my pocket.

I felt so bad for my mother and Shuyan at the end of the day when they were searching for Ruth. It seemed that Ruth had taken off on her own, because she didn't want to waste a day in Venice. I know that my mother was running around looking for her and wanting to see all the attractions and Shuyan had sacrificed her whole time there to appease everyone. It seemed so futile, because they should have just enjoyed their time in Venice and just explore the place with less emphasis on needing to see everything. I always believed once the race from attraction to another is over, what do you really remember about the experience? I can still tell you how the seabreeze caressed my face and how I could taste the saltwater in the air. I could tell you how comfortable the pavement felt in the shade as I sat across Harry's Bar waiting for the ladies and the descriptions could go on, but I wonder how much they took from the overall experience. I really do hope they had a great time regardless of how the day unravelled.