Aloha Everyone,
Venezia (Venice) was founded 1,500 years ago as a refuge from barbarians. The city Is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. Instead of roads they have canals and the biggest of them is aptly called the Grand Canal. Gothic churches and palaces line along the larger canals evoking the city's glorious past. Today some palaces are being used as hotels while others are decaying.
This is J.J. and my 7th pilgrimage to a magical, romantic island city. Despite the rainy weather forecast, Venezia was packed with tourists. Annually, 15 million visitors flock to the city each year. We skipped popular sites and walked around enjoying the the city.
Venezia is small but very easy to get lost. This happened to us as we crossed one bridge to another. The truth is that there was a postcard perfect view waiting every turn. It was well worth getting lost.
Here are some facts from the tourism office guide booklet:
1. There are over 450 palaces (palazzi) and over 300 churches.
2. There are about 150 canals and over 400 pedestrian footbridges spanning the canals.
3. There are over 400 gondoliers. Perhaps they work during the summer months. We counted less than three dozen.
At a small restaurant located along a canal, J.J. and I sat next to Andrew and Louise. They live in northern England close to the border with Scotland and are in Italy for a week-long holiday. Our lunch became special and memorable because of this chance encounter. We exchanged emails and promised to keep in touch.
Aloha -- Cathi
