Venezia, "La città di Luce."

Classes have started to pick up, now that we've been here over a month the teachers are full speed ahead. This makes it harder for us students to get out on weekends. I was able to get out though with six other girls to Venice. I'm going to qualify this trip with the fact that I had gotten a killer cold during the week before, and it had developed an ear ache and snore that could wake the dead. So I was eager to leave and give my roommates much needed rest from my loud night noises. We took the train to Chiasso and from there went to Milano. I think all trains that come through the north of Italy stop at the Centrale, as a main hub for train travel. Most of the other groups traveling that weekend were going in the same general direction, but at Milano we parted ways. We transferred to another train that would takes us to Venice. It wasn't too late when we got there, so we walked around a little, and grabbed dinner and some gelato at a shop right by the station. We were staying at a hostel outside of the city and had to take a bus to get out to it. It was more like a camp ground than anything else with trailers and tents set up as rooms. The other girls had booked before I had decided to go, so I had a trailer all to myself. It was nice, warm water, and clean sheets. No towels though. I realized that in the morning, and as I had forgotten my towel,and it was too cold to drip dry I used an extra top sheet instead. We caught the bus back to the city and walked back to the train station. There was a very nice pastry shop that we saw the night before, and we stopped there for some breakfast.
It was a gorgeous day, sunny, almost warm and blue sky. One of the first things I noticed in Venice was the architecture and layout of the city. It jumps out at you at every corner and bridge. The lines of the city have been the same since the 13th century. It can be inspiring to walk through and on that much history. The buildings were all arches and columns and red roofs. Carnivale was only a week ago, so the streets still show the aftermath of confetti. Shops displaying beautiful and unique masks were everywhere. We walked for a while and then grabbed a water taxi heading for the Rialto Bridge. The bridge has shops built into the structure and is part of one of the grandest markets in Venice. It is filled with tourist booths, but also much the produce for the area comes in through that market. There wasn't much going on that day, but it was still nice to walk through. We wandered through the streets, all the while headed toward the Piazza San Marco and the Basilica Patriarcale Di San Marco, the crown jewel of the city.
The streets grew more crowded as we drew closer to our goal. Finally the buildings opened up and we were in the Piazza. It was glorious. We were facing the Basilica with the Campanile di San Marco(the bell tower)to the right. The Piazza was full of people and pigeons! Feeding the pigeons has become a tourist activity, and the birds have no fear. The Basilica was resplendent, mosaics and statues cover the facade and the walls are beautifully made of different color marble. You can see the progression of art and time even here, where flat Byzantine mosaics are just an alcove away from rich Renaissance scenes. Inside the ceiling is gold, glittering, representing heaven. Pictures aren't really encouraged, but we take a few hasty shots. I really enjoy how almost every inch of space is decorated, it is a sharp contrast to the stark and bare churches that I was used to at home. Beside the Basilica is the Doge's Palace, a impressive white building with a patterned marble façade. The bell tower was our next stop, the view was incredible. We could see the whole of the city laid out beneath us, and the lagoon as well. We ate lunch, and then wended our way through the streets and canals to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Most of her collection was Pollack and Picasso, modern sculpture, all beautifully displayed. I am not usually a fan of modern art, with the attitude that if I can do it (I'm hardly artistic) then it really isn't challenging art, but this collection was a lot of fun to walk through. Even the court yard was filled with sculptures and instillation pieces that were just fun to look at.

The next day we returned to the Market at Rialto and experienced market day. The place was packed with tourists and Venetians purchasing food and goods for the coming week. We wandered down the rows of booths, inspecting the fresh fish and looking over the produce laid out for us to eat. I sad that I couldn't smell all that food, but then considering the fish, I was also grateful for the handicap. After getting our fill of the market and making a few purchases, we caught a water taxi to a near by island, Murano. This place is distinguished for its glass making, and we were able to wander around the island looking at the art on display, both for sale and for show, and just relax. The houses there were very colorful, with brightly painted exteriors. By this time most of us were exhausted, and decided to go back, eat dinner and then return to the hostel. Two girls stayed to do some more shopping, but I was not one of them.

The next day we ate a quick breakfast and boarded the train home. It was a quiet ride back with out much happening. In Milano we again met up with some of the other groups making their way back to the Villa. Venice was really a great place to visit, I probably could have spent more time there, just getting lost and finding new and old things to look at. I enjoyed it very much. Up next is the Southern Trip, a great many things in a short amount of time. Then spring break, Oh boy am I looking forward to that.