The Insanity of Venice

For it's true marvels and unique atmosphere, Veneiza has to be the most romantic place on earth. The problem is everyone on earth wants a piece of that unique atmosphere.

This trip to the city on water was my second and so I was able to see things a little differently this time.We did a lot of sitting and watching. Watching the tourists and the locals intermingle. Watching the mailman deliver the post by boat. Watching the empty palazzo next to our hotel being turned into an H&M.

You can't say that only in recent times has Venice become such a tourist trap. It was founded by people who were fleeing the Goths and thought that it's harsh marshy lands would make a good hiding place. They were right. They invented an entire new way of building just to survive there. Over time it became the most cosmopolitan city, trading sea port, and major Grand Tour stop which ment that everyone who was anyone went to Venice. So really it's just a thousand years of tradition that makes the world flock there by the millions.

But, that thousand years of experience at tourism doesn't seem to make Venice any less insane. There was graffiti all over the Rialto Bridge. There was a huge advertisement covering the Bridge of Sighs. The Gondola "parking lot" is in front of the Hard Rock Cafe.

 

Still everyone should see Venice at least once in their lifetime. It's a marvel of genius engineering combined with some of greatest art the world has known. Have you been? Do you agree?