Venice, Italy
JUNE 2009
Rialto bridge on Canal Grande
After my language and culture university program in Florence was over I went off traveling by myself (one of my first extended solo trips abroad, at the age of 22). First on the itinerary was Venice. I stayed in a hostel and spent most of my time taking a waterbus around to different islands like Murano, famous for their glass artwork, and to lay out on Lido di Venezia, a 11km sandbar. My inner compass was challenged as I had to navigate through the maze-like, narrow streets of Venice—and all before smartphones with GPS no less. I don’t remember getting lost but I do remember not being able to find the train station on the day of departure. It took me a couple tries to find it.
Basilica San Marco
Gondolier
Cruise ship coming into Venice harbor
Canals of Venice
Next I traveled to Turin mostly because I remember hearing it was the host city of the winter Olympics in 2006 so I expected to see tall mountains but I disappointingly did not see the Alps northwest of the city. I had a brief time there as I only stayed one night and just walked through the city.
The next stop was the highlight of my trip—Cinque Terre.