Unforgettable Venice

According to UNESCO, each day, more than 60,000 people visit Venice, which is more than  the population of that city! What scares UNESCO though is their belief that this level of traffic will affect the city adversely for according to them, the city is sinking!

The never ending crowds in Venice

I found this interesting in light of the joke made by the guide on my second trip to that marvelous city. For according to the guide, the authorities keep claiming Venice is sinking only to encourage tourists to visit before city disappears under the sea!

One of the numerous bridges 

 She however insisted that Venice is not actually sinking but the water marks you see on the buildings (the capital, San Marcos square is the lowest point) that give that impression are made by rising and falling tides. She even reinforced the point by citing examples of how  over centuries, since its establishment around 421 AD and especially between the 9th to 12th centuries when Venice was a city state, strategists in the navy were able to defeat the enemies because Venetians understood the tides and could easily lead the unsuspecting out to the Adriatic sea where they became trapped when it changed to low tide.

Well I don't know whether Venice is really sinking but I will certainly be trying
to visit that unforgettable city made up of 118 small islands (most of the islands had monasteries on them before Napoleon invaded and destroyed them) separated by canals and linked by some 440 bridges, as many times as I get the opportunity, for I can't see how one can see and enjoy all it has to offer in one lifetime!

One of the smaller detached islands

 On this latest trip, I got the opportunity to not only visit the mainland which is made up of five boroughs but also Burano, Murano and Lido  islands.

Burano island with its small population of around 9,000 is famous for its brightly colored homes which the guide told us became a tradition as the island was mainly populated by fishermen and the bright colors allowed them to be able to see their homes while they were at sea.

Colorful homes and shops in the main square on Burano island

I really did not buy that explanation, but I loved the burst of colors!

What they also have there too is internationally known hand woven lace products which just about every shop in the square carries as tourists love to buy the table cloths, place mats, clothes etc.

On the other hand Murano island is famous for fine and colorful hand made glass blown  products.

Beautiful Murano glass

This industry started around 1291 and remained a cherished family tradition for centuries but with the advent of technology this tradition is under siege but we feasted our eyes and pockets on some of the most fabulous glass blown products, some with solid gold embellishments which unfortunately we could not take any pictures of. 

However we did get to tour the factory and actually watch as the expert blew a glass horse. 

Glass blower on Murano island

This type of profession comes with a severe price however as the sand which they  use to make the glass and which they now import from France,  has to be melted at horrific temperatures in the furnace and it must take centuries of conditioning to work in such establishments!

 Lido island was by far my favorite of the independently standing islands and the favorite of Italians from all over I am told, as it borders the Mediterranean sea and has a highly developed tourism product with its wide beaches and sidewalk cafes.

Wide beaches on Lido island

 We spent two enjoyable days there and while this is the only island which allows private cars, no one needs anything more than a bicycle to get around and there are hundreds of bicycles there.

You may be a bit astonished to hear  that Lido is the only island to allow but remember, Venice is a series of islands joined together by bridges!

Lido is the only island allowing cars

To tell the truth however, it is only after this last visit  there that I have really come to appreciate the level of sophistication that led to the development of the transportation system there.

Transportation ranges from large cruise ships bringing thousands of visitors from abroad and ferries that take you all over Europe to gondolas in the canals, small water taxis which whiz expertly through the waterways and water buses.

The water bus system is extremely efficient, running  from morning to night on regular schedules with stops at permanently erected bus stations at the side of the waterways.

The buildings look even more majestic in the early morning.

Then there are the gondolas which are synonymous with Venice.

We were told that getting a licence to operate a gondola is like getting gold and despite the fact that some 400 gondolas are licensed to operate in the at least 100 canals, very few women can get a licence  and the waiting time for anyone to get a licence is 3-5 years as positions like that only become available when one of the current operators retires.

I cant think of a more majestic place in Europe with greater art, architecture and fantastic sites to visit than grand old Venice.



MORE PHOTOS OF VENICE

The gondola operator must bend down to go under the bridges when the tide is high

Joan Williams, moderator of Joan Williams Online broadcast on Power 106, describes herself as an unapologetic addict to the Jamaican outdoors. A foundation member of Fun and Thrills Adventure Club, she explores the island at any given opportunity cycling, hiking or swimming with that group, family, Jah 3 and anyone else who will have her. In 1995, she published the popular 'Tour Jamaica', and the fourth edition is now an ebook available at http://www.amazon.com/Tour-Jamaica-Joan-Williams-ebook/dp/B00EJWCSHS/ref. Contact gratestj@gmail.com.