Traffic Jam 🙂
I have to confess something – don’t tell anyone, though. I have decided that collecting pictures is way more fun than shopping! Wow! Did I just say that? And, George, for one, couldn’t be happier! Hahahaha – not that I am going to abandon shopping or anything – especially at my favorite Food/Farmer’s Markets………..
I know I am about the zillionth person to try to get down on paper some clear-headed words about the beauty and splendor that is present-day Venice. There is undoubtedly nothing new to be said, no new words, no new visuals. But, I just can’t help myself. All is new and wonderful when you awake, set out your door and have this world, these remnants at your feet. I must be the luckiest, if not the happiest person in the world when I am doing this!
Is there now or has there ever been a place where the foibles, vagaries or visuals of traffic management has been so unique or beautiful? I think not! Here is a lesson for all you road-ragers and civics professionals and urban managers – no issues to be seen here! Why? Because everyone is happy? Sure looks like it to me!
I awake these days, with first just a smidgen of reluctance to go back to the computer. Then, after about 6 ounces of good coffee – my favorite being Café du Monde’s French Roast, I trundle on down the stairs to finish what I have left undone, with an urgency which is inexplicable. It just must get done. It’s become kind of like part of the trip. My collective energy to capture hard copy of as many glorious frames as I can and bring them home with me has happily eclipsed my desire to buy things – the best gifts are surely the photos.
The world around me in New Jersey has changed a lot in the two weeks I was gone and I am struggling to adjust, all the while feeling somehow that my body is still fixated on walking the streets of Italian cities.
Yesterday’s post was a visual bombardment of photos of the great color to be found in the early September light. How I wish I could understand how this phenomenon enlivens me. Well, never mind how those neurons are stimulated by the physical beauty around me, I’m just glad they are still working.
As I noted in my posts about Milan, I have become fixated on the who, what, where, why and how of these cities – how they became what they are today. Who were the people who conceived of this and in what order? What was the mix of the practical and the creative that left us with this enormous collection of genius and beauty? That maybe one or two of these could possibly have been an ancestor gives me a great deal of pride and hope that perhaps one of those genes flowed down the line and resides somewhere in my own DNA. Who could be so lucky?
Anyway, Venice, Venice. Remembering one of my favorite local restauranteurs’ recommendations to me to not go to Venice when it is hot because it stinks, I happily allowed myself to be enveloped with the aura of the water all around me, “senza puzza” and the vibrant amount of business and pleasure that is so completely natural there. There is a slight tinge of opportunism evident in the people all around and I had more than a few people asking me if I wanted to go on the free trip to Murano – I fell for that last time and wasn’t going to be sucked into that one again. Don’t get me wrong, I love Murano and their glassware. In fact, I had my eye on a bowl in one of the shops that I would have loved to have until I found out the cost – 3500 Euros…..
Anyway, back to my memories of “traffic management”. Here are my favorite pictures of life and love among the canals. You will note, as we did in Milan, we witnessed a bride and groom just after their nuptials:
It doesn’t appear that they use these any longer, but I just thought this was hysterical – traffic lights in the water!
principles of canal “management”:
serenade: 
one of my favorite pictures of the trip
“bus” stop: 
Why am I obsessed with food markets? I don’t really know how I have become so enamored with the delights of offerings of various purveyors in various venues, but I don’t hesitate to say that I could spend the rest of my days traveling from one to another and feasting my eyes. I think I must have the gene, from Vincent Azzara, my maternal ancestor, who served the town of Morristown in a variety of ways, including in his confectionary business, long ago.
Something’s Fishy: These couldn’t be more beautiful!
I loved sending these photos to Ryan (chuckle, chuckle).
Famous in Venice – Licorice – so mad I didn’t buy some!
My favorite shop in Venice, Casa Del Parmigiano, where a charming older couple offered their assistance and their beautiful cheeses and accompaniments – the aromas were warm, inviting and memorable – wish I could have stepped behind the counter and stayed:
Food, Glorious Food:
We were heartbroken when the concierge at our hotel informed us we could not get back to the train station on Sunday for our designated train – at 5pm, because of the Historic Regatta which closed the canal for most of the day. We reluctantly but practically had to leave half a day early. Ugh!
Ugh: saying goodbye to Venice:
“roadside” garden:
I could only go knowing I was off to Florence and 4 full days more before returning to Milan.