Venice

There is something mystical about Venice, something that cannot possibly be comprehended by mere mortals. It has been the muse of countless literary giants and has served as an afflatus for the greatest of artists on this planet. Every secret passageway brings you into a world you never knew existed while some alleys end so abruptly, you could be consumed by the water in a moment’s notice. A day in Venice entails feasting your ears to the sweet melodies of the accordion. It is about being nestled in luxurious gondolas, greeting and bidding adieu to canals after canals while your gondolier tells you stories of his mother’s cooking in his thick, accented English. Venice is all about celebrating human endeavour while carefully observing the intricate patterns on pieces of glass and feeding pigeons in the prettiest yet the most bustling square in the world. It’s about wondering how brilliantly an entire city has been built on water. Observe the magnificence of the Basilica Di San Marco, experience despondency at the Bridge of Sighs, dine at Quadri and carry home a Murano glass locket, apart from the truckload of memories, of course. “The times they are a changin” and Venice unfortunately has seen the worst of the wrath of nature incurred by constant human interference. The dark truth is that it has been thriving on borrowed time. The city has been sinking faster than usual and this undeniable beauty might soon just be a part of fictional pieces of work and historical accounts. All one can do now is hope and perhaps work on making our planet more sustainable. Getting there:
Major cities have air connections to Venice and the Marco Polo airport is its popular international airport. Additionally, the Italian rail network is excellent and you could either take a train from Florence or keep Rome and Milan as options. Venice has no cars so you are expected to trust your feet in order to explore the city, however, there are water-taxis for longer distances and gondolas for pleasure. Bon Voyage!