Who’s Up For a Travel Challenge – And A Gondola Traffic Jam?
I shot this image in 2018, and it summed up so much of life in Venice Italy at that time. Why am I sharing now?
As we suffer through #QuarantineLife amid this worldwide pandemic, I was excited to take part in a social media challenge I was nominated to participate in – because it helps satisfy my never-ending #wanderlust!
Here was the shot I used to get that participation underway a few days ago:
Details On This “Travel Challenge!”
The above photo shows just how inspiring our world can be – and how exhilarating it can be to explore it.
Now, about the “travel challenge”: it’s all about visual images – so the challenge is to post a favorite travel picture for 10 days without explanation and nominate someone else to participate.
I love traveling, and I love taking pictures, so this was an easy one for me…as the sun set in Venice Italy on the iconic “Bridge Of Sighs…”
I love that I managed to capture a Gondola underneath at just the right time – as the bridge was named for the last image of beauty that prisoners would see…and it is a reminder of just how beautiful this city is, even with the crowds that usually gather here year round…and nothing beats a trip down the Grand Canal by Water Taxi:
Of course, Venice is usually packed with Tourists, who flock to the city to enjoy its majesty and wonder…in fact, remember that “Mega Cruise Ship” I posted about?
When my wife and I were there in 2018, we saw a half dozen of these huge ships arrive, dumping thousands and thousands of people onto the small island:
You can read more about how this city is fighting for survival against rising waters and crowds of people by clicking on mystery story here:
And as for the rising tides, my wife and I walked through San Marco Square as there was a glistening layer of water rising through the street…creating a beautiful reflection:
So beautiful, but that water is what the city is fighting unsuccessfully to tame. Still, it’s a city on an island surrounded by islands, and you can take a Water Taxi to another of the islands to see more incredible beauty – this time man made:
On the island of Murano, Artisans create works of art with liquid glass.
Click here for my tour of the glass-blowing island and a video that shows a Royal Stallion being created in front of your eyes:
As you can see, I love Venice, so thanks for reading this story, day #5 of my “travel challenge.”
I was nominated by Carol, whose website link is below. Carol shares terrific stories about exotic food and unique recipes, as well as important stories about our environment!
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Leave a comment and let me know if you ever seen this incredibly city up close!
Categories: Art, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir
johnrieber 
Stunning photos! I would love to visit Venice.
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It’s so magical in so many ways – thanks for commenting, always great to hear from you!
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Beautiful photos! I love the golden bridge. When the pandemic hit, the waters of the canal began to clear and fish actually returned. That visit must have been one of your best trips. Thanks for the tour!
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I read that about the fish…isn’t that great? I love that city and hope we can all explore the world again soon! Thank you for commenting!
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Yes, that is really great about the fish. Nature can revive quickly. I hope you can get there again, John. We all need to explore our world.
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Wonderful
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Venice such a beautiful city and the lace so very beautiful …your pictures do it justice, John I am pleased though that the pandemic has had such a positive impact on the waterways of Venice 🙂 x Thank you for the mention 🙂
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Beautiful pictures, John. I have not been to Venice. I am sure the residence are grateful that the cruise ships have stopped. I don’ think they’ll be back for a while to come, and hopefully never. They do so much damage. I have heard the same complaints from Greek friends.
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Good choice, John. You rocked Venice!
Best wishes, Pete.
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ooh, I’d love to go there, and always wondered about the origin of that bridge’s name. I’m a huge fan of glass, and would love to visit Murano as well
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Beth, what’s amazing is the entire Venice lagoon is barely ten feet deep…it’s vast but very shallow, so you can zip to these other islands with no fear! Thanks for commenting!
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Fabulous images. Venice was the first trip cancelled when the pandemic hit. I do hope we get there at another time. For now, the photos help. Thanks.
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Darlene, we love that city so much and just worry about the onslaught of tourists when the pandemic ends…thanks for commenting, always great to hear from you!
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