Venetian Sunrise

Sometimes when traveling I stumble upon a perfect moment that brings me to a state of complete satisfaction. It might be on the peak of a snow-covered mountain with my skis strapped and ready to take the plunge. It might be out in “the bush” under the African moonlit skies. Some of these moments have been in the middle of big cities with crowds of people and some have been lost in the middle of Minnesota cornfields.
One summer I spent a few days relaxing in Venice, Italy and I came across one of those moments. I climbed out of bed early on a hot August morning and headed out into the maze of canals and narrow alleys that make Venice what it is. Although it was early, the humid summer air from the Mediterranean already chased off any hint of chill that the night could bring. I wandered without any goal of where I was going so I knew I would get there soon. The city was still asleep and only occasional shopkeepers could be found preparing for another day of the endless throngs of people who would hurry pass their doors.
This particular morning I was taking it slow. I wandered passed an aging Italian Nun who I assume was on her way to church. I smiled at her and she uttered something in Italian to which I responded by simply smiling some more. I would like to think that she said, “Good morning gracious one blessed of God”. But it is just as likely that she said, “Get out of my way, I’m late for work and the Lord needs me”.
Still feeling the effects of the morning blessing, I wandered a moment longer until I found a little café nestled comfortably next to a canal and tiny footbridge. The storeowner must have been hired by a talent agency because his short, stalky body and his round cheery face was the quintessential picture of an Italian café worker. He greeted me once again in Italian and I responded by asking for a cappuccino (an Italian word I know) and a croissant.
That morning I sat at a tiny outdoor table drinking my cappuccino and eating my croissant while surrounded by a mass of locals all who believed in beginning their day with some espresso, some friends, and some second hand cigarette smoke. As the sounds of old men and old women talking and laughing in Italian filled my ears I thought this is close to the perfect moment for me. I imagined for a moment that I was one of them. I was an old Italian man who ate pizza and drank wine everyday. I liked spaghetti for lunch and playing Bocci Ball in the park. I spoke English in a quiet tone reminiscent of Marlon Brando in the Godfather and I always wore suits.
Then I drifted back into reality just as the sun appeared over an old brick building that had picturesque window boxes overflowing with summer flowers. The canal next to me was perfectly calm, the warm summer sun provided a golden tone across the sky, and the smell and taste of my cappuccino and croissant livened my senses. With nowhere to be and nothing to do, I wanted to freeze this moment in time and stay there a while. My Venetian Sunrise was the perfect way to start the day.

Venice Basics

I arrived in Venice via ferry and was immediately excited at what stood before me. I would spend the next few days exploring the city and trying to relax in the midst of the typical chaos that is found in a popular European city. With narrow streets, endless throngs of people, and hot stale air, some would say that relaxing here is not an option. For me, relaxing has to do with where my mind is more than my body. For example, a roaring thunderstorm can literally shake the foundations of a house and at the same time bring a great sense of comfort. And can you imagine a more terrifying thought than drifting alone in the middle of a calm ocean? This is not the point. The point is that I was in Venice and I was relaxed.
When visiting Venice, one should not be in a rush. Not because there is so much to see, but because there is not much to see. A seemingly endless maze of canals and narrow alleyways linking houses, hotels, restaurants, and churches sprawl throughout this small island making up the whole of Venice. To the visitor, this sprawl appears to be a repeating pattern designed specifically by the locals to trap and confuse those of us who intrude on their sinking paradise.
Following a map is an excersize in futility so you must attempt to "feel your way". You can try to follow the Grand Canal on the bordering sidewalks but inevitably the sidewalk will run into a building and then you have to enter back into the maze with no hope of keeping the canal in sight. If you walk long enough, you will eventually find Piazza San Marco, which is the main tourist attraction in Venice. After five minutes it becomes apparent that the buildings are impressive in the plaza but the crowds and the prices in the cafes here are simply not worth the time.
After stumbling upon the plaza, I decided this was not for me so I attempted to head back to my room by retracing my steps. I soon realized that retracing my exact steps was a laughable thought so I once again made the most of the wandering journey home. The excitement of a crowded cafe and the smell of baked calzones provided an irresitible detour for lunch. I chose a spot at a crowded table where I enjoyed my fresh cut Pastrami sandwhich. After lunch I continued my journey through the Labrynth home.
I found the best thing to do was to walk slowly and look at everything as if it was something worth seeing. It is also important to stop for Italian Gelatto. For 7000 lira I had a double scoop of Chocolate and Strawberry. With Gelatto in hand, I would wander over bridges, through alleys, and at times cut directly through what appeared to be private courtyards and eventually I would find myself right back where I began. I would applaud myself for my keen sense of direction and ask myself why my Boy Scouts Leader never noticed such a rare specimen of navigational genius. Then I would curse my room key for not working in the door before realizing that I was trying to open the room next to mine. At least I got the building right.

The Adventure Begins

To go around the world in 80 years. This is not so much a dream of mine as it is what I hope will be the natural consequence of living. I believe that the world is just too big to sit comfortably in my own local community. There are too many enticing foods, too many interesting people, and too many breathtaking views to just sit at home.
I believe in literally stopping to smell the roses. I believe in pausing to watch the sky come alive with color as the sun drifts off into the horizon for another night. I believe in swimming under a waterfall and lying in the rain. Am I a romantic? Not really. I am just not convinced that working overtime and skipping vacation leads to the good life. I am not sold on the idea that being busy is a good thing. Plenty of busy people rush around so much that they never notice the brilliance of autumn trees. They have no time to find wonder in running through fog that hangs weightlessly off the ground. They don’t even care to ask how birds learn to make nests and how dogs know to pee on hydrants. This world is filled with wonder and I too often forget to be amazed.
That is why I travel. Getting away from home heightens the senses and teaches us to notice all the little things that make life worth living. Traveling teaches me that stars shine brightly away from the city and animals can still be wild. Traveling helps me remember that people are generally kind and helpful and when given the chance, the majority of humans are willing to serve each other. Traveling also reminds me that my culture is just one way to live; it is not the best way, and it is not an inferior way, it is just a way.
Coming home from traveling has great benefits as well. When I return home I notice that the trees can be as beautiful in my own town as they are in the hills of New England. I remember that the lake on the corner from my house is every bit as blue as one in a secluded mountain meadow (although I would not drink from it as I would the latter). I notice that the roses bloom all year and the birds never seem to leave. When I stay home for too long I grow used to these things and my senses are dulled. That is when I know it is time to leave so my senses can be shaken from their slumber.
This belief in the value of traveling and in all the world’s wonders has led me to make a “list for life”. Included in this list are foods I would like to eat, people I want to meet, experiences I would like to enjoy, and places I want to visit. I have over 80 countries I would like to explore and dozens of specific adventures listed for these countries. I understand that some may never be able to pursue a list such as mine and that some may never even want to pursue such a list. For some, camping for an evening at a State Park is a big adventure, for others an adventure might simply be randomly pointing to a map and heading off into the unknown. Any way you look at it, your own journey around the world in 80 years is an adventure worth taking. For me, it is an adventure I must take and one that I will share with you throughout the following entries.
I hope you will find these entries entertaining, inspiring, and informative. Some can be used as travel guides, some as real life “Chicken Soup for the Soul” moments, and some can be printed as used as toilet paper. I will not pretend that you must read these to have a more full life and I won’t be so arrogant to even think they will all be worth reading. Nonetheless I will bring you pieces of my travels to this point in life and hopefully travels that will continue into the future. The entries will be in no particular order but will eventually be archived in a manner that will be easy to navigate. I will post on the beginning of each week. Thanks for reading along… enjoy.