Venezia aka Venice is one surreal city. Built on 118 islands within the Adriatic Sea most are interconnected to one another with bridges. The city is brilliant in how it achieved such a feat. Though Venice is basically a tourist spot, its atmosphere was electrically vibrant. Walking through the narrow streets, one could hear the singing and cheering or drunken visitors, the splashing of Adriatic water against canal homes, the awe in voices at first sight of San Marco Piazza and the busy visitors shopping for Venetian masks and cloths (Love the Style!). These scenes of Venice I got to enjoy with my good friend Isha and her family (Biological & Host family).
Even with the noise of thousands of tourists, we came across some of
the most tranquil areas of Venice while coasting on the Gondola. Though this was a very touristy thing to do, it was one of my trip highlights. Our gondoliers took us to the house of Marco Polo (you thought it was just a game didn’t you), of Casanova, we toured around the Laguna Veneta, saw the island of the Venice Film Festival and got up close to many architecturally remarkable buildings. While kicked back in the gondola enjoying the sights and sounds, the passing gondoliers gave me the name Spice Girl. Not going to argue against my christen name...hehe. Though the ride cost 35 euro a person, it was worth it.
In Albino, Bergamo was where the Italian host family lived. It was an honor to have an authentic Italian experience for the weekend. I made brick over pizza and ate some DELICIOUS Italian fare. Not far from Albino was Citta Altà of the Bergamo area. Citta Altà (In English meaning Upper City) is not called so for no reason. The best way to reach the top of this hill is through a cable car service (Funicolare in Italian). This section of the city is known for the picturesque Piazza Vecchia (old square), Cappella Colleoni (Colleoni chapel) and the birthplace of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (Pope John XXIII). All in all…I LOVE ITALY!
