Amid all the tiredness and pleasure of traveling on motorways throughout the whole long hours of the sun, I was feeling quite joyful and thrilled to visit '' Venezzia '' the next morn.That kindled one of my childhood dreams to be there in Venice one day. I rushed to get to the boat on time not to miss any single charm of moving on the waters of the Adriatic. After a while, I was deep in mid of the
seawaters when far by the shore I could see a stretch of colorful old Venetian buildings. I had already started comparing my bookish notions to reality. As I was nearing the land, I found many ships, ferries and some small black typical famous ''Gondolas?. I stepped off my boat on a stony ground that was too crowded to explore. I could find myself only among people, all of different ilk, and I was just trying to be in some free space ahead. I took a stroll in the vicinity throwing some glances here and there in search of something interesting. I tried to remember how charming the houses on the seawaters looked in the pages of my books. But I still was not able to get a glimpse of that. All I found in the area was bustling shops and stalls engaged with noticeable gatherings among the babel of voices. My ideas on Venice started fading away. Anything else one can hardly find there except the true features of a mart and merchandise. I started
walking and met a small low bridge and knew about the existence of more such bridges ahead in a series some distance away from one another.
Standing on the bridge, facing off the coast, I tried to satisfy myself with what I was longing to see. Adriatic waters have pierced through the city houses but the canals were low and dirty. I was stopped on one such bridge by my tour guide- "The bridge of Sigh" in front of the prisons of Venice. Prisoners were asked to have their last wish standing on this bridge before execution. I again took my steps forward and crossing it I took the view of the Doge''s Palace there. Then walking still further I came to St. Marks Basilica- a large square platform with the church, dirt on the ground and pigeons flocking all around. After taking few minutes of rest there, unable to match the dull city with picturesque versions of mine, I was taking my route back towards the shore. Another worse aspect of Venice tour would be the ''gypsies'' who will be walking along or standing in front at times trying to attract the attention of the
tourist. Becoming a bit less careful, I could have been pick pocketed and they would have just jinked from my side if I noticed that. One quite good thing I came to know was about the Murano Glass. I liked the detailed information on how chemical changes to form glass and how nicely they are given shapes to make impressing objects out of that. Lacking in any kind of proper scenic beauty, the hot and humid climate over there had not a slight edge over those vapid descriptions of Venice that my eyes could capture. At length, I was called back to return, saying goodbye to the place I call as the
''Queen of the Adriatic". I returned with the only interpretation that Venice is simply
''a merchants? paradise'' rather being ''a tourist
spot''.
More summaries about the Venice- the merchants'' paradise