Timeless Travels

My eyes have never seen as much beauty as they did during my two weeks in Italy. Day after day, a new sight would engage me and then inevitably, my camera lens as well. A land so full of history, Italy amazed me every step of the way with its gorgeous natural features and ancient ruins and architecture that the civilization has managed to keep alive.

The Colosseum is one of these ruins. During my  tour through the Colosseum, I can’t honestly say that I learned much. The tour guide spoke such a thick Italian accent that her English translated a bit incoherently. However, I did not need to hear what she was saying in order to feel the ancient culture and gaze at the beautiful architecture of what used to be, and still is, a huge symbol of Rome.   

Every other aspect of Italy was breathtaking. The waterways sparkled like glitter, and the views from the hills were a dream that I never wanted to wake from.

I visited Venice towards the conclusion of my trip. I think it would actually surprise you more if I said that I didn’t take a gondola ride.  After all, a gondola ride is the one Venetian tourist trap everyone falls into willingly.  

Ready for Venetian tourist trap, my friends and I gathered around the dock, anxiously awaiting the arrival of our gondola and singing tour guide. When a lengthy brown gondola floated up next to us, we stepped in carefully one by one. Unfortunately, I was the last one to get on the boat, and this left me with the lone seat in the back, which happened to be three or four feet away from where the rest of my friends were sitting. I quickly became the designated photographer for the rest of the group, getting a picture of all of my friends having fun together on a gondola in Venice, but unable to take a picture where I could be part of the memory.

I’m not going to lie; I was a little bitter. Yet, how bitter could I actually be while I was gliding through the waterways in Venice? They proved to be as wonderful as I had imagined that they would be. The sun glimmered on the river canal reflecting the views of the surrounding homes and stores. My head bobbed from left to right to catch every inch of unique exquisiteness.

Every building was a different shade of beige, pink, yellow, or blue and never

lacked personality. The windowsills were filled with colorful blooming flowers. As I observed the sights around me, we would pass under a small bridge connecting two sides of the river, with tourists waving from above. I was also surprised by the gondolier’s precision in leading the boat in the right direction. The river was occasionally pretty narrow, leaving little room for error, especially
when we would pass by other gondolas or boats. and he could sing at the same time! If I had been in his place, there is no doubt we would have ended up sinking after crashing into the side of someone’s home. I never wanted the ride to end.

            Yet, as all great things do, it did end--a half hour earlier than scheduled and paid for as we later learned! I suppose we were all so immersed in the elegance of the ride that we completely lost track of time.

            My trip to Italy also came to an end much too soon, but it will never be forgotten. I am determined to revisit before my life ends. After all, I did throw change into the magical Trevi Fountain and whoever does so is destined to return.