VENICE CALLING-PART 1

MY ARTICLE ON GHUMAKKAR

A STREET IN VENICE

A STREET PERFORMER

We bid Les Adieux to France and were all set to gather our impression of the land of Galileo, Leonardo, Monica Bellucci and of course the inimitable Ferrari- ITALY. We were to board our night train to Italy from Paris. By this time we had wised up enough to discard the idea of taking the more economical buses to the station and rather opted for the taxi. Our life in Dubai and India had spoiled us enough and we were completely unfit to carry the burden of our luggage minus the escalators, or the humble coolies. It was indeed an eye opener to see small school going children frolicking with their huge back packs as they walked in organized lines following their scout leaders escorting them, probably to a summer camp at some picturesque location. Clearly fitness was ingrained into their way of life. The railway stations were neat but without any frills.

 One of the passing thoughts frequenting our minds in this trip was “Dubai actually spoils”. Fitness there means looking trim, but it also means visiting the gym at least 5 times during the week. Walking outdoors as an exercise regime is option only during the cool winter months or very early in the mornings. People consider themselves independent, but in reality the dependence on power (electricity) and other resources is substantial and most often taken for granted. A metro station or any other place is unimaginable without escalators. With sweltering temperatures through most part of the year, people are used to AC waiting booths at bus stands.  While water is scarce commodity in desert, the paradox is that most houses come equipped with a bath tub.

We dumped our luggage at the station. Since we were two families traveling together, we took turns to visit an Indian restaurant near the station, while the other family kept an eye on the luggage. There, at the restaurant was brotherhood at its best. It was heartening to discover that the restaurant was owned jointly by a jovial Indian and a suave yet reserved Pakistani.

I remember very little about the train journey, excepting the two friendly Korean students traveling along with us. We were tired and slept through the night. In the morning before reaching our destination we discovered the beautiful greenery expanding right beyond our window. All the same this train journey was not comparable to the beauteous landscape witnessed from the Glacier Express in Switzerland. I was sure that as this journey unfolds, it too will offer a plethora of unique experiences, not replicable by any other journey.

DUSK APPROACHING AT GRAND CANAL

A HAND PUMP

A FISHERMAN

SIMPLE ARCHITECTURE GRAND BUILDING

A MUSEUM

DOG ON A STROLL

GREEN CORNERS

LOVELY SILHOUETTE

THE MASKED BOY

THE TIP OF GANDOLA
 

When we reached Venice, the weather was divine. We dumped our luggage in our hotel and freshened up to savor the idyllic city. We took a bus to reach the old Venice, the real Venice, with houses peaking over  the water and the romantic Gondolas.


...................................to be continued.