First of all, I’ve never been to Venice. I really had no idea what to expect.
All I can say from my first day here… Wow! It really is something.
![](https://russellrhodesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/img_5462-768x1024.jpg)
There are no cars here. No scooters. No bicycles. The only thing I have seen with wheels… baby strollers. They have a tough time making it too.
We got to our train station and took a water taxi to our hotel. I could only think to belt out “That’s Amore.” (Maybe a gondolier is my next career?)
Venice is a series of islands joined by bridges. Lots of bridges. 120 islands. 177 canals. 400 bridges.
![](https://russellrhodesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/img_5405-768x1024.jpg)
As we walked last night, the tide came up through the drains. It didn’t wash over, it came up and through the manholes. Most avoided it. Some ran into it. Ankle deep.
![](https://russellrhodesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/img_5393-768x1024.jpg)
That thing about Venice sinking is apparently not true. Our guide says Venice isn’t sinking… the water is just getting higher. I guess that’s six of one, half a dozen of the other.
At any rate, they are doing what they can. Building dams to hold back the water.
Churches, history, everywhere. It’s a little like my hometown of Paris, Texas. A church on every corner. Here, they are historic. Very, very historic.
About being a gondolier. Not happening. That’s a hard job. Ours has been doing it forty years. His dad did it. He’s passing it on to his son.
Gondoliers have to duck under bridges. I think you only make that mistake once.
![](https://russellrhodesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/img_5490-768x1024.jpg)
Venice is a unique and wonderful place. Probably not an easy place to live. We saw the busses that get workers back to the mainland. The busses are boats.
A few more days here. More art to see. More churches. More pasta. More pizza. I swear that gondola listed when I stepped on.
Sounds splendid!
Loving your travel stories. Enjoy this break from the news.