Venezia

When I was going to have dinner at home yesterday, the TV program about "Venezia" just started. http://www.nhk.or.jp/sekaiisan/card/cardr067.html Some readers must realize what I'm going to write here. Did you watch it? The title of TV program is "The labyrinth city on the water". As you know, it comes from the book written by Prof. J. The TV program explained that topics which he taught us in his class. I reviewed them watching clear pictures in this program. It was an interesting experience.

When I went Venezia about seven years ago, I visited places where was written in his book having the book under my arm. I looked the Moorish carved relief. Sometimes I lost my way. But I enjoyed it. If I didn't lose my way in the labyrinth, it would be meaningless.

Because my friend who had traveled Europe with me had gone to Britain to study English, I traveled Italy by myself. Unexpectedly I was busy during taking a walk. A group of students from the U.S. asked me to a take picture. And a Japanese couple asked me too at Rialto Bridge. In Piazza San Marco, a backpacker from Japan asked me to take a picture. A peddler who was a middle-aged woman and had many pieces of luggage asked me the way to Piazza San Marco. She wore no makeup and shabby clothes. I imagined that she came from rural area in Italy and would sell somehing. We passed each other on a crowded street. Because she hurried on her way and didn't stop walking, I cried her pointing the direction. " Over there!"

I cannot forget the scenery and the atmosphere when I first met Venezia. I got on a wrong water-bus which didn't go through Canal Grande. The small ship pull out to sea and went toward to Piazza San Marco where was the center of Venezia.
When we were in offshore, we saw a Venezia which was like a small jewel in darkness.
The wind was heavy and there was only darkness around us who were tourists. We felt uneasy. But as the bus went forward, the small jewel became bigger and beautiful buildings dramatically appeared. It was difficult to believe its existence for me at that moment.

A illusion city is written in the novel "the Wonderful Adventure of Nils". The city can appear only once in a year. If someone buys something in the city, the city can be a real city. Nils tried to buy something but he cannot. Every time I think about Venezia, I remember this fairy tale. Actually sea –level rise will be serious problem for Venezia. The TV program explained some buildings were leaning to on side by the land subsidence. Venezia might be an illusion city like this fairy tale.

I recommend you visit the labyrinth before it sinks beneath the waves.