Venice

Hello Universe! It's Kodi here to share the most recent adventures from the journey that is my life. Being back at my computer and writing again has made me realize just how long my hiatus from blogging has been. As per usual there are a million excuses I could tell you, but why waste our time with that, right? Instead, why not recount the tale of an absolutely incredible and positivity-boosting trip to Venice, Italy.

Just before going to Venice I was fortunate enough to get some good quality mom and sunshine time back home. I almost felt like I was getting a large jolt of my old self back. It left me determined to stay out of any anxiety or stress that the future may bring and I was beginning once again to find joy in the present. Just before leaving for Venice I popped into Barnes & Noble and picked up (on my mother's wonderful recommendation) a copy of Jen Sincero's You Are A Badass. Needless to say it has put some permanent rose-colored glasses over my eyes and is completely turning my world around. But I've now gone on a slight tangent and will save the rest of my praise for a review at a future time. 

Before going into my overwhelming love for Venice I should mention a quick disclaimer. You may or may not know that I have a great affinity for the ocean. I have always felt utterly at peace and at home near the sea. So when I go on to tell you why I find Venice to be the most breathtaking place I have seen on Earth, take it with a grain of salt as I am biased towards any city with that much water. 

I spent a total of three full days in Venice and was completely spellbound by every moment. My dad and I fell into the pattern of just walking out of the hotel in the morning and taking turns who would decide which road to take next. After a good few hours of wandering into little squares and shops tucked away in the canals we would head back to the hotel. I would order some tea, whip out You Are A Badass and open the window to the canal listening to the lapping water and indistinguishable chatter below. Then, before joining the rest of the family for some of the greatest food in the entire world at dinner, we would walk down to St. Mark's Square and take in the sun, music, tourists and wine, reveling in just being fortunate enough to exist in such a place for however long we could. For the entire trip, even now looking back on it, I felt as though I was just gliding through a dream. It was one of those experiences that I am eternally grateful for and will forever keep as an imprint on my heart. 

It was the aimless wandering and exploring that was the most intoxicating to me. The feeling of being lost and not caring can be quite liberating, especially in such a unique city. The uniqueness is what makes Venice so captivating. There is no where else in the entire world like it. A city built on a glimmering lagoon filled with music, art, incredible architecture and a history like none other. Then again, there are many cities around the globe that are aesthetically remarkable, but Venice maintains this wonderful atmosphere and love of life. It lives everywhere from the smallest hidden away corner cafe to the tourist-jammed restaurants in the square. An air of peacefulness and indulgence breezes through the canals at every time of day. Every now and then peace and a bit of indulgence is just what everyone needs. It was certainly what I needed and I could not be more grateful to have had the adventure. 

     

P.S. If you haven't seen the film Dangerous Beauty about the life of the remarkable Veronica Franco, I would highly recommend it. It provides great insights to the choices available to women in Venice during the late 1500s. Let me know what you think!