I thought la
st week of June would be the end of my time in Italy, but I was wrong! As a class, we briefly visited Venice a couple weeks ago to see the Biennale. It was an amazing experience; however, we were only there for a day and a half, and I was not able to experience much of Venice. Because of this, my parents decided to help me extend my trip and meet me in Venice! This way, I was able to relax after finals, have fun, and share Italy with my family!
While studying in Rome, I grew a lot and learned how to handle obstacles in a foreign country on my own. This came in hand
y when I left Rome. It was stressful and very difficult, but I was able to find a way to the train station when my ride fell through, navigate 4 different forms of transportation alone with a month’s worth of luggage, and found my way around Venice alone when my parents had flight issues and arrived a day late.
While in Venice, I taught my parents the small amount of Italian I picked up, showed them my new favorite dishes, and taught them everything about the culture I have learned throughout my time studying abroad. We went to multiple different art museums, and I saw a painting by Gustav Klimt, who is one of my favorite artists of all time. We also visited the islands Lido, Murano, and Burano.
Both are very touristy cities, however Venice is very different from Rome in a few ways. The main difference is that Venice is made up of many different canals and islands, but Rome is an urban city. Because of this, life is a little slower in Venice. Rome has been Italian since its creation, whereas Venice did not become a part of Italy until 1866. The architecture and art in Venice is much more diverse because it has changed cultural hands multiple times unlike Rome.
I absolutely fell in love with Venice, and I am very grateful to have a family that has a passion for traveling. Exploring and studying in Italy has been one of, if not the greatest experiences of my life. I have grown so much and learned so much about myself, art, and adapting to a different culture. I have previously shared film and digital photos in Rome, so I will do the same for Venice. I hope anyone who reads this enjoys the photos and is as fascinated by Venice as I am!