Venice

Venice is mysterious because you can't see the island from the port. Only when you get on a boat, after a couple of minutes, the beauty of Venice starts getting revealed in front of your eyes. Canal Grande is wide and gentle. Both shores include the most classic views of Venice. I didn't want to blink my eyes for a single second. The colors of the building, all sorts of wharfs, and well-structured bridges were all so alluring to me. 

We got off at Piazza San Marco. Countless seagulls and pigeons were soaring in the sky, or greedily searching for food in people's hand. The square was bustling and crowded. We walked into a random alley and just followed the direction we wanted. The roads are intricate and full of little shops and restaurants. Standing on a small bridge, through the narrow space in between buildings, I saw the San Marco Tower far away. Each bridge had an amazing but different view. 

A gondola took us shuttling in between lanes and Canal Grande. The waterway was so cramped that two gondolas passing each other at the same time could be a little tricky. There used to be almost ten thousand gondolas in Venice during the 17th and 18th century. Now there are only about four hundred left. Propelling a gondola requires skill. It is challenging for the boatman to control the balance by using only one stroke. Our boatman was brilliant, and he rowed the boat smoothly and steadily. Every boatman was wearing the black and white striped shirt. Every frame of this ride was as gorgeous as a well-composed painting. 

Venice was stunning, and I was drowning in this intoxicating Italian charm. May Venice's beauty be eternal.