A penetrating melody of high beeps startled me from a deep sleep in the hot Venice air. Even at seven in the morning, the all too familiar beads of sweat were taunting at my temples as I opened my eyes to the bright sunlight streaming in through my ever-so-petite hotel room’s window. First things first, an arctic shower was at the top of the day’s menu, a welcome morning jolt for the unavoidable skyrocketing temperatures: ladies and gentlemen it has officially reached 105 degrees with a healthy helping of humidity.
As I step into the stream of water from my shower, the cold sends a shiver down my spine, startling my senses and sending my mind reeling on the previous day’s events. Like any local Venetian, my day started and ended with copious amounts of walking. Walking along canals, through crowded allies, over bridges, and through famous squares brimming with sweaty tourists internally wishing the swimsuit optional beach rule applied to city streets, as they look enviously at the locals fully clad in pants hardly breaking a sweat. As an American, heat was first on my mind. However, once I embraced my sweaty stance, the grace and mystery of Venice revealed itself with each step, ever tempting me to continue on down the next narrow passage. Brilliantly colored flowers poured out of beautifully old and occasionally dilapidated windows, gondolas ready for eager passengers floated beneath arching bridges, passer-bys eagerly ate their chocolate gelato as it melted messily down their sticky arms, and stunning basilicas stood their ground tall a proud despite the famously sinking ground that the builders of Venice so curiously chose.
The bustle of Venice is unique from any other city I have frequented. Cars, taxis, even bicycles are absent. The only means of transportation are by boat or foot. However don’t be fooled, even in the seemingly lazy heat, tourists and locals alike stride with purpose, whether in search of the next breathtaking sight, or to fulfill a daily errand. This can be seen in rich context with a stroll through the open air fish market snuggly situated next to the vast produce market. Here, one can find anything from an octopus to a full body (and thankfully plucked) chicken. But be warned, this bustling marketplace full of curious smells and tantalizing colors is here for buyers. As young amused tourists look on at the array of sea creatures presented upon a cart of ice, asking questions in English about the type of fish and where it was caught, while their eager friends lean in to touch the swordfish head, a sharp comment from the vendor in Italian offers a curt reminder that this guy means business. Slightly agitated, he retakes his role adjusting his fish, and the startled teens hurry past.
Finally cooled, for what seems to be the first time in days, I am hurtled back to reality as I turn off the shower knob and step out of the shower, already feeling the blast of a new days heat. As I dry off, I think absently to myself what this new Vinetian day will have in store for me.
Very nice structure to your writing here!
ReplyDeleteBeginning and ending with the cold shower makes for lovely symmetry, and fits the experience.
The reference to the 105 degrees while you are still in the shower could use a little polishing: Mention that happened yesterday, or is forecast for today. But overall, I really like the way you captured the opening scene.
Your scene in the Rialto mercado is perfect. Identify the market, and perhaps describe its breadth, to add depth. I met that grouchy seafood seller.
Be careful of generalization, Kelsey, as seen in your second paragraph. The flowers, the gondolas, the sticky gelato all are colorful imagery, but stereotypical. The basilica reference doesn't fit in a journalistic piece, though, as buildings don't chose to stand - people chose to build them. Also, as you know, Venice was built on wooden pillars in marshland, now petrified, not really "ground."
That's the difference between literary and journalistic writing. Both benefit from your lovely prose, but the journalism requires accuracy and fresh detail to retain reader interest.