CURRENTS Next Issue Mar 2018 _Currents copy | Page 13

Currents
March 2018
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continent offers dramatic venues for declaring fidelity.
Soaring mountains (the Alps, Andes, Himalaya) com-
pete with seashores, and waterfalls (Brazil’s Iguassu,
New York’s Niagara, or South Africa’s Victoria). And
consider The Grand Canyon, or Canada’s Lake
Louise, or Australia’s Ayer’s Rock or Great Barrier
Reef, or beaches (Bali, the Italian or French Riv-
ieras). Earth’s beauty is diverse.
Cities, Glitz: Vibrant locales (Hong Kong, New
York City, Las Vegas) attract many; others prefer
quiet elegance (Buenos Aires, Vienna), or historical
centers (Rome, Berlin, Dubrovnik), or art/architec-
tural gems (Florence, Amsterdam, Riga).
Where then, do scenic beauty, history, art, archi-
tecture, and glamour, coalesce? In La Serenissima -
Venice. Founded in 421 A.D., this pastiche of 117
islands grew to become The Queen of the Adriatic
during the Middle Ages
Accolades to Venice’s ethereal allure are
deserved. The Piazza San Marco, fronting the
eponymous St. Mark’s cathedral (1084 A.D.) is
deemed “the world’s drawing room.” Captivating
vistas prevail, whether from a
gondola, from an amble amidst
narrow passageways, or as a
spectator cheering a race over
sparking seas.
Day trippers descend upon
Venice in summer. The Acqua
Alta (high water) floods from late
autumn to early spring. Plan
accordingly. Milan is 2 ½ hours
away by train ($50 USD). Hotels
in nearby Mestre are less costly
and can access Venice by
vaporetto (water taxi).
Venice defines the essence of
romance - fragile and ineffable
beauty amid nature’s forces. But
while the ravages of time and tide
assault Venice, Love remains
immutable. Start packing. The
world is waiting to meet you.
We Support Our Troops
[The text represents the actual
travel experience of the writer.]
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