Venice - The Crossroads of the 17th and the 21st Centuries

by Tamuna Tsertsvadze (Georgia)

I didn't expect to find Italy

I arrived in Venice by plane in February. I had to follow waterbuses across the canal every day in order to access the central part of the city where university campuses and tourist attractions were located, while in my residence I spent time with students of every culture and race, even the Japanese, whom I practised my language skills with since I had arrived in Venice for a purpose to deepen my Japanese language knowledge. Living in Venice was also a good opportunity for me to practice my Italian and all other languages I spoke since, in this city, one can meet people of all countries. In Venice, every day was a new adventure. It is a perfect place to let one’s imagination run wild. Sailing through Venetian canals with waterbuses every day, it was quite easy to imagine oneself sail through high seas on a pirate ship whilst listening to some pirate tunes of Pirates of the Caribbean or One Piece soundtracks. Even marching through narrow streets of the city, it felt like I roamed through 17th-century merchant town where all the existent cultures and races met up and exchanged their treasure. Soon, it proved to be even more magical, when people around me started building a medieval atmosphere for real – I attended the carnival, one of the greatest beauties this city holds. It was as if modern people of the 21st century had conspired to travel back in time together and were able to make it – Captain Jack Sparrow, admirals, judges, priests, duchesses, Disney princesses, even those famous plague doctors – everyone marched around together, laughed and had fun, and the next second, pulled out selfie sticks like the true 21st century people and captioned memorable photos as 17th-century citizens. I bought a red fox mask, in honour of my Japanese studies, and transformed into a mysterious kitsune spirit of oriental lands on that magical night, surrounded by quite a lot of cats. The carnival ended, but the wonders of Venice weren’t to cease there. This city held even more surprises than I thought. Even though gondolas were enough of a proof that this town still breathed the air of its magnificent past, Venice soon proved me that my ‘pirate adventures’ across the canals were not just an imagination of a passionate writer. One time, on San Zaccaria waterbus stop, when I was ready to take waterbus Number 2 to return home, I became a witness of the glory of the Golden Age of Piracy: a wooden ship with masts, sails, and a Jolly Roger flag – a pirate galleon – slid through the canal right beside giant modernistic cruise ships, whilst its crew, casual tourists on land transformed into ferocious pirates when aboard, gave whoops and battle cries of true sea-robbers whom everyone thought to be long forgotten. I could hardly believe my eyes and I do not think I’d consider it true if the ship hadn’t remained there for quite some time. From battles of rogues and pirates, one can quickly transfer into a royal abode just by crossing two small bridges – in San Marco Square, stands the doge’s palace. Even from the outside, it shall take one’s breath away, while on the inside, it’s a complete fairy tale. Marching through those corridors one can easily imagine being a daughter of that very doge that ran the place, invited for a dance on a luxurious ball with a pleasant nobleman, while outside pirate ships roam and merchants shout through the streets… You know it’s the 21st century so what you’re imagining can’t possibly be true, and yet, those elevated feelings are definitely real. Beginning from studies and ending with exciting adventures and creative sparks, this city has given me everything. Sometimes I truly regret I did not get to remain here some more, and it is certain I will miss this place when I depart. I am convinced that visiting Venice at least once in life is a must.