Dear Venice

The allure of Venice played a significant role in making this trip happen. Venice is a small island city in northern Italy and a World Heritage City. It comprises 118 small islands. The city’s unique geography, resembling the shape of a fish, along with its distinctive way of life, has always fascinated me.

Venice is a city without cars or motorcycles. To commute between the mainland and the islands or from one island to another, motorboats known as water taxis are used. The hotel we stayed in wasn't on the main island but on a separate small island, requiring us to take a water taxi to get to the main island. We could also see pleasure boats cruising around, allowing people to enjoy the beauty of the islands from the sea. Within the city, traditional gondolas are the primary mode of transportation.

Venice is often called the "City of Canals" and the "City of Bridges." The city's layout includes small canals dug for internal transportation, much like streets in other towns. Gondolas navigate these canals, allowing people to travel from one place to another. What's particularly charming are the small, poetic bridges that cross these canals. These bridges are a defining feature of Venice, contributing to its unique charm. There are over four hundred bridges in Venice.

The Bridge of Sigh

Night View of the Bridge of Sighs

One of the most intriguing bridges is the Bridge of Sighs. You might have seen it in movies. Unlike typical bridges built for pedestrian traffic, the Bridge of Sighs connects two buildings: Doge’s Palace and a prison. The bridge is covered, with small, ornate windows. It was used to transfer prisoners from the interrogation room in Doge’s Palace to the prison. As prisoners crossed the bridge, they would get their last view of Venice through the small windows, hence the name "Bridge of Sighs."

Venice is also known as the "City of Masks" due to its famous Carnival, where people wear elaborate masks. These masks have become a trademark of Venice, and you can find various beautiful masks for sale throughout the city.

The poetic beauty of Venice makes it a romantic city, attracting countless visitors. The city welcomes around 60,000 visitors daily and between 20 to 30 million annually. However, the influx of tourists has taken a toll on Venice's beauty, leading UNESCO to warn that the city is in danger. Despite these warnings, tourists continue to flock to Venice.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism temporarily halted, allowing Venice to recover some of its beauty. Seeing photos of a less crowded Venice during this period made me happy, though I also felt a sense of guilt as a traveller contributing to the city's burden. The pandemic made me ponder whether, one day, we might only be able to experience the beauty we love through books and photographs. It’s a time of reflection, balancing admiration with the impact of our presence.

Some forms of love are fleeting, and while we may not own them, we cherish them deeply. Our dreams of loving and preserving Venice may not always align with the reality of its fragility. Despite our good intentions, our affection for Venice has sometimes been overbearing. In quiet humility, I offer my apologies for the unintended consequences of our admiration.

Please make sure that our environment is not destroyed by our actions.

-May Thoon Khit-