by Nicole Gwynn

Created on: November 07, 2009

After twelve long and excruciating hours, I exited the train as swiftly as my lethargic legs would allow. Having left the train station in Vienna, Austria at 8:30 p.m. the previous night, it was now almost 9:00 in the morning, and I had finally arrived! My whole life has been filled with elegant dreams of someday seeing this unique and beautiful city known as Venice, Italy. Taking into consideration that I have read and studied many travel books and Internet sites about Venice, I felt that I had a pretty good idea of what was waiting for me just on the other side of the train station doors.

As I drew nearer and nearer to the doors I realized that not only was Venice awaiting my arrival but it was calling out to me like a siren call. I rushed quickly to answer the call and as I finally passed through the doors, my deep brown eyes were immediately drawn to the light blue hue of the Grand Canal that flowed with ease only a few short feet in front of me. As I gazed unbelievingly at the miraculously colored water, the sloshing of the canal seemed to whisper only to me, "you're finally here....wake up and enjoy it!" Precisely at that moment I pulled my eyes with great force away from the canal and yanked them a little to the left, bringing into view the 'Ponte Scalzi' (Scalzi Bridge). My eyes followed the arch of the beautiful stone bridge to the other side of the canal with my legs - slightly less lethargic due to renewed excitement - following not far behind. Halfway across, I slowed to a halt in order to soak in the vision of the Grand Canal from a higher view. Looking to one side I could see every ripple and drop of the salty blue water gushing towards me as it gently patted the sides of the centuries old palaces that lined the edges just before it passed under the bridge to make it's escape from my deep stare. Looking to the opposite side I could see the same drops and ripples, this time gushing away, off to find the Adriatic sea.

Upon crossing the bridge, the entire world of Venice was spanned out in front of me, eager to show me the sights. My original plan had been to stroll along the edge of the Grand Canal easing my way towards some of the city's main sights. However, I soon realized that there is not always a footpath right along the side. My initial irritation at that fact was soon overcome by gratitude as I strolled through the narrow alleyways and saw what I'd have missed had I remained along the side. Hundreds of tiny alley ways weaved together

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