We are sitting at the grand canal of Venice. Just ate a delicious pizza and drank a home brewed beer of the same place. We are looking at the beautiful architecture while the gondolas make ripples in the water. The church bells ring in the distance and the seagulls are fighting for the little food they find on the street.
It is our last night in this wonderful city. The city that breathes history and is founded on cultures from afar and close by. The tourists are gone and so is the rush. Tranquility and peace has returned to the city, as did the clearness of the water and the fresh sea air. The prices went down and the lines for museums disappeared. The gondolas are no longer conquering the little canals of the city as they lay covered in blue sheets waiting for the pandemic to end.
We are sitting here, at the grand canal, very conscious of the present. Now and here is where our journey starts, it’s where Marco Polo brought us and the Silk Road made us venture. As travel is restricted it might not be the most logical time but it is a unique one. One we might not experience ever again.
It’s getting dark and the buildings in front of us turn on their lights. The sound of people eating comes from the tiny alleys and less and less boats are sailing the canals. The world turns dark and the city turns silent once again. The few tourists that did venture to the city search desperately for food while the Venetians return home to their families. Now the streets belong to the runners who finally are able to jog through alleys and over bridges in their hometown.
Wow! I’m sure our trip East couldn’t start any better. Until now we have ventured south, now it’s time to follow the footsteps of an adventurer and the many merchants migrating along the Silk Road. The advanture just started ♥️
Love, Milene & Yuri
