Venice and San Jimmy-G

Outside this little Venetian Internet cafe, I can hear the bells tolling as local churches attempt to attract the faithful to Mass. Presumably, they hope to attract some tourists – and their money, every church here sells candles and other items, and some even have gift shops – since the only Venetians left here seem to be the ones who support the tourist industry, and they’re always busy.

Today, our second day here and our first full one, we hope to visit some of the places less-traveled, if there are such places in a centuries-old city that was once the greatest in Europe. It’s beautiful here but the sensation that this is a gilded amusement park instead of a functioning, productive city is unmistakeable.

It’s a real contrast from Tuscany, the region we just left, where we stayed in a villa just a few kilometres from San Gimignano. The name of this place has been so difficult for my travel partner that I suggested she call it San Jimmy-G or just San G, which I think is better than San Gimme-Gango (if I knew how to write pronunciation symbols, I would tell you how it’s properly pronounced, or just ask an Italian).

The villa we stayed at, and in fact the entire region we were in, is dedicated to the production of Chianti. Where there aren’t vineyards, there are olive groves. The little space that goes unused is a dense brush, full of thorns and ivy (I tried to go for a cross-country hike, bad idea).

It’s a farming region that is not unlike the Niagara Region, but much more hilly and more picturesque. The view from our villa, and many other points in the region, naturally draws your eye to San Gimagnano, situated on the highest hill around. For centuries the view of this medieval town was a comfort to travelers, our travel book tells us, who were weary from their long trek to Rome.

Time is almost up now – less than 1 minute left! – so time to go. More to come soon, hopefully, if not, then pictures when we return.

[tags]Italy, travel[/tags]