In the winter of 1984 my fiance and I took a day trip from my parent's house in Italy to Venice. We took with us a 135 format camera to take pictures. From the balcony of St. Mark's Basilica you can overlook the Doge's Palace, Saint Mark's Square and the Grand Canal.
When we went back last week we took with us scans of those old pictures so that we could recreate those old snapshots.
Both days were rather overcast but the Spring day we had this time was far warmer than it was back that December. Also, this time it cost us four euros each to ascend the rather steep steps up to the top of the overlook. Back then the euro as a currency was unimaginable and the overlook was free for whoever could make the climb.
Another difference was that Saint Mark's Square was considerably more crowded with people but had far fewer pigeons. Venice had recently banned feeding the pigeons because they were a health hazard. The few pigeons we did see were still among some of the fattest pigeons in the world.
The biggest contrast was how little Venice had changed but how much we had. Venice which is nearly a thousand years old wears its age like faded royalty. We on the other hand had grown grayer and thicker in the intervening quarter century. We are also older, wiser, and slower, but still enchanted by this city that time seems to have forgotten.
And if you want to see more of Venice, here are the pictures.
6 comments:
I think you two are holding up pretty well. :)
Awww...I'd say the two of you haven't changed much at all.
You both are so sweet, but the camera doesn't lie. Much.
Nice perspective on the passage of time. But my those were some tight pants you had on back in 1984.
Looks like you lean a little more to the left these days too. And I always thought that was just a metaphor.
"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered."--Nelson Mandela.
This was a cool project for you guys.
Now that you have these pictures, it's time to create your Greatest Hits album, just like some another band I could name.
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