By David Lee

Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, my favorite in Venice, circa 1998

Before Colombia there was Italy. And before Medellin, there was Venice.

I’ll never forget the first time I walked out of the train station, right onto the Grand Canal. It was love at first site.

It was July 1998, the height of Summer tourist season, and I was on my first backpacking trip.

Part of my enamor for Venice was academic, the result of studying Italian Renaissance art and architecture for several years before in college. The rest was the thrill of discovery which drives every traveler.

Gondolas bobbed in the water, while larger motorized boats ferried passengers for a more budget-friendly fare. Actually, I didn’t even pay for these water buses at first,... More...