It looks so steep from this angle! Love the vantage point and the blur as people flurry up and down the stairs. And nice light, for an enchanting night. Oh! And I almost forgot. Happy New Year's Eve, by the way. Wish I were celebrating tonight, in Venice.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - blzmrcc - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of blzmrcc

What a futuristic view, eh? Can you believe that this is Venice? A new Venice, of sorts. This is Calatrava's Ponte della Constituzione, the newest and only the fourth bridge to span the Grand Canal. I have been looking at many images of this new bridge on Flickr, and can't wait to see it for myself this spring. Over the next few days, I will post for you some of the most moving photos of this modern Venetian treasure. Complimenti to this photographer and all subsequent for being among the first to capture such a moving image of this awe-inspiring and futuristic bridge. Bravo!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - flaviogallinaro - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of flaviogallinaro

This photo wonderfully captures the truth about Venice - no matter the weather, it's a wonderful and wondrous place to be. Rain or shine.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - breakawayguy - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of breakawayguy

Happy Holidays! It's been a blur, and as a consequence I've gotten dreadfully behind in my daily photo hunting and musing. I hope you can forgive me. Normally I would go back and select images for the days I've missed, but I'm still sapped for energy. So let's just see if I can't get back on track for today, and moving forward. In the meantime, cheers and best wishes for the close of 2008 and the start of 2009. Cheers and happy travels! Whether out there, or right here.

There are few places in the dark of night more charming and cozy (and safe) than Venice. Wandering its streets after hours in the shuttered silence is, in a word, fantastico.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Adönis - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of Adönis

What a great gondola shot. Those two together are particularly beautiful.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - plantlife2008 - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of plantlife2008

Beautiful!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the painter - Ernest Descals - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of Ernest Descals

Remember the Smurfs? I loved that cartoon, as a kid. As for this picture, I love all the blue; the people's blue outfits, the Smurf (of course), and the clear blue sky.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - phanephotog - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: New York City ★
Photo courtesy of phanephotog

A definite contender for "places I'd like to be, right now."

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - photoverulam - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Lake Garda, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of photoverulam

Ah, Verona. I've been, but not up for the view from the arena. Must do!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - mattwmorgan - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Verona, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of mattwmorgan

I wish we had a wonderful and well-traveled network of trains the way Europe does. What fools we were not to preserve and expand upon the once mighty railroad and light rail system we'd built up. Train travel is one of the aspects of exploring Europe that I most enjoy. This picture brings back fond memories and inspires future trips!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - wetbaloney - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Verona, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of wetbaloney

Now that is one snazzy looking Smart Car.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Sbrock22 - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Verona, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of Sbrock22

Further proof that film still rocks. Paris, too.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - tootafunk - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of tootafunk

Most any city during the winter holidays seems like it'd be decked out gorgeous, but Paris seems that it would be especially so. I've never been in December, but it's definitely on my list of things to do. New Year's Eve sounds fun, too! And speaking of decked out gorgeous, how beautiful are these Holga shots? Incredible. Film is still unbeatable in many respects (particularly where mood is concerned), as these delicious images dreamily demonstrate.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - DonkeyShot - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of DonkeyShot

I hope to get to Dubrovnik again, one of these years. It is so compact and intensely charming. I just loved it. And it's so close to other wonderful day-tripping sites like the island of Korcula, the seaside town of Cavtat, and the city and Bay of Kotor in neighboring Montenegro. I wasn't expecting to be as smitten with Croatia and the surrounding area as I was. It's a wonderful corner of the world with a rich and riveting history. Just delightful.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographers - Anselmo Lastra, ljgunn, sethfromsomewhere - if they are so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia ★
Photos (top to bottom) courtesy of Anselmo Lastra, ljgunn, sethfromsomewhere

It's so wonderful to pick a place and see it instantly through the eyes of many. I've never been to Varenna, but in seeing it through the lenses of these four photographers, I now feel that I have a real sense of the place. And a burning desire to go!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographers - andrea.gabo, gaellesabben, cheeky-preets, Tania Ho - if they are so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Varenna, Italy ★
Photos (top to bottom) courtesy of andrea.gabo, gaellesabben, cheeky-preets, Tania Ho

Tapas, anyone? Wish I could teleport to one of these Barcelona tapas spots this afternoon, for lunch. I have a strong craving for patatas bravas right now.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographers - maartje, unicorns are magical, mickle229 - if they are so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Barcelona, Spain ★
Photos (top to bottom) courtesy of maartje, unicorns are magical, mickle229

Freaking hilarious.

In addition to Flickr, there's some beautiful travel-inspired imagery to be enjoyed on YouTube. I'll still draw mainly from Flickr, but every now and then things like this are a treat to both the eyes and ears of the traveler in all of us. Buon viaggio a Venezia!

In case you missed this yesterday.

In honor of the worst flood in Venice in over 20 years, which just happened on the first of December. So crazy! As is this (crazy cool, that is). These two photos artfully illustrate the insanity of the uncharacteristically high acqua alta.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographers - mesebar2, sfrederick1 - if they are so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photos (top to bottom) courtesy of mesebar2, sfrederick1

Today I'm pimping my own images, because I had too much fun making this little "video" - I use quotes here because really it's just a slideshow set to music - with Picasa 3. You gotta love The Google, and therefore, Picasa too. For a free image-editing program, Picasa pretty well rocks. In my book. Download it for yourself and have a little fun with your own photos. It's 100% gratis!

Your comments on this "video" are welcome, and encouraged! The photos you see here are mostly from my last trip to Venice in the fall of 2005. Seems like a million years ago now. Far too long. Can't wait to rectify that next year.

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Music: "Italia" by Chris Botti
Video courtesy of risamay

Well, I guess if Barack can [bring jobs to the United States] then Sarkozy can [bring jobs to Europe], too. We can only hope!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Viinz - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of Viinz