Stumble: Venice, Italy

Hello there! Long time, I know. But I think that what with life so busy these days, I'm going to try something new with this blog, rather than allow it to whither and die on the vine. So now, rather than relying on finding the free time to surf and favorite Flickr images to post, I'm going to mix in the fixin's here with links to incredible images or relevant virtual vacation content that I StumbleUpon. Do you Stumble? If not, you should try it. It's wild, crazy fun! And quite popular, here in the States. I can totally see how folks end up addicts. But anyway, for our first adventure, allow me to whisk you away to a foggy night in Venice. Let's Stumble!

Love the Lensbaby action. Love the vantage point and composition. Love Venice.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - patti | dearmissdoll - photo - 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 patti | dearmissdoll

Space hoppers in Venice!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the videographer - bayougirl - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this video beyond what you've shared on Vimeo 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 bayougirl

I think I did about six loads of laundry this weekend. It wasn't this picturesque though. not even vaguely.

Ah, Venice. I miss you.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Jeremy Snell - photo - 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 Jeremy Snell

I could really go for a gondola ride today.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - carol.fletcher - photo - 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 carol.fletcher

H A P P Y H O L i D A Y S - wherever you are. It's a cold and wet Christmas where I am, and not nearly so beautiful as Venice in the rain, or with acqua alta (high water). Lovely photo. Wishing I were in Venice (as most always)!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - alex_david - photo - 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 alex_david

Oh, what I wouldn't give to be able to draw like this.

Taking trip pics is plenty fine and dandy, but what I really crave are personalized, hand illustrated impressions of the places I've been. And since I can't draw to save my life, I have to rely on the impressions of others over that of my own.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - nnie - 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 nnie

This is a typical scene in Venice.

Many visitors do not realize, but Venice's population has a faster rising average age than that of both the whole of Italy and the European Union. And while a lovely city to live in, Venice is a difficult city to call home. Particularly for the elderly.

To live comfortably in Venice, one must be comfortable with walking. A lot. Venice is a maze of stairs and bridges. Canals and boats too, yes. But many parts of the city are foot traffic only, and many old buildings do not have elevators.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - JohnFinn - 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 JohnFinn

I could reflect on this image for hours.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Manuela Morgia - 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 Manuela Morgia

I am really impressed (and taken) with many of the iPhone shot (and processed) pics I've come across on Flickr. Almost makes me want to run out an get an iPhone. Which would mean I'd have to run out and then get these, too.

As to this photo, specifically, aside from being lovely, it makes me want to give Chioggia another chance the next time I'm in Venice. I've only been to Chioggia once, and, unfortunately, had a run-in with some neo-Nazi types (the swastika tattoos, combined with the shaved heads and mean glares gave their politics away, methinks).

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Mauro Bighin - 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: Chioggia, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of Mauro Bighin

A wedding in Venice. What could be more wonderful? And I love this shot. The light, the candid joyful expressions, and the reflections all come together for a beautiful capture. And a fabulous wedding day memory.

Auguri e buona fortuna to the lucky couple!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - calanthabonnissent - 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 calanthabonnissent

And now for something completely different.

Because I already *know* that tomorrow's going to be too busy to post, I'm transporting you this evening to my two favorite European city centers, courtesy of Euromaxx.

Bienvenue à la Place Charles de Gaulle Etoile in Paris and St. Mark's Square in Venice. Bon voyage and buon viaggio!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of Moi!

In all my trips to Venice, I've never gone up to the loggia level in Basilica San Marco to enjoy this bird's eye view of the piazza below. People as pigeons and pigeons as people. What a great take on this classic shot.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Stefano Liboni - 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 Stefano Liboni

Viva Venezia! If I could be anywhere today, it would be Venice.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Wendy Dreaney - 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 Wendy Dreaney

Back on our UNESCO tour, I thought a quick layover in the most serene city on the planet would be nice. It's my all-time favorite place, and wouldn't be surprised if it remains so, despite future travels far and wide. The destination I describe is, of course, the one and only, the original, Venice, Italy.

I intentionally selected an image for our delight from the beautiful body of work by Irene Suchocki. Her work is, in a word, delicious. I believe I first discovered her amazing photography on Etsy, and continue to follow along on Flickr. She's an incredible artist and I wish I had her eye and dreamy post-processing sense/abilities. While I like my own photographs and style just fine, I like hers immensely moreso. Her evocative images stir the soul and are, always, an inspiration.

Read more about the city of Venice and its lagoon here.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - IrenaS - 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 IrenaS

Buongiorno! Back from the most serene city in the world, and will return to my virtual vacationing for Vivaca ... Soon. Once I'm caught up with everything else I've fallen behind on, while I was away. Which is a heap, at the moment.

Location: Venice, Italy ★
Photo courtesy of Yours Truly

What's old is new again. Lovely capture of the Rialto.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - LomoBros - 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 LomoBros

Green. White. Red. It's the Italian flag! So cool. But then, it's a lomo; the cool factor is inherent.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - erase rewind - 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 erase rewind

Yes, I know how it feels and this definitely captures it!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - blue_st - 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 blue_st

Great perspective. I feel like I'm on the vaporetto, too!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - eshadd1111 - 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 eshadd1111