Traveling is, among other things, about expanding your knowledge and abilities. When venturing to a new city, one quick way to accomplish these goals is by attempting to get lost in the city of your choosing, and thus hopefully being able to fully immerse yourself in the culture surrounding you. These were the goals I had set for myself before departing for Venice, but my experience was not what I had anticipated it to be.
Upon our arrival, we quickly found our hostel and were able to check in with ease. Following this, Patrick, Becca, and I decided to grab lunch while we waited for Trayvon to meet up with us. Once he had, we went beyond the view of our hostel and boarded a water bus, which transported us around the island as we attempted to venture further and further from our quickly expanding comfort zones. Yet, try as we might, we were unable to become totally lost in Venetian culture. It seemed that no matter where we turned, we knew the way back to where we had started.
In a way, I feel that our prior experiences in Italy had prepared us for the possibility that we may become lost in a strange city on our own, and gave us the chance to thrive in this type of environment. As we continue our travels, I hope to be able to continue growing both my knowledge of Dante as well as my knowledge of Italy. It is also my sincere hope that all of those who chose to open themselves to travel have both the opportunity and courage to do so.