My study abroad journey through Italy began in Venice. It was such a beautiful city, and I was awed by the differences from Alabama. The first thing that I noticed about the city was that there are no cars anywhere. Since it is made up of over one hundred islands, the famous canals are used by boats in the same way cars are used in other cities; even the ambulances are boats instead of another vehicle. The city also shocked me by how walkable it was. I knew that most of Europe used public transport, but I was still shocked that you could walk across the entirety of the city without any difficulty. The number of steps I was getting in a day was intense, but it was worth it to see the beauty of the city.
The beauty of Venice was also something that I will remember forever. It was so different to anything I had seen before, with so much of its charm in the age of the buildings. I had never seen buildings so old before, so when I first saw the city from the plane, I just stared in amazement. It was even more beautiful than what I have seen in movies. The area was so rich with history, including St. Mark’s Basilica, the first Jewish ghetto in the world, and the Doge’s palace. They were all so beautiful, in very different ways, and learning about the history of these landmarks made me appreciate the city for so much more than its picturesque canals and gondola rides.