Memories of Venice

I've been lucky to have travelled a lot in my life; in childhood on many family holidays, visiting relatives abroad, as part of my degree, travelling with jobs, backpacking, island hopping, visiting exotic locations and living in two foreign countries. I've experienced so much, lived amongst different cultures & religions and have seen many breathtaking views. Having a child and wanting to show my son the world has made that desire to travel even stronger. 

One of my favourite summer holiday memories is our trip to Venice, one of the most stunning cities in the world. I've been three times and its beauty and charm will never fail to impress me. I am in love with the city and every time I return I discover something new. It was wonderful to take my little boy there when he was just eleven months old. 

The anticipation and excitement of reaching a new location, especially when arriving by boat, and seeing the sun's rays glistening in the water, the terracotta roofs of Venice shining from above, church spires popping up over the low-rise skyline, gondolas sailing along the Grand Canal with stunning architecture in every direction, is something else entirely! 

There are so many memories I have of the trip. Strolling around looking at the beauty of Venice with baby in his carrier, walking over the canals, admiring the famous sights including the Bridge of Sighs, appreciating the flashes of vibrant colours in the buildings and being in complete awe of our surroundings. I recall walking through the St Mark's Square and having that surreal dream-like feeling of being in an oil painting. 

I remember the hustle and bustle and the excitement of being amongst the tourists in such a mesmerizing city, with breathtaking art all around. I appreciated going away from the crowds, exploring down narrow side streets, not knowing where we'd end up only to discover a gem of a square, with a church and old fountain in the middle and realising we were the only people there. I remember welcoming that solitude and finding even more beauty when I didn't think it was possible. 

I remember walking up the steps of St Mark's campanile, getting into the lift and feeling that we had been in there for ages as it transported us high above the ground. The view from the top, overlooking houses, churches, the surrounding islands and miles out to sea was breathtaking.  I remember a group of Japanese tourists coming up to us and taking it in turns to take their photos next to baby because he was so smiley and cute! 

As soon as baby was asleep, I remember sitting down beside the canal, having an aperitif and watching the world go back. And the food, oh the food! The delicious pasta and pizza. I remember exploring different cafes and restaurants, tasting delicious pasta and pizza then finishing with real Italian ice-cream and feeling like we were in a movie set. I also recall thinking if I lived in Venice I'd get very fat!

I remember our beautiful boat trip to the beach at the Lido, baby's legs dipped into the Mediterranean for the first time and the shock on his little face when they were. I remember relaxing in the sand and baby attempting to eat it! I remember welcoming the calm of being at the seaside with the heat of the Mediterranean sun shinning brightly on our faces! 

And most of all I remember my little boy's face on the boat trip back into central Venice. We sat at the front of the boat, the waves splashing beneath us, the magnificent skyline of Venice in front of us. My little boy leaning over the edge and being in awe of his surroundings. And as the sun went down and the sky changed colour his little face reflected the pink shades of an amazing sunset. I'll never forget those moments and the photo above captures that moment perfectly, his expression saying it all. 

Living by the seaside in Brighton we are fortunate to spend many days by the coast but you can't compare it to the beauty of the Mediterranean beaches. My son will be three this summer and he's at the age where any trip is a big adventure. I would like to take him back to the Mediterranean to experience those beautiful sunsets, have a proper swim in a warm sea, build sand castles and enjoy the sand between our toes (since there isn't any in Brighton). 

The last year hasn't been the best and I haven't been on a proper holiday in nearly two years and really do need it. I would love to stay in a Mediterranean villa in either Mallorca, Menorca or Cyprus, all destinations I haven't visited. For me, somewhere near to the sea, with lots of sun, delicious food and relaxation would make the perfect holiday. 

This is my entry into the James Villas Summer Love Photography & Writing Competition.

Linking up with #citytripping, #Brilliantblogposts, Welcome to the Weekend, #thelist, Country Kids, Photo Friday