Travelogue Venice

[07th to 13th September 2014] I took a break for a few days in Venice, so there's no route on the map this time. From above, the city looks a bit like a fish, right? That's been manifested in the local ferry company's logo. And here's a nice satellite pic for reference.

Read More [...]

The Tide is High - St. Mark's Square Under Water

Ever heard of Acqua Alta? Well, the Venetian Lagoon has tides, too, and sometimes its tidal range is large enough to waterlog parts of the city. Acqua Alta, which literally translated means "high water" normally appears in Winter, especially at full moon or new moon.
But to a slighter extent it can also happen in fall or early spring. Coincidentally I happened to be around in one of those cases: On my third day in Venice most of St. Mark's Square was being flooded around noon. Time for some photos!

Read More [...]

Poveglia - Nightfall on a Ghost Island

There's a remotely located island in the Lagoon of Venice that used to be the site of quite some peculiar things: In the 18th century victims of the plague were being buried here, from 1922 onwards there was a sanatory for mentally ill people. Since it has been closed down in 1968, the building continues to crumble down and and it's being taken back by nature, just like the rest of the island.

Poveglia certainly is one of the more obscure travel destinations. It can't be reached by ferry and thanks to the island's history many an internet hero writes about tortured souls allegedly haunting the place.

Read More [...]

The Historical Regatta of Venice

 Today: Lots of boats.

Every year on September's first Sunday there's the so called regata storica taking place in Venice.
It's one of the biggest annual events in the city and it has a long tradition: Even the very word "regatta" has its origin here.

Read More [...]

Italy Travelogue: Lombardy & Veneto

Day 25-31: From the pass down to Lake Como, then crossing the plains over to Venice.

Read More [...]

The Charm of Italy's Winding Alleys (Video & Photos)

It's a sunny day at the beginning of September when I'm cycling along the shore of Lake Como. Around here it's good use to have an extended midday break after lunch: From 1am onwards every work comes to an halt for at least two hours. People relax, bathe in the sun or just take a nap at home. Everything's calming down.
It's this midday break period when I pass Brienno, a small village located directly on the shore and home to only around 400 inhabitants. This place still has some kind of comfy, pre-industrial charme since it's been built on a steep slope and the traffic-heavy main road avoids it completely by tunneling around. I decide to lean my bicycle on a wall and explore this pleasantly chilly maze of winding, sunprotected alleys that have lanterns shining even at daytime. Around just a few corners you are in a small world of its own...


Fullscreen recommended. Wide-angle is distorting but brings out the intricate architecture quite well.
Edit (September 2015): Youtube just muted the video, because it had some soothing Japanese piano music in it. Should replace it with a version that at least keeps the sound of my steps and the waves.

Above the main road there's even more to discover. I took a few pictures...

Read More [...]

Travelogue: Swiss Alps

Day 20 to 24: The Alps from Lake Constance up to the Italian border. This time with a bit less text and a bit more slideshow, at least for the second half. I passed a small piece of Austria and also Liechtenstein at the beginning, but most of the rest is Switzerland.

Read More [...]