venice, where the canals are quieter than my thoughts

i woke up to the sound of distant bells and a sudden drop in temperature. it’s 11.67 out here, which is exactly what i needed after a 14-hour flight. the city’s not even trying to be cozy, it’s just here, like a wet blanket over the streets. got here with a kampung bag, a flask that’s seen better days, and a plan to pretend i’m not lost in a place that’s practically a maze.

so i just checked and it’s 11.67-feels like 11, which is perfect for sweating through layers. no surprises, just a constant drizzle that makes the cobblestones squishy. i don’t care. i’m here to document the chaos, not the comfort.

someone told me that the best gelato is hidden in a place called ‘luca’s’ and you have to bribe the vendor with a bottle of wine. another local said the old church is haunted, but i’m not sure if that’s a rumor or just a way to keep tourists moving.

if you get bored, the lesser-known corners of venice are just a short drive away. i heard that the street performers here are actually ex-pro musicians who forgot how to play. maybe. or maybe they’re just good at pretending. either way, the vibe is weirdly authentic.

i also stopped by a café where the barista claimed to have invented espresso. i don’t know if that’s true, but the coffee tasted like it was 10 years old. according to someone i overheard at the train station, you can find better deals at a place called ‘vini’s quarter’. true? maybe. probably not. but i spent an hour there anyway, because chaos is free. if you’re not a fan of strangers telling you stories about the city, just ask the old man near the bridge. he’s probably lying. or maybe he’s not. who knows?

here’s the map to my madness.

try to avoid the areas with too many tourists. they’re louder than a toddler on espresso. for real reviews, check tripadvisor or yelp. i heard that ‘vini’s quarter’ is a must-see, but also a trap if you’re not careful. the local boys warned me about the cobblestones at night. they said something about ghosts. i laughed. ghosts are for stories, not for my legs.

i tried a food truck that looked like it belonged in a mad scientist’s lab. the owner said it was ‘authentic
italian street food". i don’t know what that means. but i ate it. it tasted like regret and questionable spices. maybe i should’ve stuck to the gelato. or maybe not. who knows?

the neighbors? well, they’re either in the process of building a garden or arguing about something no one cares about. i heard that once. maybe. probably. i didn’t stay long. there’s a buskers’ corner near the market. they make music that sounds like it was recorded in a basement. or maybe that’s just how i hear everything. localboards might have more accurate info. or maybe not. i’m not here to be accurate. i’m here to be weird.

i’ll leave you with this: if you check the weather again, it might say 11.67. or it might not. either way, it’s still here. and that’s enough.

p.s. if you’re a coffee snob, don’t come here. unless you like caffeine that tastes like regret.

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