A Woman Photographer At Night In Venice (1)
A Woman Photographer At Night In Venice (1)
I had read a number of opinions from photographers who wanted to photograph Venice at night. One day I decided to try it myself. It could be a fantastic experience! And I purchased my train ticket.
I want to tell you a story that happened to me a few years ago.
I went to Venice.
No, it wasn't the first time. I went there for several years because I felt rested after this trip. I discovered that you could use the night train to get there, leaving around 8 pm and arriving early in the morning. Spend a day in Venice, then take the return train in the evening and arrive in Salerno or Naples at 9 or 10 the next morning.
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The discovery of “one-day trips” in Venezia
At the time, I was still living in Campania with my husband. We had many farm animals and one of us had to stay at home while the other could afford a day of “vacation” without “causing harm”. This way, I invented “one-day trips” and often went to Venice, because, as said, I felt rested after a day spent there.
I must say that this discovery was accidental: a “recruiter” offered me a job in the tourism sector (it still is my dream, confess) and I had to show up there, near Venice, in person.
It was a scam, a way to cheat money from harmless people, but I didn't know it, of course, and I went there (and I had to be in the office at 8:30 already).
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After I understood what it was, I could have gone home (I am a person with a painful sense of responsibility: “We are responsible for those we have tamed” — this is the cross I'm carrying), but since I was already a few steps away from Venice, I called my husband. We agreed that I would go visit Venice and come back the next morning because if I was not home one day, surely no one would die, not even the husband.
You know that husbands are very fragile beings and hardly survive if they do not find dinner on the table. And only the promise of one day of complete freedom from their wife can save them from a terrible death.
So I discovered I could pass one day in Venice from time to time.
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Preparing For The Night in Venice
When I had already moved to Biella, one day I read an article about a photographer who took a series of splendid photos in Venice at night and was enchanted.
I needed a distraction and thought I'd take on this adventure too.
I have been living in Italy for 30 years now, and I understand the risks that one (especially a woman) can run. Even if there is no shortage of idiots, criminals, and other types of criminals elsewhere, you shouldn't look for trouble. However, I want to say that caution is never a given in life. Sometimes bricks fall on your head — it’s the life, that can happen. In short, as it is said, a drowning man must save himself.
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Anyway, I decided to read what those who have already done it have to say. And I found nothing. I have a slight degree of adventurism, so when something gets into my head, you can be sure I will do it. In the most extreme cases, it’s always possible to stop and go back along the path you came from.
I bought a train ticket so that I would arrive after lunch and then board the return train late in the evening, around 12. It was the last day of the carnival (February 13 — I will remember it always) and their program included a flight of someone over St. Mark's Square at 17:00. Wow! I wanted to see it once in my life (nothing special, yes, but…)
Arriving at the Venezia Santa Lucia station, I discovered that all trains from Venice were canceled until 5 in the morning. What a nice surprise…
Since I wanted to see that flight of who knows who, my only thought was to run towards Piazza San Marco through the streets. I must say that from the station there are two streets, one of which years ago was perhaps less busy, but during Carnival, it was difficult it would be faster to go there.
The first street, on the left of the station, after crossing the bridge, is the most famous. This street has a peculiarity: it is about 50 cm wide at the narrowest point.
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The houses there were always shabby, and never renovated since they were built (I think so). The smell of old abandoned half-ruined housing added “romantics”. Add the smell of stale water from littered canals. And we have a complete picture of why I never walk around this part of Venice.
I decided to take the left road to get to the place faster. It was my big mistake.
I must warn you that it takes an hour to walk from the station to Piazza San Marco. Much more if you want to stop, take pictures, or observe something (like for example the craftsman creating something from a small piece of glass).
On the last day of the carnival at 4 pm there were so many people in that little street! They were pushing from behind, from in front. In the end, with the force of pushing, they lifted me off the ground and I went about ten meters without touching the road with my feet in the direction the crowd was going.
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I'm telling you the truth: I was in terrible horror.
I tried to save myself, but it was no use: the bodies were simply pressed together. And those people also insulted me because I didn't want to stay quiet and still.
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Finally arriving in Piazza San Marco, another surprise awaited me: there were no flights. Damn!!! To be sure, I approached a carabiniere (armed police), explained what I wanted to do, and asked if he thought it was safe enough to stay there alone at night.
No, madam, go back to the station. We are leaving now, there won't be any police either. During the carnival, there could be wrong people here and there won't be any police. Go back to the station.
As a good citizen, I followed the officer's orders. I took some pictures and at 11 pm I headed to the station.
But when the day is crooked, it's crooked. And my night of “adventures” was just beginning.
This is the first part of my “vacation in the night” in Venice.
If you think, it’s interesting and want to read the second part, please click ❤️
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