Venice

Does this yacht make my ancient village look fat?

All’s Fair in Love, War & Child’s Play

A trip to Venice, Italy got me thinking about the model train set I had as a kid, and how it taught me the meaning of scale.

For those who have never played with model trains, they come in two different scale sizes: N and HO. HO is the larger of the two, with a ratio of 1:87.1, while N gauge ranges from 1:148 to 1:160.

Because of this difference in scale, an HO caboose seriously dwarfs an N caboose when sitting side by side. Serious model train aficionados (i.e. adults) would never dream of mixing HO with N.

All’s fair in love, war, and child’s play, however, so friends and I often mixed scales while enjoying our model trains and other toys. It made things more interesting.

Yacht dwarfs Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider)

Dwarfed by Modernity

Under these circumstances, Barbies could take on Amazonian proportions, terrorizing entire cities, with rampages that could only be ended by an even larger entity, such as a maniacal Teddy bear, or some other creature. Fun stuff!

I was reminded of all this as our cruise ship pulled out of the harbor in Venice, Italy. So many luxury boats there were clearly out of scale with that ancient Italian village. One yacht featured not just one, but two helicopter pads. I guess it is for those moments when one helicopter is not quite enough.

You know the feeling, right? ;p

Everything's to scale now in Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider) — Everything’s to scale now in Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider)

Super Sized Nightmare

Despite my childhood fun, the violation of scale I witnessed in the Venetian harbor annoyed me. I didn’t like seeing all those HO -sized yachts snuggling up against my sweet little N-scale Italian village, the floating city I had dreamt of visiting since I first saw photos of it in National Geographic decades before.

Now that I had finally made it to Venice in person, I didn’t want to see it attacked by 50-foot-tall Barbies from Hell. It already suffers enough from acqua alta and the steady onslaught of tourists. I simply wanted la citta serenissima, the city of serenity, to get some peace for once.

Don’t you?

Want to read more?

To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best selling travel guide: Unexpected Texas.
For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best selling travel guide to haunted places: Paranormal Texas.
For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out: The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber. Happy travels!

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my author newsletter using the form below:

Tui Snider having fun on a Texas road trip!

Venice Enchants – Even During Flood Season

by Leave a Comment

High Tide in Venice Italy

Venice is known for seasonal flooding called Acqua Alta. This “high water” is especially strong when wintry high tides coincide with a Mediterranean wind called a scirocco.

Normally, I would avoid traveling to a city during a flood, but Venice is different. Acqua Alta is something Venetians have dealt with for centuries, and visiting the city during this time makes you feel like part of some ancient rhythm.

As you can see in the photo below, they sell rubber boots for travelers who show up unprepared. I like how they made that W, too. Does anyone know if that’s a common European way, or was the sign maker just having fun with their own handwritten font?

Rubber boots for sale in Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider)

I included the photo at the top of this because it looks as if the knights are huddling together to stay warm, or to keep from falling into the knee deep water that has filled Saint Mark’s Square!

The last shot in this trio shows you what the walkways look like in Venice during Acqua Alta.

Sure, it’s chilly and wet, but Venice still enchants during Acqua Alta. I would love to go back and experience it again!

Venice, Italy during Acqua Alta (photo by Tui Snider)

Follow me on Instagram – I follow back!

I’ve gone from turning up my nose at the idea of cell phone pictures, to being an avid iPhone photographer. If you are on Instagram, I’d be delighted to follow you. Simply follow my photo feed (@TuiSnider) on Instagram and I’ll follow you back (unless you are a scammy spamster, of course!)

For more, check out my collaboration with Morgan Dragonwillow. Morgan used my iPhone photos to accompany her poems in a book called Wild Woman Waking. Check it out!

V is for Venice at Aqua Alta

by 7 Comments

High Tide in Venice Italy

Venice is known for seasonal flooding called Acqua Alta. This “high water” is especially strong when wintry high tides coincide with a Mediterranean wind called a scirocco.

As you can see in the first photo, they sell rubber boots for travelers who show up unprepared. I like how they made that W, too. Does anyone know if that’s a common European way, or was the sign maker just having fun with their own handwritten font?

I included the second shot because it looks as if the knights are huddling together to stay warm, or to keep from falling into the knee deep water that has filled Saint Mark’s Square!

The next shot shows you what the walkways look like in Venice during Acqua Alta. The last shot simply depicts a rainy canal with geraniums blooming along the rail.

Sure, it’s chilly and wet, but Venice still enchants during Acqua Alta. I would love to go back and experience it again!

Follow me on Instagram & I’ll follow you back!

I’ve gone from turning up my nose at the idea of cell phone pictures, to being an avid iPhone photographer, which is why my theme for the 2014 A to Z blog challenge is Instagram Travel Photos. If you are on Instagram, I’d be delighted to follow you. Simply follow my photo feed (@TuiSnider) on Instagram and I’ll follow you back!

For more, check out my collaboration with Morgan Dragonwillow. Morgan used my iPhone photos to accompany her poems in a book called Wild Woman Waking. Check it out!

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

Each April, people from all over the world participate in the April A to Z blog challenge, and you can too. It’s a lot of fun and it’s a great way to meet other bloggers. To play along, all you do is make a blog post for each letter of the alphabet during April, then use the blog hop linky to visit as many other bloggers as you can.

My A to Z Inspired Book: Unexpected Texas

I’d like to thank everyone who commented on my blog during the A to Z Challenge last year, because it convinced me to take the self-publishing plunge. On March 2, 2014, I released Unexpected Texas as a paperback and eBook and it quickly became an Amazon Best Seller!

Check out other A to Z blogs below:

Check out the other participants of the A to Z Challenge

G is for Gondolas & Gondoliers in Venice

by 25 Comments

Gondolas in Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider)

Venice, Italy Lives up to its Hype

Venice is one of those rare cities that lives up to all the tour book hype. I’ve been lucky enough to visit 3 times, yet I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface of what this ancient city has to offer. It’s not for lack of trying, either. Each time I’ve been there, I spend 12 to 15 hours a day exploring. This tiny, labyrinthian town has so much worth seeing!

Mindful Travel

Believe it or not, despite being a total shutterbug, I actually find it quite easy to put down the camera and just *be*. I like to be a mindful traveler. I like to enjoy my companions, make friends, and experience new places with all my senses.

Venice Possessed Me

That said, Venice is so striking that I had trouble putting my iPhone away! I became obsessive. I wanted to snap pictures all day. I wanted to remember everything. I wanted to take it all in. I wanted to pour over my photos at our B&B at night instead of sleeping.

Such is the effect that Venice, Italy had upon me!

What about you?

Have you ever visited a place that blew you away with its beauty, history, and/or culture?

Gondoliers in Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider)

Follow me on Instagram & I’ll follow you back!

For more, check out my collaboration with Morgan Dragonwillow. Morgan used my iPhone photos to accompany her poems in a book called Wild Woman Waking. Check it out!

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

My A to Z Inspired Book: Unexpected Texas

Gondolier in Venice, Italy (photo by Tui Snider)

Check out other A to Z blogs below:

Check out the other participants of the A to Z Challenge

Photo Essays Galore: From Redwoods to Blood Rituals (plus Top Travel Photography Tips)

by 6 Comments

Gondolas in Venice (photo by Tui Snider)

Welcome to the February 18, 2012 edition of Traveler’s Show and Tell.

It’s photo essays galore on this week’s Traveler’s Show and Tell blog carnival. Cruise through the links below for fascinating tales and fabulous photos on an array of travel topics, including:

… a shamanistic ritual in Kazakhstan involving goat’s blood.

… a life-changing trip to Muir Woods National Park.

… travel photo tips from a professional photo tour guide.

…which country hosts the largest New Year’s street party.

… and much, much more!

This Week’s Travelers

Tui Snider (yup, it’s me!) presents a photo essay entitled Venice Italy’s Warped Sense of Scale posted right here at Mental Mosaic: Even Home is a Travel Destination, saying,

“A recent visit to Venice, Italy got me thinking about the model train set I had as a kid, and how it taught me the meaning of scale because some of the yachts I saw in the Venetian lagoon looked completely out of place due to how they dwarfed that ancient floating village.”

Andrew presents, Muir Woods Review Primeval Redwood Forest posted at Byteful Travel, saying,

“When was the last time you saw a thousand years in a single glance? Have you ever seen how a dying relic can bring new life? Today, you will. The Magic of Travel stayed with me as I was practically swept up into visiting the Muir Woods national park which contains one of the planet’s last remaining primeval forests, complete with one of the tallest species of trees in the world: the Coast Redwoods. It was life-changing.”

Sarah presents Bloody Magical Kazakhstan posted at Natsumi, saying,

“Photographer Pavel Prokopchik went to Kazakhstan to take these breathtaking images of Apashka and her pilgrims. Apashka, meaning granny in Kazakhs is a shaman woman who was told by the spirits to find a holy mountain. Eight years ago, she discovered her sacred spot in Ungurtas, Kazakhstan and has since built a home there. She now accepts visitors from around the world and they partake in rituals such as slaying a goat and pouring the blood over their bodies. “

Andrew introduces us to his new travel blog called, A Downunder Discovery: Welcome posted at A Downunder Discovery, saying,

“I have chosen to permenantly move to Australia for a number of reasons, most importantly, because my wife is Australian. I do not claim to be any sort of expert but just wish to share my ongoing education in this beautiful country and my even larger journey on this planet we call home.”

Trisha Torrey presents a snappy post called, Top 10 Motorcycle Road Trips to Take this Spring | MotorcycleInsurance.com posted at motorcycleinsurance.com, saying,

“Whether you’ve surrendered your life to the call of the pavement, or you’re just a newbie trying to be a badass, these 10 road trips will help you decide where to grip the road on those ever-enticing steel-cut death machines.”

Speaking of motorcycles, Riding Souls presents a photo essay about a recent early morning motorcycle ride with friends, saying, Adventures Of Riding Souls: First Long Ride of the Group – To SriSailam posted at Adventures Of Riding Souls, saying,

” Roads were soaked with dew and were glittering in the rising sun. With the cool breeze it was a heavenly ride and we stopped after exactly one hour near a small dam near Dindi which is constructed right beside the road. Relaxed for a bit with many photos taken and weather was getting little warmer.”

Zhu takes us to the market with a post entitled, Market Day in Chichicastenango posted at Correr Es Mi Destino, saying,

“Thursday was market day in Chichicastenango, aka Chichi for travelers and locals alike. For both visitors and sellers, the day started early and it involved a long bus ride uphill in twisty mountain roads.”

David gives us a photo essay (featuring water so clear I wanted to leap into my screen for a swim) entitled, Marsaxlokk. Gone fishin’. posted at How to Get By in Malta, saying,

“Marsaxlokk is a little fishing village in the south of the island, which looks great in photos because of all the colourful fishing boats (‘luzzus’) bobbing up and down on the waves.”

Mr. Brightside presents a lovely photo essay entitled, Edinburgh and The Braveheart posted at The Wild Swanssaying, “So In memories of last year, I’m gonna show you guys the pics of one of the most wonderful cities located in the wonderful and wild Scotland: Edinburgh!”

Andoyzki presents a lush photo essay entitled, Angkor Wat Archaeological Park posted at the viewing deck, saying,

“Angkor Wat (“City Temple”) is a vast temple complex near Siem Reap, about 200 miles from the capital of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Built in the 12th century by the king of the prosperous Khmer empire, Angkor Wat is the best preserved example of Khmer architecture in Cambodia and is so grand in design that some rank it among the seven wonders of the world. It appears on the Cambodian national flag, a very rare instance of a flag incorporating an image of a building.”

Michael presents The Best Tips, Tricks and Gear for Travel Photographers posted at Balifornian Villas, Tours and Travel Blog, saying,

“Here is the list I wish I had 20 years ago when I started traveling the world taking photos. After years of leading photography tours to Bali and Indonesia, I have had the pleasure (and sheer frustration) of using a myriad of gear, gadgets, cameras, clothing and more. Here I breakdown those that have made the cut and saved me time after time.”

I saved Michael’s post for last, since after checking out all these photo essays, you may feel inspired to create one of your own. :)

That’s it for this week’s blog carnival, Traveler’s Show & Tell.

As always, if you enjoyed it, let us know in the comments section. Also, please let the author know you liked their piece by leaving a comment at their blog. See you next time! :)

Do you have a travel story to share?

Would you like your blog post to appear in an upcoming edition of the Traveler’s Show & Tell? If so, check out the post, What is the Traveler’s Show and Tell blog carnival? and follow the writer’s guidelines. It’s easy! Past posts and future hosts can be found on the blog carnival index page.

Share |

Technorati tags: traveler’s show and tell, blog carnival.

Traveler’s Show & Tell – Sun, Sand & Savory Dishes

by 3 Comments

Silhouettes in Cadiz, Spain (photo by Tui Snider)

Welcome to the November 26, 2011 edition of Traveler’s Show & Tell

Judging from the tremendous amount of submissions I received for this week’s blog carnival, I’m not the only one who was off exploring the world recently. Read on to learn about:

…a fascinating hostel dedicated to the music of Gram Parsons.
…where to eat and what to order in Singapore.
…why Venice, Italy reminded me of playing with model trains.
…cooking classes in Italy.
…and much more!

Tui Snider presents Venice, Italy’s Warped Sense of Scale at Mental Mosaic: Even Home is a Travel Destination (you are here!) saying,

A recent visit to Venice, Italy got me thinking about the model train set I had as a kid, and how it taught me the meaning of scale.

MoTravels presents Ladies who (make) lunch posted at MO TRAVELS, saying,

“In Tavola is a cooking school in Italy where I took a brief 3-hour lesson, designed not to make me into the next Barefoot Contessa, but to make me believe that whipping up a delicious 3-course Italian meal is not only doable, but also fun.”

O.C. Heaton presents How The Human Race came out of a hole in the ground posted at A Rush of Green, saying,

“When I wrote The Human Race, I wanted it to portray something I had learned on one of our last excursions to Iceland: that this mesmerisingly beautiful country is being torn apart. Literally.”

Michael Turtle presents The Tribute posted at Time Travel Turtle : Stories from the world, saying,

“It was exactly two decades ago that a young man built a tribute in Florida to a musician he revered. It was no statue, though – no lifeless representation of what had once been. This young man decided to build a youth hostel as his tribute, and through the energy and vitality of the community that grew within it, he created a heaving and breathing monument that captured the spirit of his idol.”

Daniela Baker presents 7 Destinations for Combining Beach and Culture posted at Travel Blissful, saying,

“Frolic in these attractive out-of-the-way beaches with your friends or loved ones and immerse yourself in the culture of each city. With these 7 destinations, you are sure to satisfy your craving for sun, sand, sights, and savory dishes.”

Socratez presents Hitch Hiking For Dummies posted at Socratez Online, saying,

“Throughout recent years I’ve been traveling mostly by car; the cars of those who are kind enough to let me ride with them to be exact. Many people often ask me whether that’s dangerous, time consuming, or challenging. In fact it’s none of that, but rather I find it exciting, refreshing, and also definitely cheap.”

Jason Noronha presents Singapore Food Guide: Top 5 Hits You Must Not Miss posted at theOrangeMango, saying,

“After 7 years in Singapore, I moved out but visited frequently and found myself religiously visiting a few places every single time. If you ever find yourself in Singapore, this is where the money is…”

Stuart Wickes presents Dawdle Sticks posted at The Family Adventure Project, saying,

“They were two great big sticks. Maybe six inches thick and four feet long. OK more like small tree trunks but to Matt they were dawdle sticks.”

Jonny presents Top 10 Most Visited Landmarks posted at Smart blog, saying,

“The ‘top 10’ list I have compiled highlights a variety of differences between each tourist attraction, but hopefully through the pictures provided you will be able to see why these places are very popular landmarks.”

Bob McGinness presents Camino Quest shares a lengthy travelogue at talkin’bout my which he describes as,

“A twelve part journal of a 2010 hike on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.”

Ella Tavernese presents Inspiration from France posted at HOME & LANDSCAPE *design fix. saying,

“I visited the magnificent Côte d’Azur and a few other spots in France this year and the sceneries and landscapes blew me away… These are a few shots I took during my travels.”

Phil Byrne presents Europes ‘Best Christmas Breaks Destinations posted at Guide to Great Places. saying,

“Fancy going abroad this Christmas to experience something a bit different? There are plenty of places across Europe which will provide you with a very special and unique Christmas break, so take a look at the following destinations and see if one of these sounds like a good place to spend the festive season.”

That’s it for this week’s blog carnival, Traveler’s Show & Tell. As always, if you enjoyed it, let us know in the comments section. Also, please let the author know you liked their piece by leaving a comment at their blog. See you next time! :)

Do you have a travel story to share?

Submit your blog article to the next edition of Traveler’s Show and Tell using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Share |

Technorati tags: traveler’s show and tell, blog carnival.

Venice

All’s Fair in Love, War & Child’s Play

Dwarfed by Modernity

Super Sized Nightmare

Want to read more?

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

High Tide in Venice Italy

Follow me on Instagram – I follow back!

High Tide in Venice Italy

Follow me on Instagram & I’ll follow you back!

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

My A to Z Inspired Book: Unexpected Texas

Check out other A to Z blogs below:

Venice, Italy Lives up to its Hype

Mindful Travel

Venice Possessed Me

What about you?

Follow me on Instagram & I’ll follow you back!

What is the April A to Z Blog Challenge?

My A to Z Inspired Book: Unexpected Texas

Check out other A to Z blogs below:

Welcome to the February 18, 2012 edition of Traveler’s Show and Tell.

This Week’s Travelers

That’s it for this week’s blog carnival, Traveler’s Show & Tell.

Do you have a travel story to share?

Welcome to the November 26, 2011 edition of Traveler’s Show & Tell

Do you have a travel story to share?

Footer

Follow Tui

Looking for something? Search my site: