I've been in Italy a couple of times before, but this time I got to rediscover it completely. Putting aside everything I ever knew about Italy- the rushing in the streets, the outspokenness, the abundance of vivid colors and the overall upbeat rhythm of the country- I completely changed my perspective on the place in this one week-end. Venice always seemed like a magical place to me, but the image I had of it in my head before actually visiting it (a.k.a. the way it's portrayed in 'The Tourist' with Angelina Jolie in beautiful attire) was slightly distant from the real thing... And I was blown away. Everything about Venice seems ethereal- the haunting palaces floating on the water, their reflections, the little alleyways and bridges, the whiteness of the buildings. What is more, I got to visit the city during the carnival season so the streets were overflowing with people dressed in Victorian gowns and masks. It felt like a masquerade. The masks added to the feel of mystery and anonymity. When in Venice, you can put on a mask and be whoever you want to be for as long as you're staying there...
