Countless times while travelling, I have found myself somewhere I did not necessarily intend to go. I would tell myself, you do not get lost really. You just end up discovering someplace new, unintended, or, at least, unexpected. Certainly it really isn't a waste of time when you are on vacation, unless you are supposed to meet someone, or arrive at a particular appointment, or arrive at the restaurant when your reservation begins.On this trip, I decided to ditch the notion that I have no sense of direction. I simply presumed I would get where I wanted to go. In fact, I decided I would set out to get lost. I discarded the truism that I always get lost when I travel. And so I embraced the fun of exploring Venice. Truly, it is so small, you can't really get lost anyway. I took the advice from one tour book that suggested you find a landmark you recognize. In Venice, on virtually every corner, there are signs pointing you to the major sights: San Marco, Accademia, Rialto. It changed the whole tenor of my experience. On top of it, I found everything I was looking for. I wanted to buy some handmade journals, found that. Looking for a particular island. Found that. Needed a sandwich for my trip on the train. Found that. On my way to getting lost, I found one of the best trips of my lifetime. Sempre diretto.
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